I have three cats and three litterboxes in my house. I'm scared my house smells like "cats"- HELP!

Question

I clean the litterboxes religiously twice a day but still feel like the house smells. Do cats themselves give off an odor or is it just their litterboxes? Any suggestions on what I can do? Does anyone else out there have a multi cat household and have it smelling fresh too? THANK YOU SO MUCH! Will try anything!

Answer 1

It probably does smell like cats.

Answer 2

I think u need to replace the litter in each box a least once a week that will help. It also helps to have the litterboxes with the lids on then. Also buy some fragrance of some sort that plugs in the wall where the boxes are. I have 4 cats and 3 litterboxes and I've been told that ppl didn't know I even had cats. SO all of this will help a lot.

Answer 3

First of all, generally speaking, male cats are smellier than female cats - not sure why, but it seems to be true to my knowledge.

Somethings that could help ... keep the trays far away from where people visiting might go. Use oust or something like that in the room (but not enough to choke the cats !!!)
Finally, and I personally think this works the best, is you can get litter trays that have a top on them, so its like a little house. If your cats can get used to them, this helps cut the odour out.

On saying that, if you are cleaning out the trays twice a day then there probably isn't a smell that a quick spray of some perfumy thing won't cover up. Always remember to take the rubbish outside though. Even if you put it in bags, tie them up and leave them lying inside till it stops raining or whatever - they can still leave a horrible stink !!!

Hope this helps !!!

[edit]
Also actually empty them out once a week and wash them with soap and water.

Answer 4

Glade plug-ins are your friend! I used to have FIVE cats. It was a ton of work. You might want to try switching your litter to Feline Pine.. thoughat first. Feline pine is a ton better for your cat because when they breathe in that clay clumping litter it can get into their system and cause allergies or just gather in their stomach and cause problems later on. Some people say that last bit isn’t proven.. but it makes sense and will DEFINATELY cause breathing problems in your cats from all the dust. Feline pine smells good naturally. I noticed a HUGE difference in smell when I switched. Plus, you don’t need to change it as often to KEEP it smelling good. You don’t need to CHANGE the cat litter, just scoop the poops out. ;)

Also what I found have helped tremendously is a dome litterbox. If you don’t have one of these already, i suggest getting it!

Also, where is your litter box? Try putting it in a spot where less people travel, but somewhere with access to a window or something to let the smell drift out instead of an enclosed place where it just stays in one spot and starts reeking.

One more thing.. Have you heard of a cat food called Royal Canine? IThey also make cat food for cats.. They are the BEST! Not only is it healthy and hs no preservatives, they have a special kind that is formulated to make cat poo less stinky! IT REALLY works, so, give it a try!

Of course, your cats might be a little pissed at all the changes, they’ll get used to it eventually and you’ll be so much happier!a your cats might not like the change

And one more thing.. For the daily scooping, I found this litter locker: http://www.amazon.com/Petmate-Litter-Locker-Plus/dp/B00067P764/ref=pd_bbs_sr_2/102-6135839-2403347?ie=UTF8&s=home-garden&qid=1182947965&sr=8-2 is an AMAZING lifesaver! Just keep it near the litter box, scopp daily, and put in the locker. Click it a few times and it seals it so no odor will come out. When it's full, you simply tie it off, pull it out, and dispose. I found it makes me clean the litter box a lot more having something so convenient nearby. Then, when trash day comes around, tie it off, cut it, toss it in the trash, and there are no lingering smells.

Hope you can find something helpful in here. (:

Answer 5

There are 2 reasons why houses with cats may smell:
1. The cats are not neutered and they spray urine to mark their territory. If your cats are not neutered/spayed, do that.
2. The litterbox is smelly. What I do with my 2 litterboxes, is that I take the dirty areas (wet sand and poo) and throw it away immediately after the cats pee and especially when they poo. I don't leave the poo standing even for 30 seconds. This may sound like I am always there watching when they'll poo, but it is not true. The cats have learned to like the cleanliness of their litterbox,and they won't use it unless I am there to clean it. They pee if they have to, but they wait for me to go poo. They won't use a litterbox which contains poo in it. In fact, even when I am in the house, they call me when they want to go to the litterbox. My house dosn't smell at all.

Answer 6

I only have one cat but a couple months ago I started smelling an odor around the house and just like you assumed it was the kitty pan and started cleaning multiple times a day. It didn't work and then one day I was watching my cat and she went right on the wall next the door!!! Which was totally out of her character. A few days went by and I kept watching and noticed her do it several times. I took her to the vet to see if something may be wrong and they tested her urine and sure enough she had an infection. The Vet told me that she related the pain of her infection with he kitty box and that was why she was going out of it.

I hope that this isn't your situation but I would watch your cats closely just to make sure!

Answer 7

Hi Tiger,

My friend has 3 cats and soon to have an additional one - her home always smells fresh - which cat littler do you use as you can buy one that when the cat has done the necessary it omits a pleasant scent - I am not sure what it is called - try looking on the Internet and I am sure that you will find what you are looking for. My friend is on holiday for 2 weeks so I cant ring her to find the name of the brand that she buys.

Good luck - and I have 1 cat Becky and she is lovely - I just love all animals.

Answer 8

The only way to keep the smell out of your house is to either keep the litter boxes clean, this does not mean clean them once a day, clean them right after they are used, or the second method is to give the cats away, and make it someone Else's problem.
The only reason that a person's house smells, is because this person isn't doing their best to keep it smelling clean.
To have cats living in your house, you must be willing to do the work pessary to keep the place clean.

Answer 9

Depends on what sort of litter you use - the clay ones stink anyway and as soon as they are used they smell even worse. The newspaper pellet ones are okay and the lumps and wet bits can be flushed down the toilet, but I use the crystals for my four cats (each with its own litter tray) and the foster kittens.
I am very away of cat smells, but my house is fine. There can be an initial smell when they poop, but the same can be said for humans as well.

Edit:
Entire males can have a stronger smelling urine but that is hormonal. Once neutered it isnt as strong.

Answer 10

I use Fresh Step Multiple Cat Strength Scoopable Clumping Cat Litter.
Link: http://www.petsmart.com/global/product_detail.jsp?PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=845524441818089&FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=2534374302033738&ASSORTMENT%3C%3East_id=2534374302023690&bmUID=1182947899216&itemNo=6&Ntt=freshstep&In=All&previousText=freshstep&N=2

I love this stuff! I have one litterbox, and two cats. My house doesn't have that "cat smell." I have the Roll N Clean Litter Box from Omega Paw. It works great, and you don't even have to touch the litter. I clean the box once a day. I really hope this helps!

Answer 11

I agree with one of the other answers. Washing the boxes once a week will help. After a while, though, you will probably want to completely replace the boxes with new ones. I do every so often. Have your kitties been 'fixed'? Maybe one or more are marking thier territory, leaving you feeling like it does smell like urine. When my kitten was old enough to 'spray' (and he did!), I could smell it. I knew it was time for him to go to the doctor! :)