Best Cat Litter for Odor Control — 3 Choices To Breathe Easier

Me and cat poop -- well, we don't get along.

Looking for the best cat litter for odor control? I mean, don't get me wrong; we don't fight with each other or even raise our voices in anger. Basically it's like this: I don't get in cat poop's way, and it generally stays out of mine. We have a gentlemen's agreement, you see.

Maybe this makes me a terrible caregiver to my cat, Hillary, but I must confess that I don't scoop. I just kind of wait things out twice a week, maybe longer, till Hillary's litter box starts to fill up. I wish there were a bell that would go Ding! to let me know it's done… but for now I use my nose as a guide. When the litter box area starts to smell like ammonia, it's out with the old kitty litter and in with the new.

What kind of litter do I use? Must be top-notch stuff, right? After all, it has to stand the test of time? Truth is, it's nothing too special: Fresh Step Premium Clumping, with "odor-eliminating carbon."

My secret weapon: Hillary, who is just not a terribly picky cat when it comes to bathroom habits. Works out well.

[Update: I have reformed my ways! I now scoop much more frequently, realizing now how important litter box cleanliness is to the health of a cat.]

Readers sometimes ask us what's the best cat litter for odor control. For the answer to this burning question, I want to look beyond the mass-produced commercial brands like Fresh Step. Here are three promising alternatives. Let's take a close look at all three brands, and then I'll declare a winner.

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Our Picks

• Ever Clean Extra-Strength Cat Litter
• Nature's Miracle Miracle Premium Scented Clumping Corn Cat Litter
• OdorLock Unscented Clumping Clay Cat Litter

1. Ever Clean Extra-Strength Cat Litter

I see that the highest-rated kitty litter on Amazon is Ever Clean Extra Strength Cat Litter, which sells for about 72 cents per pound.

Buyers tell us Ever Clean lives up to the name -- containing smell like no other, and lasting twice as long as some other brands. Right out of the box you see that it's unscented, so no vaguely annoying perfumey smell when you load up the litter pan. "I was concerned that no odor cat litter = horrible pee smell after my cats used the box," one customer says, adding, "I was pleasantly surprised that odor is controlled amazingly well."

One customer says she was able to go months -- yes, months -- without changing out the Ever Clean litter. That's radical even by my own standards, but at least she says she scoops out clumps daily. Even months later, though, she says, "I can literally stick my face right next to the litter, inhale deeply, and smell nothing."

2. Nature's Miracle Miracle Premium Scented Clumping Corn Cat Litter

Next up is Nature's Miracle Premium Scented Clumping Corn Cat Litter selling for around $1.32 per pound. The price stinks, but you can feel good using it because it's made with real corn cob. Forget what you know about kitty litter -- this stuff is made out of corn cob granules, which the manufacturer claims is a bio-enzymatic formula. But, the big question is, Does it control odor?

Some customers tell us that Nature's Miracle this product is a great alternative to clay litter, keeps odors controlled, and clumps well with fluids. With low dust, a nice scent, and easy carry handle, others love it for many reasons. Our favorite comments is, "So superior to any other litter we have ever had!"

3. OdorLock Unscented Clumping Clay Cat Litter

Made with 100 percent natural clay, which is a mineral-based litter, this 4-in-1 formula is made to block ammonia and other odors, clump nicely, is near dust-free, and is low tracking. Made in the USA with clay from Wyoming, it is unscented for cats or humans with odor sensitivities.

The reviews speak volumes, with one customer stating, "I have tried a lot of litters, this one is by far the best I've tried. And my cat loves it. We have dark dark wood floors and I haven't even see any dust or pebbles in the last two weeks." Although the 40-day claim is for meant for one cat, the features (clumping, low tracking, dust control) are helpful for multi-cat homes.

Best Cat Litter for Odor Control

And now… the winner. Based on dozens of excellent reviews and reports from satisfied customers, Ever Clean Extra Strength Cat Litter is the clear winner as the best cat litter for odor control. Give it a try, and let me know what you think.

Combine Ever Clean with a stink-free litter box spray, and you have a winning formula for a bathroom station that practically smells like daisies. Then again, a guy like me -- who's not so great at regular cleanings -- can probably afford to shell out some cash for an automatic cat litter box that cleans itself.