Note that while many people use scented litter or air freshener to mask litter box odors, these odors can be off-putting to cats. A thin layer of baking soda placed on the bottom of the box will help absorb odors without repelling your cat.
When urea, the main component of urine, decomposes, the highly volatile ammonia is released, and as cats have higher levels of urea than dogs, or even humans, this is multiplied in the litter tray. Humans can detect ammonia at very small concentrations, and it has a particularly fishy smell.
To get rid of cat litter smell, use any deordorizer or add baking soda as an affordable option. There is nothing to wory about, as baking soda is non-toxic and it can help eliminate litter box odor to some extent effectively. Adding baking soda at the base of the litter box can help specifically absorb pet urine odors.
3. No smelly business: With an enclosed bathroom for your cat, you don't need to worry about any unpleasant odors that might (will) come wafting out of the box. Enclosed spaces work wonders for containing the smell — better than any scent, candle, powder, or other witch's brew you can buy.
Is Baking Soda Toxic to Cats? The short answer is yes, it can be. Due to their smaller body size, just 1–2 teaspoons of baking soda ingested can be dangerous for a cat. While it is not toxic in nature, cat parents should still use caution keeping baking soda around the house in accessible areas.
With the kitty litter: To extend the life of your kitty litter (or to mask odors when there's no time to clean the box), sprinkle some Unstopables in along with the litter. Mix in for best results. My feline never seemed to notice the change—but I did! A little goes a long way here.
Baking soda is pure sodium bicarbonate, a fine white powder that has many uses. You may wonder about bicarbonate of soda vs. baking soda, but they are simply alternate terms for the same ingredient. If your recipe calls for bicarbonate of soda, it is simply referring to baking soda.
A little sprinkle of baby powder in your cat box after scooping can make it smell a little less, well, smelly!
Cleaning the area thoroughly with vinegar first and then applying an enzyme treatment will break down and evaporate the uric acid and your home will be free of cat odors. Vinegar and enzyme cleaners work on all surfaces: hardwood floors, carpets, mattresses.
Cats are fastidious creatures, which means they hate using a dirty litter box as much as you hate looking at one! If you have multiple cats in the house, you may run into even more issues with a dirty litter box.
The Litter Box
Perhaps one of the smells that cats hate the most is a dirty litter box. If your litter box hasn't been cleaned in a while, your cat might rebel and start using the restroom in another place that is less appropriate. Make sure that the litter box is clean if you want your cat to use it!
No, you shouldn't add essential oils to a litter box in order to improve the smell. Essential oils are extremely toxic to cats and it only takes a few drops on your cat's skin or a few licks to cause a serious and potentially life-threatening reaction.
Your cat's nose and sense of smell are quite a bit more fine-tuned than yours (fun fact: it's even more sensitive than some dog breeds!). So, to play it safe, you should resist the urge to get a scented litter, whether that's a flowery scent or any other kind. Opt for unscented litter instead.
But is baking soda safe for cats? Yes! Baking soda is 100% non toxic. Mixing a little baking soda with the litter can help absorb pet urine odors.
While corn flour is preferred, other constituents which can provide similar characteristics to the cat litter can be used, such as wheat flour, for example.
Use the natural power of baking soda to help neutralize cat urine odor in soiled bedding and clothes. Add a half-cup directly to the drum with your clothes, or use a detergent that has baking soda in it.
Most cats prefer an open litter box. Most cat owners prefer a covered litter box. Covered litter boxes may trap odors and make the human environment smell better but for those reasons they may not be as desirable for the cat. If boxes are not cleaned regularly, the odor may be aversive to them.
You may have even heard that your cat can smell their dirty litter a mile away. Unfortunately, there is no evidence that a cat can smell their litter box from that far away. More realistically, they might be able to smell it up to a few hundred feet away (depending on wind and weather conditions) and often a lot less.
Not only does cat pee smell noxious, but the stench can spread all over your house, making it hard or embarrassing to invite guests over. That's why we all want to make sure that our cat litter boxes smell as little as possible.
As a general rule, cats are sensitive when it comes to smells, but there are a few scents they hate that might just surprise you. They can't stand citrus and as much as you might love the smell of fresh herbs, cats hate rosemary and thyme. Banana and mustard are a big no-no too, as well as lavender and eucalyptus.
Multiple things can cause your house to smell like cat urine, even if you don't have a cat. Investigate if there is mold, leaking Freon, sewer gases, smelly plants, spoiled food, or even stains from previous pet owners.