If you have cats — especially multiple cats — you are familiar with the constant battle against odor. I have searched and searched for the perfect pet odor elimination products and I think I’ve finally decided on a combination that works. Here is my Odor Elimination Survival Guide, plus an important tip about cat health and safety.
The Big Guns
My favorite product for serious odor elimination is Odorzout. This is a powdered mineral (Zeolite) that absorbs odors, kind of the way baking soda does, but it is much more powerful. Odorzout is all natural and completely safe for use around pets. I use the Odorzout All Surface Granules for big accidents on the floor. You have to sprinkle the powder on the floor, let it set, and then vacuum. I’m always amazed at how well it works! My other favorite Odorzout product is the Litter Additive Powder. I sprinkle this in the litter box and also in the little bucket where I scoop. Odorzout is labeled as cruelty-free.
Spray Away
It’s not always convenient to use a powder to eliminate odors, so I like to also have a spray on hand. I really liked Zero Odor, but we could not get confirmation from the manufacturer that it was not tested on animals during development, so I came across Nose Offense. They sent me some to test and I love it! The packaging is definitely not as sexy as Zero Odor, but it’s what’s in the bottle that counts. Just spray Nose Offense in the air and it immediately absorbs odors instead of masking them. It has no scent and it’s labeled as non-toxic, safe for animals, and not tested on animals.
A Special Touch
As a special little touch that doesn’t really eliminate odors, but makes life more enjoyable, I’m completely addicted to scented garbage bags, especially for the little bucket next to the litter box. They don’t really scent the air, they just make changing the trash bag a bit more pleasant. I like the vanilla and lavender varieties. You can find them at Target and most grocery stores.
WARNING: Essential Oils May Be Harmful to Cats!
These odor elimination products simply remove the bad odors without adding any perfumes or other scents. You may want to add a nice scent to the air, but please, be careful when choosing a scented air freshener to use around your cats. Chemical fragrances, like those used in commercial air fresheners, can cause eye and throat irritation in humans, so image how they are affecting cats. I always stay away from any chemical air freshener. So that leaves us with essential oils, which I have been a fan of for many years. Essential oils are wonderfully scented and are believed to have healing properties, but it is also believed that essential oils may be toxic to cats when either inhaled or used topically. As an article on About.com outlines, a cat’s liver cannot properly metabolize the compounds found in essential oils. This may lead to liver damage and possibly death. A more technical description can be found in this article at The Lavender Cat. There are differing arguments on this topic, so I urge you to do your own research and come to your own conclusion.
Hydrosols May Be An Option
When essential oils are distilled, the byproduct is a scented water called a hydrosol. I have read that it may be safe to use hydrosols — also known as floral waters — around cats, but again there are differing opinions. If, after doing your own research, you decide to use hydrosols, make sure you are using a true hydrosol, not a floral water that was made by adding essential oils to water. My favorite brand is Wyndmere. They have several true hydrosols to choose from.
How do you fight odors?
Please leave a comment with your thoughts and tips on pet odor elimination. I’m always looking for a new trick!