Litter Box Odour: Fixing the Cause Rather Than Masking It

Scooping frequency beats everything

No litter, additive or covered tray compensates for infrequent scooping. Twice a day is the standard that removes the problem. Everything else on this list is a refinement of that one habit.

Have enough trays

One per cat plus one spare, in different locations. Two cats sharing one tray produces smell faster than the litter can cope with, and it is also the most common cause of a cat starting to go elsewhere in the house.

Covered trays are for you, not the cat

Hoods contain smell for the room and concentrate it for the cat. Many cats dislike them, and a cat who avoids a covered tray finds a carpet instead. If you use one, scoop more often rather than less.

Scented litter usually backfires

Heavily perfumed litter is unpleasant to a species with a far better sense of smell than yours, and it does not remove ammonia — it sits on top of it. Unscented clumping litter, scooped properly, with a thin layer of bicarbonate of soda under the litter, outperforms scented products.

When smell is a symptom

A sudden change in smell, volume or frequency is worth a vet visit rather than a new product. Unusually strong ammonia, noticeably larger clumps, or a sweet smell can point to urinary infection, kidney disease or diabetes. A litter tray is one of the better early warning systems you have — worth reading rather than just cleaning.