How to stop family home stinking of cats!

[HelloWorld2577]

Hi all! I really really need some advice about my cats! I have 3 indoor cats and our home SMELLS. When I had just the one I never noticed it, I used Catsan and regularly changed it. Then I got the second who then had kittens and I really noticed the smell change as they had accidents everywhere. I spot cleaned but my home has never smelt clean since.

I feel really embarrassed about having anyone over (and rarely do have anyone round) because when you open the front door you are just hit with a stench of wee.

I am having my carpets replaced next month so this will hopefully help a bit! But just wondered if anyone had any tips. Generally speaking they will all use the tray until it gets dirty and then they may have the odd accident elsewhere so im trying my best to keep on top of the litter.

Has anyone tried a stainless steel litter box? Im concerned the tray itself could be contributing to the smell as its plastic.

Any plug ins anyone uses? Any particular cleaning products? Also any advice on how to manage cat hairs everywhere? Any help at all is appreciated as I'm at my wits end.

Thanks!

[Wolfpa]

Get rid of the cats?

Self cleaning litter boxes make a huge difference

[Wolfiefan]

I’m guessing they have peed somewhere you haven’t found or it’s soaked through to the underlay. Do they ever go out? How many litter trays do you have for that number of cats? You scoop daily? What do you clean the tray with when you fill with fresh litter?

[Ginandjuice57884]

I used to have 5 cats. Six litter boxes, world's best cat litter or greenwoods from zoo plus. Clean out pee and poop multiple times a day. It doesn't get rid entirely (cats live here, that's fine by me) but it does minimize it. My cats all lived indoors. Only have two now but still have 5 litter boxes as they use all of them!

[Froodwithatowel]

Raid a pets at home for their spray smell/stain removing stuff, own brand. Drench the house. It's the one thing that really makes a difference. Every accident, drench the spot with it to make sure there's no smell and no one's tempted to wee there again. Consider replacing carpets with hard flooring that's much easier to clean and mop. Scrub out the litter tray boxes really thoroughly, I do mine about twice a week.

[Onceuponaheartache]

You say tray singular...if that is the case this is your issue. You need 1 per cat and then at least 1 spare.

You need to clean poo as soon as they have been and sift clumping litter daily.

With the exception of the one that had kittens are the others male? Have you had them neutered?

[Bohemond23]

1. don’t feed fish based food - it makes their wee smell much more chemically
2. use cat’s best wood based litter. Soaks everything up and clumps so can easily be removed from tray. Also does not smell chemically like catsan

i say both of these having had cats for many years and only just found the best combo.

[BlueRidgeMountains]

Can't you let them out ?
Litter trays stink.
Mine go outside under my big weeping tree and l have potting trays dotted around with compost, that they use.

[RestingCatsArseFace]

Simple Solution spray for spot cleaning, or buy a 5 litre bottle and refill a spray.

One tray per cat plus a couple of spares, scoop often. Use clumping litter, wood, natural fibre is best OKO Plus Cats Best have a range of different types, original, pellets, sensitive... all clump, don't get the ones for rabbits as they don't work for cats. I found that Worlds Best had a manky smell so I avoid corn based but a lot of people use it although it can cause allergies in cats and humans.

Covered trays are ment to prevent smells, and many have a carbon filter. I have never had much luck with them, covered works sometimes but smells are still there and more of a fiddle to scoop.

Full change of trays when needed. No need to do them all in one go, rotate them in order or keep an eye on which ones are used most.

Do not use air fresheners or scented litter. Air fresheners are toxic to pets, scented litter can make them look for a place that isn't perfumed rather than use the tray, it also stinks when used.

For carpets, the underlay might smell and it is difficult to shift a smell but soaking with enzyme spray (Simple Solution) and leaving for a while might help if it's a patch, but it can remove colour. I once added it to a carpet shampooer and cleaned the entire room with it. It helped.

White vinegar can also remove smells.

[Firsttimebabymama]

I have 3 indoor cats. In the last month or so I've switched them to RAW food and it has made a considerable difference to the smell. Their poo is odorless, and wee not as strong as before.

[lifebeginsaftercoffee]

We have three indoor cats and one litter tray definitely wouldn't be enough for them - the ideal is one per cat plus a spare though we've managed to get away with just three.

We scoop pee and poo about 4-5 times a day (morning and after work plus every time they go) and just use a natural clumping plant-based litter (Greenwoods). I personally think the artificially scented ones smell awful.

When the kittens had accidents did you clean them all properly with an enzyme spray?

[caringcarer]

If you only have one cat tray there is the problem. They need one each.

[DRS1970]

Could your cats be spraying anywhere, and that is the smell, as opposed to the litter tray. If you are not sure buy a cheap UV blacklight torch and scan your home. It will show up any incidents and accidents clearly so you can clean up. It saves you crawling around sniffing like a weirdo.

[DropDeadFreida]

With 3 indoor cats you should have 4 litter trays in different parts of the house. The trays should be fully emptied, disinfected and refilled with fresh litter twice a week without fail.

If your cats are weeing outside of the litter tray they are telling you they are unhappy with something. Cats do not wee outside their tray unless they are ill, stressed, or unhappy with their litter tray.

[Musicaltheatremum]

My daughter has 3 indoor cats and used to have 2 trays. Her house never smelt of cats. She now has a super rotating litter machine that clears itself. Uses super clumping litter. Never any smells. She feeds them dry food.