In this roundup, we're reviewing and comparing some of the best cat litter deodorizer products on the market. After all, while we might love our cats more than anything else, one thing we don’t always love – is the smell of the cat urine odors escaping the litter tray.
Let’s face it, no matter how great your kitty’s diet, and even if you're using ONLY the best litter, and you're as careful as possible about keeping on top of cleaning tasks, the odors can really build up.
That's where a cat litter deodorizer can help with odor control and fight off the noxious smells of waste and ammonia which can build up over time.
Though it won’t prevent you from having to clean out your cat’s litter box regularly, it should mean you can keep your home smelling (reasonably) fresh for longer. The challenge is in choosing the right deodorizer for your kitty.
With a little help from our furry friends, we’ve put some of the most popular products to the test, to bring you a list of our favorite options. Here’s your guide to the litter deodorizers you can use to make your kitty’s stinky litter box just a little more appealing.
Best Cat Litter Deodorizer: Overall Choice
Fresh Step Cat Litter Box Odor Eliminating Powder is a terrific cat litter odor eliminator for cat owners who want to keep their litter box area fresh and odor-free. This powder is specially designed to be mixed with your cat's litter, helping to absorb moisture and eliminate unpleasant odors.
3 Top Cat Litter Tray Deodorizer Picks – Best, Premium & Value
There are various factors you’ll need to consider when choosing the right kitty litter box deodorizer, from the ease of use to performance and even composition. We’ve narrowed our favorite choices down to three top options; best overall, best premium, and our best value pick:
So that’s a quick chart showing our three best picks for cat litter deodorizers. Now let’s take a deeper look at the cat litter odor eliminator picks that made it on to our shortlist.
To start with, let’s look at the top 3 in a little more detail.
1. Fresh Step Cat Litter Box Odor Eliminating Powder - Best Overall Pick
Available in a powder and cleaning spray formula, the Fresh Step Cat Litter box deodorizer is a powerful tool for minimizing nasty tray smells.
The solution has been carefully formulated to target the odors from urine and cat waste, with added “zeolites”. Not only does the natural zeolite substance minimize unwanted smells, but it’s also fragranced, to help mask any lingering odors.
Easy to use and convenient, the Fresh Step powder can be sprinkled evenly onto litter after scooping, as well as whenever your litter tray needs a little freshness boost.
Plus, the product is entirely safe for all cats and all kinds of litter. It can even help to reduce the risk of clumps sticking to the litter box. Top of the top picks for sure!
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Cons
2. Arm & Hammer Cat Litter Deodorizer - Best Value Pick
Reliable and cost-effective, the Arm & Hammer litter deodorizer is formulated with strong baking soda crystals, to help banish tough smells on contact.
When used correctly, the substance can minimize strong scents for as long as 9 days, meaning you don’t need to constantly replace the litter, or keep topping up the box with fresh powder. So this actually extends the litter life cutting costs a little bit.
What’s more, the deodorizer is safe for use around pets and humans, with no dangerous or toxic ingredients included.
It can also help to prevent litter clumps from sticking to the bottom of the box and can work with any type of litter, including clay, wooden pellets, and crystals.
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3. ANGRY ORANGE Pet Odor Eliminator - Best Premium Pick
For a no-nonsense solution for odor removal, the Angry Orange pet odor eliminator is a great choice. This simple but effective substance has a strong citrus scent, which helps to eliminate strong and lingering smells almost immediately.
The ready-to-use bottle comes with a spray top, so you can instantly apply it to any stains or smelly sections.
Notably, however, this item is intended to be used primarily for cleaning and removing smells from furniture and carpets, rather than making litter trays smell better.
It’s best to keep your cat out of the room when you’re applying it, as they can be sensitive to strong citrus scents.
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Read this next: Best Cat Food For Smelly Poop – 8 Top Wet and Dry Foods
The Best Cat Litter Tray Deodorizer: Alternative Picks
While we chose the options above to appeal to most pet owners, you might still find you want to consider some different options. Fortunately, there are some great alternative picks still worth checking out. Here are some of our other top choices:
4. NonScents Cat Litter Deodorizer
Simple but effective, the NonScents cat litter deodorizer comes in an 8-pound bag, designed to last for as long as possible.
The carefully formulated product completely eliminates smells and will trap odors at the source and is fragrance-free, rather than just covering them up with other fragrances. So, you don’t have to worry about any sensitive noses getting overwhelmed by chemical additives.
This long-lasting substance is easy to apply, safe for cats, and great for prolonging the life of your litter, so you don’t need to replace it as often.
Just sprinkle a little on your cat litter and it’ll be ready to go. You can even use it to freshen up your garbage cans.
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5. Rocco & Roxie Litter Box Odor Eliminator
The Rocco & Roxie Litter Box odor eliminator is designed to absorb and eliminate even the strongest smells, with a proprietary blend of natural, essential oils.
According to the manufacturers, the substance neutralizers odors at a molecular level, rather than just covering them up. This means you can enjoy a longer-lasting fresh scent from your litter boxes.
Safe for people and pets, this product is completely non-toxic and entirely plant-based. It’s even good for the environment, and won’t contribute to any pollution issues.
What’s more, it’s tough enough for use in multi-cat households too.
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6. Nature's Miracle Just for Cats Odor Destroyer
Great for removing strong waste and urine smells in seconds, the Nature’s Miracle cat odor destroyer is a fantastic tool for making your trays smell fresh for longer.
Not only does it help to eliminate unwanted smells, but it also assists in drawing fluids away from the litter, so it’s less likely to clump and stick to the walls of your litter box.
Suitable for use with all kinds of litter and litter trays, this convenient powder deodorizer is easy to use.
Simply sprinkle a little onto the litter after scooping, and you’re ready to go. The product can even withstand the challenges of a multi-cat household.
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Cat Litter Deodorizer Buyer’s Guide
Before you can choose the ultimate cat litter deodorizer, you’ll first need to know what these products are, and how they work. In simple terms, a cat litter deodorizer is a tool designed to fight the nasty smells that come from your kitty’s litter box.
They come in range of styles, from products which aim to neutralize scents at a molecular level, to options which have their own fragrances.
Most of the ingredients included in a cat litter deodorizer will already be present within a standard litter mix. However, in these products, the substances are more concentrated. With that in mind, it’s worth starting off with small doses, so you don’t overwhelm your nose, or your cats.
Before choosing the ideal litter deodorizer, make sure you think about:
Read this next: Why Does My Cat’s Poop Smell So Bad? (Fixing Stinky Cat Poop!)
Types of Litter Deodorizers
As mentioned above, cat litter deodorizers can come in a variety of different formats, often to suit different purposes. There’s no one-size-fits-all approach to choosing the right option. However, if you find a standard powder doesn’t work for your kitty, you can always explore other formulas. Here are some of the most common types of litter deodorizers:
FAQs
Does baking soda reduce cat litter odor?
Baking soda is a great natural deodorizer that’s safe for both cats and humans. It’s actually commonly used as one of the main ingredients in a lot of cat litter deodorizing powders. This product can also help with soaking up extra moisture.
Why does my cat’s litter box always smell?
If, no matter what you do, you find your cat’s litter tray still stinks, there could be a few reasons. After a while, ammonia and other chemicals can sometimes seep into the plastic of litter trays, making it difficult to remove lingering odors. It might be time to change the litter tray for something new.
Can you get rid of cat litter smell?
It’s difficult to get rid of cat litter smells entirely, but there are a few things you can try. Change the litter box regularly, and clean out any waste on a daily basis. Use a litter deodorizer, or consider using fragranced litter if you find that works best for you. You can also use a hooded litter tray with a built-in filter to help mask scents.
Read this next: How Often Do Cats Poop? (And Bathroom Habits to Watch Out For!)
Best Cat Litter Tray Deodorizer: The Verdict
A stinky cat litter tray is a relatively common problem for a pet parent to deal with. However, horrible litter smells don’t have to get you down. Using a litter deodorizer, and cleaning the litter tray regularly can help to keep horrible odors to a minimum.
Our favorite pick from today’s review list was the Fresh Step Cat Litter powder. This simple and convenient product captures and eliminates smells instantly.
It’s cat-safe, and can even make litter easier to scoop. Good luck finding the option that’s right for you!
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