Best litter for eliminating odour/general tips

[tactum]

Just got our first rescue cat at the weekend. She's doing great and is trained so everything is going in the litter tray - phew!! (she's not allowed out yet)

However, logistically we have to have the litter tray in quite an open area unfortunately. If I smell anything I am scooping it out n bagging it, but am finding the litter we're using (bog standard pets and home) and the mess she's making quite smelly!

What's the best litter to use to try and eliminate odour as far as possible? Please give me your recommendations!

Also, could you share any tips for letting her outside? The rescue lady said not to do so until she is confident within the house (which she isn't yet, but boy is she cute!), so it won't be just yet. But we have a large garden which is frequented by a number of neighbours cats and I'm a bit worried about them scaring her, and generally how do you get her to go out and come back in again!
Thanks

[Wolfiefan]

How old is she? Is she neutered and vaccinated? Had her microchipped?
Lidded litter trays are better. Deep litter bed means they can bury any mess. We use clumping litter.
I would keep them in for several weeks. Call them when you feed them and they should learn to come to their names or a whistle. Let them out in the morning. Potter round with them and treat them in the garden. Get them in before it gets dark.
Ideally cats should be in at night. I'm afraid you're stuck with the litter tray!

[tactum]

She's 2, neutered and vaccinated. Not microchipped - haven't really thought about that yet.

She's had a tough start but is soooo gentle when she's on your knee - she's still at the stage where her default position is under the dining table, but if you do get her out and stroke her she purrs and purrs. She wants to be friendly but just can't quite initiate it. She has fallen asleep on all of us in front of the tv though so she can relax and I'm seeing a bit more confidence from her. Work in progress...

Will be a good few weeks till she goes out I think. Thanks for tips on getting her out - I had just been leaving dried food out for her all the time (she doesn't like wet food apparently) - do you think I should be removing it so she has definite feed times morning and evening?

Thanks for your help

[KnockMeDown]

I find the Catsan litter very good - it absorbs all the moisture from any solids, making them much easier to scoop out. And definitely go for a lidded tray - this not only reduces smells but also mess from digging etc.

Are you aware of the rule on MN - you can't ask advice about cats without posting cute pics

[BorpBorpBorp]

I think the food makes more of a difference to the smell than the litter. Switching from dry to grain-free wet (Butchers Classic) made the difference for the BorpCats. If you do want to changer her food, you could try mixing dry in with wet or sprinkling dry on top of wet. Leave the food out imo, cats like to graze and don't tend to overeat.

[InformalRoman]

I like the Litter Purrfect clumping cat litter from Costco - only downside is that it's a little dusty. And a covered litter tray with a high lip means it doesn't get spread around everywhere.

[RubbishMantra]

I've recently started to use Golden Grey. It's clumping, but also has silica crystals to absorb odour.

A good diet without any grains helps with stinky poos.

[TheCakes]

I can't remember the name of the one we use now but its from Pets at Home and it's green. It's a clumping one with silica - a bit more expensive but lasts ages as it doesn't smell.