Is a scented or unscented litter best for cats? What is best for the cat is an unscented litter. In the litter stakes, an unscented cat litter wins hands down for the cat.
Cats have a keen sense of smell, so it should come as no surprise that cats are sensitive to smells, and that includes scented litter.
Our human perfumed choices of cat litter will be a problem for some cats.
This quote explains the situation clearly from the cat’s viewpoint.
Humans seem to forget that a cat’s sense of smell is infinitely more sensitive than our own. Add to this the instinctive nature of the cat to be clean and it is easy to see how a dirty litter box often spells disaster.
Think about how a wild cat would handle his bathroom duties. He would not be confined to a 1’ x 2’ bathroom. He would not choose to walk around in his own waste. He would simply choose another plot of land and that “plot of land” could be behind your sofa or in another area of your home.
Dr. Lisa A Pierson at Cat Info
Scented Or Unscented Litter?
The reason for buying scented litter is not too complicated, we want our homes to smell nice.
A cat litter box needs to be kept scrupulously clean
to avoid being smelly, and even then, it is unrealistic to expect that there may not sometimes be an odor.
However, when considering a perfumed litter sometimes the artificial smell of the litter combined with cat pee is not that flash, sort of a double whammy.
If you are already using a scented litter and you and your cat are happy with that, that’s perfectly fine.
Is Unscented Litter Really Odorless?
In regard to cat litter, “unscented” really means that there has been no added fragrance.
There will just about always be a slight cat litter odor depending on what the litter is made from.
The smell of the cat litter will be a natural smell if it has a base of pine, corn, walnut, clay, wood pulp, and so on.
Cat owners often comment on the fragrance of cat litter made with corn, as smelling like corn. This is a plus or a minus depending on your preferences.
It is only when an artificial fragrance is added to the litter, that then creates a fragrance, that is often called a fresh scent for us humans.
Cat Litter odor can be Controlled Without Artificial Ingredients
Which Unscented Litter Is The Best?
An unscented and clumping litter, ticks all the boxes, the added bonus being that clumping litters are easier to scoop.
Litter box refusal problems are common, and sometimes cats will avoid using the litter box altogether.
The last thing you want to do is discourage the cat from using the litter box. That brings another set of problems.
Just as a smelly, dirty litter box will put the cat off using the litter box, one that is overly scented may also deter the cat from using the litter box.
The easiest and best option is to use unscented cat litter.
We Like… Dr Elsey’s
- PREMIUM QUALITY: A combination of premium texture and granule size made with 100% bentonite clay for maximum clumping creates litter particles that are just the right size.
- LOW DUST: Ideal for cats and owners who suffer from allergies with a 99.9% dust-free and hypoallergenic litter formulation.
- HARD CLUMPING: Hard clumping medium grain clay helps prevent moisture from reaching the bottom of the tray and forms hard clumps that won’t break down, making it easier to scoop.
- SUPERIOR ODOR CONTROL: Formulated for single or multi-cat households with natural ingredients to keep your home smelling clean and fresh between litter box cleanings.
- LOW TRACKING: A unique formulation of medium grain clay helps keep litter in the box where it belongs.
Why do we Like Dr Elsey’s?
We like Dr Elsey’s because it is unscented and it is a clumping litter, there are two big ticks there.
It is an unscented cat litter, so there is no artificial fragrance. Plus, this cat litter clumps extremely well.
Litter that clumps well, makes it easier to pick up kitty poop, and the quicker the kitty poop is gone, the quicker we can return to the normal odor free state.
Now I know you can’t be standing over that litter box all day, ready to pounce, but when it is time for you to scoop, it will be easy peasy.
It doesn’t mean the smell has disappeared totally, but that it will be easy to do a quick clean up job.
It is a low dust litter, even when pouring it into the litter box, and as an added bonus it has very little tracking.
- PREMIUM QUALITY: A combination of premium texture and granule size made with 100% bentonite clay for…
- LOW DUST: Ideal for cats and owners who suffer from allergies with a 99.9% dust-free and hypoallergenic…
- HARD CLUMPING: Hard clumping medium grain clay helps prevent moisture from reaching the bottom of the…
- SUPERIOR ODOR CONTROL: Formulated for single or multi-cat households with natural ingredients to keep…
How To Keep The Litter Box Smelling OK Using Unscented Litter
- The solution to keeping the cat litter box smelling okay, is in large part due to regular scooping, so that any odors are minimized.
Regular scooping of the litter box, means scooping daily. For some people and for those with more than one cat, it may mean scooping the box more than once per day. - Change the cat litter frequently
. Your nose will be the judge of when the litter needs changing or else just set up a regular cleaning the litter box schedule. - Try putting some baking soda in the bottom of the litter box. Did you know that baking soda is also a method of controlling refrigerator odors – just leave an open box in the fridge.
Toss the baking soda when it has absorbed the fridge odors. I have done this many times and it absolutely works.
Baking soda will not affect your cat in any way. Sprinkle baking soda generously into the litter box when adding litter and give a mix around. - Give the litter tray a good clean when needed and remember to give it a very good rinse to get rid of any residual product and fragrance from the cleaning agent. Go for over the top rinsing as we know cats have a super sensitive sense of smell.
- Think about replacing the litter box. As with other plastic products about the home, eventually we have to trade them in (read as ditch) and buy new ones.
Plastic may last for pretty well ever, however a plastic litter box will eventually need to be replaced.
Plastic does absorb odors and stains and can be impossible to remove, particularly as the plastic gets older. - Consider using a liner for the litter, in the litter box. Using a litter liner makes it easier to empty the litter and do a quick clean up job when needed.
Some cat litter box liners have elastic around the edge. Liners without elastic can have a tendency to fall back into the box when the cat is scratching about.
More Choices For Unscented Cat Litter
- FRESH STEP UNSCENTED CAT LITTER: One 14 lb. box of Fresh Step Simply Unscented Clumping Litter, activated…
- PREVENTS BACTERIAL ODOR GROWTH ON LITTER: Unscented litter with Activated Charcoal Technology has the…
- RAPID LIQUID ABSORPTION: Fresh Step Clumping Cat Litter quickly absorbs liquids, helping to maintain a…
- FORMS TIGHT CLUMPS: Kitty litter clumping makes scooping easy and prevents crumbles from being left…
- Unscented clumping cat litter box odor control formula made without fragrances or dyes provides…
- Purina Tidy Cats clumping unscented cat litter for multi-cat households offers uncompromising odor…
- Low dust multi-cat litter formula now in a smaller, easy-pour bag
- Unscented clumping natural clay litter forms strong, tight clumps for easy scooping and is part of the…
- PREMIUM QUALITY: A combination of premium texture and granule size made with 100% bentonite clay for…
- LOW DUST: Ideal for cats and owners who suffer from allergies with a 99.9% dust-free and hypoallergenic…
- HARD CLUMPING: Hard clumping medium grain clay helps prevent moisture from reaching the bottom of the…
- SUPERIOR ODOR CONTROL: Formulated for single or multi-cat households with natural ingredients to keep…
- Unscented cat litter provides long-lasting litter box odor control.
- Made of natural clay that is free of fragrances and dyes
- Activated charcoal and clay provide effective clumping cat litter odor control.
- Strong, tight forming clumps ensure cat litter box easy cleaning
- LONG-LASTING ODOR CONTROL. ARM & HAMMER Ultra Last Unscented Clumping Cat Litter includes Baking Soda…
- ONLINE EXCLUSIVE! Fill your cat litter box with unscented, long-lasting odor control using ARM & HAMMER…
- UNSCENTED FOR A REFRESHING EXPERIENCE. This unscented cat litter provides long-lasting freshness and…
- PET-FRIENDLY WITH BAKING SODA Odor control plus Baking Soda freshness is the secret behind ARM & HAMMER…
- Unscented formula targets and locks away litter box odors with no artificial fragrances
- Features tidylock technology with activated charcoal to fight odors for a clean-smelling home
- Forms strong, tight clumps so it’s easy to clean to keep the litter fresh for your kitty
- Made with zero fragrances or dyes so it’s great for sensitive kitties or pet parents
- FRESH STEP CLUMPING CAT LITTER: Two 18.5-lb. boxes of Fresh Step Advanced Simply Unscented Clumping…
- 15-DAY ODOR CONTROL: Naturally strong clay enhanced with odor-fighting power, Ammonia Block Technology…
- FORMS TIGHT CLUMPS: Tight kitty litter clumping around cat urine and waste makes scooping easy and helps…
- NO ADDED DYES OR FRAGRANCES: Unscented cat clumping litter uses clay, carbon and minerals to help stop…
- KEEPS PAWS & HOME CLEAN: Specifically designed with unique low-tracking granules so your home and your…
- POWER TO THE MAX: Our patented Max Power dual-clay formula delivers 10 days of powerful odor control and…
- 25% LIGHTER: Take a load off; Our flagship Max Power litter is twenty five percent lighter, making it…
- LITTER FOR GOOD: For every Cat’s Pride jug purchased, one pound of cat litter is donated to animal…
- FRESH STEP CLUMPING CAT LITTER: One 18.5-lb. box of Fresh Step Advanced Simply Unscented Clumping Litter…
- 15-DAY ODOR CONTROL: Naturally strong clay enhanced with odor-fighting power, Ammonia Block Technology…
- FORMS TIGHT CLUMPS: Tight kitty litter clumping around cat urine and waste makes scooping easy and helps…
- NO ADDED DYES OR FRAGRANCES: Unscented cat clumping litter uses clay, carbon and minerals to help stop…
- CLUMPING CAT LITTER: Two 16-lb. boxes of Fresh Step Advanced Outstretch Long Lasting Unscented Clumping…
- REQUIRES LESS CHANGING: Fresh Step clumping cat litter absorbs 50% more liquid and odor, so the litter…
- 15-DAY ODOR CONTROL: Fragrance-free Fresh Step cat litter with activated charcoal and Ammonia Block…
- FORMS TIGHTER CLUMPS: Innovative ultra-absorbent microgranule technology forms smaller, tighter clumps…
BTW Birthday coming up soon!
If You Don’t Like Your Cat Litter, Don’t Ditch It. Look at All Of these Other uses For cat Litter.
Last update on 2026-01-28 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
