10 Best Cat Litters for Odor Control in 2023 – Top Picks & Reviews

Have you ever really taken the time to appreciate just how easy cats are to potty train? They’re literally born with the natural instinct to bury their excrement and clean up after themselves.

But along with that natural instinct comes that natural smell. And if you’re living with an indoor cat, you’re going to want to be sure you’ve got the best cat litter you can find. However, it’s not as easy as searching for the one you think smells the best.

Cats are extremely picky creatures. And if they don’t like something, they just might not use it. So, where should you even begin to choose? And what litter is best for you?

There are so many different varieties of cat litter out there. The most common type is clay litter, but you’ll also find some that are made out of wood, wheat, corn, and even walnut shells.

And that’s why we’ve gone through and reviewed some of the best cat litters for odor control available on the market today. Hopefully, these reviews will give you some insight into which cat litters are right for your special buddy.

A Glance at the Winners of 2023

The 10 Best Cat Litters for Odor Control

1. Dr. Elsey’s Unscented Clumping Clay Cat Litter – Best Overall

If you’re looking for one of the best cat litters out there, you need to try Dr. Elsey’s Ultra Unscented Clumping Clay Cat Litter.

Dr. Elsey’s cat litter has somehow found the perfect balance between heavy-duty odor control, maximum clumping capability, and minimal tracking. And unlike most other box store brand cat litters, it’s 99.9% dust-free. This makes it perfect for cats who may suffer from respiratory problems like asthma. Plus, its dust-free nature makes it great for owners who live in smaller apartments with minimal ventilation.

But what if you use an automatic scooping litter box? This litter will work just fine with your box as well. Dr. Elsey’s can also be considered a great choice for those with multiple cats!

All in all, this is the best cat litter for odor control.

2. Frisco Multi-Cat Unscented Clumping Clay Cat Litter – Best Value

When you’ve got multiple cats, you’re going to need a bunch of litter. And that can start to get a bit pricey.

That’s when we recommend Frisco Multi-Cat Unscented Clumping Clay Cat Litter. It’s the best cat litter for odor control for the money. It’s another clay litter which means it clumps super well. And it’s easy to scoop. It’s hypoallergenic with no added fragrance, so it’s lighter on the nose for those who desire or need it.

Frisco’s litter also utilizes a non-tracking and de-dusting formula. And its non-tracking properties work great! However, there’s still a decent bit of dust, but for the money, it’s still our top pick for best cat litter for smell.

3. World’s Best Clumping Corn Cat Litter – Premium Choice

If you’re looking for the world’s best cat litter, a good place to start might be World’s Best Clumping Corn Cat Litter. Just be prepared to pay a premium price – this litter doesn’t come cheap.

While most litters you’ll find are made out of clay, World’s Best uses a proprietary corn formula. The litter is 99.9% dust-free, hypoallergenic, and is made out of all-natural materials with no chemical additives. It’s an all-natural solution.

As far as its clumping power goes, it’s pretty incredible. Plus, it’s flushable and completely safe for your sewer and septic systems. We still don’t recommend flushing if you have a low-flow toilet though.

Our biggest concern — other than the price — is the smell. While you can’t smell cat urine or feces, you can smell the litter’s individual scent. The corn formula gives off a light, wet cardboard aroma.

But other than that, we definitely recommend giving this a try. To conclude, we think this is the top premium option for best cat litter for smell.

4. Purina Tidy Cats Glade Clumping Clay Cat Litter

What happens when you combine the trusted names of Purina and Glade? You get a pretty decent cat litter.

Purina Tidy Cats Glade Clumping Clay Litter is a scented litter lover’s dream come true. It has a wonderful clumping ability (as most clay litters do) that locks in odors. It’s great even for multiple cats as well. The specialized formula is also super easy to scoop.

However, there are a few issues. The scent can be overpowering. If you’re looking for a litter with just a light scent, this is not for you. The Glade scent acts like a Glade air freshener, and it permeates throughout the room. Also, it’s not a dust-free formula. You’re going to want to wear a mask when your pour or change out this litter to prevent dust inhalation.

However, it’s relatively cheap and comes in a great easy-to-pour jug.

5. Feline Pine Non-Clumping Wood Cat Litter

When it comes to litter choices, pine is a very interesting one. It doesn’t clump like clay and it’s not flushable. But a well-formulated pine litter provides zero litter tracking and a potentially great smell.

Feline Pine Non-Clumping Wood Litter is a decent choice for those of you looking to experiment with pine litters. It’s pine fibers are great at absorbing the odors left behind from cat urine. And there’s no litter tracking at all. Additionally, since it’s clay-free, there’s no dust when pouring or changing out the litter.

But there are some concerns. While it does a great job masking urine smells, it doesn’t do too much for feces. Plus, it’s hard to scoop. Finding a litter scoop with large enough slots to sift is difficult. And if you have a sifter-type box, you may find those holes to be too small as well.

6. Fresh Step Multi-Cat Scented Clumping Clay Cat Litter

When we think of big box store litter, this one immediately comes to mind. And it’s not a bad choice either. Fresh Step Multi-Cat Scented Clay Litter is a solid option for those of you looking to get quality litter in bulk.

It does an exceptional job for multiple cats, locking in unwanted odors from both urine and feces. The litter is imbued with Febreeze scent technology that leaves a pleasant aroma in the air that’s not too overpowering. Aside from that, it clumps great and makes used litter super easy to scoop.

But if you’re looking for a dust-free option, you might want to check elsewhere. This litter can get pretty dusty, and it does lead to tracking issues.

7. sWheat Scoop Multi-Cat Unscented Clumping Wheat Cat Litter

If you’re looking for a more eco-friendly alternative to traditional clay litters, sWheat Scoop Multi-Cat Wheat Litter is just the option for you.

This litter doesn’t contain any synthetic chemicals or compounds whatsoever, making it great for cats with urinary problems. And it’s recommended by vets for cats post-surgery to prevent infections. Best of all, when it’s time to be changed, you can just compost it.

While this litter does a good job of clumping, it’s easy to tell when the litter has absorbed its limit. If you have a deep digging cat, you may still find urine unabsorbed at the bottom of the litterbox. And when it comes to odor control, it doesn’t provide as much as other competitor brands.

8. Arm & Hammer Multi-Cat Fresh Scented Cat Litter

This multi-cat litter is something that we definitely recommend you use only for multiple cats. Arm & Hammer’s Multi-Cat Fresh Scented Litter is some powerful stuff.

It provides wonderful clumping ability with easy to scoop clumps and minimal dusting. Plus, it’s great at masking cat odors due to its addition of baking soda within the formula.

However, the odor masking capability is super powerful. You can smell this litter from another room. And if you’re in a small apartment, this smell will be your new life. The smell isn’t so bad, it’s just way too strong. There will be no problem covering up the smell from multiple cats. But if you only have one furbaby, go ahead and opt for something else.

9. Okocat Premium Wood Clumping Cat Litter

Okocat Premium Wood Clumping Litter is another eco-friendly biodegradable cat litter. It’s made from naturally sourced wood fiber instead of clay. This alone gives it the advantage of being super dust-free.

The litter is absolutely amazing at absorbing urine smells. But when it comes to absorbing fecal smells, that’s a different story. It really doesn’t absorb the smell of cat feces which can be a huge turn-off. And it clumps great as well…until it doesn’t. The litter is great at forming clumps, no doubt. The real question is the structural integrity of them. They tend to break apart rather easily when being scooped. So take extra care when doing so.

Also, if you hate litter that tracks, this is not for you. This litter is notorious for tracking all throughout your house.

10. Naturally Fresh Multi-Cat Clumping Walnut Cat Litter

Naturally Fresh Multi-Cat Clumping Walnut Cat Litter is the only walnut litter on our list. It’s made from crushed walnut shells instead of more commonly used materials.

Walnut litter can be useful on certain occasions. It’s dust-free and doesn’t contain any common allergens for cats. And this particular litter is soft as well, making it perfect for aging and senior cats.

However, this litter does lack in a few areas. As far as odor control is concerned, we recommend scooping this immediately after your cat does her business. While it clumps pretty decently, it doesn’t really absorb the odor from urine or feces. Also, this litter does tend to track pretty badly which means that cat odors can make their way around your house.

Conclusion

When it comes to the best litter for smell, there are so many different options. You need to know exactly what you’re looking for. Do you have multiple cats? Are you having dust and respiratory issues? Or do you just want something that doesn’t track all over the house?

These are all things that you need to consider when choosing your ideal kitty litter. Hopefully, these reviews can help you make a sound, informed decision.

But at the end of the day, we’re confident in our top overall pick — Dr. Elsey’s Clumping Clay Unscented Cat Litter. It’s the most balanced out of all the cat litters on this list and is sure to find a welcome place in any cat owner’s home — provided your cat agrees.

However, if you’re buying litter in bulk and want to get something a bit more budget-friendly, go with Frisco Multi-Cat Unscented Clumping Clay Cat Litter. It’s cheaper than most of the big box brands and works much better.

Owning a cat is a big responsibility, and choosing the right litter is a key component of that. The right litter can improve not just your cat’s living condition, but yours as well.

Featured Image: Feline Pine Original Unscented Non-Clumping Wood Cat Litter