Isn’t there something about having a furry friend lazing around the house that makes your home feel more cozy? Part of taking care of your feline friend is making sure their litter box stays as fresh as possible. This homemade kitty litter deodorizer is the perfect fix to freshen up your cat’s litter in an inexpensive and non toxic way! Let’s get started.
How do you deodorize cat litter naturally?
There are plenty of commercial litter deodorizers on the market to choose from. Unfortunately these commercial brands can be both pricey and toxic to your cat’s health. Enter the most basic, practical, effective, and inexpensive of house cleaners– baking soda!
Baking soda is such a workhorse. Not only is it a totally frugal way to keep your litter from getting stinky, but it is odorless, and all natural.
Baking soda absorbs moisture and bad smells. You know how you put a box of soda in your fridge to keep it fresh? Well, it’s the same concept with your kitty litter! And who doesn’t have a box of baking soda around in the kitchen? Again, frugal friends, use what you have!
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Homemade Kitty Litter Deodorizer Recipe
Ingredients:
- Baking Soda
- Diatomaceous Earth
- Essential oil (we use lavender essential oil)
Directions:
In a small mixing bowl add:
- 1 box of Baking Soda (2 Cups)
- 1/4 Cup of Diatomaceous Earth
- 10 drops of lavender essential oil
Mix all of the ingredients well, and then pour into a recycled parmesan cheese shaker. This is the perfect container to be able to sprinkle the kitty litter deodorizer into the litter box. The litter freshener is now ready to be used!
Are Essential Oils in Homemade Litter Deodorizer Safe for Pets?
We love using essential oils in our home. From cleaners, to defusers, to a hot bath, essential oils make home life more pleasant! But are they safe for cats? According to 24PetWatch, certain essential oils are completely safe for your furry feline friends.
According to 25PetWatch, these 4 Essential Oils are safe to add to your DIY cat litter deodorizer:
- Chamomile
- Rose
- Lavender
- Jasmine
The Power of Diatomaceous Earth
Diatomaceous earth is such a weird and wonderful product! According to be.chewey.com:
Diatomaceous earth (pronounced die-uh-tuh-MEY-shuhs, by the way) is actually made up of single-celled organisms called “diatoms.” The skeletons of these diatoms are made of a natural substance called silica, and over long periods of time, their skeletons accumulate and fossilize in the sediment of lakes, rivers, streams and oceans. The resulting sedimentary deposits are mined and used to create what we know as diatomaceous earth.
This very fine powder is known to kill fleas, ticks, and other internal parasites in both animals and humans. It can even be used as an earth safe pest control in the garden. We add it to our all natural litter deodorizer to make sure our little guy is safe from fleas and ticks (especially since he spends a lot of time outside!)
A Litter Box Routine to Keep it From Smelling
If you’re wondering, “what can I do to keep my litter box from smelling?” This litter deodorizer will be a huge help! But don’t forget that having a strict cleaning routine is absolutely essential to keeping your kitty litter smelling fresh (and your cat happy!)
Weekly Natural Kitty Litter Box Care
- Scoop litter at least twice daily. Depending on the number of cats you have, you may have to do more. It’s best to scoop the number 2’s ASAP! Add extra litter as needed.
- Each time you scoop, add a LIGHT sprinkling of this non toxic litter deodorizer to the litter box. (Don’t overdo it!)
- Keep the area surrounding the litter box swept and wiped. Walking on yucky litter is no fun!
- Empty and replace litter every week to 10 days.
- Before adding new litter, be sure to clean the littler box thoroughly with an all natural, non toxic vinegar cleaner.
- It is very helpful to add a layer of plain baking soda to the bottom of the litter pan before placing fresh litter into the box. This helps keep the litter dry, and the stink out.
Remember that your cat should have a grain free, high protein diet. A healthy cat is a happy cat. A happy and healthy cat is also a clean, less smelly cat!
A Healthier and More Frugal Option
Many times making your own natural cleaning products is not only a healthier choice, but these homemade options are often much more economical. Commercial kitty litter, and litter deodorizers are often full of toxic substances that can hurt your feline’s respiratory system. Artificial fragrances can be toxic for both you and your pets. Trust us! Your cat, your lungs, and your wallet will thank you for making your own homemade kitty litter freshener!
Alternative Kitty Litter Options
We prefer to use an all natural non-clumping clay litter for our cat. It has very little dust, and absorbs moisture quite well. It is also one of the most frugal and inexpensive litter options on the market.
Some sources say that non-clumping litter can be harder to keep clean, as liquid sometimes gather at the bottom of the box. We have found that as long as we are maintaining our litter box well, and keeping a layer of baking soda at the bottom of the box, it works just fine! Our 2 main criteria are: natural/healthy, and inexpensive!
Other natural kitty litter options are:
- Sawdust
- Pine litter
- Corn cob
- Wheat
And of course, if you ever have questions or concerns about your pet’s sensitivity to any homemade products, always be sure to consult your vet.
Feeling Inspired? Pin it for Later!
I love this stuff! We got our cat back in December of 21 and I learned about this stuff from you. Almost 8 months later I am just now having to make a new batch!! I just saved a large, empty garlic powder shaker and put the deodorizer in there! Works perfectly!
I love essential oils and have a decent collection. However, they are not pet safe and shouldn’t be used at all. The source that you cited – 24Petwatch – even lists lavender and rose (on your list) as unsafe. They also state that the list they have is not exhaustive.
Hello Starla,
First of all, let me whisker you away with a round of applause for your incredibly informative and surprisingly amusing blog post, “Homemade Kitty Litter Deodorizer,” on lifefullandfrugal.com. As a devoted cat enthusiast myself, stumbling upon your treasure trove of feline wisdom was an absolute delight!
Your article is like a breath of fresh air – or should I say, a breath of fresh litter box? Your step-by-step guide to creating a homemade deodorizer for our fur babies’ personal space is truly a game-changer. I mean, who knew that baking soda and essential oils could be the dynamic duo in our mission to conquer the notorious odors that our feline friends can conjure?
But what truly tickled my whiskers was your clever way of presenting the DIY process. You managed to transform a seemingly mundane chore into a fun and crafty adventure. It’s like we’re on a mission to create the ultimate secret weapon against litter box odors – cue the heroic background music!
And let’s not forget about your witty anecdotes sprinkled throughout the article. Your humor injects a dose of levity into a topic that’s all too familiar to cat lovers. It’s like you’re in on the secret cat club, sharing giggles and tricks to keep our homes smelling as fresh as a field of catnip.
Now, if I could borrow a cat-like curiosity from our furry companions, I’d nudge you to consider sharing some pro tips on adapting the deodorizer recipe for different litter types. A one-size-fits-all approach rarely works in the feline world, and your insights could truly elevate our litter game.
As I wrap up my purr-aise for your work, allow me to express my gratitude for your contribution to the feline-loving community. Your blog post isn’t just about homemade deodorizers; it’s about fostering a harmonious and fragrant coexistence with our whiskered companions.
Rest assured, I’ll be sharing your article with fellow cat enthusiasts – because great advice and a good laugh are meant to be shared.
Wishing you endless feline adventures and odor-free snuggles,
ERIC MONTANA
Proud Pet Parent of a CAT and Lot of Dogs
https://obsessionwithoptions.com/