The 'scent of ammonia' is the dead giveaway for muti-cat homes

Cat hoarders or cat owners with more cats than they can properly care for can be detected from the outside if you are olfactorily observant because the 'scent of ammonia' leaks out of the windows even if they've only been opened by a small amount which is usually the case because these negligent cat owners KNOW that their homes are saturated in the scent of ammonia - let's call it the gross smell of ammonia - and keep their windows closed which makes the atmosphere inside their home even worse, which is detrimental to the health of cats and humans alike.

There's a story today in The Independent newspaper which mentions that ghastly phrase "the scent of ammonia". It concerns a family who lost control of the number of cats in their home. An isolated family with one family member refusing others to enter the home and where their mother died leaving their father alone with cats who clearly hadn't been sterilised and therefore procreated to the point where inside the home there were as many as 175 cats.

When a family member finally was able to enter the home they said that the scent of ammonia was so strong that they felt that they needed to wash their clothes after less than an hour in the home.

Below is the reason why cat urine gives off ammonia gas and below that is a section on how inhaling ammonia for a long time can potentially damage your health.

Health

I am concerned not only for the cats but the people in these homes. The cats in multi-cat homes where the owners have lost control and are not keeping their home clean and the cat litter trays emptied regularly et cetera are constantly inhaling ammonia. How does that impact health? The section below at the base of this article explains.

Urea

Cat urine smells strongly of ammonia because it contains urea, a waste product formed when proteins break down in the body. In the litter box or any place where the urine sits for a while, bacteria start to break down the urea into ammonia, releasing a sharp, pungent odor.

Several factors contribute to why cat urine smells more intense than that of other animals:

1. High Protein Diet: Cats are obligate carnivores, meaning they rely primarily on animal protein. This leads to more urea in their urine as a byproduct of protein metabolism.

  

2. Concentrated Urine: Cats tend to conserve water due to their desert ancestry, making their urine more concentrated, and thus, the odor more potent.

3. Aging Urine: As cat urine sits, bacterial activity increases, breaking down urea and releasing more ammonia. If left uncleaned, other compounds, like mercaptans (found in skunk spray), also develop, making the odor even stronger over time.

Cleaning the litter box frequently and using odor-neutralizing products can help reduce this strong smell.

If cats and people are constantly inhaling ammonia gas in cat hoarding homes how does this impact health?

In homes with excessive cat urine build-up, like in severe cat hoarding situations, constant inhalation of ammonia gas poses serious health risks for both people and cats. Ammonia is a toxic gas that can irritate and damage the respiratory system and other organs when inhaled over long periods, especially at higher concentrations. Here’s how it impacts health:

1. Respiratory Issues

• People: Ammonia exposure irritates the respiratory tract, causing coughing, wheezing, shortness of breath, and burning sensations in the nose, throat, and lungs. Prolonged exposure can lead to chronic bronchitis and worsen existing respiratory conditions like asthma or COPD.
• Cats: Cats, with their sensitive respiratory systems, are highly susceptible to the effects of ammonia. Exposure can lead to respiratory infections, asthma, and bronchitis. Cats may also exhibit coughing, sneezing, and nasal discharge.

2. Eye and Skin Irritation

• People: Ammonia exposure can cause burning, itching, or redness in the eyes, as well as skin irritation if there’s contact with urine-soaked surfaces. Chronic exposure may worsen these effects, leading to persistent eye inflammation.
• Cats: Cats may also experience eye irritation, leading to conjunctivitis and other eye infections. Their skin can become inflamed, particularly on the paws if they’re frequently stepping in soiled litter.

3. Neurological and Psychological Effects

• People: In severe cases, prolonged high-level exposure to ammonia has been linked to symptoms like dizziness, headache, confusion, and overall cognitive impairment. Anxiety, stress, and depression are also common among individuals in hoarding environments due to the overwhelming conditions.
• Cats: High ammonia levels can cause stress in cats, leading to behavioral issues, and potentially affecting their neurological health, causing lethargy or disorientation.

4. Damage to the Immune System

• People and Cats: Constant exposure to ammonia can weaken the immune system, making both people and cats more susceptible to infections. This is particularly dangerous in a hoarding situation where sanitation is poor, and there’s a higher risk of bacterial and viral spread among animals and people.

5. Potential Long-Term Organ Damage

• People and Cats: Over time, severe and prolonged ammonia inhalation can damage the liver, kidneys, and lungs. In the worst cases, it can contribute to irreversible lung damage and kidney issues.

In severe hoarding situations, clean-up and remediation, including proper ventilation and often professional decontamination, are essential for restoring a healthy environment. For people and animals already

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P.S. please forgive the occasional typo. These articles are written at breakneck speed using Dragon Dictate. I have to prepare them in around 20 mins. Also, sources for news articles are carefully selected but the news is often not independently verified. And, I rely on scientific studies but they are not 100% reliable. Finally, (!) I often express an OPINION on the news. Please share yours in a comment.