The 5 Best Cat Litters for Odor Control

The 5 Best Cat Litters for Odor Control

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Cats are very clean creatures – that’s why many people prefer them over dogs. Like all pets, however, cats do require a certain degree of care and cleaning the litter box is a necessary evil.

Compare Best Cat Litters For Odor Control

Best Overall 1. World's Best Multi-Cat Unscented Clumping Corn Cat Litter View on Chewy Read Review	Best Unscented Cat Litter 2. Ever Clean Extra Strength Unscented Clumping Clay Cat Litter View on Chewy Read Review	Best For Multiple Cat 3. Dr. Elsey's Precious Ultra Scented Clumping Clay Cat Litter View on Chewy Read Review	Best Scented Cat Litter 4. Fresh Step Extreme Odor Control Febreze Scented Clumping Clay Cat Litter View on Chewy Read Review	Best Affordable 5. Arm & Hammer Litter Clump & Seal Multi-Cat Scented Clumping Clay Cat Litter View on Chewy Read Review
Type Clumping Corn	Type Clay	Type Clay	Type Clay	Type Clay
Made In United States	Made In USA	Made In USA	Made In USA	Made In United States
Key Strengths Overall great performance	Key Strengths Highly-absorbent litter	Key Strengths 99.9% dust-free	Key Strengths 99.9% dust-free	Key Strengths Clumping, Odor Control, Scented, Multi-Cat, Dust Free

Though scooping the litter box is never a pleasant task, choosing the right litter can help ensure that you don’t have to do it very often.

With the right cat litter for odor control, you can keep your cat’s litter box smelling fresh for a week or longer.

A fresh litter box isn’t just great for keeping your house smelling good, it will also keep your cat happy.

Keep reading to learn more about what causes litter box odor and how to control it with the right cat litter. You’ll also see our top 5 picks for the best cat litter for odor control.

What Causes Litter Box Odor?

Cats keep themselves pretty clean. In fact, most of a cat’s day is spent bathing, so these pets usually don’t develop much of an odor themselves.

Unfortunately, the same can’t be said for their litter boxes. The litter box is where your cat does its business, so it makes sense that it will develop a bit of an odor over time, but what causes litter box odor?

The most obvious source of litter box odor is the urine and feces it contains. Even if your cat digs around to cover up its business after using the litter box, there will still be some lingering odor.

If the litter you use doesn’t absorb liquid or form hard enough clumps, the odor is more likely to be noticeable.

You might also have more litter box odor if the litter you use is high-tracking. When litter sticks to your cat’s feet, it can be tracked all over the house, taking litter box odor with it.

Choosing the right cat litter can keep your litter box smelling fresh for a week or more, but not all litters are designed to control odor.

While keeping these things in mind, you can now start shopping around for the best cat litter for odor control.

Here’s what you need to know:

How To Choose The Best Cat Litter For Odor Control?

There are many different options out there for cat litter, so it can be difficult to choose just one. If odor control is your priority, however, you can narrow down your options a bit.

Certain features are better for controlling litter box odor than others, so take the time to learn what you should be looking for.

Here are some things to look for in a cat litter for odor control:

• Hard Clumping – Cat litter that forms hard clumps on contact with liquid or solid waste, helps lock in odor more quickly, and it makes scooping the litter box easier as well.
• Low Tracking – Litter that stays in the litter box where it belongs is important for odor control. Look for a low-tracking litter so you won’t be cleaning up litter all over the house.
• Scented – Cat litter that is scented does a better job of covering up litter box odor, but you will still need to scoop it regularly. You also need to make sure that the scent isn’t so strong that it irritates your cat’s nose otherwise it may stop using the litter box entirely.
• Low Dust – Though it is not specific to odor control, low dust is a benefit for cat litter in general. If cat litter is too dusty, it can irritate your cat’s eyes and nose.

The best cat litter for odor control will offer a combination of these four benefits. Keep reading to see our top 5 recommendations for the best cat litter for odor control.

Our Top Picks For The Best Cat Litters For Odor Control

The best cat litter for odor control will form hard clumps on contact with liquid or solid waste, and it won’t track all over the house.

It may also be a benefit to choose a scented litter, and it’s always a good idea to choose a low-dust litter.

Here are our top 5 picks for the best cat litter for odor control that you should consider:

Best Overall

1.

World's Best Multi-Cat Unscented Clumping Corn Cat Litter

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Product Info

• Type: Clumping Corn
• Made In: United States
• Key Strengths: Overall great performance

Pros

• Hard-clumping action seals away odor on contact
• Multi-cat strength for maximum odor protection
• Septic-safe and flushable for easy disposal

Cons

• Large bags can be very heavy to handle

For hard-clumping action and maximum odor control, try World’s Best Cat Litter Clumping Formula. This cat litter offers outstanding odor control with its fast-clumping, easy-scooping formula.

By forming hard clumps, this litter seals away odor on contact to keep the litter box smelling fresh for as long as possible.

It comes in a multi-cat strength, and it is 99% dust-free. You’ll also love that it is septic-safe and flushable for easy disposal. What more could you ask for?

Best Unscented Cat Litter

2.

Ever Clean Extra Strength Unscented Clumping Clay Cat Litter

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Product Info

• Type: Clay
• Made In: USA
• Key Strengths: Highly-absorbent litter

Pros

• Activated carbon eliminates odor on contact
• Contains microbial agents to prevent bacterial growth and odor
• Unscented formula doesn’t irritate sensitive cats

Cons

• Unscented version may not cover odors as well as scented version
• May be a little dustier than some brands

For maximum litter box odor control, try this Ever Clean Extra Strength Cat Litter Unscented. This product comes in a generously sized 42-pound bag that uses 80% less packaging than pails.

It contains microbial agents for maximum odor control by inhibiting the growth of bacteria in the litter box. This litter also features activated carbon that eliminates odor on contact for extra-strength odor control.

Plus, it is unscented which is a benefit for cats with sensitive noses.

Best For Multiple Cat

3.

Dr. Elsey's Precious Ultra Scented Clumping Clay Cat Litter

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Product Info

• Type: Clay
• Made In: USA
• Key Strengths: 99.9% dust-free

Pros

• Designed specifically for multi-cat households
• Hard-clumping action and moisture-activated scent
• 9% dust-free formula for sensitive noses

Cons

• May track a little more than some cat litters
• Large bags can be tricky to manage

If you have multiple cats, controlling litter box odor is even more of a challenge. That’s where Dr. Elsey’s Precious Cat Multi-Cat Scented Ultra Litter comes in! This cat litter is specifically designed for multi-cat households, and the hard-clumping formula locks away odor on contact.

This litter is 99.9% dust-free, so it won’t irritate your cat’s nose, and it is hypoallergenic as well. Simply put, if you’re looking for a cat litter that helps keep your litter box smelling fresher for longer, give this one a try.

The scent is light and pleasant, plus it is moisture-activated, so it starts working immediately.

Best Scented Cat Litter

4.

Fresh Step Extreme Odor Control Febreze Scented Clumping Clay Cat Litter

View on Chewy

Product Info

• Type: Clay
• Made In: USA
• Key Strengths: 99.9% dust-free

Pros

• Offers 10 days of odor control, guaranteed
• Forms hard clumps to lock in odor and minimize waste
• Scented with Febreeze for maximum odor control

Cons

• Scent may be too strong for some cats

If you’re looking for maximum odor control, a scented cat litter might be the way to go. Fresh Step Scented Litter with Febreeze not only locks away odors with its hard-clumping action, but the power of Febreeze keeps the litter box smelling fresh.

This cat litter offers 10 days of odor control, and it is a low-dust formula as well. You’ll also be glad to know that it is very easy to scoop and, with hard-clumping action, you don’t waste any litter.

Best Affordable

5.

Arm & Hammer Litter Clump & Seal Multi-Cat Scented Clumping Clay Cat Litter

View on Chewy

View on Amazon

Product Info

• Type: Clay
• Made In: United States
• Key Strengths: Clumping, Odor Control, Scented, Multi-Cat, Dust Free

Pros

• Guaranteed 7-day odor-free home with Arm & Hammer baking soda
• Forms hard clumps to lock away odor on contact
• Designed for multi-cat households

Cons

• May stick to the sides of the litter box when wet
• Somewhat heavier than other cat litters

Cat litter can be expensive, but Arm & Hammer Clump & Seal Platinum litter is not only affordable but also one of the top odor control cat litters on the market.

This cat litter features hard-clumping action to lock away odors on contact, and it is powered by the odor-absorbing strength of Arm & Hammer baking soda. It is 100% dust-free and guarantees a 7-day odor-free home. What more could you want?

How Much Cat Litter Should You Use?

When it comes to filling the litter box, you want to provide your cat with enough litter that it can dig around but not so much that he sinks into it.

As a general rule, you should fill the litter box with 2 to 3 inches of litter unless your cat is a big digger – then you might want 3 to 4 inches.

Each time you scoop the litter box, you might need to sprinkle in a little fresh litter to make up for what you’ve removed.

How Often Should You Scoop the Litter Box?

Even with an odor-reducing cat litter, you’ll still need to scoop your cat’s litter box to keep it fresh.

The best way to keep odor to a minimum is to scoop hard clumps once a day and to replace the litter once every week or two.

If you use a sifting litter box, you might be able to save the fresh litter for more than a week, but it all depends how many cats you have and what type of litter you use.

Generally speaking, the more frequently you scoop your cat’s litter box, the better.

Final Remarks

Scooping the litter box will never be a task you enjoy as a cat owner, but by choosing an odor control cat litter, you can reduce the frequency with which you must complete this task.

If you’re not sure which cat litter is best to control litter box odor, simply try one of our top 5 picks reviewed above!