The best cat litter for odour will absorb and remove unpleasant aromas. Luckily, cats instinctively know how to do their business. Even as a kitten, they will know how to dig and bury their waste, just as long as a litter tray is nearby. The cat litter tray in your household will get some heavy usage and need a little extra odour control. The last thing you want is to resort to air fresheners to keep your home smelling sweet, especially when there's a simple solution. Use a good quality litter and change it often, this will solve the issue of smelly kitty litter.
A clean and spacious litter tray that's filled with cat litter 7cm deep is perfect for puss to perform their toilette. But to avoid pungent pee there are informed choices you can make regarding cat litter. Wood and paper-based cat litter are a budget option but they don't tend to deal with odours as well as clumping cat litter. If wet urine is allowed to sink into absorbent fibres and sit there, bacteria spread and smells worsen. The upside is that wood and paper-based cat litter tend to be eco-friendly products and with diligent cleaning, you can keep odour at bay.
Best cat litter for odour at a glance:
• Best overall cat litter for odour: Catsan Hygiene Cat Litter, 20L – View on Amazon UK
• Best activated charcoal cat litter for odour control: Sapphire Labs Odor Warrior Cat Litter – View on Amazon UK
• Best silica cat litter for odour: Sanicat Diamonds Lavender Scent Silica Gel Granule Cat Litter, 15L – View on Pets at Home
Silica cat litter is a more expensive option. It's made from an absorbent chemical in crystal form. It has a crunchy texture which some cats may dislike. It's essentially the same moisture-absorbing little packet of silica that you find in items such as leather and electrical goods.
Then, there's clay cat litter that comes in clumping and non-clumping varieties. It has a soft texture and is highly absorbent so it locks in moisture. Clumping litter forms tight lumps so you only remove the soiled litter. Meaning you waste less litter in the long run. It's easy to top up the tray with a little dry litter, stay hygienic, and control odours. Finally, look for a cat litter topper that's made of activated carbon and is highly absorbent. Some cat litter boxes have an activated carbon filter to help reduce odour.
So now you know exactly what you should be looking for, we've rounded up the best cat litter to tackle odours and smells.
Best cat litter for odour
Best overall cat litter for odour
Catsan Hygiene Cat Litter is loved by cat owners. This popular cat litter is easy to find online, in supermarkets and in pet stores. It's a bestseller with good reason: Catsan litter is made from natural lime and quartz sand, which quickly absorbs liquid and makes for outstanding odour control. Moisture gets locked away before odour can develop. Also, this litter is lightweight and low-dust. In short, it's a reliable and long-lasting cat litter and easy to bulk buy for even better value.
Our review: "I've got three indoor cats at home and Catsan is the litter that I've settled with for the long run. The litter is non-clumping so it is super easy to clean up the mess and I know I can always order more from Amazon or even a supermarket. It's great value for what you get. I've tried so many cat litters on the market and I always come back to Catsan. The 20L bag normally lasts a few weeks."
Pros
- Absorbent
- Easy to clean up
- Lightweight
- Contains odours
Cons
- Can be messy
| Quantity: | 10L |
| Material: | Quartz and limestone |
- Suitable for kittens
- 100 per cent natural
- Packaging is recyclable
Best silica cat litter for odour
www.petsathome.com
Silica-based cat litter is great if you want a low-maintenance option that doesn't go claggy when soiled. Silica is highly absorbent, low dust, low-tracking and contains odour. It is a little more expensive, but reviews have widely praised its effectiveness after trying many other cat litter. This product is fragranced with Lavender and there are also Aloe Vera, Marseille Soap and Fragrance Free products available. In the form of Silica pearls, the litter is lightweight and low fuss, ideal for busy pet paw-rents.
Pros
- Lightweight
- Really easy to clean and low maintenance
Cons
- The silica granules can end up scattered across the floor
| Quantity: | 15L |
| Material: | Silica |
- Silica gel pearls with lavender scent
- Sanicat is one of Europe's leading brands of cat litter with over 35 years experience
Best all-natural cat litter for odour
www.tippaws.com
Tippaws Long-Lasting Clumping Litter is a little bit different to other cat litter. It's a super tight clumping wood and corn-based cat litter that offers incredibly good odour control. Totally biodegradable and compostable, the plant fibres are dust-free. It has an antibacterial formula so you don't need to change the litter tray as regularly. With glowing customer reviews and the option to buy in bulk, this cat litter ticks all the boxes. Use in conjunction with Tippaws Recycled Ocean Plastic Litter Scoop.
Pros
- Superior odour control
- 100 per cent biodegradable and compostable
- Made from natural ingredients
- Antibacterial formula
Cons
- Only available in 6L bags
| Quantity: | 6, 12, 18 and 24L |
| Material: | Wood, corn and an antibacterial clumping agent |
- Low tracking — less than 0.5 per cent of litter sticks to paws
- Three times lighter than clay-based cat litter
- FSC-certified
Best odour-absorbing litter for sensitive cats
An unscented litter that will absorb odours is the ideal option for both you and your cat. Your cat benefits from their super sense of nose not being irritated by strong floral scents. This highly effective clumping litter from Sanicat is made from natural minerals with guaranteed odour control. It absorbs moisture to make cleaning easier. It uses the natural power of the oxygenation process to neutralise and break down odours. It's a quartz-based cat litter that's gentle on paws, low tracking, and low dust.
Pros
- Unscented
- Effective
- Breaks down odour through oxygenation
Cons
- Forms fragile lumps that can break apart upon removal
| Quantity: | 10L |
| Material: | Quartz |
- Made of natural minerals
- Fragrance-free
- Uses FSC-certified paper packaging
Best cat litter for odour prevention
Every granule is coated with Nano-silver ions that have antibacterial properties so Felight Ultra Clumping Cat Litter stays fresh for up to 10 days. It's made in the UK from clay and offers fast absorbency with easy-to-remove clumps and locked-in odour. Use less litter because this lasts longer and Felight is available in 10-litre or 20-litre bags so you can stock up.
Pros
- Effective absorbency and clumping
- Odour control
- Planet-friendly
Cons
- Not dust-free
| Quantity: | 10L (20L) |
| Material: | Clay |
- Suitable for adult cats and kittens
- Made from 100 per cent natural clay
- Packaged in a 100 per cent recyclable, FSC-certified paper bag
Best clumping litter for cats with allergies
www.petsathome.com
Offering great value for money, this bumper bag of Pettex Premium Dust Extracted Clay Granule Clumping Cat Litter is an all-natural product that's fully biodegradable. In addition, the minerals in Bentonite clay reduce bacterial activity, as well as form clumps that can easily be removed. Benefit from top-quality granules that make for a solid low-dust clay product that absorbs liquid and odour.
Pros
- Clumps well for the value
- Hides odours
- Good for cats and humans with allergies
Cons
- Not suitable for kittens
| Quantity: | 20kg |
| Material: | Clay |
- Pettex Premium Clumping Clay Cat Litter was launched in 1959
- A natural product made from high quality Bentonite clay
Best kitten-friendly litter for odour
It's really important not to give kittens cat litter containing anything toxic as they may well explore it with their mouth — as all babies do. Therefore, opt for an all-natural and non-toxic litter for kittens, such as Blazers Kitten Friendly Cat Litter. Importantly, this naturally pine-fragranced cat litter is antibacterial so it prevents the build-up of bacteria that can cause bad smells.
Pros
- All-natural
- Naturally pine fragranced
- Non-toxic
Cons
- Can be messy
| Quantity: | 10L |
| Materials: | Pine wood |
- Naturally antibacterial
- Environmentally friendly
- Put a layer that's 2-3 cm deep in your kitten's tray
Best antibacterial cat litter deodoriser
Finally, we have a deodoriser that neutralises nasty odours using Felight's Silverfresh technology. It's a great way of keeping a litter tray smelling tip-top in between changes. Sprinkle this antibacterial powder on cat litter for gentle peony-scented freshness. This helps your cat's litter to last a little longer as the complex silver particles remove rather than mask odour particles.
Pros
- A little goes a long way
- Effective
Cons
- Some cats may not like the smell
| Quantity: | 300ml |
| Material: | Biocidal active ingredient reaction mass of Titanium Dioxide and Silver Chloride |
- Made in the UK
- For best results use in conjunction with Felight cat litter
FAQs: Best cat litter for odour control
What are the different types of cat litter?
There are three different types of cat litter: wood and paper-based, silica, and clay. Wood and paper-based cat litter are the best budget options. However, unless otherwise stated, these litters will not clump. This means that there's the potential for unhygienic liquid to collect in the bottom of the tray. Some wood or paper-based cat litter, such as Tippaws Long-Lasting Clumping Litter, have been processed in such a way as to make them more effective at absorption and odour control.
Cats have a more acute sense of smell and may find scented litter a bit overwhelming. It's not natural to be inhaling perfumed products with chemical additives. Bear this in mind if you opt for a scented silica crystal cat litter. Also, sensitive paws may dislike the crunchy texture of silica. However, it's worth a try if you're looking for a low-maintenance cat litter that has excellent absorption.
The best clumping cat litter is made from Bentonite clay. This allows for the easy removal of urine-soaked litter with a scoop.
How does cat litter smell spread?
When litter gets caught in a cat's paws and spread around the house it's known as tracking. This is one way in which odour may be spread. Try putting a mat under the cat litter tray to catch stray litter. Or, you could switch to a litter that has larger granules. Additionally, your cat may be unintentionally spraying outside of the box. If you think this may be the case opt for a box with higher sides. To stop your cat from kicking up a stink make sure the litter tray is large enough; it should be one-and-a-half times their length. Finally, if the odour has suddenly changed do not hesitate to contact your vet in case of kidney or urinary tract disease. Kidney disease causes pets to urinate more.
What is clumping cat litter?
Clumping litter, made of clay, dries out cat faeces which helps keep the litter fresher for longer. Clumping litter allows for easy removal of liquid and solid waste. But your cat may naturally show a preference for another type of litter.
What else should I consider to improve the odour of my cat's litter tray?
If a rancid smell is coming from the litter tray itself then it needs a good clean. Cats do not want to dig in litter that's been soiled. It's a good idea to empty the litter tray and wash it with hot water and mild, unscented detergent every week. It's important to keep your cat's litter box clean for their hygiene and wellbeing.
Scoop clumping litter twice a day to remove lumps. Non-clumping litter should be checked once a day and changed every few days.
Avoid covered litter trays as these can make contained odours very unpleasant for your cat.
Plastic liners in a litter tray can be problematic as urine can seep under the liner and cause an unpleasant smell. Cats can also catch their claws on liners and unintentionally cause a mess.
A cat deodoriser should never replace basic good hygiene, but a deodoriser in granule, spray, bead or powder form can help improve unwanted smells.
Scented cat litter are also an option, though they may be irritating to some cats. There are unscented litters with deodorisers which neutralise odours and are a great option if your cat dislikes strong floral scents.
It can help to make sure the cat litter tray is being used as intended. Fill the tray with litter to a depth of 7cm. If there's too little litter your cat won't have enough depth to bury their waste. If there's too much litter they'll kick it out of the box.
Natalie Knowles is a Homes & Garden Product Writer for Take A Break Pets, specialising in all things cats and dogs. In her other life, Natalie is a successful artist and illustrator.