We are fostering kittens for our local animal shelter. My house smells..... we have never had a cat or a kitten that is why we are fostering to see if we are a good match. Is there a difference in cat litter?? I just bought the huge bag at Wal-Mart for $3. Is that why my house smells or is this normal?
With cats, there are usually only smells if the litter box needs cleaning (with multiple cats, that will be often), or if they are having accidents. Unfortunately, the smell of cat urine is almost impossible to remove unless found and cleaned up immediately. Whenever, we've had kittens, we've kept them in the room with the litter box (usually the bathroom) for a few hours at a time.
Use Arm and Hammer! I like the Dual Odor or the Ultra Last. We have multiple cats and that is what we use. As long as you scoop every 2-3 days you shouldn't smell anything.
"Big cheap" cat litter is probably all clay, and clay doesn't absorb anything. It may help if -- when you clean out the box next time -- you first wash the litter box with soap and water, then cover the bottom of the box with baking soda first, before you put in the litter. That will help with some of the odor. Scoop out the solid material daily (at least) and flush it. There is definitely a difference in cat litter. We don't have cats inside anymore, but when we did, we found the kind that advertises that it "clumps" worked best, because the liquid caused it to stick together in easily scoopable lumps. The solid material caused this litter to stick to it too, so it also was easily scoopable. It may also help if you have the kind of plastic cat litter box that has a sort of "roof" over it.
I second the Arm & Hammer!!!!....and I'll third it if it helps! :lol: Clay litter's only purpose is to absorb oil dripped on your garage floor. Arm & Hammer clumps well and absorbs odor. Everyone who comes to our house sees the cat and remarks how they couldn't tell we had one. His litter box is in the bathroom, so you know they had to have been near it at some point in their visit. I don't care too much for the A&H Ultra Last or the Multi-Cat formulas. We have found with one cat the original smells the best and lasts longest.
Maybe it is just clay. I am cleaning the litter box 2 to 3 times a day. The kittens are kept in my laundry room and if they poop, whew its bad! I can't win my husband over that way.
I actually prefer the smell of the Dual Odor, too, over the Ultra Last. And yes, get some good litter or your hubby will never like having the kittens there. LOL
DON'T FLUSH CAT LITTER!!!! Especially the clumping kind unless it says it's okay to flush. Flushing cat litter is a sure fire way to destroy your plumbing. Please do not ask me how I know. Clumping litter will attach to the sides of your pipes and eventually clog them up - and if they make them to the main pipe, disaster. Just sayin'. I know some of the new ones say it's okay, those SHOULD BE okay. Normal clay litter - DON'T flush. Clay will create a sediment in your pipes that will clog the main, also. Another thing...if you use clumping litter, scoop every day. Cats are less tempted to "spray" if their potty spot is clean. SORRY! No help on which is the best litter. Litters have improved so much since we've had cats. Glad you've gotten some good advice here.
I totally agree w/ arm and hammer. That or there is a new one made by blue buffalo that is all natural. It's made I "think" from pine or ceder. Whatever it is it smells good and is better for the environment. However I still prefer arm and hammer dual control or ultra last. Nothing else comes close to it. It was the last litter we tried before SO said either the litter box stops smelling or the cats go outside. We now also have a kitten, but she/he(not sure still too little) isn't big enough to use a litter box an if it hadn't been abandoned would defintly still be exclusively nursing however it's eyes ar eopen
These kittens are only 5 weeks old. Such dolls.... Thank God they use the litter box. I bought the arm and hammer today. No sooner did I change it and one of the kittens did the stinkest poop ever.... My husband said, Yea that's working... LOL It really was horrible.
One covers and one doesn't. They are eating dry but the shelter ask that I give them some wet food as well to help them to get to 3lbs
The wet food certainly makes the poop smell worse, and if one isn't covering... well..... Maybe when that one goes you can take his paw and scratch the litter to help him catch on. You can use water to wet the dry food a little, or, even better, kitten replacement milk.
I remember a kitten we had once when I was a kid. It came directly from its mother's milk to our house, so it had its first canned food presented to it here at our house. It crept up on the saucer, nosing around cautiously. It sniffed and withdrew, and sniffed again and withdrew, then turned around and tried to cover it up by scratching at the linoleum! I guess we know that cat's opinion of canned cat food!
Christine, I use OUT! PetCare Hard Surface stain & Odor Eliminator spray, it's safe around pets and children but kills the germs and gets rid of the smell. You spray the area and let it set for a couple of minutes, then wipe it up. Mike
That is awesome...... Love that he tried to cover up the cat food. They are definately diffent. We are enjoying them. My kids are looking forward to picking out the perfect cat for our family. Pray the Lord directs up to the perfect one..... I am so incredibly nervous about adopting one. But my kids have always asked me. We have decided to go with a adult or a senior cat because people are less likely to pick them. The kittens will find a home because everyone wants a kitten. I just wanted to be sure with allergies and the dogs how it would go. We don't seem to be allergic and the dogs are completely fine with the cats. Once in a while they will jump at them but thats it. No big deal, the cats don't even respond anymore.
