Getting Rid of the Cat Smell

Smelly Cat? Co-Existing with Cats Doesn't Have to Smell

Mar 3, 2010
Leigh Peterson

Help for Cats that Smell Like Litter Boxes - Sunfox on Flickr

Having even one cat can make a home smell like a litter box. But the nose doesn't have to get in the way of loving and living with cats.

There are so many things to love about cats: their individual personalities, their spunky playfulness, and the fresh, flowery smell of cat urine.

Many have experienced visiting the home of one too many cats and subsequently wondered if their own cats let off a smell that they have become immune to smelling. Others do smell their little fur balls but don't know how to stop smelling cat around every corner of the home.

Another Cat Litter May Result in Less Smell

One main cause of "the cat smell" is the litter box and whatever is left in it. We spend hours every month cleaning it, adding deodorizers to it, and spraying air freshener around it. If after all of this, something "special" is still lingering, consider that the formulation of all cat litter brands may not mix well with each cat's own unique chemical makeup.

Denver's Dr. Bruce D. Elsey, a feline-only veterinarian of over 25 years, developed a line of premium, scoopable, dust-free litters known as Dr. Elsey's Precious Cat. These litters are extremely absorbent on contact, immediately removing moisture and odor from a cat's litter box deposits. Precious Cat also has a litter called Cat Attract which utilizes herbs to work wonders on cats who "forget" where the litter box is located.

Cat Urine Smells More as it Ages

Another main cause may be lingering cat urine smell in the carpet. This is particularly true if any accidents occurred that weren't cleaned up immediately or thoroughly enough.

"Fresh cat urine is acidic and relatively clean and free of bacteria," writes Wendy Christensen in the book The Humane Society of the United States' Complete Guide To Cat Care. "It's only once it starts to dry that it's converted to alkaline salts - an environment in which odor-producing bacteria flourish."

When cleaning fresh cat urine, Christensen advises against using vinegar. This will increase the acidity of the urine and therefore provide an even friendlier host for the alkaline salts to develop and bacteria to form.

Get Serious is a better cleaning alternative to remove cat urine from carpet and upholstery. It also works on any other pet mess thinkable (the bottle even mentions "duck poop!"). This stain, odor, and pheromone extractor is nontoxic, biodegradable, and works faster than enzyme based cleaners. Rather than pouring out large amounts of cleaner to saturate and soak, a little is applied and the spot is scrubbed and blotted dry. It won't leave carpet yellow, and because it extracts pheromones, cats won't be drawn to the same spot.

Get Serious also works on older stains. Once dried, according to Christensen, "alkalinized urine is then primed to absorb moisture out of the ambient air and will 'return from the dead' time and time again. That's why you might smell ancient cat urine on very humid days."

Covered Litter Boxes to Cover Cat Smells

Another way cat owners try to keep cat odors separate from the home is with covered cat litter boxes. Manufacturers are designing more attractive litter box housing to meet this need. One of the more unique inventions in this category is the Air Catditioner. This box looks just like a window air conditioner unit, and is installed into a window in the exact same way. The litter box is housed inside the Catditioner, so that the litter box is literally outside the home. Cats enter through a cat door near the window sill. There is a similar product called The Litter-Garage for cat owners who have a home with an attached garage. A cat door is installed on the adjoining wall, and a ledge is built in the garage to place the litter box on.

Finally, to decrease cat smell in the home, cats should be fed quality meals. The higher the quality of a cat's diet, the more nutrition he will be able to absorb and fewer "leftovers" will be expelled when visiting the litter box. Many cat owners who switch from kibble to a healthier, grain-free diet rave about less smell in the litter box. And better food means better health, which results in more years with the little stinkers.