Yes, baking soda is safe for cats.
The uses of baking soda, or sodium bicarbonate as it is also known, are many and go over beyond its use in the kitchen. Other than its use in baking, it is also useful for keeping spaces fresh.
It has a very potent capacity to clean and deodorize. The question then arises, is baking soda safe for cats? It depends. Baking soda has its advantages when it comes to using on cats for cleanliness.
Some of the benefits are:
· Cleaning up cat stains
· Giving cats a dry shampoo,
· Keeping your cat’s bed fresh
· Keeping the cat’s litter box fresh
· Cleaning cat’s teeth, treating stings
However, when administered in surplus, it has its pitfalls. Excessive ingestion of sodium bicarbonate may cause problems with the cat’s sodium and potassium levels. This may, in turn, cause problems such as vomiting, diarrhea, seizures, heart disease, and urine color changes to occur.
Therefore, the careful use of baking soda on cats has its definite advantages, but one should always be cautious of the extent of use. Baking soda can potentially be dangerous if administered in large quantities.
The safe side here is that most cats will not want to eat it. Thus, its use for cleaning or for extending the life of the litter box is safe. Baking soda is also a natural and inexpensive way of keeping the home fresh. But care should always be taken when it comes to how it is used, its quantities, by whom it is used, and where the baking soda is stored.
My partner wanted a cat, and I didn’t. Negotiations lasted for months. Despite my stance, deep in my heart, I had a feeling I’d give in and let her have the pet. Then by chance, our neighbor was moving out and asked us if we could take her cat and give him a home. Einstein came into our lives, and he was a god-sent. We knew nothing about caring for cats, but we would have to learn on the job.
There was the feeding factor, his litter box, cleaning him, and some more that we would have to learn about and learn fast. One of the things I came to discover and learn was that baking soda is a natural cleaner and deodorizer. This helped a lot because we did not want the cat to come into contact with any harmful chemicals. The fact that it is affordable made me an instant convert.
Besides, my skin is also very sensitive to certain cleaning products. With baking soda, I did not have any allergic reaction, so that was a plus. When our journey with Einstein began, my partner and I came to realize that baking soda had various other uses, including cleaning our cat. It is safe for cats.
Now, let us explore the extent to which this natural chemical product is versatile and how its flexibility is safe to use around cats.
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On Cat Stains
The joy that cats bring to their owners can be immense. My love for Einstein now is unshakeable. This joy, on the other hand, comes with the frustration of cat stains and odors. It’s two in one.
Fortunately, you can make your pet stain remover from household ingredients like baking soda. With its use, urine and vomit stains, as well as their odors, became a thing of the past.
Cat urine is acidic, while baking soda is a base. When baking soda is poured into cat urine, the baking soda chemically neutralizes it and also the pungent smell in the process.
If this doesn’t do the trick, then mix equal quantities of white vinegar and baking soda to create a liquid paste. Apply this paste to the soiled area. Let it sit for a few minutes, and then wipe it up using a sponge or soft cloth.
To Deodorize and Remove Fleas
Baking soda can be used on cats to deodorize as well as remove fleas. This was the first thing I learned about baking soda concerning cat care. It contains no harmful chemicals, and it poses no harm even to other pets.
Cats generally don’t like to be cleaned, but now and again, this has to be done. So, when it came to my cat, I mixed:
· A teaspoon each of baking soda and sea salt
· One cup of apple cider vinegar
· A cup of warm water together in a spray bottle
My partner was so gentle with Einstein, which is advisable; so, don’t be too rough with your cat when spraying it. She made certain to avoid his face. The mixture can sting quite a bit—make sure if your cat has any open wounds, cuts, or grazes, that you avoid them. Reapply every few days and see how the flea population decreases.
On the other hand, baking soda can be used as a dry shampoo by just rubbing it thoroughly onto the cat’s coat. This will freshen up the cat’s coat. It will also leave residue on the fleas and thus dehydrate them. Avoid the cat’s face but be sure to rub behind its ears, back of the neck, and base of the tail. Once done, wipe the cat off with a small towel to keep it from licking and ingesting the excess powder on its coat.
On The Cat Bed
Cats usually have favorite spots that they like to spend time on. Before I forget, when we first got our cat his bed, we didn’t think it necessary to wash his beddings every so often. But it’s important to do so.
After a while, even the stench lets you know it is time for a wash. Regular washing of cat beddings also enhances the cat’s smell, making it more pleasant.
Put the cat’s beddings in the laundry machine, add a detergent that has no fragrance and is dye-free. Also, put in 1 cup of baking soda and let the washing begin. If it’s a mat and you cannot put it in a washer, then sprinkle baking soda on it liberally; leave it for close to half an hour, then vacuum clean the mat.
In The Litter Box
The cat litter box can get quite smelly. For Einstein, I had a box with soil for the cat to do its thing. But I had to keep on changing it too frequently because of the stench. My Vet later advised that I can use baking soda. I put a few teaspoons of baking soda at the bottom of the litter-box and added litter.
Alternatively, you can spread baking soda in with the litter; this way, it will, with time, mix once your cat uses the litter box. It helps trap or neutralize odors for a fresher smelling home, and its life span is slightly longer than just using soil.
Cleaning The Cat’s Teeth
Another use of sodium bicarbonate is toothpaste for our cat. It works very well in maintaining dental hygiene for cats. You simply dip your toothbrush into some baking soda and very gently brush the cat’s teeth.
Another way is to use baking soda as a mouthwash. Add half a teaspoon of baking soda to lukewarm water in a cup. When using baking soda as a mouthwash, be very careful to avoid your cat from ingesting the mixture.
On The Carpet
When dealing with fleas, it is important to note that it’s not just about the cat but its surrounding environment as well. The other place that cats spend a lot of their time and where fleas could infest is the carpet.
Given that, in my case, I had to be a bit creative—I got a plastic tub and punched a few holes on its lid using a nail. I then mixed the salt and baking soda in equal proportion into the tub, after which I closed it and was ready to begin the sprinkling.
When sprinkling, be generous and cover the whole carpet. Missing out on certain areas could mean a re-infestation. After the sprinkling, I got a stiff-bristled broom and used it to brush the powder and salt down into the carpet, making sure it had penetrated every part of the carpet.
After that, let the combination of the baking soda and salt work for at least 12 hours undisturbed. I embarked on mine at night before I slept and then vacuumed the carpet in the morning. Once done, empty your vacuum cleaner into a plastic bag, seal it tightly and dispose of it.
Treating Stings
If by chance your cat happens to be stung by a bee, baking soda can come to your aid. Once you realize that your cat has been stung, first, make sure that you remove the stinger. After that, mix some baking soda with water to make a paste. Apply this paste to the area that has been stung. This will generally ease the pain and swelling.
Toenail Accidents
At times I realize that Einstein’s nails are becoming too long, and I have to trim them. In the process of doing this, if by chance you do trim the nail too short and cause your cat to bleed, place the nail in baking soda immediately and apply pressure. This should stop the bleeding.
