Cat owners often question the safety of mixing baking soda with cat litter. To answer this question, we need to know a little about baking soda and how it can help to get rid of the foul odor of cat litter.
Baking soda, scientifically known as Sodium Bicarbonate(1), is a salt-based chemical product. Due to its non-toxic nature, baking soda is used for various household purposes.
Baking soda is used in several cleaning jobs and to get rid of bad smells. It is an alkaline product and reacts with acids present in cat urine to counter the odor.
But, the usage of baking soda in cat litter depends on the safety and advantages of this chemical. We will cover every aspect of this question in this article.
Can you add baking soda to cat litter?
Yes, one can use baking soda to cat litter to deal with the foul odor of cat litter. It is a very cheap substitute for the scented litter available in pet stores.
- A natural and gentle cleaner
- Resealable pouch
Why should you add baking soda to cat litter?
Cat owners struggle the most with keeping the cat litter box clean and odorless. The best solution is to clean the litter box at least 2-3 times every day. But maintaining a clean litter box while performing all the chores of daily life can be too much for a cat owner. Using a little bit of baking soda can make the life of the cat owner bearable. Some of the advantages of using baking soda with cat litter are –
- Reduces odor
- Makes cleaning easy
- Saves money
- Mixing it with any type of litter
- Replacing it with any odor-reducing litter
- Prevents fleas
As we have mentioned earlier, baking soda can absorb bad smells from cat litter. If one forgets to clean the litter box one day, the presence of baking soda will reduce the chance of stench coming from the litter.
This scientific phenomenon depends on the property that alkaline salts react with the acid in the urine, making the product less acidic. As a result, the odor is removed.
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The cleaning products available in the market can be harmful to the cat. The alkaline nature of the baking soda makes it abrasive.
This is why it is used for various cleaning purposes. Cat owners can also use baking soda while cleaning the litter box entirely.
Baking soda is safe to use as it does not create any harmful residue after cleaning the litter box. It will also remove any remaining odor from the litter box.
The musty odor originating from the cat litter can make one uncomfortable. Cat owners often use air fresheners, air purifiers, or scented cat litter to deal with this problem.
All of these options are expensive and can add up to a considerable amount in your yearly budget.
Baking soda is a cheap product and easy to find in bulk. This is the reason why so many cat owners are trying to switch to baking soda.
Another practical reason for using baking soda in cat litter is the universal nature of baking soda. Baking soda can be added to any type of cat litter available in the market.
It can be mixed with clumping litter, non-clumping litter, or pellets to reduce the odor. Cat owners who make cat litter at home also use baking soda as an ingredient for the smell-removing property.
Cats are very particular about the litter box. They may entirely discard the litter box if they don’t like the smell.
Scented liters are very expensive. If the cat does not like the litter, it costs a lot of money. On the other hand, baking soda does not have any particular scent, and it does not leave behind any harmful chemicals.
Cat owners often use baking soda with cat litter to kill any flea infestation on the cat’s fur. Baking soda is a useful product that can kill any bugs.
But one needs to make sure that the amount of baking soda used in the litter should be well within the limit. Also, the baking powder should not reach the eyes of the cat, as it causes irritation.
How much baking soda can you use?
A couple of tablespoons of baking soda is sufficient for a litter box. If the purchased litter does not have any added baking soda, then one should sprinkle some of it before filling the box with litter.
Cats generally dig up the litter to hide their waste. This process will help in mixing the baking soda. As a result, the odor produced by the litter will be almost negligible.
Some cat owners add a layer of cat litter, then a few spoons of baking soda, and then another layer of cat litter to fill the litter box up to the required level.
One can use either of the two methods mentioned above, as long as the quantity of baking soda used is within the limit.
What would happen if my cat eats baking soda, is it harmful?
Baking soda is completely harmless if it is ingested in small quantities. It does not have any particular taste, and cats don’t like to eat baking soda.
So, the intake will be well within the permissible limit, and there is no reason to worry about it.
However, one should make sure that the cat is not allergic to baking soda. If the cat is showing any symptoms, like vomiting, or seizures, one should take the cat to the vet immediately.
Therefore, choosing a cheaper and healthier alternative to the other smell-reducing products is very crucial.
Having no side effects, one should not worry about using baking soda with cat litter. As long as the amount of baking soda is below a certain level, it should not create any problem for the product.
But one should keep in mind that it is not the only solution. Cleaning the litter box properly every time should always be the top priority to keep the litter odorless.
Resources & Citations:
1. https://lifehacker.com/fight-off-foul-litter-box-odors-with-a-layer-of-baking-1788503493
2. https://litter-boxes.com/baking-soda/
3. https://incrediblekitty.com/baking-soda-safe-cats-can-use-cat-litter/
Hi There, AJ Oren here. I am the founder of this amazing pet blog & a passionate writer who loves helping pet owners to learn more about their pets through my articles. I am also the content manager of this blog. I have experience in pet training and behavior, sheltering, and currently working for a veterinary clinic.