What causes extreme cat litter box odor and how can I fix it?

It may be the litter you are using that is reacting to your cats urine smell. However you should always scrape the bottom of the litterbox to ensure you get all the urine out of the box. When filling the litterbox you are usually ok with filling it to 3-4 inches of litter. Also, if your cats are tolerant to it, you can put in litter liners that will coat the bottom of the litterbox and prevent any sticking at the bottom. I hope this helps and if you still feel like you are smelling a bad odor, I would consider having the cats checked for a urinary tract infection. Pay attention to how often each cat urinates and drink water to determine which is likely to have an issue. Best wishes with your cats moving forward. Take care.

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Lazgah. Is he burying his stool in the litter as this will help to decrease the odor? If not, then I would try another litter type to see if he likes it better. Another option is to try another diet that may work better for him. It is always a good idea for him to see his veterinarian as well to ensure he does not have a health problem. I hope this information helps!

Litter box issues can be extremely frustrating! If Luna is both urinating and defecating outside of her litter box, this is more likely a behavioral issue. If she is only urinating outside of the litter box, there is a chance that there is an underlying medical issue, such as a urinary tract infection or bladder stones. Sneezing can be due to a number of issues in cats, including simple irritation to the nasal passages from dust or pollens, nasopharyngeal polyps, upper respiratory infections, among others. I'm glad to hear that Luna has recently been to her vet and seemed to be healthy, but it may be worth going back to the vet for a urinalysis if this was not already done. This urine test will rule out a UTI and crystals in the urine. Your vet will also be able to determine if an upper respiratory infection is suspected. Once medical issues have been ruled out as a cause of Luna's litter box issues, consider several at home strategies. Add an extra litter box to the house, consider changing the litter type to one with less dust (Yesterday's News is one brand), add or remove a hood/cover to one of the litter boxes, and consider using a calming pheromone collar or diffuser (Feliway is one example). If all of these attempts fail, you may need to talk to Luna's vet about anti-anxiety medications. I hope this helps! Good luck! :-)

Check to make sure she is not urinating outside of her cat box. If she is, have her examined by the veterinarian to check for a bladder infection. You can often find many good products to clean carpets and other areas online or in pet stores. Natures miracle is one with a good reputation. There are also special kinds of cat litter’s that help decrease odor. The crystal type cat litter tends to be one of the best. Lastly, you may consider changing her diet to a low residue cat food. Royal Canin is one of those diets and cats who consume this diet tend to produce less stool and less odor. I hope this helps and please feel free to post any additional questions.

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Dusty. I recommend that he sees his veterinarian to ensure that he does not have a medical problem. If he is healthy, then it is more likely a behavioral issue. Yes, I recommend scooping his box daily. You should one litter box per cat plus one. So that means two boxes for one or three boxes if you have two cats. Most cats prefer large litter boxes and ones that are uncovered. I hope this information helps!

Hello and thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Inappropriate elimination (peeing or pooping outside the litter box) in cats can be frustrating and difficult to treat. The first step you should take is scheduling an appointment for Udang to see a veterinarian. A lot of times a cat will start going outside of the litter box due to health problems like urinating tract infections, pain, urinary tract inflammation and digestive problems. Once you have established that there aren't any medical reasons for inappropriate elimination the following may be helpful: 1. Cats will urinate or defecate outside of the litter box for stress related reasons. Therefore it is best to keep the litter boxes in several different, quiet areas of the household. 2. A pheromone diffuser like Feliway can be quite helpful. 3. Ensure you have at least one litter box in the household per cat plus one. For example, if you have 3 cats, then 4 litter boxes are recommended. 4. Feeding an all canned food diet can help if there is inflammation in the bladder. There are also prescription diets available to help with bladder inflammation or digestive issues. Your veterinarian can help you choose the best one for your cat. 5. The litter boxes should be cleaned once to twice daily and completely emptied and washed weekly. Most cats prefer litter to be the clumping type that is kept a few inches deep. Certain litter types like Dr. Elsey's Cat Attract litter may be helpful. 6. You can also place aluminum foil over the areas Udang normally likes to urinate to prevent him from going in that area. If you have done a lot of the above suggestions you may also want to talk to your veterinarian about behavioral medications that may help prevent inappropriate urination. Good luck!

I'm sorry to hear that Oliver is not using his litter box appropriately. How frustrating! The first thing you want to do is have your veteriarian rule out a medical problem. If he has inflammation, crystals in the urine or an infection, he will be less likely to use the box. If he has a condition causing him to drink excessive amounts of water, he will urinate more and likely out of the box. If there is not a medical issue, then it is a behavior issue. The first step is to neuter him. You should have a litter box for each cat in the home plus one (2 boxes for 1 cat, 3 boxes for 2 cats, etc). Try adding a box in a new location away from any loud noises (furnace, washer/dryer, etc). You can also try a new litter substrate and see if that helps. I hope this information gives you a starting point. Good luck!