Litterbox A Stinkbomb

Ceracera

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So I recently got two kittens. Theyre both a little over 3 months old and their litter box is like an atomic bomb. One seems to stink more than the other.

I started with a regular litter box, but even with scooping up to 4 times a day, it stank. They're kittens, so they use the litter box A LOT. The smell wouldnt be a problem if my apartment were bigger, but its a tiny 1-bedroom, and im scared the odour will start to get onto my clothes and stuff, and other people might be able to smell it when Im out.

I now have a petsafe simply clean and am using Ever Clean unscented extra strength, but even with emptying the waste receptacle twice a day, my entire living room (where their litter box is) still stinks. The filled waste receptacle itself smells so bad even a skunk would pass out. I also put in a carbon pouch everytime I change the liner, but that doesn't seem to help. I keep the windows open when I can.

The only time the smell got a bit better was when I put a cover on their regular litter box, but I could tell from the way they sniffed around that they could still smell it inside. And the smell wasn't that bad when I scopped as soon as they did their business, but I have a job. I obviously can't camp the litter box 24/7.

Right now I have to do a complete litter change every 3 days.

I dont think its a health issue because I took them to the vet when I first got them (3 weeks ago). They had a complete health check and the only thing "wrong" was that the pcr showed they had calici and the immunity test showed their vaccinations weren't that effective. The UTI/worm tests were negative. They don't pass gas or strain either. Their poop has always been solid, though the one with the stinkier poop seems to also poop bigger.

It's been 2 weeks since theyve been switched to high-protein diet. The breeder used to feed royal canin kitten but I now feed them a mix of nutro/wellness/merrick. They get both wet and dry.

I've had cats my whole life and got most of them as kittens, but none of them have stunk up the home this bad before. This is the kind of pungence that even weasels would have trouble topping. I can always tell when theyve jumped up on the bed after using the litter box.

I should also mention Ive got two air purifiers, one of which is right next to the litter box. I've tried corn and another clumping clay litter previously.

Is there a spray or something I can use? A friend mention that hotels have a special spray that dissolves smells within an hour, but she didn't know the brand. Should I just get a covered litter maid? But I don't want to just trap the odour inside, and I'm worried it'll still stink every time the litter maid opens the waste receptacle to dump the waste.
 

GoldyCat

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What other litter have you tried? I've tried a lot of different litters over the years, but I'm not familiar with Ever Clean. I actually like crystal litter (microbeads, not regular crystals) because it dehydrates the poop really fast and that takes care of a lot of the odor. My only issue with it is that it's expensive and does have to be changed fairly often.
 

1CatOverTheLine

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You might consider switching to a non-clumping litter - at least until the kittens are grown. Sodium bentonite and kittens isn't the best combination. Kittens are curious, and will sometimes try eating a bit of litter; clumping litter will clump just as easily inside of a cat as it will in a litterbox. Just a cautionary word.
.
 

orange&white

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Seriously strong cat stink usually means that aren't digesting all their food properly. Given a little more time, maybe this new diet you put them on will help solve the problem.
 

karrotlover

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Have you considered feeding your kitties a raw diet? In my (and many others') experience, the difference in poop smell between a non-raw diet and a raw diet is INCREDIBLE. Also, the volume and frequency of stool will decrease. This is because more of raw food is digestible and absorbed into a cat's body rather than excreted out as waste. Since your kitties are kittens it's also the best time to try it. Check this video out:


I didn't believe it until I tried it with my cat. His poops used to stink up the whole apartment, and after switching to raw I had to stick my nose right up to the poop to smell anything.
 

Ardina

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Besides the health benefits, non-stinky poop is one of the best parts of feeding a raw diet. I didn't believe it either until I transitioned my cats to raw. Their poop went from stinky, must-clean-litterbox-now-or-the-entire-house-will-smell-terrible, to dry and completely odorless. In fact, much of their poop is their own loose hair that they've swallowed while grooming. These days, I can't even tell when my cats have pooped.
 

LTS3

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Personally I feel that the "raw fed cats have less stinky poop" thing varies for each individual cat. Both my cats eat the same raw food. One has nearly odorless poop. The other has really stinky poop and the vet can find no reason for it. I know the one cat's breed generally tends to have a sensitive tummy so that might have something to do with the stinky poop. Probiotics initially helped but then had no effect.

Be careful when using air fresheners and stuff around the litter box. Cats have sensitive noses and may be put off by a strong scent around the litter box and may stop using the litter box. Things that absorb odors like activated charcoal are better choices to use.
 

maggiedemi

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Is that dry food or wet food that they are eating? My cats' poop stinks really bad on some of the higher protein kibble, especially the grain free ones.
 

caitini

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I switched to a scented litter and it does make a big difference. Obviously, you have to be sure that the scent is one that won't deter the kitties from using the litterbox at all, which might be trial and error.
 

PushPurrCatPaws

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High protein diets can contribute to smelly poops in cats. I think kitten foods do have higher protein in them, it helps kittens' growth.

Also, certain types of fiber, or combos of fiber, can cause smellier poo. I usually avoid giving my cat over 3% of fiber per day (usually aim for 1-2%).

Perhaps the combos of foods you are feeding are contributing to the above possibilities, increasing the smell of their poo?
:dunno:

And last but not least, I'd recommend more fecal testing to rule out a variety of bacteria and parasites. One single test does not necessarily "locate" these.
 
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Ceracera

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Thanks for the suggestions.

They get both wet and dry food. Raw isn't an option for me right now- I'm not that experienced and have difficulty sourcing safe raw meat unfortunately. I can try cooking for them.

.
You might consider switching to a non-clumping litter - at least until the kittens are grown. Sodium bentonite and kittens isn't the best combination. Kittens are curious, and will sometimes try eating a bit of litter; clumping litter will clump just as easily inside of a cat as it will in a litterbox. Just a cautionary word.
.
They're almost 4 months old already though. I thought that was old enough for clumping. This litter doesn't really track or stick to paws that much.


What other litter have you tried? I've tried a lot of different litters over the years, but I'm not familiar with Ever Clean. I actually like crystal litter (microbeads, not regular crystals) because it dehydrates the poop really fast and that takes care of a lot of the odor. My only issue with it is that it's expensive and does have to be changed fairly often.
I'll give it a go. Did use it before with other cats- just didn't like that it was so dusty.

High protein diets can contribute to smelly poops in cats. I think kitten foods do have higher protein in them, it helps kittens' growth.

Also, certain types of fiber, or combos of fiber, can cause smellier poo. I usually avoid giving my cat over 3% of fiber per day (usually aim for 1-2%).

Perhaps the combos of foods you are feeding are contributing to the above possibilities, increasing the smell of their poo?
:dunno:

And last but not least, I'd recommend more fecal testing to rule out a variety of bacteria and parasites. One single test does not necessarily "locate" these.
I could try switching the food. Any recommendations?

They did multiple tests for the health check. One of them has already been to the vet quite a few times for the calici, so I don't want to stress her out again. I guess I could take her after a couple of weeks.
 

karrotlover

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Raw doesn't have to be so daunting -- you can just buy meat that you would eat and mix it up with a pre-mixed supplement like TC Feline or EZ Complete (there are lots out there) to make it completely balanced, if you don't want to measure out and mix your own supplements, organs, etc. Also, many small pet supply stores carry Rad Cat or other pre-made frozen raw. BUT, I know not everyone is willing to make the switch given whatever circumstances they're in. I just personally wish I had transitioned my cat to raw food when he was a wee kitten.

I'm currently cooking food for my cat because he has IBD and I'm having to re-do the raw transition, and I think it does smell much less than when he used to eat kibble or canned food. The poop is also smaller and less frequent. I buy some pork chops, poach them, then blend in my blender with the water I poached it in. And then mix it with EZ Complete to make it balanced. It's honestly more work than feeding raw, but this is the kind of thing you do when you're trying to slowly transition a grown kitty's diet to raw :(

Good luck and keep us posted! :vibes:
 
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Ceracera

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Ive been completely changing the litter every 2 days and so far it's the only thing that works.

But seems I have bigger things to worry about now. Both tested positive for ringworm. The vet told me there are signs of previous medication used on one of them (Cookie), so its actually possible the breeder let me take her home halfway through treatment. Sigh.

I also have two ringworm spots and have been prescribed both pills and a cream, though apparently the pills are optional.

To be honest, im a little scared cause I have dermatitis on my scalp and I'm worried the ringworm can spread there.


As for the cats... well... the vet has given me a spray. She also recommended a shave cause there are multiple ringworm spots and she said a shave would make them easier to see. Cookie, the more serious one had it on her ear, side and tail.

I asked about pills and a dip, but the vet didnt recommend them. She said their vaccinations werent effective, so its possible dips could end up giving them URIs. And theyre too young for pills, which can damage the liver apparently.

I havent shaved them yet... going to try the spray first.

The vet wants to see them again after 2 weeks.

So far Ive been doing lots of laundry. And one of the perks of living in this country is that professional cleaners only charge 10-20 dollars to clean the whole apartment, so Im getting one after a few days. One already came over this Tuesday.

Raw doesn't have to be so daunting -- you can just buy meat that you would eat and mix it up with a pre-mixed supplement like TC Feline or EZ Complete (there are lots out there) to make it completely balanced, if you don't want to measure out and mix your own supplements, organs, etc. Also, many small pet supply stores carry Rad Cat or other pre-made frozen raw. BUT, I know not everyone is willing to make the switch given whatever circumstances they're in. I just personally wish I had transitioned my cat to raw food when he was a wee kitten.

I'm currently cooking food for my cat because he has IBD and I'm having to re-do the raw transition, and I think it does smell much less than when he used to eat kibble or canned food. The poop is also smaller and less frequent. I buy some pork chops, poach them, then blend in my blender with the water I poached it in. And then mix it with EZ Complete to make it balanced. It's honestly more work than feeding raw, but this is the kind of thing you do when you're trying to slowly transition a grown kitty's diet to raw :(

Good luck and keep us posted! :vibes:
I live overseas so its pretty difficult to source safe raw meat and supplements. Id actually feed raw if I could find the proper ingredients.
 

karrotlover

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Sorry... but where do you live that you cannot find any meat? Surely people buy meat at a store or a butcher shop? Curious!
 
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Ceracera

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Sorry... but where do you live that you cannot find any meat? Surely people buy meat at a store or a butcher shop? Curious!
I live in China.

I was under the impression that it couldnt be just any raw meat, that it had to be processed and handled properly, and you needed to add supplements as well.
 

pipperoo

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My kitten had eye-watering smelly poop. turns out she had C.Perfringens which had to be detected through a stool sample. I slipped a bit of plastic wrap on top of the litter when she was poised to go, wrapped up the poop, slipped it into a zip loc bag and refridgerated it until the vet could get it and send it for parasite testing.

Once she was on meds, the CP cleared up, but I also started her on probiotics which helped a lot. Esp s.boulardi when her stools were really soft.

I switched her to commercial raw a few months ago and agree with everyone here: NO smell to her poop.

And if it helps at all, my vet told me that kitten poop is generally much smellier than cat poop....
 
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Ceracera

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Thanks everyone for your help.

The problem's solved... part of the problem was the litter and part of it was the automatic litter box.

So here's how it was "fixed" in case anyone else has the same problem... the original litter that stunk the most was a corn litter. The Ever Clean does a much better job at absorbing odors. I tried both the Unscented Extra Strength and Lightly Scented ones, and I prefer the Unscented.

The Petsafe Simply Clean... well... the kittens were using the litter box so much that there was always poop (and lots of it!) on the conveyor belt, so of course it was like constantly having a box of stinkies out in the open. Since the litter box broke, I've gone back to a regular plastic one.

I also got the kittens an automatic water bowl. Right away, I noticed their pee clumps were larger and didn't smell as bad.
 
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