The Pick of the Litter: Kitty Litter and Odor

Chances are if you are a cat owner then you are all too familiar with smelly kitty litter. So why is it so hard to get rid of kitty litter odor? It has to do with Uric Acid. Uric acid is one of the main components of cat urine. It is what gives off that horrible smell. The problem comes when uric acid crystallizes. It creates a strong bond to whatever material it is on, and it does not dissolve in water. So this makes for a very difficult odor to remove.

One way to mask kitty litter odor is to buy a good litter that works to mask odor.

6 best recommended kitty litters:

Precious Cat Ultra Premium Clumping Litter
World's Best Cat Litter-made from corn and biodegradable.
Odor Lockers - Fresh Scent Clumping Litter-made from wood and biodegradable.
Fresh Step Premium Scoopable Clumping Litter
Dr. Elsey's Precious Cat "Cat Attract" Litter
PETCO Scoopable Cat Litter
What are the advantages of organic, biodegradable cat litters over fine-grained, clumping clay litters? Unlike clay kitty litters, biodegradable cat litter (made of everything from corn to pine wood to recycled newspapers) can be flushed down the toilet or used as mulch or compost. Some owners also claim these litters do a better job of controlling odors.

You may want to consider a biodegradable cat litter with a new kitten. Cats are notorious creatures of habit, so if yours has been using a specific type or brand of litter for years, it will be very difficult to get it to switch. For that reason, owners report better success using biodegradable cat litter with young cats.

Also try preventative odor absorption methods. Sprinkling baking soda on top of litter absorbs the uric acid upon contact. Make sure to scoop litter on a daily basis. Not only will this make you happy, but kitty will also be happy. Keep kitty-area clean. Personally, I am a fan of enzyme products to kill odor. Enzymes work in nature as catalysts, speeding up the process to kill odor.

Cat boxes come in all shapes and sizes. We are fortunate to have options to see what works for your feline friend. Specialty pet stores sell electronic litter boxes making it possible to never touch litter again. However, some cats will be frightened by a litter box that makes noise. If this isn't an option for your cat, line your litter pan with a pan-liner.

Remember that cats are sensitive to their environment. Cats will actually refuse a dirty litter box. Keeping your cat happy will ultimately lead to a happier nine lives.