Best Cat Litter: Choose Right for Your Feline Friend in 2024

Choosing the best litter for your cat is crucial for keeping your home clean, odor-free, and your furry friends happy. With so many options available, it can be overwhelming to decide which litter is best. What matters most to you? Effective odor control? Environmentally friendly? Dust? Price? Do you have an automatic litter box? Some require a certain type of litter or something 100% proprietary. 

What you consider most important might change over the lifespan of your cat. It might matter what situation you find yourself in. For example, I use one type of litter at home, another when we’re traveling, and yet another in the show hall.

This post may contain affiliate links. Life and Cats is a Chewy affiliate and a member of the Amazon Associates program and as such we earn a small commission when you shop through our our links and banners. It doesn’t change the amount you pay. You can read our full disclosure policy here.

Factors To Consider:

When choosing the best litter for your cat, consider the following factors:

Odor Control

Effective odor control is crucial for keeping your home fresh and comfortable. This is probably the most important factor that every cat guardian considers when choosing a cat litter for their felines. Personally, I think the quality of a cat’s diet, and a human’s scooping preferences, have more to do with litter box odor than the litter itself. However, some definitely stink more than others. Stay away from scented products that mask the odor and offend Kitty’s sensitive nose. Instead, look for litters with odor-neutralizing ingredients like baking soda or activated charcoal.

Dust Levels

Some litters can produce more dust than others, which can be problematic for cats and guardians with respiratory issues. Consider low-dust options, especially if you or your cat has allergies or asthma. Dusty litter also challenges your housekeeping. There will be dust on your furniture and around your home.

Tracking

No one likes litter being tracked throughout the house. Look for low-tracking litters or use litter mats to minimize this issue. Clumping litter can get stuck to Kitty’s paws and tracked everywhere. 

Eco-Friendliness

If you’re environmentally conscious, opt for biodegradable litters made from natural materials like wood, corn, tofu, or paper. Generally, these litters are made from scrap materials or by-products of another process. Natural litters will biodegrade (if you don’t throw them out wrapped in plastic bags.) Depending on your water/sewer/septic systems, it might be possible to flush your litter. 

Price

You can buy litter in all price ranges. The cheapest is probably a non-clumping clay or a non-clumping pellet version of the paper- or plant-based litters. The more proprietary a product, the more expensive it is. 

Cat Preferences

Every cat has their own preferences when it comes to litter. Observe your cat’s behavior and choose a litter they seem to like using. Most cat experts, vets and behaviorists recommend an unscented, small grain, clumping, clay litter. 

The general theory is that cats prefer it as it is similar to what they would use in the wild. However, bentonite clay is not the most environmentally friendly product. It is strip mined, heavy, and does not biodegrade. 

There are options available with similar textures that are kinder to the planet. But if your kitty has developed a litter box problem, start by trying an unscented, clumping, clay litter.

Related Post: Environmentally Friendly Life with Cats

Clumping Clay Litters

I struggle with recommending a clay litter. In my experience, they all stink after a few days even with daily scooping. They aren’t environmentally friendly. Any “Lightweight” version of clay litter, whatever the brand, is going to be dusty, fly away, and track like crazy. 

The differences you are going to notice between the premium brands, the generic stuff you can get at Walmart or the grocery store, or the bulk bins at Petco is the size of the pieces, the general dustiness or dirtiness of the litter and the amount of tracking. 

I don’t like clumping clay for training kittens because, like little kids, they want to put everything in their mouths. Clumping clay turns to cement when it gets wet, including in your kitten’s stomach.

If you want to use clumping clay, I would pick from the following options:

Dr. Elsey’s Ultra Precious Cat/Cat Attract 

Dr. Elsey’s Ultra Precious Cat is a hard-clumping litter made from medium-grain clay. It’s known for its odor control and clumping ability, making it an excellent choice for multi-cat households. It is not too dusty and doesn’t track too much. The Cat Attract version includes an herbal additive that attracts cats that are litter box avoidant or struggling with litter box training. 

Fresh Step Advanced Simply Unscented Clumping Clay Cat Litter

Fresh Step Advanced Clumping clay litter is tight clumping, low dust, unscented, and fairly affordable. It has the texture that cats prefer. It adds activated charcoal and an antimicrobial coating for odor control. It can be harder to find than other formulations of clay litter but is my top pick for a mass market brand. The Clean Paws version of this has larger particles so it tracks less.

Arm and Hammer Clump and Seal Multi-Cat

Arm and Hammer is one of the two heavy-hitters in the cat litter market. They have many options to choose from which can be confusing when you’re standing in the cat aisle at the supermarket. It’s also difficult to get all the features you want in one box. They all include the baking soda additive to reduce odors. After that you have to choose the price point and features you want most.

Clump & Seal is a clay-based clumping litter infused with baking soda for superior odor control. I used the multi-cat formula. It forms tight clumps, making scooping easier, and is designed to seal in odors and moisture effectively. But I couldn’t really tell the difference between the regular Multi-Cat litter and the Clump & Seal. 

The Slide Clump and Seal is supposed to have all the features of the regular but not stick to the box like cement. It works and it was nice not to have to scrape the box. But I don’t know that it is enough of an advantage to pay extra for that feature. This was my travel litter of choice for awhile because it made the box easy to clean.

Tidy Cats

The other big hitter in the cat litter market is Purina’s Tidy Cats line. Like Arm & Hammer, Tidy Cats comes in a multitude of formulations. The clumping formulations are the most popular. All are powered by activated charcoal. Still there are many to choose from. I only want unscented so today I would choose the Free & Clear. Tidy Cat is probably the least dusty of the cat litters that I have used.

I used the Tidy Cat 24/7 Performance in the big yellow pail for years. The pails make great pet beds and storage solutions after the fact. I appreciate that you can now buy refills for the pails in a paper bag to save on plastic rubbish for the planet. My cats were very accepting of the Tidy Cat litter. It is a decent, more budget-price, litter option that still offers effective odor control.

Non-Clumping Clay

This is the original cat litter. All of the major litter producers have one. These are usually on the inexpensive side. This litter doesn’t clump and doesn’t require as much daily maintenance but you will have to dump out the whole box more often. The dust levels and tracking amounts are higher than clumping litter. 

You will find that non-clumping clay litter doesn’t have the odor control of a clumping litter. I use non-clumping clay as my show hall litter. The show sponsor usually provides litter and price is the criteria. It doesn’t have to last longer than two days so the odor control doesn’t have to be that intense. It also doesn’t stick to Kitty’s fur or paws, which really matters when you are showing a cat. 

Silica Gel Crystal Litter

These litters are related to the gel you find in baby diapers. It absorbs the liquid and dehydrates the solid waste. You will scoop the solids but not the liquid. When it no longer absorbs, you dump out the whole box and refill it.

Crystal litter is lower dust but easily tracks. It doesn’t stick to Kitty’s fur or paws like clumping litters do. Some cats object to crystal litter because it is hard to walk on. If you have ever used it and stepped on some of the granules it is sort of like walking on Legos. I can see why cats dislike it. Generally, silica gel litter is also one of the most expensive options for litter.

Pretty Litter

This is a proprietary formulation that not only is a crystal litter but acts as a medical monitor. It turns colors depending on your cat’s urine health. I was intrigued by Pretty Litter because I have a Persian and a Ragdoll that are prone to urinary and kidney issues. However, in most of the cases that the litter alerted a trip to the vet found nothing wrong. So there’s that question: is it giving you peace of mind or a false sense of security? 

The pieces are smaller and rounder than other crystal litters so walking on it isn’t as annoying. But it tracks as much as any clay litter does. 

I found the odor control to be underwhelming. After a day or two there is a faint odor of pee no matter how much you stir it. But I have a lot of cats. It might not be as offensive with only 1 or 2. 

Fresh Step 

Crystal litter with bigger pieces. This is the brand that inspired my “stepping on Legos” comparison. It is also very strongly scented. I didn’t notice the pee smell as quickly with this brand but it is covering up the smell not removing it. 

Fresh Step has a Health Monitor Litter. I have not tried it, but it appears to be significantly less expensive than Pretty Litter.

Dr. Elsey’s Crystal Litter

There are four formulations: Senior, Long-Hair, Respiratory Relief, Stress-Relief. They are all non-clumping, odor control, unscented, multi-cat. They are low-tracking and gentle on paws. I’m not sure how much I believe the gentle on paws part. I have used the senior and long-hair version and it isn’t fun to step on. But it isn’t as bad as some others. 

I used the long hair version with my Persian when we traveled, but he didn’t love it. It is not clumping, you remove the solids daily and stir the box. Then dump the whole thing when it starts to smell. Again, I feel like it develops a pee smell after just a couple days that just builds up over time until it really stinks. Litter pools in the bottom of the box if it isn’t changed soon enough.

Petsafe

The Petsafe Scoopfree Litter Box uses one of these crystal litters. In its original form it was a proprietary litter in a tray designed specifically for that box. I do see that it is now available in refill size trays and in bags you can use to refill a reusable tray. You can also get it in lavender scented, original scented, and unscented now. It is still more expensive than other brands. 

Plant-Based Clumping Litter

The market for a more sustainable, budget-friendly, cat litter that meets the demand for effective odor control without a mess is exploding. Paper, wood, grass seed, tofu, pea husks, corn, cassava, walnut shells, olive pits. It seems like something new shows up every week. 

Corn Litter

Made from compressed corn kernels. Highly absorbent, clumping, provides excellent odor control. Maybe flushable depending on your local water treatment plant’s requirements. Biodegradable. Provides excellent odor control. The litter itself has a toasty or malty scent. Medium to low levels of dust and tracking. Some choices are better than others.

World’s Best Cat Litter is the most well known brand of corn litter. In my opinion, their name gets it right. They are, in fact, the World’s Best Cat Litter. Available in multiple formulation, unscented, lavender scented, multiple cat, low tracking. We use this as our travel litter because my ragdoll will use it reliably.

Swheat Scoop Multi-Cat

https://prf.hn/l/bx2v4lpsWheat Scoop Multi-Cat is a clumping litter made from wheat. It’s biodegradable, clumps loosely, is unscented, and flushable. I found the odor control severely lacking.

Naturally Fresh Walnut Shell Litter

Naturally Fresh is another highly absorbent, clumping, biodegradable litter made from a waste product of another industry. This was my “pick of the litter” until I got a white cat. The performance of the litter is undeniable, but it is the dark color of walnut shells which puts people off and may stain a light colored cat. I didn’t find it exceptionally dusty but some people do. Again, they may be bothered by the color.

Tofu Based Litter

Biodegradable, compostable, flushable. Tofu litter is suitable for both traditional boxes and the self cleaning boxes. It is dust free, and low tracking. It is fair on odor control. Better than Swheat Scoop, not as good as Naturally Fresh or World’s Best. 

PeaHusk Litter

Catit Go Natural Pea Husk litter comes in a vanilla scented and a lavender scented. However, the vanilla is very lightly scented. I used it and didn’t notice the scent at all. Another by-prduct litter, this product is eco-friendly, natural, sustainable, and made from renewable resources. It is dust free. Safe for kittens. While it does clump, and it does control odor well, it is a soft clumping product and gets stuck to the bottom of the litter box making it harder to clean than other options. It is also hard to find and rather expensive. Still – my ragdoll would love it if I use this for all his litter box needs.

Plant-Based Non-Clumping Litter

Paper Litter

Non-clumping pellet litter. Doesn’t track or produce dust. Made from recycled newspaper. Safe for cats recovering for surgery. Limited odor control. 

Purina’s Yesterday’s News is the leading recycled paper litter. Fresh News and Vibrant Life are two other options. 

Wood Litter

Wood litter is made from reclaimed wood, it is biodegradable and eco-friendly. It’s highly absorbent, low-tracking, and offers excellent odor control. It smells like a sawmill or the forest. There’s no artificial scents added. Wood litter comes in pellet form and a clumping form. It does not clump tightly like the clumping clay.

Feline Pine is the original wood pellet litter. There are many other private label brands that also offer a pine pellet.  Okocat offers a pellet form and a clumping form. If wood pellets is something that works for your cat, it’s a well known fact that horse stall bedding is also kiln dried pine pellets. And at $8 for 40 pounds at Tractor Supply it’s a great deal on litter box filler for cats.

There are even more options available. I haven’t tried the coconut husk litter, the grass seed litter or the litter made of ground up olive pits. 

Summary

Choosing the right litter for your cat is essential for maintaining a clean and odor-free home while ensuring your feline friend’s comfort and happiness. From clumping clay litters to natural and biodegradable options, there’s a perfect litter out there for every cat and every household. Consider your priorities, such as odor control, dust levels, tracking, and eco-friendliness, and don’t hesitate to try different litters until you find the one that works best for you and your furry friends.