PRINCETON, N.J., July 28 /PRNewswire/ -- More than half of U.S. cat owners think the litter box is, by far, the worst of all pet odors in their home, according to a new survey by CHURCH & DWIGHT, the maker of ARM & HAMMER(R) branded products.(1) And, with one in four people in the U.S. owning a cat and over 88 million pet cats in the U.S.,* litter box odor is an unpleasant reality for many households.
Americans take great pride in ensuring their homes are inviting spaces, as evident from the endless hours spent selecting paint colors, and exploring furniture and home decor stores. In fact, Americans spent $170 billion in 2008 remodeling their homes, according to a January 2008 Newsweek article. Pet owners, however, face special challenges to keep their homes looking and smelling fresh and many are not taking the proper steps to truly eliminate pet odors. According to the national survey, nine in 10 cat owners take measures to enhance the freshness of their home.(1) The survey also shows:
- Sixty percent of people reported using an air freshener to try to make their homes smell fresher, while 52 percent reported leaving the windows open(1)
- Forty-five percent reported using an odor eliminator not made specifically for pet odors(1)
Despite these efforts, litter boxes that aren't cleaned properly, or are not filled with odor-controlling litter can still undermine their efforts to present a clean, fresh space.
"Cleaning the litter box is the chore cat owners hate most," said Charlotte Reed, pet expert and author of "Miss Fido Manners," and host of "The Pet Buzz" on Blog Talk Radio. "To get rid of that awful litter box odor, it's important to clean it regularly and use products that truly eliminate odor, rather than just those that try to cover it up. If you're not totally eliminating the odor, guests will be able to smell pet urine in your home no matter how much air freshener you use."
KEEPING A PET HOME FRESH
Ninety-one percent of cat owners say a fresh home is important to them. To help all pet homes smell fresh, ARM & HAMMER clumping cat litters now contain a new Ammonia Block formula.(1) The formula features powerful, visible ARM & HAMMER Baking Soda Crystals that instantly destroy the toughest odors on contact, and blocks the nasty ammonia smell caused by the breakdown of urine. The Baking Soda Crystals allow owners to see the baking soda in the litter, so they can be confident their odor issues are under control.
For an added boost of freshness, new ARM & HAMMER Cat Litter Deodorizer Spray destroys litter odors quickly. Unlike traditional air fresheners, candles and diffusers, the unique spray formula, boosted with ARM & HAMMER( )Baking Soda and a combination of safe, yet powerful odor neutralizers, dries quickly on contact with litter, coating each granule for maximum freshness. Effective on all types of litter with no impact on clumping, this is a quick, convenient and more effective way to control litter box odors every day with just a spray.
THE MORE THE MERRIER
The survey also found that multiple-cat owners, accounting for more than 50 percent of total cat households, have more problems with pet odor related pet accidents in the home.(1)
"If your cat is having accidents in your home it's a sign that the litter box is not being cleaned properly or frequently enough," said Charlotte. "Most cats also dislike sharing the litter box with another cat and may search for alternative places to go, like the carpet."
Charlotte Reed offers some tips to prevent litter box behavior issues:
- Get the right size litter box for your cat. Don't choose a huge box for a small kitten, or a small box for an overweight cat. Make sure your cat can turn around, scratch, dig and position himself comfortably.
- Have at least one box per cat. Many cats dislike sharing their litter box, and multiple boxes do not get filled with waste as quickly.
- Place the litter box in an area of the home that is easy for your cat to access.
- Scoop litter daily and change litter regularly - it's healthier for your cat and also helps control odor.
- Choose a fine-grained, clumping litter that soaks up waste and is easy to remove in one scoop, like ARM & HAMMER Clumping Cat Litters with new Ammonia Block formula.
- Fill the litter box so that it is three to four inches deep. As you scoop, refill it to that level.
- Wash the litter box weekly using a mild soap and rinse well. Harsh chemicals could be dangerous and deter your pet from using the box.
- Use a litter deodorizer in between box changes, such as ARM & HAMMER Cat Litter Deodorizer Spray, to eliminate the toughest odors quickly.
ARM & HAMMER Clumping Cat Litters with Ammonia Block and ARM & HAMMER Cat Litter Deodorizer Spray are available at nationwide retailers in June 2009. For more information, visit www.armhammerpets.com.
(1)About the Survey
CHURCH & DWIGHT, the maker of ARM & HAMMER branded products commissioned StrategyOne to conduct a nationwide telephone omnibus survey of 248 American cat owners regarding the actions Americans currently take to minimize pet odor in their homes. Interviews were conducted via telephone from April 24, 2009 through April 26, 2009.
The margin of error for the total sample of adults is 6.2 at the 95 percent level of confidence, which means that in 95 out of 100 times that a sample of this size is drawn; the results would not vary by more than 6.2 percentage points in either direction.
The survey was conducted using the field services of Opinion Research Corporation.
About ARM & HAMMER
For more than 155 years, ARM & HAMMER Baking Soda's familiar orange box has been a trusted fixture in both the refrigerator and home. The brand was founded in 1846 when Dr. Austin Church and John Dwight began to produce and sell sodium bicarbonate under the ARM & HAMMER( )brand name.
Today, CHURCH & DWIGHT manufactures a variety of cleaning, freshening and deodorizing products for the home, family and body under the iconic ARM & HAMMER brand name.
* According to American Pet Products 2007-2008 National Pet Owners Survey
Media Contact:
Marisa Picker/Edelman
(212) 704-8153
Marisa.Picker@Edelman.com
