Litter box dust odor is one of the biggest issues when living with cats. The smell of the litter box may not bother you, but it will surely bother friends and family that visit the house. Luckily, there are some simple steps that can be taken to eliminate the smell of litter box odor in your home. One of the best ways to eliminate this smell is to find the best air purifier for cat odor.
Below you will find our picks for the best air purifiers for litter box odor as well as some great educational content on choosing the right purifier as well as reducing the smell of litter box odor in your home.
The Best Air Purifiers for Cat Litter Box Comparison
Best for Litter Box Odor
Best for Litter Box Dust
Best for Litter Box Bacteria
Best Air Purifier for Cat Litter Box Reviews
Silver Onyx Air Purifier for Litter Box Smells
Summary:
The first entry on our list is a small but powerful device that can purify rooms up to 500 square feet, making it a suitable choice for those with multiple pets. The SilverOnyx offers many an array of air purification benefits including odor reduction, allergy control, and bacteria elimination. The diverse array of air cleaning tactics makes it a viable option for people with cats and litter box odor issues.
Features:
It features a true HEPA and activated carbon filter and can trap debris 0.3 microns small. This includes pet allergens such as dander and pet hair, as well as odors. The Silver Onyx also has a UV sanitizer to eliminate germs in the air too. 
All of this is packed in an appliance that is only 10.5 x 10.5 x 16.5 inches and only 5.1 pounds. Additionally, the air purifier has a sleek matte black and cylindrical design with 360-degree filter slots at the top of the machine. That means you can easily set it on the floor, desk, or countertop and it looks great in all of those locations.
The air purifier uses a 5-stage cleaning system. The pre-filter takes care of pet hair and larger pollutants, while the HEPA H13 activated carbon filter removes finer particles and odors from the air. The UV light and ION generator round out the cleaning process by taking care of any leftover contaminants.
With its five-speed setting and an automatic mode, you have plenty of options when it comes to air purification. The Auto mode will analyze the quality of air and adjust accordingly, this helps with keeping things as efficient as possible. Running at full speed, the Silver Onyx consumes only 24 watts of power, that’s an average of 9$ per year when run 8 hours per day.
A built-in indicator alert lets you know when it is time to change the filter, which lasts about 6 months with regular use. Ideal for rooms up to 500 sq. ft., this air purifier is small in size but not in results. With a 4.6 rating on BreatheQuality.com, this is one of the favorites among reviewers for its ability to clean the air of a room despite its small size.
Pros:
- It has a 5-speed fan
- Sleek, modern design
- Good for trapping pet dander and hair
- Small size makes it good for any space
- Air quality indicator
Cons:
- Gets quite loud at higher fan settings
- Inexpensive
Trial Results:
Despite its small size, this air purifier is great at providing clean, odorless air. With the fan setting on low, it is quiet and efficient, with a noticeable difference in odor within an hour. We did notice that the SilverOnyx’s noise level is significantly higher on the highest setting. The noise level is quite distracting and definitely something to consider before purchasing. If you plan to run this purifier on the highest speed then be ready to deal with the noise.
Great Performance: Coway AP Air Purifier for Litter Box Smells
Summary:
Designed with a four-stage filtration system that has been certified by the British Allergy Foundation, the Coway AP air purifier removes up to 99.97% of particles from the air in your home, including odors and dust from that pesky litter box.
Features:
The first step is the washable pre-filter which captures large particles, including hair, fur, and dust. Next, an odor filter reduces scents and gases, harmful VOCs, pet odor, food smells, and cigarette smoke. Once past that line of defense, the true HEPA filter traps allergens, fine dust, mold, and microbes. The final stage is what sets this air purifier apart from the others on our list: the integrated Vital Ion system. This system neutralizes the air with negative ions and reduces particles.
Covering up to 361 sq. ft, the Coway AP-1512HH is recommended for people with asthma and allergies, pets, and homes with mildew and mold issues. The AP-1512HH continuously monitors indoor pollution and when placed in Auto Mode, will switch between low, medium, and high fan settings for the best energy efficiency. When no indoor air pollution is detected for 30 minutes, this unit will stop to save energy and then start up again when pollution is detected.
Because of its Auto-mode, this is a great air purifier to use for litter box odors. When the cat does its business, it will kick into high gear to quickly rid your home of the smells. Once that is done, it will lower the fan setting to a barely audible level, quietly scrubbing the air of odors and contaminants.
This unit has a timer feature that you can program to run at 1, 4, and 8-hour intervals, before automatically shutting off. Using only 77watts of power, this is an energy-efficient air purifier and has a noise level that ranges from 24.4 dB to 53.8 dB, making it great for overnight use when run on the low setting.
The filter replacement indicator alert lets you know when it is time to change the filter, assuring that the air you breathe is always clean.
Pros:
- Purification coverage for rooms up to 360 sq. ft.
- Air quality monitoring system provides real-time feedback and alerts
- While in Auto Mode, the fan will adjust run speed to match the air quality
- Quiet at night when using the Low fan speed
Cons:
- Loud at high speeds
- Larger than the other air purifiers on our list
- Only blows air upwards
Trial Results:
Great at removing particles, after a few hours of using the dust we could see in the air was completely gone. Like the other air purifiers on our list, it also eliminated odors within a few hours and improved the air quality of the room. It was not as efficient at removing odors as we would have liked, most likely due to the thin activated carbon filter. When used on the Low setting, the Coway AP-1512HH was very quiet and could easily be used overnight, though on the High speed it was much louder than any of the other air purifiers we tested. The Coway AP is 9.6 x 16.8 x 18.3 inches and 12.5 pounds. Because the Coway AP weighs significantly more than the SilverOnyx, we give it a poor rating for mobility. It’s not easy to move this purifier around your home. Additionally, the glossy design is not as appealing as the other purifiers on our list.
Great Price: PureZone 3-in-1 Air Purifier for Litter Box Smells
Summary:
The Pure Zone 3-in-1 offers many of the bells and whistles that other purifiers offer, but at a more affordable price. Additionally, this air purifier has a highly rated UV-C light sanitation system that helps reduce bacteria released from litter boxes.
Features:
This device uses an activated carbon filter in tandem with a HEPA filter to eliminate cat odors. It also includes a UV-C light sanitizer which will zap and kill airborne organisms or bacteria.
Rated to clean the air quickly and efficiently in rooms up to 200 square feet, this works well for the area around your litter box. It has 3 fan settings to switch between and a night setting, which turns off the lights and is very quiet. Weighing in at just under 8 pounds, this unit is easily maneuverable and has a built-in handle.
The display panel is intuitive and uses touch-sensitive buttons which light up when not in -night mode. With a few presses, you can set the timer, change the fan speed, and switch between modes. The filter is easy to get to for replacing, and it will last about 6 months at a time.
Pros:
- Helps with allergies as well as odors
- Very quiet, even on higher fan settings
- Has a night-mode
- Has a built-in timer for 2, 4, and 8-hour intervals
Cons:
- Night-mode automatically sets fan speed on low and can not be changed
Trial Results:
As a mode affordable air purifying option, while still having a true HEPA filter, the PureZone is a good choice. Only 10.8 x 6.9 x 12.1 inches and 6 pounds, this air purifier is lightweight and easy to move around your home. It effectively reduced odor within 60 minutes as well as captured bacteria particles in the air. One of the main issues with this purifier is its lack of power. The air purifier will not effectively clean the air in rooms larger than 200 square feet. However, this was not an issue for us because our cat litter box is located in a small laundry room.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What type of Air Purifier is best for eliminating Cat Odors?
When purchasing an air purifier to reduce cat odor in your home, it is important to make sure that the purifier features an activated carbon filter. Activated carbon is a technology that uses extreme levels of surface area to absorb gasses, toxins, and odors. They will effectively eliminate smells from cat urine, feces, dander, and hair.
Another effective technology to look out for is HEPA (highly efficient particulate air) filters. These are advanced filters that are designed to capture extremely fine particles from the air. An air purifier with a True HEPA filter will also help eliminate cat odor from cat dander and hair. This type of air filter is commonly found in hospitals, as it has a high-performance rating when it comes to air filtration.
Cat dander is the dead skin that falls from a cat’s fur. Once shed, this skin smells and is one of the most significant causes of odor in your home. Because cat dander is so small, it is often not noticed by cat owners. The dander floats through the air in your home and spreads the smell of the cat from one location to another.
Additionally, this dander is what causes many people to suffer from cat allergies. If you have people to your house that suffers from cat allergies, then you should also look for an air purifier with a True HEPA filter. A true HEPA filter will not only capture the pet dander that causes odor but will also remove 99.97% of all allergens released by cats.
Another great way to eliminate cat odor is to feed cats a high-quality diet with lots of protein. The protein will make the cat’s skin healthier and keep the dryness to a minimum. To find good cat food with high protein levels, visit Thepetnow. This site is great for finding everything you need for your cat.
What are the best ways to reduce cat smells from the litter box dust?
- The First step to eliminating litter box odor is to consistently change the litter. This may seem obvious, but many people will neglect to change the litter on a regular basis because they think that simply cleaning the litter box will be sufficient. Cat litter should be changed at least once a week, if not more, depending on how many cats you have.
- The second step for eliminating litter box odor is to keep the litter box in a location that offers good ventilation. If the litter box is located in an area that is confined, then the odor will become stagnant and will eventually absorb into the walls and furniture in your home.
- Another effective method for eliminating cat litter box odor is to use an air purifier. An air purifier has the ability to effectively eliminate many kinds of odors while also cleaning the air in your home of any dust, allergens, mold, or smoke.
There are many ways to eliminate cat odor in your home, but in order to maintain an odorless home, it is important to use an air purifier for cat odor. We are confident that you will be pleased after using one of the best air purifiers for cat odor in your home.
We also suggest checking out the best air fresheners for cat urine and litter box odor. Using an air purifier for cat odor in tandem with an air freshener will provide great results. The air purifier will eliminate the VOCs that produce odor while the ait freshener will provide a great smell to the room.
Conclusion
Do you want to know how to keep litter box odor from smelling up the house? Well, finding the right air purifier for cat odor will reduce cat smells and litter box odor in your home. Living with cat odor from the dust in a litter box can be annoying. Luckily, buying one of these air purifiers can solve your problems. Using a litter box air purifier will eliminate cat odor. Have a lot of pet hair in your home? Learn what is the best air purifier for pet hair.
Frank is the chief editor and director at Specialty Air, where he oversees testing, research, and editing for all air quality-related articles. Frank is an expert in the air quality space with extensive experience testing, researching, and reviewing air purifiers, air conditioners, air filters, air fresheners, fans, and more. He also has over 4 years of experience with issues surrounding mold remediation, radon mitigation, moisture management, air duct systems, HVAC, and insulation.