this post was submitted on 12 Jan 2026
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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:

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[–] IamSparticles@lemmy.zip 3 points 20 hours ago

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.