How to Remove Ammonia From the Air Due to a Cat Box

Litter box maintenance is the first line of defense against ammonia odor saturating your home environment. First select litter that is appropriate for your cat. Declawed cats have a tendency to do better with softer litters such as corncob or newspaper pellets. To remove ammonia odor from the air, establish a litter box routine that eliminates odors by preventing them from occurring with daily as well as weekly maintenance.

Things You'll Need

  • Litter pan
  • Litter pan hood
  • Litter pan hood filter
  • Cat litter
  • Pet safe odor absorber
  • Litter scooper
  • 1-gallon bucket with lid
  • 6 small plastic grocery bags
  • Small box baking soda
  • Mild dish detergent (litter box cleaner)
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Instructions

    • 1

      Sprinkle 2 tablespoons baking soda into the bottom of the litter pan and place a litter box hood on the litter pan. The baking soda and hood prevent odor-keeping ammonia from freely releasing into the air.

    • 2

      Install an absorbing filter on the litter pan. Some hoods have a slotted space for filters on the top of the hood itself. Self-cleaning litter boxes come equipped with them as well.

    • 3

      Pour one to two inches of litter in the bottom of the pan. Use more if your cat prefers, but avoid using more than necessary to prevent waste.

    • 4

      Do tests runs of litters until you find one to satisfy you and your cat. Some litters are better than others, but cats can have an aversion to scented litters and may not use them at all. Work with your cat̵7;s preference first and your preference second.

    • 5

      Hang a small bag of pet-safe odor absorbing crystals near the litter box to prevent ammonia odor buildup in the room and catch odors as they come out of the litter box door.

    • 6

      Place a plastic bag inside the 1-gallon bucket as a liner, sprinkle the inside with 1 teaspoon of baking soda and place the lid on the plastic bucket.

    • 7

      Sprinkle 1 teaspoon of baking soda in the bottom of a clean plastic bag, place the bag over the soiled end of the litter scoop, and set aside. This prevents litter from falling off the scoop and soiling the floor, releasing ammonia odor into the air.

    • 8

      Scoop the litter box daily to remove liquid and solid waste. Place waste in a plastic bag, tie off the top, place the bag inside the bucket and replace the lid. This isolates waste and prevents it from releasing ammonia into the air.

    • 9

      Perform weekly maintenance. Empty, wash and dry the litter pan, hood, bucket and scoop. Replace litter and liner bags.

    • 10

      Place an automatic room deodorizer a few feet from the litter box and set the timer to release ever 15 minutes to keep air fresh smelling.