REALLY OT: Need your best tips for controlling litter box odor....

[ADHDiabetic Mom]

My wonderful hubby got me a Ragamuffin cat for a late Christmas gift -- one I've been wanting for ages. She's a sweet little thing and we all just love her, but yikes!! :eek: Remember on the old TV show "Friends", when Phoebe would sing the "Smelly Cat" song? Well, I can't get it out of my head!

I empty this stupid litter box two to four times every day, sometimes more, and it's not enough! The little fiend runs in there the minute I've left the room, and uses it again. OR... she'll wait until I'm happily settled in a nice warm bubble bath (never before), and she'll hop in the box and stink up the whole room again. :mad:

We have a septic tank, so I started out using one of those biodegradable litters you can flush. It couldn't control the smell, so I switched to a stronger multi-cat brand and carry the waste out to the trash each time. It still stinks!

I'm feeding this stupid animal the same expensive food the breeder used (Diamond cat food), and when I tried to switch, the problem got a LOT worse. I haven't tried Science Diet yet, but she's so intollerant to changing food that I'm not very hopeful it will help.

I'm already using a covered box, and there isn't another spot in the whole house where this thing will fit. Hubby forbids me to move it to the laundry room for fear it will stink up the whole house.

He is not talking about getting rid of the cat (yet), but he's not happy.

Anyone have any ideas? Favorite litters, helpful foods, anything? Should I take this poor creature to the vet? :confused: I've had cats before, but I don't remember ANY of them smelling this bad. If anyone has the magic solution, I am ALL EARS!!

[momtojess]

We have 2 cats... we use tidy cat multi cat litter, and then I sprinkle baking soda in with it. We usually only clean the box once a day, sometimes twice. We put it in a plastic grocery sack, tie it and through it in the kitchen garbage. the litter box is in the laundry room with a plug in air freshner. So far it isnt a problem. Oh, and we feed them purina cat chow.


Hope you can find a solution.

[frizzyrazzy]

we have two cats and use Fresh Step - the original kind NOT the scoopable kind. As long as we clean it every night it's good. And once a week we fully change out the litter and wash the box and put a new pan liner bag in. Use one of those pan liner bags - they stop the smell from seeping out of the pan...

OR maybe your cat has a digestion problem. Maybe mention it to the vet???

[Ellen]

I would try other food - do you have a pet store that specializes in holistic cat food? You may also want to see if distilled water makes a difference.

I don't have the room for this but the video was amusing. A potty way to solve your cat's dirty little problem [VIDEO] - ISRAEL21c (http://www.israel21c.org/bin/en.jsp?enDispWho=Articles%5El2132&enPage=BlankPage&enDisplay=view&enDispWhat=object&enVersion=0&enZone=Technology&)


How to Toilet-Train Your Cat (http://www.karawynn.net/mishacat/toilet.html)
And if have the time :D

http://www.karawynn.net/mishacat/photos/mtoiletfront.jpg

CitiKitty - Complete Cat Toilet Training Kit (http://www.citikitty.com/)

http://www.citikitty.com/images/cat_toilet_trained.gif

[danismom79]

I use Arm & Hammer litter, and the odor control powder, which is mostly baking soda I reckon. I also happen to have a basement, so that's where my cat's box is. I have lots of Renuzits down there too ;)

You might try taking the cat to the vet, there could be some problem making it stink so bad. Is it more of a pee smell (ammonia)? That's the worst for me, that's some strong stuff. I've heard that litters with pine help neutralize odors.

[MReinhardt]

Some times its NOT the cat liter that you are using. Its the food that the cat is eating. Make sure you get good quality cat food, that will make a huge difference.

[CJ's Mom]

I have two cats inside but one goes potty outside most of the time. Use Tidy Cats scoopable multi cats and clean the box maybe every other day....or when I think about it :eek: Usually don't have much problem with urine odor but there is a distinct odor if I've forgotten to clean the box.

I've always wanted an automated litter box, anyone have one?

[Beach bum]

We use Iams Indoor Cat/Hairball control food. Now wet food allowed.

I use Fresh Step Scoopable litter, odor control, I think it has baking soda in it.

I would give your vet a buzz, it could be the cat is allergic to something in the food.

[saxmaniac]

We have 3 cats. The main problem I see is the depth of the litter. Too little, and there's not enough litter to soak up the urine. Too deep, and the urine will form a giant stinky block, because they can't move it around enough. Our cats pee in the same spot all the time. If you don't "stir" the litter, then you get one really wet corner that never fully dries out. This solves 99% of the problem for us, but the main problem is urine smell.

The Arm & Hammer litter box stuff is great. Not plain baking soda, they have stuff made just for litter boxes.

If that doesn't help, get a Litter Maid. It automatically scoops it up for you and seals it.

[musicjunkie]

I have 3 cats also and I use feline pine for kitty litter...love it.
What you feed your cat is a biggie.Cheaper cat foods produce bigger droppings:((at least from my experience)Wet food is also a biggie and makes for the smell you can't stand.I feed them Iams indoor cat food...makes for MUCH smaller and less stinky poos:D;)

[musicjunkie]

I had a Liter Maid and Floyde broke it the 2nd week in:mad:
Got another one and Violet got her tail hairs caught,riped out a nice chunk:(:mad:

[frizzyrazzy]

I also ditto on good food making less smell. We only use Iams too.

[ADHDiabetic Mom]

I have 3 cats also and I use feline pine for kitty litter...love it.
What you feed your cat is a biggie.Cheaper cat foods produce bigger droppings:((at least from my experience)Wet food is also a biggie and makes for the smell you can't stand.I feed them Iams indoor cat food...makes for MUCH smaller and less stinky poos:D;)

I tried Iams when we first got her, and it made things so much worse that I went back to the Diamond brand the breeder had fed her. Maybe it just takes time for her to adjust to the switch?

Someone else recommended Hill's Prescription Diet for cats with digestive troubles. I might try that, too.

[Ellen]

We just switched to Orijen food
http://www.championpetfoods.com/orijen/orijen/

[BeckyND]

I am a big fan of Nutro Natural Choice for indoors cats. I like this product because it helps with digestion and your cats coat.

[etringali]

How long have you had the ragdoll? Has the stinkies been happening since day one? And not to be gross, but what is the consistency of the BM? If it is sorta runny, but not diarrhea she may have a little tummy bug that needs some medicine to get rid of. I can't remember what it was called(bug or medicine). Our cat Teyla was extremely stinky when we first got her and I had to give her this viscous yellow nasty medicine to clear up the issue. Sometimes they come from breeder/shelter with something and you need some meds to get rid of it.
If you don't use scoopable, you can scoop the poop into the toilet.Use a scooper and shake the litter off as best you can. A few grains won't hurt anything.
Also reccomend a trip to the vet with poop sample in hand(so to speak) they can do a fecal analysis and figure out if there is an outside source causing the stink.
We do have problems with ammonia(pee) smell. Xena(the Birman) is prone to cystitis and her urine always has a strong odor. She picks the same corner EVERY time and doesn't bury. And we have a litterbox bully who tends to harrangue Xena and Mellie which causes problems as well.
With your vets help, this should be a surmountable issue. Sometimes more than one litter box is elpful, even for a single kitty. Ragamuffin/Ragdolls ain't cheap purebreds so you certainly want to explore all options before you return kitty to breeder or find a new home.

Good Luck!