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Will an Air Purifier Help with My Cat’s Litter Smell? What to Know!

Kit Copson

By Kit Copson

cat sitting near air purifier

As cat parents, we are always on the lookout for methods of eliminating or at least reducing our cats’ litter box smell. For some, investing in an air purifier is the way to go. These handy machines help keep your home smelling fresh; some are even designed specifically to tackle pet odors. For this reason, an air purifier is well worth considering if you’re struggling to keep litter box odors under wraps.

hepper cat paw divider

Which Air Purifiers Will Get Rid of Litter Box Odors?

Suppose your goal is to eliminate pet odors and litter box smells specifically. In that case, you will want to go for an air purifier designed for the purpose—pet air purifiers are very easy to find online. The air purifier you choose should also contain a HEPA (high-efficiency particulate air) filter which traps pet dander, mold, smoke, dust, and mite particles that may contribute to unpleasant smells and allergic reactions.

HEPA filters work by pushing air through a mesh that traps these odor particles inside. These filters have different strengths in terms of how much air they can clean, so if you buy HEPA filters, make sure you pick the right size for the room you are planning to purify.

close up of long-haired tabby cat next to air purifier
Image Credit: Anna Hoychuk, Shutterstock

What Are the Benefits of Using an Air Purifier?

Air purifiers offer an abundance of benefits in addition to eliminating litter box odors in your home. Because they remove allergens from the air, air purifiers can help reduce respiratory symptoms in people suffering from allergies triggered by pollutants that circulate in the air like pet dander and dust.

Furthermore, since they’re good for the respiratory system, air purifiers may also help people with asthma by reducing the irritants that exacerbate asthma symptoms, such as dust and mite particles, pet dander, pet hair, and airborne bacteria. For these reasons, it also makes sense that air purifiers can help reduce the risk of catching viruses and diseases circulating in the air, like SARS-CoV-2.

How Else Can I Reduce Litter Box Odors?

Cat litter with flower deodorizer
Image Credit: evakerrigan, Shutterstock

As effective as air purifiers are, they can be a little pricey. That said, the long-term benefits may be well worth the investment. If you would like to explore alternative methods for reducing litter box odors that don’t involve spending as much money upfront, here are our top tips.

Stick to a Cleaning Routine

Whether you are using an air purifier or not, proper cleaning of the litter box is of the utmost importance when it comes to keeping your home smelling fresh. Perform daily spot checks to remove clumps from the box and give it a thorough clean with pet-safe cleaning products before replacing litter. Some litter can last quite a long time if tended to well enough, whereas others only last a couple of days at the most.

Use Litter Deodorizer

Litter deodorizers are designed to be sprinkled through and stirred into your cat’s litter to help absorb litter box odors. They’re easy to buy online or find in pet stores and local supermarkets. Alternatively, you could try stirring some baking soda in the litter.

Sometimes even the best litter box setup needs a helping hand in combating invasive smells. Our Hepper Advanced Bio-Enzyme Cat Litter Deodorizer naturally breaks down odors at the source. This effective litter additive can help all types of cat litter last longer, saving you money, and is safe for all life stages. Best of all, it's 100% biodegradable and fragrance-free.

Hepper Advanced Bio-Enzyme Cat Litter Deodorizer Powder
  • Bio Enzymatic Cat Litter Freshener - Smart formulation uses natural ingredients eliminating cat...
  • Save Money - Stuff for cats isn’t the cheapest. With this litter box odor eliminator, you’ll...

Avoid Certain Types of Litter

The truth is that some types of cat litter are simply better than others when it comes to absorbing odors. You may want to steer clear of dusty or low-quality clay-based litters because, in our experience, these have been the least effective at keeping litter box smells under control.

Paper-based litter is another kind we are not huge fans of as it tends to get wet, soggy, and therefore smelly rather quickly. This may depend on the brand you get, though.

hepper single cat paw divider

Final Thoughts

In conclusion, air purifiers are worth considering if you’re looking to eliminate cat litter box odors and they come with a host of health benefits. That said, air purifiers and other methods of odor elimination can only be effective with proper litter box cleaning routines and maintenance, so it is crucial to keep on top of things in that department.


Featured Image Credit: Maria Boiko, Shutterstock

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