There are many different ways to help improve the odor of your cat litter box, and most of them are inexpensive to do. If you are looking for an idea on how to keep your cat litter fresh without spending a lot of money all it takes is a little shopping.
There is a rule that you should always use one litter box per cat that you have in your household. This can help eliminate the need of trying to keep the litter box clean all the time and can cut down on the odors. If you have more than one cat is is important to have more than one litter box and to keep a few in different locations around your house. It might be more of a hassle when it comes time to clean them out, but in the long run the ratio of one litter box per cat will help decrease the odors from the waste.
If you have a cat over six months old, this is the time when you want to use a good quality scoopable cat liter. Scoopable cat litter is important to use after six months old because it helps eliminate odors and you can also scoop more waste without wasting too much cat litter.
It is important that even if you only have one cat, to clean the litter box everyday. This does not mean you have to clean the whole litter box out and dump out all the cat litter, but more about keeping it clean. If you see clumps of feces in the litter box, go ahead and scoop those out everyday. Even if you have one cat scooping out the waste materials on a daily basis can help you get rid of the odor and keep the litter box and your house smelling fresh. I personally scoop out the fecal waste no less than three times a day and I have two cats. This eliminates a lot of the odors plus it helps keep the litter box looking clean and keeps the cat happy.
When you clean out the litter box, you can wipe it down with a little bleach and water to help keep the litter box fresh. If you clean the litter box with some bleach and water it can help cut down on germs and kill some bacterias that are linked to worms. If you have just fixed your cat however, it might be a better idea to hold off on this because cat noses are very sensitive and the smell could become to overwhelming then they do not want to go in their box anymore.
You should always keep your litter box about 2 or 3 inches deep with litter. This can also help cut down on the odor due to the lower amount of litter being affected by the cat urine, and can cut down on wasting cat litter when it comes time to go clean the whole litter box out. Keeping 2 or 3 inches of litter might mean you may have to add some more litter every few days, but in the long run will be worth it considering the elimination of a lot of the odor and the fact you do not have to throw out so much litter each week.
Also, it is important to thoroughly clean out your litter box each and every week. Even for the cat litter that says it does not need changed every week., it is important to change it anyways. Sure, it might seem like a waste of money by throwing out cat litter every week, but it can help cut down on bacteria and germs as it is keeping the litter box clean and fresh. That is why it is important to not fill up the litter box too much, because good cat litter hygiene says you need to clean it out completely each week and put in all new cat litter.
It is important also while you are cleaning the litter box out completely each week to add the bleach and water plus some soap also. You should be doing the bleach and water when you are just cleaning it during the week, but also you need to do the whole litter box each and every week too. This can cut down on the odors of the urine that attach to the bottom of the litter box and can help reduce the germs and bacteria that can also cause smell.
The area around your litter box is just as important as the area in your litter box. That is why you need to clean the area around the litter box each week with some hot soapy water and a little bleach. Just like how sometimes a man might miss the toilet when urinating, a cat can do the same thing. It is also important not only due to the splattering of urine on the outside of the litter box, but also because the cat litter sometimes gets thrown to the ground while they are doing their business. This throwing of the cat litter can create odors and can also spread germs and bacteria.
You also need to be picky when choosing a litter box because the litter box itself can help cut the odors down. Hooded litter boxes are one of the best kinds to get to ensure more freshness and less odor, due to the little filter most of them have at the top. They make a ramp too that you put on the outside of it which helps keep the litter in the litter box and not all over the floor. So when you are looking to freshen up your cat litter box, it might be a good idea to look at replacing the standard litter box with one that has the hood at the top as that can make a big difference in odor control.
Another important thing you can do to help your litter box stay fresh and clean is to either by litter that has baking soda in it or you can sprinkle some baking soda in the litter you already have. You can fill the litter box halfway with litter then add a small layer of baking soda and then put the litter on the baking soda to also help cut down the odor. The baking soda has many odor-eliminating properties and has been used many years in things such as detergents and also in the refrigerator to help cut down on odor. Baking soda can be bought almost anywhere and you can get a big container of it at the local grocery store for under ten dollars.
If you follow these easy steps, you are on your way to an odor-free cat litter box. Remember, the important thing about the litter box is that it needs cleaned out regularly just the same way we all need to shower every day or every other day. The litter box can be an enjoyable thing for both you and your cat but you need to take the time to clean it out and ensure that you are making an effort to help the odors go away.
