How to Keep a Cat's Kitty Litter Odor Free

Fight Cat Litter Odor with These Tips

A cat's kitty litter area can often become a trouble spot in your effort to keep your home pleasant and odor free. This system will help ensure that your feline's litter box stays clean and organized--while requiring minimal maintenance effort!

Things You'll Need

• Cat Box
• Cat Litter
• Litter Scoop
• Rug or Floor Matt
• Trashcan w/ a tight seal
• Plastic Grocery Bags
• Re-used Plastic Containers
• Arm and Hammer Odor Eliminator Floor and Room
• A Vacuum
• Odor Absorbing Air Freshener

Instructions

1. 

   First, assemble the products you'll be using in your cat's kitty litter area(click on the photo at left to see an enlarged shot of the products I use).

2. 

   Make a handy free container for your litter scoop by cutting an old orange juice jug in half. Carefully check the top for any jagged edges that could cut you or kitty and smooth them out with scissors or a course piece of sandpaper.

3. Lay down a rug to catch stray litter. If using a litter that leaves powder on your cat's feet, a soft rug is best. It catches the litter dust before it gets tracked throughout the house. For pine litter and coarse, powder-free litter, an outdoor rug with ridges in the design does the best job of catching litter pieces before they roll all over the place.

4. 

   Now assemble the remaining items. Place an odor absorber in a nearby but out-of-the-way place. Insert a plastic bag in the trashcan, and add a sprinkling of Arm and Hammer baking soda. Keep the box handy, and each time you scoop the litter, throw a short dusting on top of it. This will keep the trashcan from developing an odor, allowing you to change it just once a week.

5. 

   Weekly Maintanence: Once a week you'll want to replace the bag in the garbage can and vacuum the rug to pick up the litter it's caught. I use a Shark Cordless Handvac which does a thorough cleaning job without requiring me to drag out a heavy vacuum and deal with cords (there's a shortage of outlets in my 80 year old house). While you're tidying up, check to see if it's time to replace the air freshener or kitty litter, and do so as needed.

6. 

   Periodic Mainanence: Three or four times a year, I throw the litter rug into the wash with a cup of bleach. Hard outdoor rugs can be sprayed with a 50/50 water-vinegar mix, left to soak, and then thoroughly hosed down outdoors (rinse well enough to completely remove the vinegar odor before returning to your cat's litter area).

7. 

   Now that you have a system in place, it's easy to maintain your cat's litter box. Keeping up with scooping should only take about 30 seconds, and your weekly vacuuming/trash disposal takes about 5 minutes. And best of all, the litter box stays clean and odor free throughout the week!

Tips & Warnings

• I'm a big fan of "Worlds Best Cat Litter." It's more expensive than other brands, but it lasts forever, and, for a single cat, you only need to change it about every 4-6 weeks. Plus, it's a clumping litter which makes it easy to clean, but is made from corn, which cat's can safely pass through their digestive system. (Clay based clumping litters can end up clogging a cat's stomach).

• ABOUT LITTER PLACEMENT: Make sure you place your litter box in an area that feels safe to your cat, ideally in a corner or against the wall. While it's natural to want to tuck the litter box in an out of the way place, your kitty may choose another place in the house to use as a laboratory if her litter box is too close to your washer, dryer, vacuum, etc.

• ABOUT AIR FRESHENERS: Avoid air fresheners with a citrus scent. Many cats are repelled my citrus and may become disinclined to use the litter box.

• ABOUT MAKING CHANGES: If you're planning to make changes to an established litter area, take time to help your cat adjust. If laying down a new rug, spend time petting your cat or giving her treats on the rug. Little changes can feel tramatic to cats, and you want the litter area to be a safe, comforting spot that your cat will never mind going to.

Resources

• Worlds Best Cat Litter on Amazon
• Shark Cordless Hand Vac on Amazon