New kitten + tiny apartment = potential new name "Stinky." Help!

[french_fry]

I live in a teeny glorified studio apartment that already has pretty poor ventilation. The surprise addition of a five month old kitten rescued from the street has unfortunately tipped the balance against us in our battle with musty ground floor apartment odor.

After our dramatic 11pm rescue of said kitten we hastily went to a 24 hour grocery store and bought the cheapest basics we could find - shallow plastic litter box, store brand nonclumping litter, generic food, etc. Our logic was that we either wouldn’t be keeping her (HA!) or the vet would give us advice as to what types/brands of the above are recommended.

We got good advice on what to feed her but are struggling with decisions regarding the litter box. We scoop religiously (like immediately after she uses the litter box, every time) and despite that when you enter my apartment there’s a general odor of cat that hangs in the air. We are still using the cheapo uncovered plastic box but have access to a Modkat Box or are willing to buy anything that will help contain the litter smell. The litter box will have to sit out in the open in our bedroom or living room; it is currently living in the bathroom but I literally have to move it to get in the shower so it is not going to work long term.

Similarly, litter. Crystals? Pine? Nonclumping? Clumping? Preferred brands/types?

Also - any general advice for keeping the apartment smelling fresh? Obviously we are going to make sure we keep the windows opened as much as possible to get some airflow but what else works? Activated charcoal? Air freshener plug ins (gack, I hate those artificial smells)? An area spray? Baking soda left out? Air purifier?

I need tips! Please help me not have to name my new kitten Stinky.

[JumpQH]

I recommend a good clumping litter, regular cleaning, and a plug-in air freshener next to the litter box.

[Ambitious_Kate]

I recommend cleaning twice a day, morning and evening, more any time you walk by. Get clumping and pay the money for the best. Get a deep (I mean deep) box to avoid overspray. Frankly, I can’t imagaine living with a litterbox indoors and I too have such an apartment as yours. I value my fresh air, and for this reason have only ever had outdoor cats (cats that ‘go’ outdoors and do not require a litterbox in the house) when I have lived in homes which could accomodate that. I almost was given a beautiful lavendar kitten when I moved to my new ground floor studio and although she was beautiful, I have beautiful wood floors and I do not want dirt or hair or litter under my feet, and I like the place to smell like lavendar, that’s all. Good luck.

[Christa_P]

For a litter box, get a Rubbermaid type storage container and cut access holes where you want them. This keeps litter mostly confined and prevents overspray.

[gypsymare]

Swheat Scoop clumps hard and is not perfumed but needs more frequent total box cleaning or it does get rancid smelling.

[oliverreed]

Feline Pine clumping (NOT the pellets), deep fill.

[wireweiners]

I would agree about using a deep box or a covered box with a charcoal filter in the lid. I have 6 cats and use Fresh Step clumping litter. It is scented and somewhat dusty when you pour it in but it does contain the odor even when DD neglects to clean the boxes as she should. I do believe there is an extra odor control variety of Fresh Step and I think there is an unscented kind too, if scent bothers you.

[rubygirl1968]

Matches are your friend! I’ll light one and blow it out and it does wonders.

Sometimes one of mine smells absolutely horrid, other times not so much. Food has a lot to do with it - the less by-products and fillers the less aromatic it is ;).

My favorite litter is Dr. Elseys, but is non-scented. I like Scoop Away better than Fresh Step - FS is too dusty and perfumey and bothers my allergies, but several of my friends use and like it.

I like bigger litter boxes. They’re easier to keep clean since you have more litter. I scoop morning and night and if it’s really full sometimes when I get home from work.

If Stinky stays stinky, even on good food, have her stool checked by vet. Mine had giardia once and it was a smelly nightmare!

Mine do not like Swheat Scoop or any of the other alternative litters. I’ve tried all of them and on one memorable occasion, they made their opinion known by pooping in a cardboard box. I think that was the Swheat Scoop. I emptied it that day and went back to the scoopable kind. It’s their clear favorite.

[spotteddrafter]

[QUOTE=Christa P;7712972]
For a litter box, get a Rubbermaid type storage container and cut access holes where you want them. This keeps litter mostly confined and prevents overspray.[/QUOTE]

I have a very shy female that lives 100% now in my bedroom only, and the above quote is what I did for her. I had a Rubbermaid container already that perfectly fit a non-covered litter pan. Using an Exacto knife, I cut an opening about 6" wide by 8" tall (she’s a small kitty), and then I used duct tape to wrap around those sharp edges. The box is in my closet, and is clean it daily. So far, so good. The problem I’m having is lingering odor from her food.

Has anyone tried these?

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=2960

[betsyk]

Covered cat pan or Rubbermaid tote. Scoop Away, unscented. For one indoor cat in a studio apt that was 16x32, I would put one box of cat litter into a freshly scrubbed covered cat box and it lasted about a month, scooping daily. Do you take the dirty litter outside right away? When it got low, I’d dump it, clean the box with lysol or whatever, and refill. That kitty ate only grocery store dry food, so intake and output were consistent and not particularly stinky. Good luck. I think damp places make cat smells more pungent

[oliverreed]

^^^ THIS. Get (if you don’t have one already) a dehumidifier.

[Marshfield]

I swear by the new Arm and Hammer Clump & Seal. Best odor control I’ve ever found

http://www.armandhammer.com/pet-care/cat-care/Products/arm-and-hammer-clump-and-seal-cat-litter.aspx

[JBD]

The company that makes Pyranha fly spray also makes an odor spray that really works.

[regalace]

I know many people like the clumping litter, but we never founs a variety that didn’t have a horrible odor, scented ot unscented. I have had good luck with the silica crystal litter. We get the Mimi Cat brand from Walmart, it’s cheaper than the others.

I have found that if the cat will eat it, a raw diet keeps the volume and odor of the litter deposits to a minimum. My old cat would chow down on raw chicken very happily, butour ccurrent cats don’t like it. A good quality grain free canned food is the next best.

Ditto the covered litter box. I have seen people fix them up to vent out a window, though not sure how that would work on the ground floor, or in high humidity. If you have a choice, pick a spot that’s not on carpet!

Do you have a Litter Genie? It is like a diaper genie, it keeps dirty litter so you don’t have to run to the trash with a baggie twice a day. I used one when I lived in a 2nd floor apartment with one cat and it was a big help. Don’t really use it now, we have a multi cat house so the cleanings need to go out right away.

Congrats on the kitten, have fun with it!

[redkat]

[QUOTE=Marshfield;7713550]
I swear by the new Arm and Hammer Clump & Seal. Best odor control I’ve ever found

http://www.armandhammer.com/pet-care/cat-care/Products/arm-and-hammer-clump-and-seal-cat-litter.aspx[/QUOTE]

This stuff is amazing.

[Ceylon_Star]

[QUOTE=Marshfield;7713550]
I swear by the new Arm and Hammer Clump & Seal. Best odor control I’ve ever found

http://www.armandhammer.com/pet-care/cat-care/Products/arm-and-hammer-clump-and-seal-cat-litter.aspx[/QUOTE]

We use the extra strength version, even though we only have one (extra stinky) cat. Best litter we’ve found!!!

[Calamber]

Clumping cat litter has concrete in it, not good for kitties who are all known to lick their paws. I would use a deeper pelleted pine litter and a charcoal filter litterbox. Also, buy a better cat food, the cheap kind are going to smell that way coming out.

[cowboymom]

Big old storage tub turned litter box and experiment with the litter that works for you and yours but definitely get some sweet pdz to mix in there! It will eliminate the urine smell, just mix it with the litter or put it in first and then litter. I love that stuff and I have a lot of animals to contend with here!

Also, worm that kitty. It will be even more stinky for a few days after a thorough worming but it’s worth it. Worm her and feed her some half decent food and her poos should not be noxious and with the sweet pdz the pee will be deactivated. In the meantime, turn on the bathroom exhaust fan if that is where the stinky box is.

[Calamber]

Sweet PDZ is a great idea as is deworming. As far as a new name, how about Reba, as in “Walking at Midnight”, McIntire?

[cowboymom]

Or Phoebe… :lol:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mUIUPGwnTZA