To get rid of cat poop smell, clean messes immediately with an enzymatic cleaner (essential for breaking down odors) or a DIY mix (vinegar/baking soda/peroxide), ensure good ventilation, and use odor-absorbing additives like baking soda in the litter box, while also considering diet and litter type to prevent future odors.
Use a covered litter box or a top-entry box to reduce surface smell, but ensure cats accept it. Place a small open container of baking soda or activated charcoal near the box to absorb ambient odors. Replace or maintain an air purifier with carbon filter; run it continuously in the room if feasible.
With good ventilation, laundering, enzymatic cleaning and targeted repairs, most household cat scents can be eliminated within weeks; severe or long-standing contamination may require replacement of materials or professional remediation to remove entirely.
A strong, sour, or rotten odor from your cat's poop can indicate gastrointestinal infections, parasites, or food intolerances. It can also signal poor nutrient absorption, particularly from conditions like inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) or Giardia.
You need actual cat litter and that can help with the smell since it will contain ingredients for that purpose. Also, make sure you are cleaning it as soon as he poops if possible. Lastly, I have found that a cinnamon candle works really well to help combat the odor.
Use Baking Soda
Baking soda is a natural and affordable way to neutralize odors in the cat litter box. After scooping, sprinkle a thin layer of baking soda over the bottom of the box before refilling it with fresh litter. Baking soda absorbs odors, helping to keep the litter box smelling fresh.
The hardest smells to get rid of are often deeply embedded, like skunk spray, cigarette smoke, pet urine, mold/mildew, and fire/water damage odors, because they permeate porous materials (carpets, upholstery, drywall, synthetic fabrics) and can get into HVAC systems, requiring professional cleaning or specialized ozone treatments to neutralize the odor molecules themselves, not just mask them.
What is the best scent to cover poop smell? There are plenty of scents that can help cover poop smell when you're freshening the restroom. Popular sprays for rapid odor elimination contain scents like peppermint, citrus, lavender, and sandalwood—really, it comes down to whatever your preference is.
Best Places to Put a Cat Litter Box
But did you know that breathing in cat urine and feces can be harmful to both people and cats? These substances may contain harmful bacteria, viruses, and other microorganisms that can cause health problems.
People often get a toxoplasma infection one of the following ways: Cat feces with the parasite. Cats that hunt or who are fed raw meat are more likely to carry toxoplasma parasites. You may get infected if you touch your mouth after touching anything that has been in contact with cat feces.
Stinky Cat Poop Remedies
An air purifier with a HEPA filter—which traps microscopic airborne particles—and an activated carbon filter—which absorbs gases and odors—help eliminate airborne litter odors, especially in small or enclosed spaces.
Tips for Removing Pet Odor
Use an enzymatic cleaner specifically designed for pet messes. This breaks down organic compounds and neutralizes odors. Steam clean carpets and upholstery to remove deeply embedded pet odor. Baking soda is a natural odor absorber.
Crystalline silica dust, the other ingredient in most clumping litters, is a known carcinogen for both humans and household pets when inhaled. According to OSHA.gov, “Crystalline silica has been classified as a human lung carcinogen.
So for healthy adults, the risks are very small. If you clean your cat's litter box as often as you should (at least once a day), you should never have a problem. Those with Asthma and pulmonary illnesses like COPD are at greater risk. Still, it's a small risk.
Litterboxes boxes should be placed in quiet private places that are easily accessible to the cat. Litter boxes should not be located in high traffic areas where the cat may be disturbed by children or ambushed by other pets.
The golden rules for litter boxes are: provide one box per cat plus one extra (N+1), place them in quiet, accessible spots on each floor, scoop daily, offer unscented litter, ensure 2-3 inches of depth for digging, keep them away from food/water, and avoid covered boxes if cats dislike them. Cleanliness, placement, and adequate quantity prevent stress and accidents, promoting good feline hygiene and behavior.
Baking soda is a safe additive to use in your cat's litter for neutralizing acid and its odors. It doesn't pose any significant risks if used this way. However, you should use only a few tablespoons at most. We also suggest storing the container out of reach of kittens and small children.
Some people go so far as to squirt a bit of lotion into the commode. Hair spray: The heavier the fragrance, the better when it comes to this emergency air freshener. Again, a puff in the air and one in the toilet works wonders. Breath spray: Made to eliminate odors, a few sprays will handle the problem beautifully.
This product worked wonderfully, to my surprise. Although while it was not 100% gone. There still was a faint smell, but most of it was gone. I would say 90-95 percent gone.
The good news is that an air purifier with good filters packed with activated carbon can help remove unwanted litter box smells, while removing the amount of cat hair and dander in the air. Read on for my top picks, based on over 100 tests I've conducted since 2020.
Nonenal® (also known as 2-Nonenal) is a naturally occurring compound responsible for the distinct odor associated with aging. It typically appears after age 40, becoming more noticeable in both men and women.
If you're wondering what absorbs smells in a room, baking soda, white vinegar, activated charcoal, and coffee grounds are some of the most effective natural odor eliminators. These substances don't just mask bad smells—they neutralize them by absorbing particles from the air and surfaces.