5 Best Odor Control Cat Litter in 2024

Cats can be your best friend, your companion and the pet that lifts your spirits at the end of a long day.

But no matter how much love you have for your cat, there is one thing all cat owners hate…their cat’s litter box. The only thing that will help is finding the best odor-control cat litter.

There are different kitty litters and litter additives that can help keep the odor under control in your home so you can enjoy the home you are sharing with your pet.

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Just because you have cats does not mean you are destined to live in a home that smells like cat urine. Check out our recommendations for kitty litter that can help your house smell fresh and clean.

3 Ways to Eliminate Cat Odor

5 Best Cat Litters for Odor Control

Best Odor Control Cat Litter

Keep your cats litter box fresh and odor free with the combined power of Tidy Cat and Glade. TidyLock technology neutralizes ammonia, urine and fecal odors, helping you maintain a clean-smelling home.

Glade does their thing by knocking down the odor of the cat box and Tidy Max neutralizes urine, fecal and ammonia odors on contact. The ammonia blocker in this kitty litter blocks odors for up to 2 weeks when used as directed. 

The strong clumping action makes cleanup and scooping quick and easy. And the strong absorptive power creates dryness by locking in moisture. This glade-scented formula is low dust for minimal clouds during scratching. 

Tidy Cat has been in the business of making kitty litter for over 50 years. With odor control, clumping and a multiple cat formula, you cannot go wrong with Purina Tidy Cats Clumping Cat Litter.

Manufacturers Specs

• Sizes Available: (1) 38 lb box or (2) 20 lb jugs
• Material: Clay
• Scented: Mountain spring scent

What We Like

• Absorbs odor 
• Clumping formula
• Low dust litter
• Two trusted brands (Tidy Cat and Glade)
• Reasonably priced

What We Don’t Like

• Strong scent does not appeal to everyone
• Complaints of not clumping

Summary

Tidy Cat has been in business a long time and has the reviews to prove it. If you looking for a low dust, clumping litter that has a pleasant scent, check out Purina Tidy Cats with Glade Tough Odor Solutions Clear Springs Clumping Cat Litter.

Best Cat Litter for Multiple Cats

A good odor-control litter is necessary if you have a cat. And if you have multiple cats it is even more important to have a litter that clumps making cleaning the litter box less of a chore.

Fresh Step Advanced Extreme Cat Litter fights odor longer with regular scooping. It leaves behind a light scent after cleaning to keep your home smelling fresh every day.

This is a low dust litter allowing for cleaner surfaces, cleaner air, and less tracking. Fresh Step has clumping technology. It locks in liquid and clumps making it easier to scoop without crumbling. 

Ten-day odor control will keep your home fresh and your cat happy without breaking the bank.

Manufacturers Specs

• Sizes Available: 5 different sizes
• Material: Clumping clay
• Scent: Mountain Spring Scent

What We Like

• Mountain spring scent
• 10 day odor control
• 99% dust free
• Clumping cat litter
• Available in a variety of sizes
• Supports local shelters

What We Don’t Like

• Scent may be too strong for some

Summary

If you are looking for a low dust, clumping litter with a scent that keeps your home smelling fresh, Fresh Step Advanced Extreme Cat Litter is a good choice for an odor control cat litter.

Arm & Hammer Platinum Slide Easy Clean-Up Clumping Cat Litter

• Patented EZ clean technology that slides out of the pan, no scraping, no scrubbing
• Powerful odor eliminators combine with the power of Arm & Hammer baking soda to destroy sealed-in odors
• Platinum formula has 10% more odor eliminators than our Arm & Hammer slide non-stop odor control cat litter
• Clump & seal technology forms an odor-containing seal around urine and feces
• 7-day odor-free home, guaranteed
• Non-stick litter slides right out of the litter box
• No more scraping or scrubbing with EZ clean technology, patent pending
• Designed to control odors in homes with more than one cat

Nothing says clean like the odor removing power of Arm & Hammer. Now they are working their magic with kitty litter with powerful odor eliminators combined with the power of Arm & Hammer baking soda to knock down and seal in odors.

An innnovative clump and seal technology creates an odor-containing seal around your cat’s business. And the patented EZ clean technology allows the litter to slide out of the pan while cleaning without scraping or scrubing.

This litter has a 7-day odor-free home guarantee and is formulated to work in multiple cat homes. But that is not all…this product is 100% dust free and forms rock hard clumps for easy cleaning.

Arm & Hammer has been delivering a trusted baking ingredient for years, but the odor absorbing power of their product has made them a front runner in the odor control cat litter market.

Manufacturers Specs

• Sizes Available: 3 sizes 
• Material: Clay
• Scent: No mention of scent

What We Like

• Powerful odor eliminators
• Dust free formula
• Works for multi-cat homes
• Slides out of the plan, no scraping, no scrubbing
• Baking soda added to keep your home odor free for 7-days
• Priced less than $30

What We Don’t Like

• Some complaints of a strong scent
• Recent change in formula

Summary

Arm & Hammer has been keeping things clean with their baking soda for 170 years. Why not let their Arm & Hammer Platinum Slide Easy Clean-Up Clumping Cat Litter keep your cat’s box fresh and odor free.

Best Clumping Cat Litter

• OUTSTANDING ODOR CONTROL — More cats shouldn’t mean more smells — keep your cats happy with a natural litter with long-lasting odor control.
• QUICK CLUMPING & EASY SCOOPING — Multiple cats can most often mean more clean up — but not with this fast-acting natural litter that requires no chiseling or scraping.
• FLUSHABLE* – SEPTIC SAFE — Skip the trip to the trash with a lightweight litter that’s Tested and proven flushable* and safe for septic and sewer systems!
• LIGHTWEIGHT & 99% DUST FREE — Naturally free of silica dust, this lightweight cat litter offers low tracking and less mess — so you and your cats can breathe easy.
• PET, PEOPLE & PLANET FRIENDLY — A naturally safe litter made from whole-kernel corn that offers no harmful chemicals and no artificial perfumes.

Having cats can be very rewarding, but cleaning their box is an unpleasant chore. Buying a scented litter is a good way to manage the odor caused by your cat.   

This kitty litter is quick clumping and easy scooping. The material is lightweight, dust-free and flushable. It works for multiple cats in closed in spaces providing excellent odor control. 

World’s Best is 100% natural from the litter material to the oils that have been used to scent the litter. If you are looking for a litter that contains all natural ingredients, this is a good fit for you.

If you are sensitive to scents, this company makes an unscented brand as well as a variety of options that have different scents, such as; lotus blossom and lavendar.

Manufacturers Specs

• Sizes Available: 1 size (28lbs)
• Material: Natural Corn Litter
• Scent: Variety of scents and unscented

What We Like

• 99% dust free
• Flushable
• Quick clumping and easy scooping
• Naturally scented
• All natural materials
• Long lasting
• Reasonably priced

What We Don’t Like

• May be some tracking
• May not work well in an automatic litter box

Summary

All natural and with a variety of scents too? You do have choices with this multiple cat litter. It also has the necessary clumping ability and it also works well for multi-cat households.

Best Dust Free Cat Litter

Natural choices for pet products are always a great way to go. There is less of a chance your cat will have a reaction to an ingredient that has been added to your cat’s litter.

One of the best things about a natural litter is they are silica free making them an environmently safer choice than clay litter. The clumping quality of this litter makes it safe and an easy option for keeping your cat’s litter box clean.

Naturally Fresh offers litter types from multi-cat formla to quick-clumping formula to a kitten training formula. This litter is 100% natural walnut shell and silica dust free making it 100% non-toxic.

This kitty litter offers great odor control and had good lumping quality. Being 100% biodegradable and made with an annually renewable, non-food agricultural product gives it extra points. This is the perfect natural litter.

Manufacturers Specs

• Sizes Available: 4 sizes
• Material: Natural walnut shells
• Scent: Alpine meadow and 5 unscented options

What We Like

• Made with fibrous material of the walnuts
• Odor absorbing formula that forms tight clumps
• Dust-free, silica free
• 100% biodegradable
• All natural ingredients
• Scented and unscented choices available
• Reasonably priced

What We Don’t Like

• May be dustier than other litters
• The color is darker than other litters

Summary

If you like the idea of being all natural, you are going to love the Naturally Fresh line of litter products. Don’t like products with additives? Give the Naturally Fresh litters a try.

Dr. Elsey’s Premium Clumping Cat Litter

• 99.9% dust free, hypo-allergenic natural litter to keep your surfaces clean and perfect for families who suffer from allergies
• Hard clumping, medium-grain clay makes it the perfect clumping litter that helps prevent moisture
• Multi-cat formula and superior odor control keeps your home smelling clean and fresh day in and day out
• Ideal for sifting and mechanical litter boxes so it’s easier for you to dispose of your kitty’s waste
• Forms hard clumps that don’t break down making easier to scoop up and clean the box twice daily

This kitty litter has all the features of the high end cat litters with a budget price. With more than 19,000 reviews on Amazon, this brand has many repeat buyers and with good reason.

Dr. Elsey’s is 99% dust-free helping to keep your home clean and your cat healthy. The litter is natural and hypoallergenic making it safe for the whole family including all furbabies.

The litter is hard clumping, allowing for easy scooping. It is a medium grain clay that prevents moisture and tracking. This litter is perfect for sifting and a great option for mechanical litter boxes.

Multi-cat homes require a litter that can handle the traffic of more than one cat. Dr. Elsey’s Premium Clumping Cat Litter is a litter that designed for multiple cat homes. It controls odor naturally and without perfumes.

Manufacturers Specs

• Sizes Available: 2 sizes (18lb and 40lb containers)
• Material: Clay
• Scent: Scented and Unscented Varieties

What We Like

• 99% Dust-free and hypoallergenic
• Hard-clumping for easy scooping
• Multi-cat formula
• Odor control litter
• Works in mechanical boxes
• Scented and unscented options available
• Reasonably priced

What We Don’t Like

• Price fluctuates
• May form very hard clumps

Summary

Dr. Elsey’s Premium Clumping Cat Litter and its varieties has been a favorite among cat owners for years. An added bonus is the giving back that this company does to cat shelters and rescues.

Best Cat Litter for Kittens

If you are a person that likes natural products, the petnf Tofu Cat Litter is exactly what you are looking for. It is made of pea fiber and starch making for safe and healthy product for your cat.

This litter offers quick clumping and easy scooping. It wraps up moisture and has fine particles for non-sticky, easy clean up. Dryness for you cat and easy cleanup for you…the perfect combination.

This kitty litter obsorbs odor quickly leaving your home odor-free. Besides controlling odor, the litter is flushable with biodegradable ingredients. Having clean litter is just a flush away. 

petnf Tofu Cat Litter is lightweight and great solution for both multi-cat home and households with kittens. It is small grain and easy on your cats paws. This litter will last a week before needing changed.

Manufacturers Specs

• Sizes Available: 2 sizes 
• Material: Corn starch and pea fiber
• Scent: Unscented

What We Like

• All natural ingredients
• Quick clumping
• Easy scooping 
• Suppresses odor
• Flushable and dust-free
• Lightweight and multi-cat
• Good for kittens

What We Don’t Like

• Some reports of cats eating this litter
• Pricier than most litters

Summary

If you are looking for a litter that is natural, petnf Tofu Natural Cat Litter is a good choice. It has great litter control and is easily scoopable making an ideal option if your cat doesn’t eat it.

How to Choose a Cat Litter

There are several choices for kitty litter for your cat’s litter box. Not only does your cat’s “likes” figure into the litter you buy, but your “likes” figure in as well.

If your cat doesn’t like the litter you choose, he may not use it. And what is worse, he may pick very direct ways of showing his displeasure.

For me, I look for something that is easy to scoop and something that controls odor. Being natural can be important to others.

So, what should you look for in a litter for your cat? As long as your cat does not have special needs, here are some things to consider when choosing a kitty litter.

What Cats Like

Small particles – Since cats enjoy the outside and would prefer to do their business in sand, a fine-grained litter is generally preferred by cats. Fine particles also are more comfortable on your cat’s feet than pellets or crystals.

Unscented litter – Cats can be very sensitive to odors. If they find the scent of the litter strong or unpleasant, they may decide the litter box is not for them. Cats prefer an odor-free brand of litter. Many kitty litter companies make both a scented and an unscented version of their litter.

What People Like

Clumping Litter – Fast clumping helps cut down on odor by locking in the smell. And hard clumping makes it easier to scoop the litter box. It also minimizes litter sticking to your cats paws after using the box.

Low-dust – No one likes a cloud of dust when they pour litter or when their cat scratches. Dust can be a nuisance on your furniture and other belongings. Furthermore, it can be bad for your cat’s respiratory system. Low-dust is cleaner and healthier.

Odor absorbent – Not much smells worse than a recently used cat box. An odor absorbent litter can reduce these odors. Baking soda or activated charcoal can also be added to a litter box to help absorb odors and keep the litter box and your home smelling fresher.

Low tracking – No one wants to see their cat’s footprints on the floor after they have been in the litter box. A low tracking litter can cut down tracking of litter through your home. A cat litter mat can help eliminate litter throughout your house as well.

How to Litter Train a Cat

How to get the cat to use the litter box can be a challenge. Using the litter box came naturally to most of my cats, but cats are all different. Some need a little bit of help to figure out the litter box. Here are some tips to train a kitten to use the litter box.

1. Show your cat the box as soon as they arrive. Let them check it out and smell it. Don’t move the litter box after you have introduced your kitten to it. It will become confusing if the location is changed.
2. Put your cat in the litter box after meals and when she wakes up from naps to help her get used to using the box. If you see her crouching and sniffing you should pick her up and put her in the box so she forms the connection about doing her business in the box.
3. Praise or reward your cat when you see her using the box. Treats are great motivators.
4. Don’t scold or punish your cat for accidents. The added stress of being punished can just make your cat fearful and will not solve the problem. Keep working with her and rewarding her when she gets it right.

If you just got a new adult cat, chances are she will be a pro at using the litter box. But she may have been an outdoor cat that needs to get used to using the box when she cannot go outside.

Here are some tips for how to litter train an outdoor cat if she hasn’t already figured it out.

Your home should have one litter box per cat plus an extra box. So, a single cat home should have 2 boxes.

Placing one by the door close to the outdoors can make your cat feel more comfortable. Also, place a box in a private location. She may feel more comfortable with more privacy.

You may have to try a few different litter types or brands. You can also start by putting a mixture of soil and litter in the box. Slowly transition the mixture to more litter than soil until your cat is using a full litter mixture.

If your cat is still not using the litter box it could be due to a medical issue. In this case, a trip to the vet is a good idea.

How to Stop My Cat From Getting Litter Everywhere

Cats can bring you so much joy, entertainment and stress-relief, but one thing that is not fun is managing their litter box.

What if your cat makes a mess around their box and throughout your house with their litter? No one wants that, so here are some tips for managing the litter outside of the box.

Consider the litter – The bottom line is some litters track more than others. Lightweight litters seem to track more than newspaper litter and fine-grain litters.

You may be able to try different types of litter to see if it tracks less or flies less when they are scratching. Personally, if my cat likes a litter and uses it, I look for other ways of solving this problem.

Sweep – You can always sweep the litter up, especially if it is lightly tracked. It may be close to the box and easy to sweep each day.

Contain the litter by where the box is placed – Litter boxes can be placed in something deep, such as; a tub or a shower. There are creative enclosures that can be built to house a litter box.

We slide our litter boxes in long open-ended cardboard boxes that keep the litter from being sprayed over the sides as the cats scratch.

Contain the litter with the style of litter box – Some litter boxes are better at containing the litter than others. High-sided boxes can help contain litter when your cat is scratching. Covered boxes are also an option and top entry boxes also contain litter better than a lower-sided box.

Put something under the box – There are rugs and mats that are designed for under boxes.

There are also mats that will help dislodge litter from between your cat’s toes that can go in front of their box. I have also used newspapers (back when people read newspapers).

How Often Should You Change Cat Litter

There is a large variety of cat litter brands and types on the market today. And their features can vary quite a bit. Some litters care going to last longer than others.

The goal here is to change the litter often enough to keep your house from smelling and to keep your cat from deciding he does not want to use the box anymore because of the litter.

On the other hand, the litter does not need a complete change daily. You will go broke buying litter to support the daily change of litter.

If you are using a clumping litter and are scooping every day, you can go two to three weeks before doing a full change. You should add litter to replace what has been scooped between full litter changes.

Why is My Cat Eating Litter?

Some cats can be prone to eating non-food items. There are a number of reasons a cat will eat things that are not food. Among these reasons is being abandoned when they were kittens.

This condition (pica) can vary from licking things to eating things that can cause an intestinal blockage.

Eating non-food items can be a behavioral or a health issue. Health issues should be addressed by your vet immediately.

For kittens, it can be curiosity and they will most likely out grow it over time.

Anemia can be one reason that your cat eats litter. A nutritional deficiency is another reason your cat may be eating things he should be eating. These are conditions a veterinarian can help you diagnose.

The litter could also be the problem. Some litters are actually made with food based products and they appeal to your cat.

You might start by changing litters and see if that makes a difference. Here are some other suggestions for putting a stop to your cat’s litter eating behavior.

Refocus your cat’s attention. Your cat could be bored. Give them a new toy. There are so many simple things that cats will play with that are little or no cost.

Chasing something not only keeps them healthy by exercising, but it also takes their mind off of what they should not be eating.

Food puzzle toys also help with this. Your cat has to work for his food. He not only gets to eat, but he will have fun working for his food.

Try a different food. Your cat may not be satisfied with the food he is eating. A higher quality food could give your cat a more nutritionally complete meal that will keep him from grazing on things he should not be eating.

Try a pot of cat grass. This will give your cat something to chew on that is not litter and most cats enjoy grass. Catnip is also a great option for distracting your cat from bad behavior…and they love it.

Final Thoughts

The litter box and its contents are the downside of being a cat parent, but there are cat litters and boxes that can make you and your cat’s life easier.

You do have a lot of choices when it comes to kitty litter, but at the end of the day it may be your cat that has the final say in what kind of litter goes into their litter box.