Pawspruce
A smelly litter box is the fastest way to a cat that starts peeing outside the box. The fix is a simple routine — and a hard rule about what never goes near it.
The daily scoop
Scoop at least once a day. It controls odor at the source and lets you spot changes in urine or stool that signal health problems early.
The weekly wash
- Dump all litter into a lined trash bag.
- Wash the box with mild dish soap and warm water.
- Rinse with a 1:1 white vinegar solution to neutralize odor and residue.
- Dry fully before refilling — moisture clumps litter and grows bacteria.
What to use for odor
- Baking soda sprinkled in the empty, dry box before adding litter.
- Vinegar rinse during the wash.
- An enzyme deodorizer on the surrounding floor.
What never goes near a cat
Never clean a litter box with bleach or pine/phenol cleaners. The combination of ammonia smell and chemical residue can sicken a cat and drive it to avoid the box. Both are on our toxic-ingredients list.
Bonus: the area around it
Cats kick litter onto the floor. Mop that patch weekly with vinegar and water, and wash the mat under the box in the machine with a pet-safe detergent.
A clean box means a cat that uses it — which means no urine on your carpet to begin with.