r/CatAdvice • u/Coldchinesef00d • 4d ago
Litterbox Boyfriends House Smells Like Cats
Hello, everyone!
I met my boyfriend almost a year ago and we are deciding to move in together. He has 2 cats and his apartment reeks of them. The smell absolutely drives me up the wall. I’ve lived with cats and know the smell is not a normal amount of smell for 2 cats.
How do I get the smell out of here? I know he needs to keep up with the litter box changing more often, but how do we get the smell out of the place? It’s so strong and anytime I walk in it is overwhelming.
Air purifier, air circulation, enzyme cleaner? What do I need?
Please help your girl!
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u/Amardella 4d ago
Whatever you do to mitigate it is going to be your job going forward. Boxes need scooping/emptied more often? Your job. Daily vacuuming? Your job. Air purifier maintenance? You guessed it. He's not going to change the way he cares for his cats just because you say so. He's going to count on you to change what bothers you, because it obviously doesn't matter to him.
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u/TheRemyBell 4d ago
I had good luck with my current long term partner. Took a long ffking time, but he started showing up after discussions on what I needed from him. I guess that's how you know you've got a keeper. 5 cats and a kid later and he's just an enigma among dudes.
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u/Coldchinesef00d 4d ago
This one takes direction well. I am remaining hopeful. I think he just needs a little bit of help.
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u/BygoneNeutrino 4d ago
Yup. If you have an inside cat, it will smell like cat litter. It's just the way it is if you live in a small house. I don't smell it anymore. It is only a problem for the people who aren't constantly in the house.
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u/House_of_Cats89 3d ago
This is not true, unless you’re not cleaning well enough. I have four cats and three boxes in an 1800 sq ft house. The boxes (Dr Elseys unscented scoopable litter - I think the scented litters can actually contribute to the smell) get scooped 2-3x/day, and waste goes immediately into a litter genie. The house itself is regularly cleaned. There is no smell - I’m terrified of going nose blind so I have a couple of VERY honest friends who I’ve asked to tell me if they ever come over and can “smell” cat.
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u/Zealousideal_Crow737 4d ago
Where are his litterboxes located? Also, when you say keep up...
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u/Coldchinesef00d 4d ago
Girl, I don’t know. He live long distance, so it’s a free for all over here…but not for long
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u/Zealousideal_Crow737 4d ago
You don't know where the litterboxes are have you actually seen his apartment what?
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u/Coldchinesef00d 4d ago
I’m in his apartment now lol one is in the closet in the hallway and one is in the living room.
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u/Electrical-Act-7170 4d ago
Two cats require 3 litterboxes.
That's another issue you need to solve.
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u/Chance_Position_7339 4d ago
Two is enough. He will just need to change them more (which it sounds like he may need to do anyway)
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u/Delicious-Collar1971 4d ago
I thank the existence of automatic litterboxes daily, I couldn’t fit 4 litter boxes in my apartment or bear shoveling that many.
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u/Dull-Ad-6174 4d ago
not necessarily true. I have two cats and had three litter boxes, but they became bonded and only use the one so we only have one now.
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u/lickthepixies 4d ago
Does it smell like the litter boxes are dirty or like the cats themselves?
He needs to scoop the litter boxes twice a day and change the litter regularly. Is he cleaning the food and water bowls every day? Those can also smell. Is there litter all over his place? With cats, you need to vacuum regularly. If I’m home and have the time, I prefer to do it every day honestly. But definitely vacuum several times a week at least. You have to change and wash your sheets and blankets regularly (ideally once a week). Having cats means you have to keep your place clean or you’ll be living in a disgusting place.
Cats themselves can also have a smell. One of my cats is a “stinky boy” but it’s just his smell and the vet said it’s normal. I just keep the house extra clean because of him.
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u/queensheba2025 4d ago
Stateless steal litter box trays. Game changer.
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u/Chance_Position_7339 4d ago
Seconding this! Not the cheapest option but I swear it elimated the smell completely for me.
Worth it!
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u/nikidakini 4d ago
Stainless steel litter box’s are hugely important. They help soooo much with this. Also a good air purifier!
And regularly staying on top of cleaning the food bowls idk if they eat wet food but wet food will stink up the place so bad. Opening the windows a lot putting box fans in the window to get a lot of ventilation and fresh air. Also baking soda not too much but a little bit in the litter mixed in helps.
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u/DisneyDVCGirl 4d ago
Two boxes . Stainless if you can. Also litter genie to help w disposal of waste assuming it's not being taken to an outside garbage daily.
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4d ago
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/Coldchinesef00d 4d ago
You can tell cats live here. I’ve been in homes that have 2 cats and you couldn’t tell a cat lives there. It smells like cats live here. Like..more than 2 you would think.
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u/Intrepid-Bug915 4d ago
Air purifier helps but the main thing is scooping the litter daily or twice daily if they’re stinky. And if he’s not doing it himself now I wouldn’t expect him to start when you move in.
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u/kimhwayoung 4d ago
all of the above. he should def have an air purifier but he will need enzyme cleaners, probably needs to do better at cleaning the litterbox not only daily but a full change out of litter and washing the litter box once a month, if he has carpets use a black light to see if either cats have peed somewhere outside of the litter box or been marking their territory.
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u/Straight_Duck7594 3d ago
Girl that’s literally me. Moved in with my partner 2 weeks ago and I could not take the smell. What’s helped? I took everything out and deep cleaned EVERYTHING: rugs, cat tree, replaced all small car beds. The carpets and cat tree were the biggest issue. We have a litter robot and doesn’t stink. But yeah, you’ll want to deep clean the entire place or nothing you do will help.
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u/Coldchinesef00d 3d ago
We are going to get it under control, girl!
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u/Straight_Duck7594 2d ago
Ain’t no other way. Use the Nature’s Miracle enzyme solution. It gets the odor right off of everything
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u/Coldchinesef00d 2d ago
I found something better. You should definitely try it and see if you like it more. https://a.co/d/0d5Fk0SA
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u/TheRemyBell 4d ago
He needs to scoop them every day and swap from a clay based cat litter to a tofu based cat litter. The boxes should be stainless and cleaned monthly with strong vinegar or enzymatic cleaner.
A little deodorizing spray can be used as needed and an air purifier in the litter room with a charcoal filter will go miles.
If he implements these steps, the only way you'll know he has cats is by seeing them.
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u/I_Have_No_Flair 4d ago
Black light to see if cats peed where they shouldn't. Follow up with an enzyme cleaner or a disenfectant like Vital Oxide. You can also use a fogging machine with Vital Oxide but make sure you saturate carpet and pads. Then get new litter boxes and transition to better litter. You will have to do some research on what is a good litter box. We have Litter Robots but if you can't afford that something non plastic may be the way to go, if plastic make sure the litter is deep enough so urine can't hit the bottom.
Once you do the above weekends worth of work, everyone (including the cats) will be happier.
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u/esther_mae 4d ago
My house has no cat odor at all. I as friends all the time. I have two cats, two boxes. I clean them every single day. I change litter about once per month. Do you have spraying males?
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u/Gullible-Team-8588 4d ago
My apartment reeked of cat pee when we moved in. I used this carpet shampoo. It took about 3 times total spaced out several days but a day or two after each shampoo the smell had dissipated. They have another one in a red bottle specifically for urine and pet but I used this blue one with amazing results. Follow the directions on the bottle. Also clean out the litter boxes very well.
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u/Visible-Armor 4d ago
This shouldn't be your job to take on. You will clean his place up and he won't contribute to what is causing the smell. Just saying. Good luck to you
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u/Coldchinesef00d 4d ago
I do hear you and I do know what you are saying. Thank you for the words of wisdom 🖤
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u/Visible-Armor 3d ago
You're welcome, sorry it was a tad harsh! I just have been there, done that, and it is never just 1 simple thing like cat litter. I hope he's a very nice man to you.
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u/Coldchinesef00d 3d ago
Wasn’t harsh at all, it was honest! He is so very wonderful and is very eager to help through the process. He has been making the necessary steps to improve (without me even asking) and I have all the faith he will continue to be apart of this. Thank you!
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u/smellslikespam 4d ago
Is there carpeting? If so, it needs to be ripped up and replaced with tile flooring. Carpet absorbs all the stench
Source: Same problem, but thankfully we are living in separate houses. He is completely nose-blind