After a long day at work, the last thing you want is to walk into your apartment and be hit with unpleasant litter tray smells.
Sound familiar?
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Constant odour lingering in a small space
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Litter that’s messy and difficult to clean
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Heavy bags that are a hassle to carry upstairs
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Strong artificial fragrances that bother both you and your cat
Apartment and townhouse living comes with its own challenges — and choosing the right cat litter makes a bigger difference than you might think.
So, how do you choose the best cat litter for apartment living?
1. Effective Odour Control (Without Overpowering Scents)
In smaller homes, odour control isn’t optional — it’s essential.
Cat urine smell builds up much faster in apartments, especially if ventilation is limited. Many litters on the market attempt to solve this by adding strong perfumes, but this often creates the opposite effect.
Instead of masking odour, look for litter that:
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Neutralises smells at the source
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Breaks down odour-causing compounds
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Stays effective between scoops
Natural, plant-based and enzyme-activated litters are especially effective because they control odour without relying on artificial fragrance — making your home smell cleaner, not just “covered up”.
2. Tidy, Clean & Easy to Maintain
One of the biggest inconveniences for apartment cat owners is waste disposal.
Most traditional litters are non-flushable, meaning:
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Heavy bags of used litter
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Frequent trips downstairs to dispose of waste
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More mess and more effort
In contrast, lightweight litter that clumps well and is easy to scoop can significantly reduce:
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Cleaning time
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Waste volume
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Physical effort — especially in walk-up apartments
The easier it is to clean, the more likely you’ll maintain the tray properly — which directly improves odour control.
A Simple Tip for Carpet Odours
If your cat has had an accident on the carpet, baking soda can help neutralise lingering smells.
How to use it:
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Sprinkle baking soda generously over the affected area
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Leave it for a few hours or overnight
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Vacuum thoroughly
It’s simple, effective, and safe to repeat when needed.
3. Avoid Strong Artificial Fragrances
Cats have a far more sensitive sense of smell than humans.
Litters with strong scents may seem appealing to us, but many cats find them overwhelming or unpleasant. Worse still, artificial fragrance often mixes with urine odour and creates an even stronger smell in confined spaces like apartments.
Scented litter can:
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Irritate your cat’s respiratory system
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Linger on fur and paws
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Discourage litter tray use
For most cats, unscented litter with natural deodorising properties is the most comfortable and reliable option — especially for indoor living.
4. Value for Money (Look Beyond the Bag Size)
It’s easy to assume that bigger bags mean better value — but that’s not always true.
Many popular litters:
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Need frequent full tray changes
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Lose odour control quickly
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End up costing more per day than expected
For example:
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Some paper litters cost over $20 and last just over a week
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Crystal litters may cost $22 per bag but still require regular replacement
When you consider daily cost, performance, and convenience, a high-quality litter that lasts longer and requires less replacement often offers better value overall.
A Better Fit for Apartment Living
For apartment and townhouse homes, the ideal litter is:
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Low dust
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Naturally deodorising
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Gentle on paws
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Easy to clean and maintain
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Lightweight and practical
That’s why many Aussie apartment cat owners are choosing plant-based, tofu-style litter designed specifically for indoor living.
At Tofu Cat Litter Australia, our focus is simple:
make litter that works for cats — and for modern homes.