Urine and cat feces are very penetrating, so the box usually has a strong, bad odor
Many people prefer the cat to any other animal because they are very clean. With their own language, they guarantee the hygiene of the body and make their needs in a controlled place. There is no need to teach the cat where to urinate and defecate, just teach where the litter box is and he will know the right place.
However, although cats take care of their own cleaning, they do not take responsibility for the hygiene of the litter box. This part is in the hands of the owners and is an extremely important task since this container usually exudes bad smell.
This is because urine and cat feces are very penetrating, resulting in strong odor. To improve this situation, simply clean the litter box regularly. However, if that does not solve, there are some tips that help reduce the stink. Get to know some simple tricks and even homemade to improve the smell of the container.
Remove excrement daily
The smell of the litter box will never improve if you leave the droppings inside it. It is necessary to remove them every day, especially when there are feces. The urine ends up being absorbed by the sand, so it is much harder to get it out with the shovel.
After performing this task, put some more sand to maintain the ideal level and cover the residue that could not be removed.
Clean weekly and monthly
Once a week remove all the sand, throw away and thoroughly wash the box. Use bleach or another unscented disinfectant. It is very likely that large pet shops sell their own products for the cleaning of this container. Once clean and dry, put new sand. The monthly cleaning should be deeper so that it sterilizes all microorganisms.
For owners with more free time, one option is to wash the carton every day. This will keep the container always clean and free from the stench. However, the expense with sand will increase considerably, since it will need to be changed at each wash.
Sodium bicarbonate
Baking soda is a great choice to control bad odors. It absorbs odors and is disinfectant. However, it can be toxic to cats in large numbers. So if you want to use it, you have to be careful.
Distribute a thin layer of bicarbonate in the bottom of the clean box. Cover with six or seven inches of sand. This mixture will ensure that the sand works more effectively and considerably reduces the odor of the container.
Activated charcoal
Activated charcoal works just like baking soda, but much more effectively. In addition to being a good method to reduce odors, activated charcoal is non-toxic and cats show a preference for it.
Before choosing between activated charcoal and baking soda, I do a test with your cat. He must choose which substance he prefers and suits best. To do this, place the coal in a sandbox and bicarbonate the other, then wait and see which one you choose.
Agglomerating sand
In the market, there are several types of sand for cats and the binder. This model forms balls when it comes in contact with urine. This way, when you remove the stool, you can also take the pee since it is visible.
The box will be much cleaner with the binder sand. However, it is a much more expensive product. It is necessary to consider whether the efficiency compensates the high value. Worth doing a test and see if that sand fits in the pocket.
Sand that neutralizes odors
As with binder sand, there are products on the market that neutralize odors. Choose one and see if your cat likes. If it adapts, it can be a very simple solution to lessen the bad smell. But if he rejects, try another kind of neutralizing sand and see if he accepts.
Change the sandbox location
In many cases, the main reason for the bad smell in the environment is because the litter box is in an enclosed place. Keeping it inside the house causes the odor to be concentrated in the room and in the container. Try to place it in an open, lighted and ventilated place. The smell will disperse and will no longer contaminate the residence.
Change the box every year
Over time the box becomes worn and deteriorated, making disinfection much more difficult. Bacteria begin to accumulate, generating bad smell and endangering the cat’s health. To avoid, change the litter box every year.
Self-cleaning sandbox
If you are lazy or have too little time to clean the litter box of your pussy, consider investing in a self-cleaning container. Fully automatic, it eliminates debris in a biodegradable plastic after 10 minutes of the cat defecating. This ingenious system uses binder sand and keeps the piece clean.
It is a rather expensive option, but quite useful if you can not clean the box regularly and want to keep it without bad odors.
Self-loading sandbox
Another option available in the market is the self-draining sandbox. This appliance washes and dries the sand, eliminating all excrement by a drain – like the washing machine releases the dirty water. It is not necessary to change the sand, only to replace as it decreases.
This device is much more expensive than the self-cleaning box, but for those who can buy, it is a product that guarantees the owner’s comfort, the constant hygiene of the litter box and the house free of bad odors.
