So I’ve got two female cats, a 1 year old and a 6 year old, and the younger one has such an ammonia stench to her pee that it’s utterly noxious.
Common suggestions online are that the cat is dehydrated - which with two water fountains, wet food twice a day, and the sheer monsterous size of the pee clumps, is not the case. They’ve got three litter boxes which are scooped daily, so it’s also not like we’re leaving things to fester and grow more pungent. It’s not a new development, her pee has always been really potent, so I’m also not thinking UTI.
I’ve tried sprinkling baking soda in the litter after scooping, which helps a bit with residual smells, but I’m looking for any suggestions to counter this constant ammonia assault.
The culprit:
You should go to a vet. Excessive ammonia in her pee is not good, since you say it’s always been this way maybe something genetic that might require medication before permanent damage is done.
Thanks, I’ll be giving the vet a call and see what they say.
Go to the vet.
(That chemical weapon is adorable)
Mirroring what others have said, see your vet! Kidney dysfunction is extremely common in cats, and as with most medical issues it’s much, much better to address it early before it snowballs.
wet food twice a day
One possibility is that your cat is getting too much protein and her kidneys are struggling as a result. This is unusual (cats naturally need lots of protein), but not unheard of. When you visit your vet, make sure you discuss diet in detail.
You need to bring this up to a vet.
Get her to a vet asap!
It could be a early indication of kidney problems.
My previous cat Tweet had similar issues and it was from his kidneys shutting down.
Unfortunately it wasn’t caught early enough so even with medication and a low protein diet he passed over the rainbow bridge a month later.
I agree with people who say you should consult a vet.
But as a side note: baking soda doesn’t do shit for odors. That’s a myth that was started by the Arm & Hammer marketing team. And it’s doubly wrong to use in this instance, because amonia-heavy urine is already basic (high pH). If you want to neutralize it, you should be treating it with an acid like vinegar. Basic chemistry.
Alternatively, pet stores sell litter deodorizers that do work and are safe. I’ve used one that is made from (I think) wheat germ.
I collect urine for my compost pile and I add some vinegar to the empty jug first because it helps stabilize the urine and keep less of it from transforming into ammonia. Ammonia is volatile, meaning it evaporates rapidly, which is why you smell it. In compost this also means nitrogen is leaving the system, which you don’t want. Vinegar liquid might be awkward to add to your cat box but there is also vinegar powder.
Wait, is this safe? I keep hearing cat waste is bad for gardening stuff.
I don’t collect cat urine - I mean human.
You’re right that animal waste does not belong in compost or gardens.
Hi, please go to a vet. Always go to the vet before making a post.
I feed my cats an “indoor” pet food and rexuces the smells of their waste. I also spent months finding a litter that reduced the smells. That was key as some I swear amplified the smells (crystals).
