23-04-2025
How To Minimize Pet Odors In Your Home
Welcome to Pet Peeves, a monthly series that aims to provide pet care solutions and expert advice for challenging scenarios that involve your beloved animal companions.
Anyone who lives in a household with pets knows that keeping odors at bay is a never-ending challenge—from smelly litter boxes to dogs who just came in from a rainy-day walk to the occasional accident in the home. While the not-so-pleasant scents are a small price to pay for the unconditional love your furry friend provides, dealing with them can be frustrating and time-consuming. With the right products on hand, though, minimizing pet odors immediately becomes less of a headache-inducing struggle.
As someone who has lived with dozens of dogs, cats and rabbits throughout my life, I've done my fair share of cleaning up messes, including learning which tactics and products are the best pet odor eliminators for various jobs. And with summer on the horizon, as temperatures rise, unpleasant scents may be heightened; you'll want to be especially prepared in order to keep your home clean, smelling fresh and comfortable for guests. I also chatted with two veterinarians, Dr. Zonram Liao, with Sunshine Veterinary Care in California, and Dr. Lisa Lippman, with Bond Vet in New York, about how to ensure anything you're using is pet-safe—plus what sort of odors may warrant medical advice from your vet.
One of the quickest and easiest ways to cover up lingering pet odors is to use an air deodorizer or another scented product like a candle. But if you go this route, 'pet safety should be a top priority,' says Dr. Liao. 'Some ingredients commonly found in these products can be harmful to pets, especially essential oils like tea tree, eucalyptus, peppermint and citrus, which can be toxic if inhaled or ingested.' Artificial fragrances and aerosol sprays can also be irritating to your cat's or dog's respiratory system.
If you tend to turn to scented candles, choose ones made from soy or beeswax with nontoxic scents and cotton wicks, advises Dr. Lippman. If you prefer air fresheners, go for water-based and non-aerosol products, and make sure you always use them in a well-ventilated area. One of my favorite candle brands is One Fur All Pet House Candles (the lavender green tea scent is my top pick), whose candles have a long burn time for an affordable price and actually are effective at mitigating pet odors. West Coast Candle Company is another option for those who prefer a more minimalist-looking candle. Additionally, these Arm & Hammer deodorizing gel beads, which use baking soda to neutralize odors, get rave reviews for their effectiveness.
Sometimes a scented product is no match for stronger or consistent odors, and you may also want to address the source of the smell before it becomes an issue.
If you have a cat, the litter box is likely a primary source of odor, even if you clean it regularly. For those willing to make a long-term investment, a self-cleaning litter box does a lot of the heavy lifting in terms of controlling the mess (and the smells) that come along with your kitty doing their business. These can be pricey, though, and if you're not yet ready to spring for a high-ticket item, there are still plenty of simple ways to ensure your litter boxes and the surrounding areas are clean and sanitized.
First, look at the litter you're using. Dr. Liao says that 'strong artificial fragrances can deter cats from using the box,' so to decrease the likelihood of accidents, opt for unscented clumping litter. Our editors recommend Dr. Elsey's Ultra as the best kitty litter overall based on long-term testing; senior home and kitchen editor Amanda Arnold has been using it for eight years as her go-to. For a natural kitty litter, we like sWheat Scoop Multi-Cat Natural Clumping Wheat Cat Litter, an especially great choice for multi-cat households. Litter box liners and mats can help to contain messes, too, and it's smart to keep litter boxes in well-ventilated areas. Dr. Lippman recommends washing the entire box with warm, soapy water at least once a month.
I've also found Skout's Honor Litter Box Deodorizer to be effective at neutralizing smells in between cleanings, and I spritz the litter with this spray every time I clean. As an even simpler (and still pet-safe) option, you can also sprinkle a little baking soda on the litter to absorb odors.
If your cat is having accidents outside the litter box, an enzyme cleaner for cat urine is essential, since this type of odor eliminator works to break down odors rather than just mask them. I like Rocco & Roxie Stain & Odor Eliminator, which works well for dog accidents too. But more importantly, if your cat is urinating outside of their litter box, contact your veterinarian to determine if a medical or behavioral issue is at play. (And if they are an intact male cat, you want to make sure they're neutered as soon as possible; unneutered male cats often spray urine to mark their territory.)
Unlike cats, who typically do an efficient job at grooming themselves without needing much human intervention, dogs require a little more effort to stay clean. Most dogs will benefit from a bath every four to six weeks, says Dr. Lippman, using a gentle, pet-specific shampoo; she and Dr. Liao both note that oatmeal-based formulas are especially good for sensitive skin. Our editors recommend this Buddy Wash shampoo, or this DermAllay option for an oatmeal shampoo.
Because I let my dogs sleep in my bed and on other furniture, I also make sure their paws and butt are clean after they've come in from a walk. I like to use these Earth Rated unscented dog wipes so there isn't anything lingering around after they've done their business. (The wipes are great for freshening up my pups' coats in between baths too.) I also regularly use this Nature's Miracle Laundry Boost when washing my bedding for extra protection against both stains and odors—I've used it for years now, and it has never let me down.
'Certain persistent or strong pet odors can indicate underlying health issues,' says Dr. Liao. For instance, while the occasional bad-smelling stool is normal, if your pet's poop is chronically foul-smelling, he says, it could be a sign of digestive issues, food intolerance or infections, especially if you notice a change in consistency. Make sure to check in with your vet if this is the case.
A specific odor to look out for is a pungent fishy smell, which 'often means the anal glands are full and need to be expressed,' he adds. In my experience, this odor is often much stronger and more common in dogs, but cats can also experience anal gland issues. This may be accompanied by scooting (dragging their bottom across the floor) or licking excessively, and you should see a veterinarian if you notice any of these symptoms so they can be addressed accordingly. Something I've found helpful for this issue, which my American bully Gizmo experiences often, are these Glandex soft chews, formulated with fiber and probiotics. I give them to my dog daily, and they seem to work well at combatting the problem.
And while regular baths should help keep your pup smelling fresh and feeling comfortable, if you notice a persistent musty, yeasty or foul smell from their coat, this could indicate a bacterial or fungal infection, allergies or seborrhea, says Dr. Liao: 'Watch for signs of itching and changes in skin color to accompany this, especially if bathing doesn't resolve the issue,' and contact your vet.
Zonram Liao, DVM, is a Southern California-based veterinarian who currently practices at Sunshine Veterinary Care. He grew up in Los Angeles and returned home after veterinary school to give back to his community; during the pandemic, he launched a pet supplement company to help pet parents when vet visits were scarce. He uses social media to educate and spread positivity in the veterinary field, remaining a pillar of support for people and pets in his Lippman, DVM, is a New-York based veterinarian and director of virtual medicine at Bond Vet who earned her degree in veterinary medicine at Western University of Health Sciences. She also sits on the board of Animal Lighthouse Rescue, whose mission is to help the homeless dogs of Puerto Rico, and is the co-host of podcast We Don't Deserve Dogs. She has been featured as a veterinary expert on Good Morning America, Dr. Oz, Inside Edition and Favilla, the author of this story, is a 20-year media veteran who has spent the last eight years professionally testing and reviewing products, including a variety of pet-care items, from dog food delivery services to dog beds to toys. She has worked in a volunteer capacity with both cat and dog rescues and at New York City-based animal shelters for the greater part of the last 15 years, and has cared for dogs, cats and rabbits for most of her a question for us? Email efavilla@ with the subject line 'Pet Peeves.'
