Unbearable smell in friends house

[kcchiefette]

My friend had to go away for the day (a drive about 2 hours away) and asked me to check on hIs cats during the day.

I have been up a fair few times and the house is a bit messy as you can imagine a single man's house to be.

Anyhow, the last time I was up for a visit, the smell of amonia was dreadful from the litter trays. They were full, the cats had started flicking their poo out and playing with it on the floor. I had to leave after half an hour because I was getting a headache and the next day I felt really sick as well.

I called up today, and the smell is there again, only worse. The litter trays are full again and the smell was so intense, I had to put my jumper over my nose to mask the smell. I checked on the cats, left them food and left. Friend will be back 8pm.

For those that have cats, I am assuming this is not normal?

I have never owned cats so dont know much but anybody else's house who has owned them has never had this smell and I am assuming litter trays need to be cleared out at least once a day?

How do I approach this with my friend? I dont want to go up there again to visit if the house will be smelling so badly of amonia and making me feel unwell.

Our cat's litter is scooped once or twice a day and changed 3 times a week, he's indoor at the moment, old cat was outdoor but did still use the litter tray but less often so days it wasn't used we didn't have to do anything

Not normal! litter trays I assume need to be totally cleaned/ changed every day and spot cleaned after every use? I don’t have cats but it’s what I would do. I imagine a slight smell will be there if it’s just been used but it shouldn’t be that bad. Not sure how to approach him about it though!

Personally Id have emptied, washed and refilled the tray, aired the house and sent friend a text saying what id done and why. Sounds very unhealthy for all involved.

Yes, I would too, poor cats .

Poor bloody cats. I couldn't have left them in that state, I'd have had to empty the stinking litter out and freshen it up for them, but then that might just be enabling your friend's laziness.

You need to tell him that the trays need cleaning every day, if he cba then suggest a self cleaning tray. If they are unneutered Tom's they smell awful,

It seems he doesn't clean the trays regularly and left them like that when he went away. Horrible for you and his poor cats.

Poor things, no, not normal at all. I'd have done the same as @UpUpUpU
If their litter trays are so full they'll be going elsewhere too, ie on the carpet. We clean ours multiple times a day, at least 3 or 4.

Just to clarify, I didnt empty the trays as I dont own cats so dont know the first thing about disposing of it - e.g. do I need gloves, do I need to put it in the actual black bin, where the the cat litter actually kept etc?

The smell was that bad, I don't know how I would have done it without being sick.

Also, dont want to seem like a pushy or judgemental friend going in and starting to empty out trays etc when its not my job to do.

All I know is that there is no way those 2 cats did that many poos in a 24 hour period!

Ps I have always had dogs so no experience at all with cats!

It's time for brutal honesty, because the living conditions for those poor cats is absolutely reprehensible. Can you even imagine how those poor animals are suffering due to the filth and smell? They probably are all suffering from respiratory illness.

I wouldn't even attempt to be "gentle." He needs a massive wake up call.

Aww poor cats.

I've got two cats, had cats before current ones and this is not ok or normal.

We do litter daily, not a full clean we pick out and full clean including scrubbing tray 2 or 3 times a week. They do go in outlr garden too! So it sounds like he's not cleaning the litter enough.

Those poor cats using a litter tray in that state. How many cats are there? The 'rule' is for multi cat households is one litter tray per cat plus one extra tray. So two cats need three trays.

I use good quality clumping litter. The tray is scooped several times per day (urine) and poo is removed straight away if I'm at home, or immediately upon return home.

Litter trays should not smell if the waste is removed and they're kept clean.

I hope you cleaned the litter tray out (although from your OP it would seem not)

Yeah I think you are right the cats obviously don't like a full tray. Mine wait to go until it's been cleaned! So it's not like it's just affecting him.

I dont know anything about cats or caring for them. I was basically told to just go in and feed them and that was all they needed.

Theres 2 cats and they are quite young (under a year anyhow) and both indoor cats so they aren't doing business outside. Theres 2 trays out at the moment.

I dont think there is much excuse for not cleaning them out, as he WFH most of the time and has no other responsibilities.

So do mine, little sods 🤣

You’re right, but you’ve left them too!

You have to be judgemental
This is a thing to be judgemental about.

Why would you stay silent

Poor cats.
Horrible owner. I’d judge the hell out of someone who treated their cats like this.

Me too

Definitely not normal, my cats litter tray is at the end of the kitchen and no smell at all
I remove clumps of wee and poo as soon as he goes and bin them
With a tray that bad I would be dumping the lot, washing with something mild like washing up liquid and hot water, drying and refilling with clean litter
Cats are very clean and won't use dirty trays

I wouldn't have left them with full litter trays if the owner wasnt back in a few hours and it was say, a full night. I probably would have just emptied them all out in the bin in that case.

It was also meant to be a pop in for a bit scenario, so plans with my child, responsibilities for my own dog and house, meant I couldn't stay and clean up and air out the house etc.

I know I have to say something, but how do you approach something like that?

Trays should never be full. We used to have one litter tray for two cats and it was checked multiple times per day and any poo removed. As such it was fine for the cats and didn’t stink.

If we went away we would put down multiple trays (and were never away that long and had people in daily to check things).

The cats deserve better.

All poops scooped ASAP and entire trays changed every three days (or sooner if there's been a lot of wees and the litter is looking tired).

Poor puss cats

Not normal. How many cats does he have to how many litter boxes? Is he using very cheap litter?

Shouldn't be enough poo in it to be flicking about. Poo should be picked up as soon as noticed and not left at all. With a decent brand of cat litter if you've got a ratio of one cat per box it can easily last a week before changing if poo is scooped out as soon as they go.

OP I think you did the right thing just feeding them as told.

I wonder if he was hoping you’d clean them all out? To save him a job.