Cats are pretty easy to take care of. They instinctively know how to use the cat litter box to do their business, and they’re meticulous about grooming themselves. Like humans, they prefer their ‘bathroom’ to be clean and odor-free, so they can do a number 1 or 2 in peace.
No one (yes, not even your pet) wants the ever-present smell of cat urine and feces, which, if uncontrolled, can cause your cats to eliminate waste elsewhere. This is why choosing the best cat litters for odor control is important.
Choosing a cat litter that works for you and your cat is not as easy as you might think. There are many different kinds in the market, and you need to expend the same amount of care into selecting the right one for your feline as you do for his food.
It’s important that you know about all the types of cat litter before making your choice. (We’ll get into that in the latter part of the article.) But for now, let’s review some of the top cat litters in the market and why they may or may not be the right one for your cat.
Best Cat Litter For Odor Control: Clumping
A clumping cat litter offers a cat owner an easy way of cleaning up messes.
1. Dr Elsey's Multi Cat Ultra Premium Litter
Features:
Unscented, Clumping, Multi-Cat, Odor Control, Dust Free, Low Tracking
Material:
Clay
Dr. Elsey's is a top choice for cat owners seeking powerful odor control without the use of added fragrances.
Made from natural clay, this unscented, hypoallergenic litter is perfect for households with allergy sufferers, offering a clean and fresh environment without triggering sensitivities.
Its 99% dust-free formula helps reduce airborne particles, making cleanup easier and helping to keep your home tidy.
The hard-clumping action ensures quick and easy scooping, while the low-tracking formulation keeps litter where it belongs—inside the box, not on your floors.
Designed with multi-cat households in mind, this litter provides paw-some odor control naturally, without relying on perfumes or harsh deodorants.
It’s also ideal for use in sifting or mechanical litter boxes, offering convenience and freshness in every scoop.
Pros
- Unscented
- 99.9% dust-free
- Suitable for multi-cat homes
- Hard clumping, easy scooping
- Ideal for both sifting and mechanical litter boxes
Cons
- Much heavier compared to others
- Packaging is not designed well for lugging around
2. Fresh Step Advanced Multi-Cat Litter
Features:
Scented, Odor Control, Clumping, Multi-Cat
Material:
Clay
This Fresh Step litter is specially designed to tackle the toughest odors in multi-cat households.
With advanced ClumpLock® technology and Ammonia Block, it locks in liquids and odors on contact, making scooping effortless and preventing messy crumbles from being left behind.
This powerful litter offers rapid liquid absorption to keep your cat’s litter box clean, dry, and comfortable.
It’s infused with a clean, fresh scent and guarantees up to 15 days of odor control with the added freshness of Febreze.
Easy to pour and store, this clumping litter also features a low-dust formula that helps reduce mess on floors and nearby surfaces.
Whether you have two cats or ten, it delivers long-lasting freshness and reliable performance you can count on.
Pros
- 99% dust-free
- Scented with Febreze
- Made of clumping clay
- Guaranteed 15 days of odor control
- Uses Fresh Step ClumpLock Technology
Cons
- It is not biodegradable
- Clumps stick to the bottom of the box like concrete
3. Purina Tidy Cats Tidy Max 24/7 Performance Litter
Purina’s litter product offers powerful, round-the-clock odor control that’s perfect for busy, multi-cat households.
With advanced technology that stops ammonia odors for up to 2 weeks, this litter keeps your home smelling fresh day and night.
Its 99.9% dust-free formula helps reduce mess and maintain cleaner surfaces around the litter box.
The moisture-activated Power Pieces work hard to absorb liquids and trap odors on contact, while forming tight, easy-to-scoop clumps for hassle-free cleanup.
Designed for long-lasting freshness and convenience, Tidy Max delivers reliable odor defense and performance you can count on, 24/7.
Pros
- 99% dust-free
- 24/7 Protection for the home
- Stops ammonia odor for 2 weeks
- Delivers tight clumps
- Features moisture-activated Power Pieces
Cons
- Scent too overpowering
- The box can be awkward to carry, especially when opened
4. Arm & Hammer Platinum Clump Seal Cat Litter
Features:
Scented, Clumping, Dust Free, Low Tracking, Multi-Cat, Odor Control
Material:
Clay
This product is designed to make litter box maintenance cleaner, easier and more pleasant for both cats and their owners.
Featuring powerful moisture-activated odor eliminators, this litter effectively neutralizes both liquid and solid waste odors on contact, keeping your home smelling fresh.
With Cloud Control Technology, it virtually eliminates airborne dust, so there's no cloud of nasties when pouring or scooping.
It also includes Dander Shield Technology to help reduce airborne dander, making it a great option for allergy-sensitive households.
The hypoallergenic light scent offers a gentle alternative to strong fragrances, while still adding a touch of freshness.
It forms rock-hard clumps for effortless scooping and boasts minimal dust and low tracking—so your floors stay cleaner. Ideal for multi-cat homes, it delivers powerful performance with every use.
Pros
- Developed for multi-cat homes
- Guaranteed 14 days of odor-free home
- Uses plant-derived particles and baking soda
- 100% dust-free platinum formula
- With proprietary moisture-activated Micro-Granules
Cons
- Packaging is too heavy to haul around
- Clumping is not too solid and has a tendency to break apart
5. Naturally Fresh Walnut Clumping Cat Litter
Features:
Unscented, Clumping, Odor Control, Natural, Dust Free, Low Tracking, Eco-Friendly
Material:
Walnut
This litter offers a clean, eco-friendly solution for cat parents looking for a natural alternative to traditional litters.
Made entirely from 100% natural walnut shells, this all-natural litter is free from chemicals, toxins, clay, corn, and grains—making it a safer choice for both pets and their humans.
It forms tight, easy-to-scoop clumps in as little as 15 minutes, helping to prevent messes from sticking to the litter box.
The dust-free formula not only reduces tracking but also supports better respiratory health for sensitive cats and pet parents.
It delivers effective performance while keeping things gentle, natural, and sustainable.
Pros
- Low dust
- 100% biodegradable
- Made of walnut shells
- Clay-free, corn-free and grain-free
- Clumps in as little as 15 minutes
Cons
- Fairly loose clumps and not hard
6. World’s Best Cat Litter for Multiple Cats
Features:
Scented, Clumping, Odor Control, Flushable, Multi-Cat, Natural, Dust Free, Eco-Friendly
Material:
Corn
This product combines powerful odor control with the calming aroma of 100% all-natural lavender oil.
Ideal for multi-cat households, this naturally scented litter is a great choice for cat owners who prefer a fresh, fragrant litter box experience.
Its concentrated formula traps odors and forms small, tight clumps on contact, locking away waste and eliminating ammonia smells before they spread.
Made from natural compressed corn, it’s 99% dust-free and free of silica dust, making it a healthier option for both you and your cat.
Plus, it’s flushable and septic-safe, offering an environmentally friendly, easy-to-dispose-of solution.
With less litter waste and no nasty smells, cleaning the box becomes quicker, cleaner and more pleasant.
Pros
- 100% all-natural
- Free of silica dust
- Lavender scent
- Made from natural compressed corn
- Flushable and septic-tank safe
Cons
- Tracks a lot
Non-Clumping Litters
Non-clumping cat litters offer excellent moisture absorption at cheaper prices.
1. PetSafe ScoopFree Premium Crystal Cat Litter
Features:
Non-Clumping, Odor Control, Scented, Dust Free, Low Tracking, Multi-Cat, Lightweight
Material:
Crystal
Say goodbye to daily scooping with PetSafe ScoopFree Crystal Cat Litter—the ultimate solution for a cleaner, fresher-smelling litter box.
Designed for hassle-free maintenance, this litter system uses a disposable tray that you simply remove and toss when it’s time to clean up—no scooping required.
The fresh-scented crystals work hard to absorb urine and dry out solid waste, effectively minimizing unpleasant odors before they start.
One tray lasts up to 30 days in a single-cat household, giving you more time to enjoy your pet without the daily mess.
The plastic tray lining adds an extra layer of protection, forming a powerful barrier against leaks to keep your floors clean.
Plus, the low-tracking crystals are gentle on your cat’s paws, won’t stick to their feet, and are 99% dust free, helping to keep your home cleaner, too.
With this product, you can finally spend less time cleaning and more time loving your cat.
Pros
- 99% dust-free
- Available in other scents
- Made of silica crystals
- No scooping required
- Compatible with traditional litter boxes
Cons
- Formula changed, not for the better
2. Tidy Cats Breeze Unscented Cat Litter Pellets
Features:
Multi-Cat, Odor Control, Non-Clumping, Unscented, Dust Free, Low Tracking
Material:
Clay
This litter pellets offer a smart, vet-recommended solution for cat owners—especially those with respiratory sensitivities, or households with multiple cats.
These innovative non-clumping pellets are designed to let urine pass through, allowing it to be absorbed by a separate pad below, while solid waste stays on top, making cleanup quick and easy.
With 99.9% dust-free performance, this litter is ideal for keeping the air—and your home—clean, and it’s gentle on sensitive noses.
These unscented pellets provide powerful odor control without fragrances, making them a great choice for cats or humans who are scent-sensitive.
Each bag can last up to a month, offering a neat, low-maintenance alternative to clay litter.
Plus, the pellets help keep floors and paws clean, reducing tracking and mess. Trusted by vets and loved by pet parents, it is the perfect blend of convenience and care.
Pros
- Anti-tracking
- Easy scooping
- Vet-recommended
- Powerful odor control
- Unique alternative to clay litter
Cons
- Not that absorbent
- Most complained of damaged bags upon delivery
3. Feline Pine Cat Litter
Features:
Non-Clumping, Odor Control, Scented, Dust Free, Low Tracking, Multi-Cat, Lightweight
Material:
Crystal
This litter delivers powerful, natural odor control with a gentle touch.
Crafted from simple plant-based ingredients, this litter features highly absorbent, sustainably sourced pine shavings—made only from reclaimed lumber, so no new trees are cut down.
Combined with the natural deodorizing power of baking soda, it works instantly to neutralize odors, especially tough ammonia smells, without the use of harsh chemicals or synthetic perfumes.
The pine shavings act like thousands of tiny sponges, soaking up moisture and locking away odors on contact, keeping your cat’s litter box fresh, dry and clean.
Lightweight by design, Feline Pine is less than half the weight of traditional clay litters, making it easy to pour, change and refill—without the mess of heavy dust clouds.
Low in dust and gentle on paws, this litter is the ideal choice for cat owners looking for an effective, natural and environmentally responsible solution that’s tough on odors but kind to your feline friend.
Pros
- Low dust
- Eco-friendly
- Made with 100% kiln-dried pine shavings
- No chemicals or synthetic perfumes
- Formulated with baking soda (for the Platinum variant)
Cons
- Scent too strong
- Not that gentle on the paws
Types of Cat Litter
A lot of cat owners suffer from cat litter confusion from the sheer amount of choices available in the market. It doesn’t stop at finding out what cat litters are considered good buys or whether a clumping or non-clumping litter is better. You also have to make a choice on what kind of litter you must purchase.
We aim to make it simpler for you by listing down each kind and what makes it better or not than the others. Here are the more common ones.