When cat litter isn’t enough to eliminate awful ammonia smell, you’d need the help of a cat litter deodorizer to freshen the air and make you and your cat comfortable. While having cats as pets make life sweeter, it can’t be denied that the awful smell from their urine and feces can make life a living nightmare.
When you don’t have the time to constantly clean up their cat litter box, your home can become an unbearable place to live in.
MUST HAVE! Cat litter deodorizers are heaven-sent: they’re easy to use, don’t usually clump up, and there are plenty to choose from in the market, and most importantly they are strong enough to neutralize even the strongest litter box odors.
So what are cat litter deodorizers exactly? They come in many forms but are designed to do one thing – help fight awful odors that accumulate in cat litter. The most common ingredients found in these deodorizers include baking soda, zeolite, and borax, with some products including certain fragrances that do two jobs – mask odors and make the air smelling fresh and clean.

If you’ve never used them before, then you’ve come to the right place. In this article, we will talk about the types of cat litter deodorizers to choose from, how to choose the best one for you and your cat, and we’ve also listed the top 5 products in the market today.

Let’s start with the different types of deodorizers so you have a general idea about what they are, their benefits, and of course, their disadvantages.

 

Here is a Table of Best Cat Litter Deodorizers

PhotoDescriptionPrice

Arm and Hammer Cat Litter Deodorizer Spray


- Powerful odor neutralizer with baking soda, controls litter box odors
- Works On All Types Of Litter, and Won't Impact Clumping
3.7 out of 5 stars (3.7 / 5)
click here for lowest price

$

Hartz Fresh Scent Deodorizing Litter Beads - Cool Mountain Wind


- Continuous freshness beyond the litter box
- No mess and dust-free
3.6 out of 5 stars (3.6 / 5)
click here for lowest price

$$

NonScents Odor Control Cat Litter Deodorizer


- 4x concentrated, making it strong enough to neutralize even the strongest litter box odors
- formula was designed to help extend the life of your cat litter
4.3 out of 5 stars (4.3 / 5)
click here for lowest price

$$

Citrus Magic Pet Litter Box Odor Eliminator Fresh Citrus


- Eliminate offensive litter box odor and freshen the air in your home
- Great for use with multiple cats while extending the life of your litter
4.1 out of 5 stars (4.1 / 5)
click here for lowest price

$$

ARM & HAMMER Cat Litter Deodorizer With Activated Baking Soda


- Eliminates odors instantly
- Helps lift away unwanted hairs when you vacuum
**Amazon's Choice
4.6 out of 5 stars (4.6 / 5)
click here for lowest price

$$$
Product

Arm and Hammer Cat Litter Deodorizer Spray



- Powerful odor neutralizer with baking soda, controls litter box odors
- Works On All Types Of Litter, and Won't Impact Clumping
3.7 out of 5 stars (3.7 / 5)
click here for lowest price

Hartz Fresh Scent Deodorizing Litter Beads - Cool Mountain Wind



- Continuous freshness beyond the litter box
- No mess and dust-free
3.6 out of 5 stars (3.6 / 5)
click here for lowest price

NonScents Odor Control Cat Litter Deodorizer



- 4x concentrated, making it strong enough to neutralize even the strongest litter box odors
- formula was designed to help extend the life of your cat litter
4.3 out of 5 stars (4.3 / 5)
click here for lowest price

Citrus Magic Pet Litter Box Odor Eliminator Fresh Citrus



- Eliminate offensive litter box odor and freshen the air in your home
- Great for use with multiple cats while extending the life of your litter
4.1 out of 5 stars (4.1 / 5)
click here for lowest price

ARM & HAMMER Cat Litter Deodorizer With Activated Baking Soda



- Eliminates odors instantly
- Helps lift away unwanted hairs when you vacuum
**Amazon's Choice
4.6 out of 5 stars (4.6 / 5)
click here for lowest price

Types of Cat Litter Deodorizers

 

1. Powder

This type of deodorizer is the most popular, most common, and most affordable. They are usually baking-soda based products, and typically contain fragrances to help eliminate odor. To use them, you simply sprinkle the powder on top of the cat litter and they activate with exposure to moisture. But because it’s made of powder, they do have some dust and can be a hassle if you and your cat have some sensitivities.

 

2. Granules

These are a little larger than powder but also smaller than clay cat litter so there’s no problem with differentiating them from one another in the litter box. Granules are usually made of zeolite, which are highly effective in absorbing odor, so there’s not much need for added fragrance to be make it effective. Though granules are typically more expensive than powder forms, they’re ideal for cats and cat owners who have sensitive smells.

 

3. Beads

These are larger than granules and don’t require added fragrance to help eliminate odor. And because they’re large in size, they last longer, which means you won’t have to replace them very often. If you’re gone from your home for longer periods of time, this is definitely your top choice. Beads also do not create dust, do not clump easily, and don’t usually mix in with cat litter – making them convenient to use. But of course, they are more expensive than powder and granules.

 

4. Spray

These are liquid or semi-liquid products that you sprinkle all over the cat litter box. They’re great for coverage since you can apply the spray all over the box and on top of the litter.

 

Choosing the Right Cat Litter Deodorizer

 

So now that you have a general idea about the types of deodorizers available in the market, let’s now proceed to choosing the best type of cat litter deodorizer for you. Here are the questions that you need to ask before choosing the right cat litter deodorizer for you and your cat:

 

1. Are you allergic to certain scents?

 

If you or your cat are allergic to certain scents, then added fragrance is a major factor to look into. Light scents may be okay such as citrus scents but specialized ones like lavender or flower-based scents may not be ideal for you to use. To be on the safe side, non-scented deodorizers are perfect choices for you and your cat.

 

2. Is the product safe to use?

 

Because deodorizes do use certain chemicals to be effective in eliminating odor, some products may not be completely safe. Borax, a highly effective chemical ingredient, can be dangerous if ingested. And since cats constantly lick their paws, they have a high tendency of ingesting the chemical if you’re not careful with the placement of the deodorizer. Borax-based products have to be placed beneath cat litter and if you’re not careful, not following a product’s application instructions can be fatal to your pet.

 

3. Do you have one or more cats?

 

If you have more than one cat using a single litter box, then a more powerful deodorizer is what you need. Powder or granule-based products are ideal, as they are powerful and also much cheaper than other types. Other things to consider include having proper ventilation in your home, checking if you or your cat have certain allergies to certain ingredients, as well as the frequency of your litter box clean up.

 

The Top 5 Cat Litter Deodorizers in the Market

We’ve listed here 5 of the best cat litter deodorizes in the market so you’ll have an easier time choosing the best and most ideal for you and your cat.

1. Arm and Hammer Cat Litter Deodorizer Spray

This product comes in liquid form, is easy to use, and can be applied to your cat litter box on a daily basis. Coming from a trusted brand, it uses a simple yet powerful formula which is baking soda-based, giving you instant odor control. It’s considered to be one of the most potent products among cat litter deodorizers and perfect if you have more than one cat using one litter box.
However, it does use a strong fragrance so it may not be ideal for sensitive cats. If you must use it, you’d have to place the litter box in an area with good ventilation.

 

Pros:

  • powerful
  • ideal for multi-cat use
  • easy to use
  • covers large areas
  • affordable

Cons:

  • dust has been associated with the product
  • strong fragrance

2. Hartz Fresh Scent Deodorizing Litter Beads


Because this product is made of deodorizing beads, they do last longer than powder and granules, making it a more economical choice. Also, if you travel a lot, it the best option among other types of deodorizers. In Cool Mountain Wind fragrance, it offers a clean, fresh, and crisp subtle scent – masking odor and freshening up the air without being overpowering. It lacks dust, so it’s great for sensitive cats, and stays on top of cat litter, without sticking to traditional clay litter.

 

Pros:

  • long lasting
  • fresh, subtle scent
  • does not create clumps so no mess

Cons:

  • more expensive than powder or granule types
  • not ideal for multi-use cat litter boxes since it’s not as powerful as powder or granule-based deodorizers

3. NonScents Odor Control Cat Litter Deodorizer


As the name suggests, this product is completely free of added fragrance and added chemical additives. It’s granule based and injected with 99% zeolite, making it a powerful and effective cat litter deodorizer. What makes this product different than others in the market is that it’s 4 times more concentrated, which means it’s powerful enough to eliminate even the strongest of ammonia odors in cat litter boxes used by more than one cat. The granules are also designed to last longer, helping to extend the life of your cat litter.

 

Pros:

  • powerful
  • fragrance-free
  • free from chemical additives
  • developed by a group of PhD chemists
  • innovated by veterinarians
  • contains a patented odor-busting formula

Cons:

  • expensive
  • one pack of product may not be enough for long-term use

4. Citrus Magic Litter Box Odor Eliminator


With its Fresh Citrus fragrance, it masks and eliminates odor while also freshening the air in your home. Great for multiple cat use, it’s granule-based formula is powerful and effective, perfect for when one litter box is used by more than one cat. It does contain borax, however, but if you follow instructions carefully, it won’t cause a problem. Its other ingredients include vegetable-derived odorizers and pure citrus fragrance oils.

 

Pros:

  • powerful and effective for multiple cats
  • fresh scent
  • granule-based so it lasts longer and extends the life of cat litter

Cons:

  • contains Borax; a potentially dangerous chemical if moderately ingested by your cat

5. Arm and Hammer Cat Litter Deodorizer


With activated baking soda, this product is a simple yet effective deodorizer that comes in fine powder. More affordable than most products in the market, it’s a basic solution that’s also convenient to use. Eliminating odors instantly, it has a clean scent, keeping litter smelling fresh all day. However, because it’s made of fine powder, it does create dust and can mix with the litter, causing a mess.

 

Pros:

  • clean, fresh smell
  • instantly eliminates odor
  • affordable
  • easy to use
  • covers a large area

Cons:

  • creates dust so it’s not ideal for sensitive cats and cat owners
  • not completely scent-free

Conclusion: Why Use Cat Litter Deodorizer

Cat litter may not be enough to eliminate strong ammonia odor that accumulate and make your home unbearable. When scooping out litter, cleaning the litter box, and opening windows can’t do the job of eliminating odor, then cat litter deodorizers are a certain must.

Coming in many forms, costs, and uses, these deodorizers do make life easier for you. However, because certain ingredients can cause some harm and allergies, it’s best that you equip yourself with at least the basic knowledge to choose the best product for you and your cat. Making life simpler and more convenient for cat owners, cat litter deodorizers are simply a basic necessity to make life with your feline friend more enjoyable.

Related: Use cat litter deodorizer when your cat is spaying.

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