Cats, although sweet and adoring creatures, can be quite smelly. This usually stems from the fact that their litter box is inside. Other reasons can be that their wanting to mark their territory, so they may mark items around the house. If you’re trying to find any tips possible on how to get rid of the cat smell in your house, I’ve got a few suggestions that may help you with your issue.
Cats themselves are usually pretty clean creatures. However, their little box can pose quite a smelly issue around the house. Not to mention, they will often use peeing certain items around the house to either tell you they’re not feeling good, they’re upset at you, or to tell another cat or animal that’s their house. Any of these reasons can be frustrating and cause your home to smell like cat which isn’t very fun.
Tips on Masking the Cat Box Smell
Litter boxes are perhaps one of the worst causes of stench around a cat owner’s house. One of the best ways to reduce this smell is by scooping the box at least twice a day. The smell is the waste itself sitting in the box. If you use a great clumping litter, with a built-in deodorizer, it should do a great job of masking the smell. However, even great litters can leave a less than desirable smell after a bit. Scooping twice a day takes little time and effort and is one of the easiest ways to ensure your home stays smelling nice.
The main downfall to clumping litter is that it can be hard to tell if there’s anything inconsistent about your cat’s feces. Yes, as a cat owner, it’s important to watch the status of your cat’s poop as this is a thorough way to know and understand the status of their general health. Many people choose non-clumping litter for this reason. If you use non-clumping litter, scooping is even more important.
Baking soda sprinkled on top of the litter is also a great way to mask any existing smells and to help cover up future stench. Always switch out the litter on a weekly basis, sooner if you have more than a couple cats. When you switch out the litter, be sure to scrub down the box itself. This removes any smells clinging to the box itself. Cats have sensitive sniffers and they will pick up on those lingering smells and could stop using the box because of it. This will result in them using other areas of the house to go to the bathroom which will only make the smell worse. On top of that, it will cause a mess that you’ll have to clean up.
Cleaning Messes Outside the Box
Learning how to get rid of the cat smell in your house can be a daunting task especially when it feels like it’s everywhere. However, usually the stench is coming from a specific area or two that needs to be located and cleaned. Once this occurs, you’ll usually see that the smell disappears throughout the entire house. Cats like to find corners or little hidden spots to go potty if they’re not wanting to use the box for whatever reason. If they’re trying to prove a point to you, they may choose your bed, the kitchen counter, your pillow, your shoes, in front of the door, etc. Obvious spots where you traffic a lot. If they pee on your shoes, bedding, clothes, etc. these can just be tossed into the washer. It’s suggested that you wash them alone and add a touch more soap. Be sure they have plenty of room in the washer to clean well and they will wash up nicely.
If your cat chooses to pee on your mattress or your couch, something you can’t just toss in the washer, baking soda is your best friend. Try to soak up as much as possible with paper towels then cover the spot in a thick layer of baking soda and let it sit for a while. Simply vacuum it up after a couple of hours. If the smell remains, mix two parts warm water, two parts vinegar, and one tablespoon baking soda. Spray this on the spot and scrub it down really well. Let it sit then spritz with water and scrub it again without the spray. This should pull the smell right out.
Clearing General Cat Odor
If your house doesn’t really smell super bad but, it’s slightly noticeable that you have pets, I have found that wall plugins work great for giving the house an overall great smell.
It’s also a great idea to make sure your cat is cleaning itself. If it’s not doing a good job of that, you might take it to a groomer to make sure it stays clean.
As a cat owner, you will also learn your own tips and tricks for how to get rid of the cat smell in your house. It comes with experience.
