Kittens, Ammonia smell
Discussion
We have had our kittens nearly a week now and they have been confined to the lounge until they see the vet on Monday for check ups and jabs but the smell in the lounge is getting very bad and starting to seep into the rest of the house.
They have one litter tray with Cat San which they use and there is another litter tray with a wood litter which they are also starting to use. I can't find any evidence of pee on the floor or the furniture and the litter tray does not smell particularly bad its self, nor do the kittens or their bed.
Poos are removed as soon as they are done and I have changed the litter a few times already even though the instructions say once a week.
It's driving me a little nuts as I can't find the source of the smell.
Any ideas as the lounge is fast becoming a no go area and I certainly don't want them to have a free reign and bring the smell throughout the home.
Cheers.
They have one litter tray with Cat San which they use and there is another litter tray with a wood litter which they are also starting to use. I can't find any evidence of pee on the floor or the furniture and the litter tray does not smell particularly bad its self, nor do the kittens or their bed.
Poos are removed as soon as they are done and I have changed the litter a few times already even though the instructions say once a week.
It's driving me a little nuts as I can't find the source of the smell.
Any ideas as the lounge is fast becoming a no go area and I certainly don't want them to have a free reign and bring the smell throughout the home.
Cheers.
Try changing daily for a few days and see if that removes the smell, rinse out the trays (but don't disinfect) Once a week is not enough imo (though I see you're doing more. Wood litter doesn't clump so you'll struggle to remove all the used litter so it will go stale and smell. If you continue with trays you will eventually need an extra tray. Rule of thumb is one extra tray per number of cats.
Check any electrical items cats do like to wee on these.
Check any electrical items cats do like to wee on these.
Edited by bexVN on Friday 18th January 15:22
What Bex said, you need 3 litter trays.
Wee needs to be scooped daily & I wouldn't ever use wood as it doesn't absorb smells.
Sounds like one is missing the tray or they are going elsewhere, put newspaper on top of cardboard under the trays & give it an overlap
Nasty job, but someone needs to go round on their hands & knees sniffing the carpet! The best stuff I've found for removing the smell is this which is what I used when Pepi was having his 'issues'.
It needs to be diluted, so get another spray bottle, pour 1/2 in & top both up with water.
A solution of washing powder can work, but is bloody hard work (and not guaranteed to work!)
I have 2 cats, and 5 trays - 2 kitten sized ones and 3 big ones (that were originally covered ones but we had to take the covers off as the blind cat was scared!). They sit filled with CatSan in the cupboard under the stairs with a child's 'waterproof' single mattress sheet underneath them (catches CatSan scratched over the sides & protects the tiled floor from any accidents!), this gives the cats somewhere relatively undisturbed to go to the loo - they like their privacy, even if they will insist on coming for a fuss when you are 'doing your business' They get scooped every day (pretty much straight away after one has taken a dump!) into a LitterLocker; and a complete empty & wash every other Sunday (before the bins are collected Monday morning). No smells 
Wee needs to be scooped daily & I wouldn't ever use wood as it doesn't absorb smells.
Sounds like one is missing the tray or they are going elsewhere, put newspaper on top of cardboard under the trays & give it an overlap
Nasty job, but someone needs to go round on their hands & knees sniffing the carpet! The best stuff I've found for removing the smell is this which is what I used when Pepi was having his 'issues'.
It needs to be diluted, so get another spray bottle, pour 1/2 in & top both up with water.
A solution of washing powder can work, but is bloody hard work (and not guaranteed to work!)
I have 2 cats, and 5 trays - 2 kitten sized ones and 3 big ones (that were originally covered ones but we had to take the covers off as the blind cat was scared!). They sit filled with CatSan in the cupboard under the stairs with a child's 'waterproof' single mattress sheet underneath them (catches CatSan scratched over the sides & protects the tiled floor from any accidents!), this gives the cats somewhere relatively undisturbed to go to the loo - they like their privacy, even if they will insist on coming for a fuss when you are 'doing your business'
They get scooped every day (pretty much straight away after one has taken a dump!) into a LitterLocker; and a complete empty & wash every other Sunday (before the bins are collected Monday morning). No smells Thanks Ali. I am crawling around on my hands and knees sniffing everywhere like a truffle hunting hog 
I just can't find any evidence of wee but I have not been scooping after wees, just poos. My mistake although I have changed the complete litter three times in six days.
Cheers again.
I just can't find any evidence of wee but I have not been scooping after wees, just poos. My mistake although I have changed the complete litter three times in six days.
Cheers again.
You won't thank me when you find it! 
Good luck! You'l a sette down & get into the right habits soon enough
Some Siansbury's & PetsAtHome sell CatSan in a litter liner, which has the wee sink into it & absorbs the smell that way.
Bob Martin/Waitrose/Tesco all do a Scilia Gel litter which I mix with the CatSan for longer lasting freshness (when it's on offer!)
croyde said:
Thanks Ali. I am crawling around on my hands and knees sniffing everywhere like a truffle hunting hog
I just can't find any evidence of wee but I have not been scooping after wees, just poos. My mistake although I have changed the complete litter three times in six days.
Cheers again.
I always like it when you wait for kitty to drop off presents, then clean the tray whilst said kitty sits there wondering what you are doing, then as soon as you put a fresh tray down... little bI just can't find any evidence of wee but I have not been scooping after wees, just poos. My mistake although I have changed the complete litter three times in six days.
Cheers again.
d runs across and curls out the most foul smelling, gut retching log it can produce and as kitty walks away you get the look of.. 'deal with that you mother fker.... muhahaha!'ali_kat said:
In my experience although it contains ammonia, they are often citrus smelling, which can be very off putting to a cat/kitten (they do not like citrus!)
ah thanks. my old cat (died last novemeber aged 22! she was ace ) once ate some marks and spencers lemon mousse I gave her and was then sick a lot afterwards. Du1point8 said:
I always like it when you wait for kitty to drop off presents, then clean the tray whilst said kitty sits there wondering what you are doing, then as soon as you put a fresh tray down... little bd runs across and curls out the most foul smelling, gut retching log it can produce and as kitty walks away you get the look of.. 'deal with that you mother fker.... muhahaha!'
d runs across and curls out the most foul smelling, gut retching log it can produce and as kitty walks away you get the look of.. 'deal with that you mother fker.... muhahaha!'
Beauty comes in whilst one of us is scooping & always tries to help, if we are not quick enough with the scoop, she will 'clean' (ie scratch/push)the offending solids from one litter tray across the others into the one closest to the LitterLocker. Pepi will go in straight afterwards & dump.Du1point8 said:
I always like it when you wait for kitty to drop off presents, then clean the tray whilst said kitty sits there wondering what you are doing, then as soon as you put a fresh tray down... little bd runs across and curls out the most foul smelling, gut retching log it can produce and as kitty walks away you get the look of.. 'deal with that you mother fker.... muhahaha!'
When we had our cat, I once went to clean out the tray, leaving the tray "rim" in the spot where the tray was before for, ooo 3 mins max. Nelson wee'd in the hole in the middle of the litter tray rim - not pleased!d runs across and curls out the most foul smelling, gut retching log it can produce and as kitty walks away you get the look of.. 'deal with that you mother fker.... muhahaha!'
In that pic Jess, the grey one, is half sunk between the big cushions. 10 mins later and only the top of her head could be seen but was still fast asleep. Pulled her out but she just dived straight back in. Obviously a new favourite snooze place.
I've got the piriton and benedryl on standby, Ali, but just seeing if I can acclimatise as those two drugs, although effective, just knock me out.
I've got the piriton and benedryl on standby, Ali, but just seeing if I can acclimatise as those two drugs, although effective, just knock me out.
Try bog-standard Sudafed (pseudoephedrine hydrochloride) for allergies.
I think it's far more effective than anti-histamines, doesn't make you drowsy, and is a whole lot cheaper.
BTW, cat litter. Wood chip is the stuff. Any poos get scooped out and flushed down the loo, and the disintegrated pellets get scooped out to go on the compost heap.
Yes, you read that right - the compost heap. Good compost is 50% 'green' - eg. grass cuttings and 50% 'brown' - eg. dry leaves, sawdust (or cat litter). Furthermore, cat urine acts as an accelerant to the composting process, as would your own 'liquid gold'.
I think it's far more effective than anti-histamines, doesn't make you drowsy, and is a whole lot cheaper.
BTW, cat litter. Wood chip is the stuff. Any poos get scooped out and flushed down the loo, and the disintegrated pellets get scooped out to go on the compost heap.
Yes, you read that right - the compost heap. Good compost is 50% 'green' - eg. grass cuttings and 50% 'brown' - eg. dry leaves, sawdust (or cat litter). Furthermore, cat urine acts as an accelerant to the composting process, as would your own 'liquid gold'.
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