If you are a cat owner, you already know how stinky your pal’s litter box can get. Fortunately, baking soda has an odor-fighting power that can help you maintain a fresh smelling home.
Even the best litter can use a bit of deodorizing at times, especially if your feline friend ate something he should not have. This is the reason why experts suggest that you add some baking soda to the litter box basin before you add a layer of litter. Find out more about baking soda below.
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Can you add baking soda to cat litter
You can for sure put baking soda in the litter box. Baking soda is an excellent way of deodorizing the cat litter in a natural way. Baking soda is non-toxic for the cat and totally safe to use in the litter box and perfect for absorbing the urine odors.
You should also read:
- The best litter box on the market
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- This is where you should put your litter box
What is Baking Soda?
It’s actually just a more popular name for Sodium Bicarbonate. Baking soda is a chemical compound that has NaHC3 formula. It’s a non-toxic, salt-based chemical. That’s why it’s very safe to use in your home since there’s no toxicity present.
As a matter of fact, baking soda is mostly used for a wide variety of house cleaning jobs. This can be anything from removing marks from floors, deodorizing carpets and even unclogging stubborn drains. Having said that, you already know by now how powerful baking soda is.
Baking soda is also used in aid upset stomachs, very good at controlling odors, and is found in toothpaste products for teeth whitening. Baking soda is effective since it’s an alkaline substance that helps counteract acids, which can also be found in your cat’s urine.
Bicarbonate of Soda vs. Baking Soda
In other countries, baking soda is called bicarbonate of soda. It’s primarily a leavening agent that needs to be mixed with an acidic ingredient and moisture. This will result in a chemical reaction, which can make food rise. Since it needs an acid, it’s often utilized in recipes that already has acidic ingredient present like honey, buttermilk, chocolate, or lemon juice.
People often tend to confuse baking powder with baking soda. Baking powder is actually baking soda that contains some other type of acid. Simply put, they aren’t the same thing and it is only baking soda that you should use in your cat’s litter box.
How much baking soda is considered safe for cats?
Usually, too much of anything is a bad thing, and it’s also the same with using baking soda. You should not worry too much though since the baking soda in commercial litter is very small, and doesn’t pose any threat to young or adult cats.
If there’s no baking soda present in your cat litter upon buying, then what you can do is to sprinkle some on the bottom part of the litter box, prior to adding in the litter. Bear in mind that you don’t need to add too much baking soda to your cat’s litter. In fact, one to two tablespoons is enough for a large cat litter box.
When your cat uses his litter box, they often kick up the litter in order to cover their business. This helps mixing the litter with baking soda, which in turns help in controlling bad odors in your home. Some cat owners also add another layer of litter, then some baking soda, and finally top the litter box up with another layer of litter. Either way can work well, but just remember that you should never use more than a few spoons of baking soda.
Video: How much baking soda to add to cat litter
Common Questions About Putting Baking Soda in Cat’s Litter
Is baking soda harmful for cats?
Baking soda does not contain any harmful chemicals, which means it does not pose any danger to pets or children unless it’s ingested in large amounts. You should always consult your trusted vet prior to using baking soda on your cat’s litter or spot test before you use baking soda to clean furniture and rugs the cat peed on.
Can I put baking soda in my cat’s litter box?
When you clean and dry your cat’s litter box, you can sprinkle a little baking soda across the bottom of the box before you add a new layer of litter. Since your cat uses the litter box and kicks the litter once they’re done pooping, the baking soda will mix in and destroy the odor. Overall, baking soda is not harmful and won’t bother your cat.
How often should your cat’s litter be changed?
The general guideline in replacing your cat’s litter is to do it at least twice a week. However, depending on the circumstances, you might need to have it replaced every other day or just once a week. When you are emptying your cat’s litter box every day, you may only have to replace the clumping litter after 2 or 3 weeks.
Conclusion
Due to the fact that baking soda has strong alkaline properties, it can react with any type of acidic material. Because of that, it’s used in different household cleaning products as well as cosmetic products. It’s also safe to use as a deodorizer or cleaning agent in your cat’s litter box, and certainly helps control bad odors like cat poop and pee smells.
