We’ve all watched the old movie scenes where the unconscious boxer or the woman who has fainted is brought back with a whiff of an ammonia capsule. And we’re all familiar with the pungent odor of ammonia floor cleaners, used to strip away coats of wax–but, even diluted with water, filling the air with the eye-burning distinctive smell of ammonia. Ammonia can be dangerous to us–and to our cats.
It’s ammonia that makes cat litterboxes smell, well, like smelly litterboxes. The cat urine itself only has a trace of ammonia but, as it reacts to bacteria in the litterbox, it generates ammonia–and that unmistakable odor.
The Dangers of Ammonia from Lucy Pet on Vimeo.
Not only is the odor bothersome in our attempts to keep our homes clean and fragrant, it’s also dangerous, both to us and to cats.
Ammonia is a terrible respiratory irritant and can cause asthma and respiratory irritation in people and pets. (I have asthma and can say this is definitely the case.)
Be sure to take a moment to watch the above video from the Hallmark Channel featuring Karen “Doc” Halligan, Chief Veterinary Officer for Lucy Pet Products about the dangers of ammonia in the litterbox. Dr. Halligan points out the scary level of ammonia that litterboxes can contain–rising to risk levels in just a few days:
And it’s important to note that cats, with their sensitive noses, can detect ammonia at lower levels than we can (not to mention the fact that their noses are just inches away from the litter!)
As Dr. Halligan points out in the video, just as we would turn away from a smelly portable potty (we’ve all been there!), our cats are going to turn away from smelly litterboxes!
Lucy Pet Products’ Cats Incredible litter is specially formulated with a patent-pending technology not to mask the smell but to prevent ammonia from ever forming in the litterbox.
That means a safer, better-smelling litterbox for your cat and for the human members of your household.
Right now, Inca, Lucky and Ochi are transitioning to a new litter — Cats Incredible litter — and we’ll be back next week to give you the results in our home.
Would you like to try Cats Incredible? Check the handy Store Locator to find a store near you–and remember that every purchases helps fund the spay and neuter efforts of The Lucy Pet Foundation!
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