I like the kind that looks like sand. I have never had a problem with smells. I buy it at "Pet Supply Warehouse" by my home, but I am thinking that any small pet store would have something similar. It is about $10 for a 20 lb bag. I scoop daily and change it about once a month. I tried switching to a less pricy store brand, but all the ones I have tried get smelly, and that is something I can not handle. I hope you can find something comprable. My store is in Mission Viejo off the 5 and Alicia next time you're in the area.

I use the 50 lb box from Sam's as a rule. I have a large, oval plastic pail of kitty litter that wasn't opened yet. I recently opened it, and it's great! It's called Litter Clean, and it has crystals in it. Called Crystal Blend. In amongst the grey kitty litter are blue odor-absorbing crystals....large and small.
This works great, but I find it dustier than the Sam's and others I've used.

I don't think I really believed there was a HUGE difference in litter quality/smell control until I experimented after being frustrated for the same reasons you are. I used Tidy Cat for years, but I lived in a house with a basement and that's where the litter box was. Then I moved to a one-floor condo and now have to live much closer to the litter box. After some experimentation, I settled on Everclean ES unscented. It is expensive but worth every penny to me. It controls the smell (I have two cats) amazingly.

Are the clumps getting any bigger? Your older girl might be having some health issues, ours did that and was diagnosed with diabetes. I'd check with the vet just to be on the safe side.

I've never tried these odor crystals but I'll bet they work.
Donna

Here is a link that might be useful: odor crystals

Is the male neutered? Cause I have to tell you, nothing stinks like unneutered male pee.

That said, if it's cold and damp odors linger, no matter what litter you are using because the smell doesn't evaporate.

You might consider a vet trip. If the pee is really concentrated they might not be getting enough fluids.

We have 8 indoor cats and 3 jumbo litterboxes and yes, there are days (like when it's raining outside) when you smell it more than others.

I am adamant about smell. We scoop the boxes twice a day. If there's a really smelly box deposit, I dig it out immediately. I spray the litter with Zero Odor every day or two. I have concentrated room sprays from BB&W and Yankee Candle which I spray each time I clean the boxes (cause the odor follows the bags through the house and out to the garbage)

AND, last but most important, I use a Lampe Berger (actually 2 of them) to eliminate odors when the smell is noticeable.

Covered litterboxes help keep the smell "contained".

We also have 2 Ionic Breezes, 2 Honeywell & 1 Blue Air air cleaners in the house - low during the day and high at night.

But, I have to tell you - this may have a lot to do with the humidty in your area. I've always noticed pee smells are worse in humid weather. That's why I use a lot of Zero Odor and the Lampe during the rainy season here.

Hey Organic Donna,
I bought a bag of these a year or so ago at Linenes and Things when it was on a clearance rack. Put it behind the toilet, right beside the kitty litter, and it didn't do a thing.
I forgot all about it, till I saw the link. I remember the part about putting it in sunlight to recharge.
Save your money.

We use Fresh Step. I have HUGE rubbermaid storage containers and each has about 40 lbs of litter. Only time I have had it smell was when Eric and I were out of town for an extended time and it didn't get cleaned as quickly as it should have. The cats don't like the other brands we tried- they like the larger clumps, I think the sand kind gets stuck in their paws or something.

Good luck!

We have 3 large, male, Maine Coon cats (neutered), and I can tell you, when they pee is can sound like Niagara Falls! LOL!! We scoop the boxes at least once per day but at times we still have odors so I bought a Fresh Air from EcoQuest from my cousin...it is unbelievable. Great job! We buy our litter at Petco, it is the refillable 30# pails. It clumps really well, even with our resident 'digger'.

"All of a sudden their pee pee stinks up the whole house. "

When there is a sudden change there could be a health problem. Have the cats checked for UTI's. Urine laden with bacteria can stink. UTI's are very common in cats, but the usual sign is a cat not using the litter box although not in every case.

Since you do not say you have suddenly changed brands of litter, or changed their diet recently, or are experiencing global warming with unprecedented humidity, I am more inclined to think the new smell has to do with the male reaching puberty.

Thanks ladies

The boy has been fixed and one of the foods they eat helps prevent UTI's. The girl had one when we first got her 12 years ago but never since.

We have just noticed it since the winter weather, my DH thinks that is the problem since both cats seem their usual selves.

Tally what is a Lampe Berger??? I am going to try and look it up. the Zero Odor spray you mention sounds interesting is it from a pet shop??

Hey Lynn,
Did you post pics of your Maine Coons on the Pet Pictures thread? We've got a 10-yr old, and he's a Maine. If not purebred, darn close to it. I'd love to see pics of your guys.

That absolute best litter I've ever used, was some kind of crystals. I got it at Walmart and it was MiMi Litter! We smelled NOTHING...AT ALL! Of course, Walmart quit carrying it. :(

I've seen what looks like the same "litter" in a jug there..but it's about $17.00..which is a bit much for this non-working gal!

Hey LL:

Zero Odor: I buy it online from their website. I use it to take odors out of the air and I also spray it directly on the litter and litterboxes.

Zero Odor Article

Zero Odor Website

Lampe Berger: This is a lampe that consists of a wick and a stone burner. You light the stone, it gets hot, blow out the flame and the heat evaporates the scented oil in the lampe. It kills bacteria as well as scents the air. You need to research the Lampe and the oils. There are a lot of knock offs that do the job just as well. I got both my Lampes on Ebay and alternate between the LB oil and various e-tailers.

Here is a link that might be useful: Lampe Berger Instructions

We use all-crystal litter which absorbs the pee in a layer at the bottom, no smell even with the cat using it exclusively for three weeks (kept indoors while we were away).

I usually buy the cheapest clumping litter I can get (usually about $6-$7 for 40#), but I got such a deal on Tidy Cats ($7 for 35 or 38#) that I've been using that lately. Occasionally I add a little baking soda. My female has no real problems unless she eats certain foods. My male... well, his urine can have a very strong ammonia smell. Normally there's not much problem as long as there's enough litter to absorb it and I clean the boxes often enough. I've used a lot of different litters. Some seem to clump harder than others. Curiously her urine clumps better than does his. Kind of strange.

I'll second? third? the crystal litter. We have no odor issues at our house. It is kind of expensive, though.

I sprinkle some of the carpet deodorizer that you can buy at the dollar store, in the litter box when I clean it and rarely have any bad smells from 3 indoor cats, 2 males and 1 female.