The Best Cat Litter for Odor Control That'll Actually Keep Your Pet's Space Fresh & Clean
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We love our pets. That’s why we go to the moon and back to ensure they have the best of everything. From the best toys to healthy food, there are no limits to our love. If you’re a cat parent, you know that keeping your four-legged bestie’s litter box from brewing odors is their love language. Cats love a clean space to take care of business, that’s why the litter you buy matters. Some pets prefer a smooth surface in their litter box, while others love to step on a crunchy option; lucky for us, there are so many places to buy the best cat litter for odor control that will help cut your weekly cleaning time in half. The best cat litter for odor control comes in various textures and formulas. Most have scented features that battle the *wrong* smells you don’t want in your home. But don’t underestimate the power of unscented versions of litter — these tend to contain baking soda and activated charcoal, which helps to soak up soils faster.
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Best Cat Litter for Odor Control, at a Glance
Best Overall: Pretty Litter Cat Litter, $24
Best Unscented Cat Litter for Odor Control: Arm & Hammer Litter Super Scoop Unscented Clumping Clay Cat Litter, $19
Best Lightweight Cat Litter for Odor Control: Up & Up Lightweight Clumping Cat Litter, $16
Best Flushable Cat Litter for Odor Control: PetKit Everclean 5-in-1 Mixed Cat Litter, $53
Best Scented Cat Litter for Odor Control: Fresh Step Multi-Cat Scented Litter, $18
Best Non-tracking Cat Litter for Odor Control: Dr. Elsey’s Premium Clumping Cat Litter, $17
Most Affordable Cat Litter for Odor Control: Tidy Cats Free & Clean Unscented Clumping Clay Cat Litter, $20
Best Clumping Cat Litter for Odor Control: Boxiecat Premium Clumping Cat Litter, $27
Best Plant-Based Cat Litter for Odor Control: Okocat Unscented Featherweight Clumping Wood Cat Litter, $22
Best Travel Cat Litter for Odors: Fresh Step Crystals Premium Scented Cat Litter, $22
Best Vet-Recommended Cat Litter for Odors: World’s Best Cat Litter, $17
What to Look for in Cat Litter With Odor Control, According to an Expert
Before shopping for cat litter with odor control, Mark McCalla, vet and founder of the Alpine Dog Co., says to consider several factors before committing to one. Ahead, take note of the most important features of cat litter.
Clumping ability: “Choose a clumping litter. Litter clumping is very good in trapping smells, and most of the product can be removed easily as soon as it gets soiled,” McCalla says.
Absorbency: Seek out moisture-absorbent litters. McCalla explains “the litters are absorbent in nature and hence, they quickly capture the urine thereby preventing its strong smell.”
Low Dust: Dust-free litters are kind to the cat’s breathing system and yours. A dust-free environment entails lesser airborne odors.
Seek ingredients like activated charcoal: A star ingredient in the best cat litter. It absorbs odors better than any other material.
Look for natural materials: “Eco-friendly corn, wheat, and pine litters are worth mentioning, as they are often very effective for odor control,” McCalla explains.
The options below are the best cat litter on the market. Some boast plant-based formulas, while others are scented and crystal-based. We have options for all budgets, too. The best part? Each one controls stinky odors for weeks at a time!
Experts in This Article
Mark McCalla: vet and founder of the Alpine Dog Co.
Our mission at SheKnows is to empower and inspire women, and we only feature products we think you’ll love as much as we do. Pretty Litter is a SheKnows sponsor, however, all products in this article were independently selected by our editors. Please note that if you purchase something by clicking on a link within this story, we may receive a small commission of the sale.
BEST OVERALL
Pretty Litter
$24
Pretty Litter is a subscription-based platform that provides some of the best pet care products. The retailer offers premium dry food, wet food, dental treats, litter mats, a litter box, and more. Pretty Litter offers, er, cat litter, too! The Pretty Litter has an odor-busting, health-monitoring formula with some neat features. The granules react to the pH of your cat’s urine and change colors when the urine soils the box. The silica cat litter turns orange, green, and blue if blood is present. An olive green to yellow hue indicates that your pet’s urine is within its normal range. Better yet, it’s affordable for a monthly delivery (every four weeks). One bag costs $24, and you can choose between an unscented or scented option.
Pros:
Subscription-based
Two fragrances
Health-monitoring
Great for senior cats or cats with health issues
Cons:
Shipped only
Does it clump? No
Scented option? Yes
Packaging: Bag
Weight: 8 pounds
Multi-cat: Yes
BEST UNSCENTED CAT LITTER FOR ODOR CONTROL
Arm & Hammer Litter Super Scoop Unscented Clumping Clay Cat Litter
$18.99 $22.99 17% off
The appeal of Arm & Hammer’s cat litter is its accessibility — you can pick a box up at nearly any local grocery or drugstore. Vets also love the litter for its unscented formula, which is gentle on your pet’s skin and tushy. But don’t let the lack of scent fool you. It works just as hard as other fragrant products to control odor. How? The litter contains baking soda crystals, which help to eliminate odors.
Pros:
Unscented
Free of perfumes and dyes
Cons:
Comes in a larger box
Does it clump? Yes
Scented option? No
Packaging: Box
Weight: 40 pounds
Multi-cat: Yes
BEST LIGHTWEIGHT CAT LITTER FOR ODOR CONTROL
Up & Up Lightweight Clumping Cat Litter
$19.59
Target’s in-house brand, Up & Up, also offers one of the best cat litter for odor control. This formula has a lightweight texture made from clay, which soaks up moisture 50 percent faster than other brands. The litter also immediately clumps to keep the litter box sanitary and easier to clean.
Pros:
Lightweight
Contains baking soda
Low dust
Cons:
Shoppers say it has inconsistent clumping
Does it clump? Yes
Scented option? No
Packaging: Reusable plastic container
Weight: 17.5 pounds
Multi-cat: Yes
BEST FLUSHABLE CAT LITTER FOR ODOR CONTROL
PetKit Everclean 5-in-1 Mixed Cat Litter
$55.99 $59.99 7% off
Cat litter has come a long way since its original conception. Now, many options make it easy to keep your cat’s litter box (and your home) smelling its best. Pick up this flushable litter from Amazon. It offers rapid clumping, maximum water absorption, and optimal deodorization. The formula is made with natural ingredients like tofu, activated carbon, and bentonite clay, which make it easy to flush.
Pros:
Flushable
Ideal for multi-cat households
Cons:
Unscented
Dusty when moved
Does it clump? Yes
Scented option? No
Packaging: Boxed
Weight: Four 8 pounds bags, totalling 32 pounds
Multi-cat: Yes
BEST SCENTED CAT LITTER FOR ODOR CONTROL
Fresh Step Multi-Cat Scented Litter
$17.59
Fresh Step takes the title as our best scented cat litter. It reduces odors for up to 10 days, thanks to the included Febreze. The litter comes in a 25-pound box or 38-pound option, so you’ll always have plenty on hand. The extra strength formula clumps to lock in liquid and make the litter scoopable.
Pros:
Low dust
Scoopable
Scented
Cons:
Strong fragrance
Lightweight composition
Does it clump? Yes
Scented option? Yes
Packaging: Boxed
Weight: 25 pounds
Multi-cat: Yes
BEST NON-TRACKING CAT LITTER FOR ODOR CONTROL
Dr. Elsey’s Premium Clumping Cat Litter
$20.99 $23.99 13% off
Dr. Elsey’s Premium Clumping Cat Litter is a number-one bestseller on Amazon and has racked up over 50,000 five-star ratings. One Amazon shopper summed the litter up perfectly: “Why isn’t there a 6-star option? Its ability to c-o-m-p-l-e-t-e-l-y void the stench of cat urine is truly other-worldly, maybe even a little bit spooky,” they said.
Pros:
99.9% dust-free and hypoallergenic formulation
Hard clumping
Low tracking
Cons:
Clumps can stick
Does it clump? Yes
Scented option? No
Packaging: Bag
Weight: 40 pounds
Multi-cat: Yes
MOST AFFORDABLE CAT LITTER FOR ODOR CONTROL
Tidy Cats Free & Clean Unscented Clumping Clay Cat Litter
$19.68 $21.19 7% off
A good cat litter can also be affordable. Take this one from Tidy Cats for example. It contains activated charcoal to help fight odors and natural clay that creates tight clumps, which keep your kitty’s litter box mess-free.
Pros:
Fragrances or dyes
Good for sensitive pets
Cons:
Dusty consistency
Does it clump? Yes
Scented option? No
Packaging: Plastic box
Weight: 35 pounds
Multi-cat: Yes
BEST CLUMPING CAT LITTER FOR ODOR CONTROL
Boxiecat Premium Clumping Cat Litter
$26.99 $29.99 10% off
Boxiecat’s clumping cat litter is a premium formula that keeps waste and odor under control. The litter is made from clay that is soft against your furry friend’s paws. The brand also says the gentle litter eliminates ammonia odors even weeks after cleaning the box. Aside from its impressive benefits, the scent-free formula is veterinarian-approved and earned the 2022 Modern Cat Best Cat Litter Pick award.
Pros:
Track resistant granules
Suitable for all litter boxes
Cons:
Average odor control
Does it clump? Yes
Scented option? Yes
Packaging: Bag
Weight: 28 pounds
Multi-cat: No
BEST PLANT-BASED CAT LITTER FOR ODOR CONTROL
Okocat Unscented Featherweight Clumping Wood Cat Litter
$28.99
Did you know you can also opt for a plant-based cat litter that controls odors? Okocat’s unscented litter granules are created from responsibly rescued natural wood fiber, which gives your pet a healthier, natural solution to a clean litter box. It has a fresh, natural scent that keeps odors at bay.
Pros:
Sustainably sourced
Has a clay-like texture
Pleasant scent
Cons:
Can be difficult to clean up
Does it clump? Yes
Scented option? Yes
Packaging: Box
Weight: 16.4 pounds
Multi-cat: No
BEST TRAVEL CAT LITTER FOR ODORS
Fresh Step Crystals Premium Scented Cat Litter
$22.49
These Fresh Step Crystals make litter box maintenance a breeze. The small but mighty eight-pound bag uses the same amount of crystal as a 28-pound bag of litter. Even though the formula is crystal-based, it clumps, controls odors, and has a long-lasting scent. Plus, it’s a low dust option for those who have cats prone to allergies.
Pros:
Crystals
Low dust
Lightweight
Cons:
Some tracking
Does it clump? Yes
Scented option? Yes
Packaging: Re-seal bag
Weight: 8 pounds
Multi-cat: Yes
BEST VET-RECOMMENDED CAT LITTER FOR ODORS
World's Best Cat Litter
$18.39
Experts recommend this unscented bag of cat litter. It’s made from corn, which makes it a fresh and crunchy choice for your cat’s litter box. The litter isn’t clumps from easy scoping, and it is 99 percent dust-free, so you don’t find paw prints all over your home.
Pros:
Expert recommended
Low dust
Cons:
Made from corn
Does it clump? Yes
Scented option? Yes
Packaging: Bag
Weight: 15 pounds
Multi-cat: Yes
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