Without going to Petsmart (I work there P/T as a trainer, but don’t go out of my way to shop there unless I am already in the store ;)), is there anything around the house (or easily picked up at the grocery store) that can get rid of that wonderful catbox smell? I have guests coming tomorrow, and we will be hanging out downstairs (we moved the catbox into the corner of the finished basement awhile ago), and you can really smell it from the couch, even right after we clean it. The used litter is put into a small trash can in the same area, but I don’t think that’s the source of the smell. Any air fresheners that work, or will I have to break down and get some special urine neutralizing spray? Any suggestions would be most welcome, TIA!
Easiest fix is probably a new box, but if the kitties can bear to be without for a little while and it’s sunny outside, you could try a total clean-out and then wipe the empty box down with bleach and then give it some drying time in the sun for a couple of hours. Once it’s dry, a sprinkle of baking soda in the bottom of the box before you add the litter might help to quell the smell.
I’d buy a new box and start using Equine Fresh. We use that for our kitty and it really keeps the odor down.
baking soda = good suggestion
I use Woody Pet or other horse stall wood pellets. No smell!
Do as previous posters suggested.
And take the used kitty litter Outside, to the outside trash can/dumpster.
[QUOTE=jcotton;5617313]
Do as previous posters suggested.
And take the used kitty litter Outside, to the outside trash can/dumpster.[/QUOTE]
Alas, we have no such luxury! 
Thanks posters, I’m thinking we may have another box somewhere, otherwise I can’t air the box out today–no sun! I think we should lay in a supply of baking soda (and I will put the used litter in some other location, temporarily.)
Bag the dirty litter and place outside somewhere. Clean litter box, area around it and trash can with a peroxide/water solution which should kill the odor. You could also use some pine scented disinfectant afterwards to create a better (clean) smell before your guests arrive. I sympathize with a houseful of cats and 3 dogs! It’s a real challenge!
PennYG
copious amounts of baking soda :lol:
add a nice smelling candle.
Odoban; http://www.odoban.com/
My neighbour (multiple cats) swears by this stuff; http://www.samsclub.com/sams/shop/product.jsp?productId=prod1910870&navAction=
Not sure why you don’t want the actual odor-neutralizing products that a pet store (or even some grocery stores) would sell. I love the enzymatic cleaners – it really seems like the change the composition of the odor, rather than masking it. It’s like the molecules bind to the stink molecules and, well, neutralize them.
Love the stuff. I actually use it to clean my litterboxes rather than using water. Empty out the used litter, wipe with a paper towel, splash in some Petzyme or enzyme-cleaner-that-was-on-sale, wipe again. Voila.
I use Woody Pet or other horse stall wood pellets. No smell!
This really works.
I have three cats and use a couple of handfuls of shavings in their litter box. It doesn’t smell. I buy the cheapest bag of wood shavings or sawdust at TSC. Its about $6 and lasts a long time. Easier on the wallet and gets tossed into the mulch pile.
Fresh Step works great!
[QUOTE=bdj;5617247]
Easiest fix is probably a new box, but if the kitties can bear to be without for a little while and it’s sunny outside, you could try a total clean-out and then wipe the empty box down with bleach and then give it some drying time in the sun for a couple of hours. Once it’s dry, a sprinkle of baking soda in the bottom of the box before you add the litter might help to quell the smell.[/QUOTE]
Do NOT put bleach in a litter box inside! Bleach + ammonia = chlorine gas.
You’d be better off using white vinegar-- no risk of creating chemical weapons, and it does a better job of neutralizing cat pee odor than bleach. We always add white vinegar to the wash when a cat pees on a horse blanket, and it kills the smell every time.
[QUOTE=jnel;5617459]
This really works.
I have three cats and use a couple of handfuls of shavings in their litter box. It doesn’t smell. I buy the cheapest bag of wood shavings or sawdust at TSC. Its about $6 and lasts a long time. Easier on the wallet and gets tossed into the mulch pile.[/QUOTE]
do you use this INSTEAD of litter???
So you have No Garbage pick up??? Not weekly, not at all?
So you really can’t take the used litter outside to a trashcan/dumpster? Anywhere?
Unfortunately if you cant get the used litter out of the house you will not be able to get rid of the smell. :no:
Our cat’s litterbox is in the bathroom. We use Arm&Hammer’s Cat litter Deodorizer (which I suspect is plain baking soda!) which is found at regular grocery stores, and a natural, flushable litter. As long as the soiled litter is flushed regularly (my daughter is in charge…) and a sprinkle of baking soda is added to the bottom, there is no smell whatsoever. No need for plastic bags either.
Baking soda is pretty effective. If you have any Febreze around the house, a heavy spraying can help, too.
Longer-term, I LOVE these these little sacks of volcanic rock: http://www.allergystore.com/odorcontrol.htm.
I keep one near each litterbox (we have four housecats and five litterboxes) and by the basket in the laundry room into which super-stinky workout and barn clothing go. It helps quite a lot with the odor. It won’t help you NOW, but you might order a few to keep on hand for the next guest (or just use routinely and avoid this particular problem altogether).
We have one cat. We use the arm and hammer clumping litter but we also sprinkle a copious amount of baking soda on the bottom of the pan every time DH totally cleans the box. We also clean the box out twice a day.
[QUOTE=CarolinaGirl;5619077]
We have one cat. We use the arm and hammer clumping litter but we also sprinkle a copious amount of baking soda on the bottom of the pan every time DH totally cleans the box. We also clean the box out twice a day.[/QUOTE]
The arm and hammer litter sucks! The stinkest litter I ever had. Try fresh step people! It works!
