litter box deodorizer: additives, sprays and devices explained

Two groups of deodorizers

Ask one question first: does the product go in the litter, or around the box? That answer sorts most of what you will see on a shelf. Additives get mixed into litter, and the cat litter deodorizer guide covers how to choose one. Sprays, concentrates and devices stay outside it.

Each group needs different checks. For an additive, read the directions for amount and the fragrance wording. For anything used around the box, read what the maker says it is for and what it contains.

Additives that go in the litter

Additives come in forms such as powder and granules. Arm & Hammer's powder lists sodium bicarbonate and fragrance in its disclosure. Purrify is activated carbon granules in bags, and we suggest the 120g bag for most homes.

Because an additive is mixed into the litter, it changes what your cat steps in. Cornell Feline Health Center, in a page updated January 2015, says most cats prefer unscented, finer-textured litter. That is general guidance, so watch your own cat when you try anything new. If your cat avoids the box after a change, undo it.

Sprays and devices around the box

Angry Orange sells a Pet Odor Eliminator Concentrate with a citrus scent. Its page lists cold-pressed orange peel oil, plant-derived surfactants, filtered water, sodium benzoate and citric acid. It is a concentrate meant for dilution, not a litter additive, so do not pour it into a box your cat is using.

For any device, ask the maker what it does, what upkeep it needs and what its directions say about cats. For a concentrate, follow the maker's own dilution directions exactly.

Choosing for your situation

Use decision questions, not brand loyalty. Do you want scent in the room at all? Would a change in the litter itself bother your cat? Does your box maker allow additives?

Your box may add a rule. Whisker's Litter-Robot 4 guide calls for clumping litter and says not to use non-clumping, loose-clumping, newspaper-based or wood-based pellet litter. Its manual does allow beads or crystals small enough to pass through the screen. That applies to that model only, so read your own box's guide first. Other automatic boxes may differ. For that model's add-in questions, see the litter box deodorizer for Litter-Robot guide.

1. Say where the smell sits: in the litter, or around the box.
2. Pick the group that matches, then read that product's own page.
3. Watch how your cat treats the box for a few days after any change.
4. Ask the maker what the product contains if the page lists no ingredients.