We Tested Odor Controlling Cat Litters And Sniffed Out 5 Top Performers (2024)

Our Top Picks

Made from moisture-absorbing natural clay and paired with the odor-eliminating power of activated charcoal, Purina Tidy Cats Naturally Strong Unscented Cat Litter successfully banishes stench-causing bacteria commonly found in a litter box.

The litter is unscented so it’s suitable for use in a home with humans who are sensitive to aromas. Naturally Strong Unscented litter is also dust-free and easy to pour. While testing in a home environment with a cat, the presence of the litter box in the designated litter box room went unnoticed by multiple visiting humans.

In homes with multiple cats, this natural litter will help you keep their shared bathroom ready for use. The clumping formula binds together making it easy to scoop, but if your cat pees along the edge of the litter box, a second pass of scooping may be necessary to fully clean out the used litter. And it does leave slight tracking, particularly if your cat has a habit of kicking to hide their mess, but tracking is minimal and does not extend beyond the bounds of the litter box area.

This litter from Purina Tidy Cats has a texture that many cats are familiar with and most kittens will instinctively recognize it as a place to go potty. Plus, it’s moderately priced, widely available, and comes in a box that’s easy to open and close for storage. For proper disposal, this litter should be placed in the trash and never flushed.

_{Litter Type: Clay | Multi-Cat: Yes | Container: Box with handle | Sizes: 20, 35 pounds}

Sustainably Yours Natural Cat Litter, Multi-Cat Large Grains from Petfive is a plant-based litter that successfully neutralizes odors in a litter box. Throughout our testing, it emitted no dust whatsoever and the fragrance-free formula quickly covered up smells from cat waste.

It’s primarily made from corn and cassava, which are both renewable crops, giving this litter a very light, off-white coloring that allows you to readily spot where your cat has peed. Petfive makes three versions of Sustainably Yours Cat Litter and the one we tested (Multi-Cat Large Grains) has larger grains than the other two types. The larger grains clump together when in contact with moisture, and the granularity resembles clay litter in size so there will be less newness for your cat to experience if you choose to switch their litter. It can also be used in an automatic litter box.

The litter is available in two-sized bags, 13, or 26 pounds, that are easy to pour from, but not resealable. It’s also more expensive than other litters that made our list, but it offers consistent odor-absorbing results and is unlikely to irritate sensitive sinuses.

_{Litter Type: Plant-based granules | Multi-Cat: Yes | Container: Bag | Sizes: 13, 26 pounds}

Fresh Step Advanced Cat Litter is scented with Gain, a laundry detergent that many find pleasing and is often described as fresh. But the olfaction satisfaction of this litter is fueled by the ammonia-blocking ingredients from Febreeze to banish odors, and like our Best Overall choice, Purina Tidy Cats Naturally Strong Unscented Cat Litter, Fresh Step Advanced Cat Litter makes use of activated charcoal to fully eliminate any remaining feline funk.

Throughout our testing, this litter emitted very little dust and led to minimal tracking. It’s a sodium bentonite clay-based litter with a texture resembling tiny pebbles, but it clumps together quickly and firmly for easy scooping.

All sizes of this affordably priced litter come in a cardboard box with a handle for easy pouring and storage.

_{Litter Type: Clay | Multi-Cat: Yes | Container: Box with handle | Sizes: 14, 25, 42 pounds}

PrettyLitter Cat Litter is made from highly-absorbent silica gel which provides a reliable odor-controlling experience by soaking up cat pee and clumping around poop. Crystal litters, like PrettyLitter, function differently than clay-based litter and have a sand-like consistency, so it may require a period of adjustment for you and your cat.

To optimize the liquid and odor absorption properties of the litter, daily stirring of PrettyLitter in your cat’s litter box is recommended. For poop, the crystals clump around to cover the odor and make it easy to scoop out for disposal in the trash. Every two to four weeks for most, the litter will become less efficient with its ability to take in moisture indicating that it’s time to fully change out the litter box.

The litter also changes colors with urine to help keep track of any changes in acidity or alkalinity within your cat which could indicate potential health issues. Any color that falls between yellow to olive green is healthy, but anything outside of that spectrum should be discussed with a veterinarian. The health aspect is difficult to distinguish between cats if you have more than one, but the litter is suitable for multi-cat homes.

PrettyLitter is unscented, comes in a resealable bag, and didn't produce dust or lead to tracking in our real-world testing with real cats. On average, crystal litters like PrettyLitter tend to last longer than clay-based litter.

_{Litter Type: Silica gel crystals | Multi-Cat: Yes | Container: Resealable bag | Sizes: 8 pounds}

Arm & Hammer Clump & Seal Multi-Cat Litter leverages the odor-squashing power of baking soda and has a very faint floral scent that reminds us of fresh laundry.

The clay-based litter resembles the consistency of course sand and produces little to no dust along with very low tracking, even with a test cat known for kicking up litter to hide a mess. The litter forms solid clumps that are easy to scoop, and true to its name, performs well in multi-cat households. Clump & Seal Multi-Cat is available in a variety of sizes, all of which come in a recyclable cardboard box with a handle for easy pouring and storage.

_{Litter Type: Clay | Multi-Cat: Yes | Container: Box with handle | Sizes: 14, 19, 28, 38 pounds}

Final Verdict

For most seeking an odor-controlling cat litter we highly recommend Purina Tidy Cats Naturally Strong Unscented Cat Litter. The formula uses charcoal to eliminate smells, is easy to scoop, and does not contain a fragrance that can aggravate respiratory issues. If you prefer a clay-alternative, plant-based Petfive Sustainably Yours Natural Cat Litter, Multi-Cat Large Grains is a plant-based cat litter that reliably controls odors and forms sturdy clumps for daily scooping.

FAQ

• How often should a litter box be emptied out and refilled?

  Disposing of used litter and placing fresh litter in the litter box should be done monthly at a minimum. For odor control, many will find it advantageous to replace their cat’s litter every two to three weeks. This can easily increase if you have more than one cat sharing the litter box, and daily scooping to remove pee and poop is always recommended.

• What type of litter is best for odor control?

  Cat litter is primarily made with one of the following as the base: clay, silica gel, pine, wheat, grass, corn, walnut shell, or paper. For odor control, the litter must contain an odor-fighting agent with enzymes that break down bacteria, such as activated charcoal or baking soda. You can click here for more in-depth descriptions of each type of litter by The Spruce Pets.

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