Solution For Cat Box Odor?

[Philippa]

This is so synched with what's going on at my place right now.

I bought her home 2 weeks ago and she has come out from her safe hole, and is using the litter, but it stinks so much, I think I'm gonna get a covered litter box, it's just too much...I'm spraying lemongrass essential oil mixed with water as a room spray every 30 minutes at this stage.

I bought the no grain food and clay litter but she loves to shred newspaper and it makes the clay fly everywhere...so I'm vaccuuming once or twice a day there as well.

I saw the kitty toilet training on human toilets and it looks intriguing, though they still have to install the toilet in my bungalow, so for now I think the covered litter box is the go. It has a special fan that soaks up all the odors, and a plastic door she can let herself in and out of without letting the smell escape with her. I don't care how much it costs...I want one!

 

[piratelady]

I have found that having a covered litter box and good litter makes all the difference. I have tried several kinds, the best so far is ExquisiCat Extra Fresh. That works the best of all that I've tried. I tried the Arm & Hammer kind..it was the worst for odor.

Also, if you ever switch their food, do it gradually, they are very sensitive to changes in their food and it could cause digestive issues.

 

[The Albatross]

I think the cat has IBS. Coincidentally, so does my husband. Maybe I can find a cat food that works on both of them.

I have IBS and so does my youngest feline Crystal with a very mal stool odor when she does go. We both take water soluable fiber twice a day. For her I but a teaspoon to a tablespoon in about an ounce of water, and we give it to her by mouth with a syringe twice a day. It doesn't completely resolve the feline IBS (google Feline Inflammatory Bowel Disease for more info) but it does help the odor be less offensive.

I also agree about baking soda... adding that to new litter (we use the more absorbent scoopable type which really helps for loose stools), we buy it in a big container from Sams and mix it with the litter.

The down side of the whole thing is having to spend some time giving the fiber and keeping the box clean... and sometimes I worry about giving the syringe too quickly and causing her to choke or get water in her lungs (I don't want to give her a respiratory infection or pneumonia). BUT... conversely... if I try to find the lesson, I try to learn and practice consistency through caring for her and as our mothers (my mom and MIL) get older and need more assistance, I'll already have good habits.

One day I may be a special needs too... so I got no problem learning how to give care and deal with some inconveniences and difficulties... because one day, I may actually BE someone's inconvenience and difficulty. I hope not, but hey, the odds of being elderly are sort of stacked against me.

 

[a3a2]

My husband found a solution. He put a very well camoflouged cat door in the wall, and now our litter box is in a caged enclosure in the garage.

 

[Philippa]

I have found that having a covered litter box and good litter makes all the difference. I have tried several kinds, the best so far is ExquisiCat Extra Fresh. That works the best of all that I've tried. I tried the Arm & Hammer kind..it was the worst for odor.

I ordered one straight after I posted above. It should be here before the week is out. There was even one that looked like a mansion or a dolls house, but I thought that was a bit much.

Also, if you ever switch their food, do it gradually, they are very sensitive to changes in their food and it could cause digestive issues.

Yes, I didn't do this. The vet had been feeding her the generic crappy biscuits, but I bought the expensive non-grain stuff, which she loves. Unfortunately, I didn't add a few of her old kibble to the mix to help her adjust. Live and learn.

 

[amethist]

Please be careful using essential oils round your cat. They cannot process it like we do and even inhaling too much can effect their livers.

 

[The Albatross]

Good point Amethist... totally different neurology too.

 

[The Albatross]

At times, this is quite tempting. But I love em both.

Did you know you can give a cat small doses of pepto bismo when they have tummy issues?

No, you can't or shouldn't. Pepto Bismol contains bismuth subsalicylate, which is toxic to cats at relatively low dosages, so no, you absolutely should not give it to a cat.

Don't know about Beano... but I can and do on occasion give my Feline IBD kitty a quarter a tablet of Pepcid when she's symptomatic (got it okayed by my vet).

 

[Philippa]

I just researched this product called Kitty crumbles coconut husk litter, and it looks pretty good. I'm gonna try it out, but I thought I'd see if anyone here has already and what they thought of it?