Do you have cats and wonder if it’s even possible to keep your house smelling good? These are the absolute BEST ways to keep your house smelling good with cats.
I will never forget the day we had our real estate agent over for dinner almost a year after we moved in. She told me that our house was the only house she’s ever been inside where the owner had a cat and it didn’t smell.
Wow! Talk about a compliment! But she made a great point. I mean, think about how many homes with cats she must walk into on a day to day basis. And it’s true, when I think about other homes I’ve been in, most of the time it smells like cat urine, or there’s just that “cat smell”.
So why doesn’t my home smell like cats? There are a number of things that I do that prevent my home from getting that “cat smell” that I will share with you in this post so that you can implement them into your home and get the same compliment I did!
This post is about how to keep your house smelling good with cats.
1. The litter box you choose is EVERYTHING
I can’t stress how much the type of litter box you have makes a difference.
The one we use is the PetSafe ScoopFree litter box you can find on Amazon. It’s a self-cleaning litter box that automatically rakes the litter after you cat uses the bathroom. It also keeps track of how many times it has gone in since the last time you cleaned it out.
We use the PetSafe ScoopFree Premium Blue Crystal for litter and it’s amazing!
We clean the litter box and replace the litter every 20 days or so.
Bonus tip: The hard pebbles that the litter is made of can get caught on your cats feet when it leaves the litter box, so we lay out a mat and it works wonders collecting the excess litter! I will shake off and sweet the litter from the mat every time I sweep at least once a week.
I love this one from Amazon that collects the litter inside the mat and you just empty it out every now and then.
2. Clean up feeding area regularly
Some cats are messier than others, but any cat owner knows how left unattended for too long, your cats feeding station will become less than desirable. And if it’s undesirable for you, most likely it is for your cat too.
Make a point to clean your cats feeding area at least once a week. Wash the food bowls, water bowl and mat at least once a week, and do a thorough sweep and mop in that area.
3. Clean up messes from your cat immediately
We’ve all been there when your cat coughs up a hairball or vomits on the carpet. If you have kittens or an older cat, they might even pee on the carpet or other places they aren’t supposed to.
It is CRUCIAL that you clean up the mess IMMEDIATELY. Or at least as soon as you discover the mess.
Not cleaning up after your cat is a sure way to accumulate a not-so-pleasant smell in your home.
I’ve found that cleaning it up with Clorox Disinfecting Wipes does a great job removing the mess and the stain from the carpet.
Sometimes, if it’s sat for too long it can really leave a stain that even the Clorox wipes can’t get out. In that case I recommend using a product specifically for stains such as this Resolve Ultra Pet Stain and Odor Remover Spray or Folex Carpet Spot Remover.
4. Vacuum regularly
Cats shed….a lot. So Vacuum your carpet regularly to avoid fur accumulating in every crevice imaginable.
The same goes for hardwood floors. Be sure to sweep those regularly too, because even though the fur might not be “in the floor”, it often gets brushed into corners, wrapped around cables and other odd places. So be diligent about cleaning those places too.
5. Wash bedding and blankets
We all love our cats but let’s be honest, our cats are constantly climbing in and out of their litter boxes and tracking that all throughout our homes, getting on the sofa and in our beds. This is especially something to consider if you have a cat that goes outdoors as well.
Cats are great about cleaning themselves, but even then they will track unwanted germs all throughout our homes, so it’s super important that you regularly wash your bedding and blankets, and even your sofas.
6. Give your cat a bath
I do not recommend this for all cats. I understand that the majority of cats do NOT tolerate taking a bath. It’s not at all worth it if this is complete torture for your cat.
However, there are some cats that don’t mind taking a bath, my cat included. Ever since my cat was a kitten, her previous owner gave her baths so now she is very used to it.
It is also true that cats don’t necessarily NEED baths. They do clean themselves and that is often good enough. But if you want to go the extra mile, especially if your cat goes outside a lot or tends to be a bit more stinky or messy, giving your cat an occasional bath can be a good idea.
I only give my cat a bath MAYBE every two to three months, just depending. You make that call.
7. Use a lint roller
Lastly, we always have a lint roller easily accessible around the house. I’m not sure how much it aids in preventing the house from smelling, but it works great to remove hair from clothes, sofas and other places fur tends to stick to.
I do believe that keeping fur off our clothes and fabric surfaces does contribute somewhat to keeping our home from smelling like cats.
How to make your home smell GOOD
Now that you know how to prevent your home from smelling like cats, here are some ways you can go the extra mile to make it smell GOOD.
- Scented candles
- Essential oils (make sure you only use essential oils that are safe for cats)
- Clean your floors and counters once a week. Check out these three essential cleaning products every homeowner should have.
- Use air fresheners. My favorite is the Febreze Linen & Sky Mist
- Open windows to get a nice airflow through the house
This post was all about how to keep your house smelling good with cats.
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