Best Litter Boxes for Odor Control That Will Keep Your Home Smelling Fresh

Quite possibly the only drawback to cat ownership is the litter box. For that reason, many cat owners search far and wide to find the best litter box for odor control. With so many litter boxes to choose from, it can seem like an impossible task.

The best way to control litter box odor is to keep the litter box clean. That makes the best litter box one that’s easy to clean so you can keep those foul odors at bay.

Best Litter Boxes for Odor ControlWe’ve gathered some of the best automatic litter boxes that do most of the work for you and included some basic litter boxes that have some added features to help with litter box odors. Hopefully, you’ll be able to find the perfect litter box from you on our list.

Keep reading to find out more about the best litter boxes for odor control.

Table of Contents

Why You Won’t Find Covered Litter Boxes on this List

Unfortunately for cats everywhere, many cat owners buy into the belief that a covered litter box will reduce odors. This is true, but only for the pet owner. Covered litter boxes often trap the odors inside, which makes for a bad bathroom time for your cat.

For that reason, you won’t find many covered litter boxes on our list of the best litter boxes for odor control. Those that are on here have other features that help with odor control, and at least have openings to allow for some airflow.

Remember that your cat has a far better sense of smell than you do, so what you smell on the outside of a covered box is a tiny fragment of what they smell on the inside of a dirty litter box. That’s why when we talk about odor control, our focus is on keeping it clean!

Best Automatic Litter Boxes for Odor Control

The first litter boxes we’re going to look at are automatic or self-cleaning litter boxes. These make it incredibly easy to clean the litter box since you either don’t have to do anything, or the work is nominal. While there are plenty of these to choose from, these are our top picks.

PetSafe ScoopFree Original Self-Cleaning Cat Litter Box

For unbeatable odor control, there’s this self-cleaning litter box. It has a rake system that removes clumps for you, but the real secret is in the litter itself. It uses a special crystal-based litter that traps odors and quickly dehydrates solids to reduce foul smells.

PetSafe ScoopFree Pros:

  • Automatic raking action
  • Hidden waste collection bin traps odors
  • Disposable litter tray means no dumping

PetSafe ScoopFree Cons:

  • Expensive to replace litter trays
  • Small litter area not ideal for large cats

Overall, the PetSafe ScoopFree Original Self-Cleaning Cat Litter Box is a great option for ultimate litter box odor control.

PetSafe Simply Clean Automatic Litter Box System

This automatic litter box cleaning system uses a conveyer belt and a rotating litter box to remove waste constantly. The litter is then dumped into a covered container so it keeps bad odors trapped until you’re ready to toss all the waste.

PetSafe Simply Clean Pros:

  • Nearly silent so cats aren’t scared by cleaning sounds
  • Constant cleaning ensures reduced odors
  • Can be used with any clumping cat litter

PetSafe Simply Clean Cons:

  • Motor burns itself out running constantly (can be fixed by adding a timer)
  • Only suited for cats up to 15 pounds

If you want a litter box that keeps itself clean, the PetSafe Simply Clean Automatic Litter Box System could be the best one for you.

CatGenie Self-Washing Cat Box

This is the ultimate automatic litter box. Once you set it up, you don’t have to do anything for it ever again! It sends all waste right down the toilet drain. Plus, it has a self-washing function to take care of the washable granules so you don’t even have to replace the litter.

CatGenie Pros:

  • Don’t have to deal with waste at all
  • Variable settings to determine how often it gets washed
  • Save money on cat litter

CatGenie Cons:

  • Expensive initial investment
  • Can be difficult to set up

The CatGenie Self-Washing Cat Box is certainly one to look at if you hate cleaning out and smelling the litter box since it does everything for you!

Omega Paw Self-Cleaning Litter Box

This litter box requires a bit more work, but also less electricity. To clean this litter box, all you have to do is roll it all the way to one side and then back again. Then, pull out the clumps that have been sifted and add some clean litter if needed.

Omega Paw Pros:

  • Fast, scoop-free cleaning
  • Large size great for big cats and multiple-cat households
  • No ongoing electricity costs

Omega Paw Cons:

  • Some cats may not like covered design
  • Not truly automatic

If you’re looking for a scoop-free and odor-free litter box, the Omega Paw Self-Cleaning Litter Box may be the right one for you.

Le You Pet Semi-Automatic Quick Cleaning Cat Litter Box

This is another litter box that requires a bit of work, but is far easier than scooping. This litter box uses a separation grid to catch clumps in a convenient waste tray and then puts the clean litter right back to where the cat can reach it.

Le You Pet Pros:

  • Makes cleaning fast and easy
  • Works for cats up to 18 pounds
  • Made with non-toxic, moisture-resistant plastic

Le You Pet Cons:

  • Small cats, kittens, and older cats may find it difficult to get into
  • Some reviewers reported problems with it falling apart

For a unique litter box that can save you time and keep your house smelling better than ever, the Le You Pet Semi-Automatic Quick Cleaning Cat Litter Box is a great option.

Find more models in our list of Top 12 Self-Cleaning Litter Boxes.

Best Non-Automatic Litter Boxes for Odor Control

Next on our list are some regular, non-automatic litter boxes that will help you keep your litter box odors under control.

As you’ll see, these have one main thing in common that has earned them a place on our list of best litter boxes for odor control. And that is an antimicrobial coating. One of the main causes of litter box odor is bacteria, so these litter boxes work to reduce that.

Bacteria tend to gather in the microscopic scratches on the surface of the litter pan. These are formed by your cat’s claws or the scoop. They can also be difficult to remove and may damage the plastic over time in addition to causing litter box odor problems.

Arm & Hammer Sifting Litter Pan

To clean the litter with this three-part system, lift and shake the sifting tray from the first pan to remove clumps. Dump the clumps, then place the sifting tray in the clean pan and dump the clean litter from the first pan into the second one.

Arm & Hammer Sifting Litter Pan Pros:

  • Fast no-scoop system
  • Can use any clumping litter
  • Antimicrobial coating for odor control

Arm & Hammer Sifting Litter Pan Cons:

  • Requires getting close to dirty litter
  • Small size not ideal for multiple-cat households

The Arm & Hammer Sifting Litter Pan is an inexpensive option for those who want to quickly remove all clumps and save as much clean litter as possible.

Petmate Litter Pan

It doesn’t get much more basic than this litter pan, but sometimes that’s all you really need. You can get a large enough size to accommodate any breed of cat, and it’s open design encourages cats to use it since they like the comfort of being out in the open.

Petmate Litter Pan Pros:

  • Big enough for large breed cats and multiple-cat households
  • Easy-to-grab rim makes dumping easy
  • Antimicrobial coating for odor control

Petmate Litter Pan Cons:

  • Requires scooping to keep clean
  • Side height may not be ideal for kittens or older cats

If you’re looking for an inexpensive option for cat litter odor control, the Petmate Litter Pan is certainly one to consider.

Top Entry Litter Pan

This is the only other covered litter pan on our list, but it’s the litter-trapping aspect that we love about it. When cats jump out and onto the top, the lid catches stray litter and allows it to fall back inside which helps reduce odor from tracked cat litter.

Top Entry Litter Pan Pros:

  • High sides keep messes inside
  • The lid prevents unwanted guests, such as dogs, from getting into the litter
  • Antimicrobial coating for odor control

Top Entry Litter PanCons:

  • Can’t be used by most kittens and older cats
  • The lid can trap odors inside if not cleaned out frequently enough

As long as you’re willing to scoop it often, this Top Entry Litter Pan can help you and your cats enjoy odor-free living arrangements.

KittyTwister DUO Cat Litter System

As far as we know, no other litter box provides the versatility of this one. You can use it as a covered litter box if your cat prefers that, or you can split it and have two litter boxes. Either way, the round design helps prevent waste from becoming trapped in corners.

KittyTwister DUO Pros:

  • Deep sides help keep messes contained
  • Low entry point makes it easy for cats to enter and exit
  • Antimicrobial coating for odor control

KittyTwister DUO Cons:

  • Urine can collect in between stacked system if your cat sprays the sides
  • Cats may scatter litter out the low opening

If you have a neat cat who doesn’t spray, the KittyTwister DUO Cat Litter System could help you reduce cat box odors in your home.

Arm & Hammer Cat Pan

This is another basic cat litter box that will help with odor control. It has a sloped design so that the front entry area is lower and the back and sides are higher to contain messes. Like the others on this part of the list, it has a special coating to keep odor-causing bacteria at bay.

Arm & Hammer Cat Pan Pros:

  • Made to last with durable plastic
  • Low entry great for older cats and younger kittens
  • Antimicrobial coating for odor control

Arm & Hammer Cat Pan Cons:

  • Small size ideal only for small cats or kittens
  • Low sides can lead to scattered litter

The Arm & Hammer Cat Pan is perfect for older cats and small kittens but does need to be cleaned out frequently for ultimate odor control.

Need More Ideas to Reduce Litter Box Odors?

While your first step in reducing the smell your cat produces should be getting one of these best litter boxes for odor control, there are some other things you can do.

Here are some quick tips:

  • Get multiple boxes
  • Switch litters
  • Use baking soda

For more details on these and more, check out our post on litter box smell. It’s packed with everything you need to know about reducing litter box odor so you can enjoy having a cat even more!