The Best Odor Control Cat Litters

Updated: March 8, 2021 by Kristen Chapple

They say that new parents become desensitized to baby poo, and don’t really mind dealing with it when it comes out of their own bundle of joy. I know parents who would beg to differ.

However, I do understand where this sentiment comes from. I don’t mind cleaning up my cat’s poo, because I love her and it is just something that needs to be done. Even when it is a bit gross because she is unwell, I have no problem cleaning it up, I just want her to feel better.

However, what I can’t stand is a lingering smell of cat poo and pee in the house. Cleaning it up is one thing, but I don’t want to live with a constant odor hanging around.

The cat litter that I started with when I got my cat was really good and I didn’t really notice odor problems, but when they stopped selling it at my local supermarket I just switched to another brand thinking that it would be the same.

I was wrong. I went for more than a month with the house having this unpleasant smell before a friend suggested to me that it might be the cat litter that was the problem.

Naturally, I went into research mode and discovered that cheap cat litters will absorb liquids, but just aren’t that effective at absorbing smell, and that if I wanted my house to smell normal again, I would need odor control cat litter. I went through a few different brands before I found one that controlled the smell, was easy for me to clean up, and my cat seemed to like using.

Based on my research and experience, I’ve come up with the five best odor control cat litters currently on the market. But before sharing that, I will let you know the main things to look for in an odor control cat litter, and also share some tips about actually using the litter. It is not very effective if you don’t use it properly.

The Best Cat Litters for Odor Control Are…

Product	Details
ARM AND HAMMER CLUMP AND SEAL MULTI-CAT CAT LITTER	Our Top Pick	Lightly scented Locks in odor with baking soda and moisture-activated micro granules Low dust	Check Price on ChewyCheck Price on Amazon
FRESH STEP FEBREZE EXTREME ODOR CONTROL CLUMPING CAT LITTER	Editor's Choice	Paw-activated scent Locks in scents with activated charcoal Low dust	Check Price on ChewyCheck Price on Amazon
EVER CLEAN EXTRA STRENGTH UNSCENTED PREMIUM CLUMPING CLAY CAT LITTER	Best Value	Unscented Locks in scents with activated carbon and antimicrobial agents Low dust	Check Price on ChewyCheck Price on Amazon
PURINA TIDY CATS SCOOP GLADE TOUCH ODOR SOLUTION CLUMPING CAT LITTER		Subtle scent Controls scents with TidyLock technology that neutralizes ammonia Low dust	Check Price on ChewyCheck Price on Amazon
DR ELSEY’S CAT ULTRA PREMIUM CAT LITTER		Unscented Low Dust Hypo-allergenic	Check Price on ChewyCheck Price on Amazon

Arm and Hammer use a patented baking soda formula that eliminates odors on contact so that they never have a chance to spread and infect the home. They also use a proprietary blend of moisture-activated granules, that respond quickly and effectively to clump around urine on contact.

Arm and Hammer think that this combination will contain odors for up to seven days, so there is no need to change litter more than once a week, even with heavy use. It does come with a very light scent, which shouldn’t irritate your cat, and helps make it feel fresher for longer.

This is another ultra-low dust formula that cats won’t inhale, and also won’t irritate anyone in the house with allergies. It is also low tracking, so you are unlikely to find bits of litter, clean or otherwise, showing up around the house.

What’s more, this litter works really well if you have more than one cat.

2. Fresh Step Febreze Extreme Odor Control Clumping Cat Litter

Fresh Step has partnered with Febreze to make this cat litter that uses activated charcoal Ammonia Vlock Technology to effectively traps odors and leave your home smelling as it should. They have guaranteed that their litter will contain odor for up to 10 days, meaning there is no need to change it regularly, even with heavy use from multiple cats. It also uses ClumpLock technology to ensure that the clumps are firm enough for easy scooping. Actually, it clumps so darn well that this litter also made it to our top clumping cat litter roundup.

The litter has a special ‘paw-activated’ technology, which means that it is not constantly giving off a scent, but that a scent is released when the litter is rustled by the paws. The result is a pleasant smell when needed, rather than a constant, overwhelming smell.

The litter is also very low dust, so no felines or humans in the household should be irritated by inhaling it, and it is unlikely to hide in your cat’s hair and make its way into their digestive system. It is also low tracking, so shouldn’t stick to paws and turn up where it shouldn’t around the house.

3. Ever Clean Extra Strength Unscented Premium Clumping Clay Cat Litter

Ever Clean’s Extra Strength formula is unscented, so you don’t need to worry about your cat not liking the scent but it still manages to completely contain the odors of urine and feces by using a combination of activated carbon and antimicrobial agents.

It has a very effective clumping mechanism that forms tight clumps that help contain the odor and won’t break apart when scooping, which can release odor during cleaning. In terms of cleanliness, it is also very low on dust, which means you won’t be cleaning up dust around the house, your cat won’t be inhaling it, and small particles are unlikely to make their way into her fur, and then into her stomach through cleaning.

4. Purina Tidy Cats Scoop Glade Touch Odor Solution Clumping Cat Litter

Similar to Fresh Step and Febreze, Purina has partnered with Glade to produce an industry leading odor control cat litter. Naturally, this means that the litter is scented, but the scent is subtle enough to not irritate most cats, yet strong enough to do the job.

The litter also locks in unwanted smells with unique TidyLock technology that neutralizes ammonia, urine, and fecal odors. It also has moisture locking technology that contains urine quickly, though look out for urine clumps in the under-layers of the litter when cleaning. It also forms strong, tight clumps, which aren’t quite as firm as some of the other brands on this list, but still shouldn’t break apart during scooping.

It produces almost no dust, and your cat is unlikely to track granules into other parts of the house.

5. Dr Elsey’s Cat Ultra Premium Cat Litter

Dr. Elsey’s litter makes the list by managing to produce an odor control litter that is also all natural. This makes it hypo-allergenic and appropriate for the most sensitive cats and cat parents. It does not mask odors quite as well as the other litters on this list but is a viable option if you are looking for something more natural.

It combines litter granules with medium-grain clay that allows for rapid clumping, for clumps that are tight and firm. This makes it an ideal litter for sifting and mechanical litter boxes as the lumps won’t break down as part of this process. It is pretty much dust free, and you shouldn’t see any tracking with this litter.

What Makes a Good Odor Control Cat Litter

Clumping

Odor control cat litters will usually be described as clumping, and this is how it absorbs urine and contains its smell. It is also the clumps that are removed on a regular basis, so as much as possible we want the smells contained in the clumps.

Exactly how clumping is achieved depends on the litter. Clumping clay litter is very common and the most effective. The only concern is that it can be a bit dangerous to cats if ingested. Cats don’t eat their litter, so if they are actively doing that, change your brand and see your vet. However, they can accidentally ingest small amounts when cleaning themselves.

The best way to ensure that they do not accidentally ingest their litter is to go with something dust free so that it does not have lots of small particles that can get caught in their hair. If your cat develops digestive problems, it might be worth changing their litter.

Natural clumping litter is also available and can be made from a range of different materials, such as pine, wheat, or corn. Different materials give different results, but in general, these are not as effective as clay, though corn is probably the best of them.

Crystal litters, made from silica gel, are also very good at absorbing smells, but they are not my favorite because they are made entirely from synthetic materials. This means that it isn’t environmentally friendly, and isn’t great if your cat eats it. However, we’ve recently come across Pretty Litter, which, though made with silica gel, has an interesting health detection feature added.

Dust And Tracking

A good litter also won’t have much dust. If you empty a bag of litter into your cat’s tray and find yourself coughing and sputtering, you know that the litter is full of dust! This is bad for both you and your cat to inhale, which they are likely to do as they kick up dust as they cover their business. It is also dust that can make its way into your cat’s fur, and then be ingested as part of their cleaning process. If dust is a major concern for you, then you also need to check out our picks for dust-free litters.

The other thing to look out for is tracking. This is when your cat picks up pieces of litter, clean or not, on their paws and in their hair, tracking the litter to other parts of the house. You don’t really want to be finding litter granules all over the house, even if they are clean. Most good litters are now designed not to be picked up and tracked.

Deodorants And Perfume

The best odor control cat litters will have something in them that works to eliminate smells, such as activated carbon or baking soda, both of which absorb smells. Other litters contain perfumes or aromas that are designed to cover up the cat litter smell. While some cats are fine with this, other cats will find the smell overwhelming, and you may find them doing their business somewhere other than the litter box.

Using Your Cat Litter

Once you have found a litter that works for both you and your cat, you need to use it properly to make sure it does its job.

If you are worried about smell, you probably already have a closed litter tray, which also affords your cat privacy, which most cats prefer when doing their business. This should not be tucked away in a corner of your home but placed in a well-ventilated area so that the odors that are created are dispersed quickly.

You should also clean your cat’s litter tray as often as is practical, just scooping out solids and clumps. Sometimes you might only be able to do this once or twice a day, other times you might be able to do this five times a day, depending on your schedule. But if it is not sitting there, its smell is not penetrating your home.

Some people recommend changing the litter completely twice a week, though I only change mine once a week, as twice a week is just too expensive. But don’t just take out the old litter and fill it up with fresh stuff. Take the time to clean the box with soap and warm water.

When putting litter back in the tray, make sure you use enough. Cats like to bury their business, and they need enough depth to do that. Ideally, the litter should be 2-3 inches deep, though you may need to experiment with what your cat prefers.

The Verdict

If you are looking for a cat litter that effectively masks the odors of cat urine and feces, any of these litters should do the job, but finding the one that your cat prefers is a matter of trial and error. My favorite litter is the Arm and Hammer Clump and Seal Multi-Cat Cat Litter because of its specially formulated odor protection blend of micro-granules and baking soda that seals in odors to leave your home smelling fresh every time.

This litter can effectively contain litter odors for multiple cats and also promises to remain effective for 7 days before you need to change it. It is also formulated into microparticles to be dust-free for easy cleaning and keeps the environment healthy for you and your feline friends.