Cats are truly some of the most unique domesticated animals and are exceptionally clean. They’re always grooming themselves, avoiding dirty situations as much as possible, and taking extraordinary measures to keep their waste out of sight.

Despite their best efforts, your kitten’s waste can disrupt the air quality in your home if you don’t provide proper litter for them. There are several brands, each with redeeming qualities, but which is best?

We’ve compiled a list of the best cat litter reviews and a buyer’s guide to help you make a decision.

A Quick Comparison of Our Top Picks – 2024

The 11 Best Cat Litters

1. Kitty Poo Club Subscription Cat Litter – Best Overall

We believe that Kitty Poo Club Subscription Service is the gold standard in kitty litter. It makes a variety of litters free of scents, dyes, and chemicals; many are eco-friendly and produce little to no dust. Each litter is designed to stay fresh and odor-free for 30 days.

With this subscription, litter is shipped directly to your door every 4 weeks and includes a leakproof, recyclable litter box that you discard when you switch out your litter. Kitty Poo Club also has several add-ons, such as scoops, litter box domes, litter mats, and much more, so you can customize your shipment based on the needs of your cat. Overall, we think this is the best cat litter option on the market today.

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2. Feline Pine Original Non-Clumping Wood Cat Litter – Best Value

If you’re on a budget, finding quality cat litter can be tough. However, if your cat enjoys wooden cat litter, Feline PineOriginal Non-Clumping is the best cat litter for the money. It’s sold in large bags at a very affordable price. It’s made of pine fibers that work like absorbent, super sponges to trap liquids and strong odors.

Unlike our top choice, this litter is completely clay-free. This means it won’t clump up, but there won’t be dust in the air when you pour it. And there’ll be no dusty paw prints around the house when your kitty finishes.

However, we have found that this litter isn’t ideal for multiple cats and must be cleaned out regularly. While it does an excellent job of soaking up the smells of one cat, the formula isn’t strong enough to handle more.

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3. Purina Tidy Cats Breeze Cat Litter Pellets – Premium Choice

If you’re looking for one of the best litter systems, don’t skip over Purina Tidy Cats Breeze pellets. They’re unique in terms of litter and how they work. Breeze pellets work like desiccants because they are absorbent dehydration pellets. The pellets don’t clump up around solids or liquids.

They dehydrate and soak up all the moisture within for solid waste. This eliminates the smell associated with cat feces. And as far as urine goes, there’s nothing to scoop. The liquid passes through the pellets and gets absorbed by a specialty mat resting below.

This system isn’t just a clump-free desiccant but is also dust-free and ideal for small living spaces and apartments. Although Tidy Cats Breeze is one of the best litters on the market, it’s way too expensive for most people.

Not only do you have to buy expensive pellets, but you also need to get the Breeze system absorbent pads and specialty litter box. Also, training your cat to transition from a standard litter to this one can be a chore.

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4. Dr. Elsey’s Precious Cat Ultra Clay Cat Litter

If you’re looking for a new clay litter, Dr. Elsey’s is another excellent option. It’s available in three sizes, is made out of all-natural ingredients, and boasts superior odor control. What sets this clay litter apart from others is its hard-clumping ability. While some litters will clump into softer chunks, Dr. Elsey’s clumps up very hard to trap odors. It’s also 99.9% dust-free and hypoallergenic.

However, the hard clumping is also its biggest weakness. The clumps are so dense that they’re almost like cement at times. This isn’t a problem if your cat uses the center of the litter box and properly buries their waste.

However, if your cat uses the side or corner of their box, be prepared for a workout. The clump can fuse to the side of the litter box, making you have to chip away at it. Although Dr. Elsey’s claims that it can be used for mechanical litter boxes, we recommend against it because of that reason.

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5. Purina Tidy Cats Instant Action Clay Cat Litter

This is the only brand on our list sold in a resealable pail, and it’s unfortunate other manufacturers haven’t followed its lead. Purina Tidy Cats is a medium-grain clay litter infused with their signature TidyLock odor protection to help eliminate odors immediately.

The litter is purposely formulated to handle multiple cats and feels soft enough for them to paw around. Like other clay litters on this list, it’s 99.9% dust-free, but we noticed that isn’t always the case. While it’s not as dusty as other litters, it’s not the best.

Our biggest gripe about Tidy Cats Instant Action is its clumping ability. It doesn’t clump well enough, especially for urine. Often, the clumps fall apart and disintegrate when scooping them. Over time, this will make your litter start to smell bad and may discourage your cat from using their box.

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5. Frisco Multi-Cat Clumping Clay Cat Litter

Frisco Multi-Cat Clumping Clay Cat Litter has so many redeeming qualities at an affordable price point that almost everyone can afford. It’s an all-natural clay formula that promotes hard clumping for easy scooping. The clay also does a fantastic job of absorbing liquids and odors. Since it’s formulated for multiple cats, there’ll be very few lingering odors—especially if it’s used for just a single cat.

We particularly enjoy the unscented variety. It’s hypoallergenic and contains no dyes, plant proteins, perfumes, or added fragrances that can create an unhealthy environment for you and your cat. It’s also relatively low-tracking, and you won’t find remnants all over your house.

Frisco Multi-Cat works great in manual sifting and mechanical litter boxes. The biggest downside is the packaging it comes in. It comes in a plastic bag that isn’t resealable. So, you’ll need to have a jumbo clip nearby or transfer it into another easy-to-transport container once opened.

6. Arm & Hammer Clump & Seal Multi-Cat Clay Cat Litter

Regarding clay litters, few are as polarizing as Arm & Hammer Clump & Seal Multi-Cat. You and your cat either love this litter or hate it due to its texture. Instead of a medium-grain clay, it has a more sandy feel. The clay is mixed with Arm & Hammer’s moisture-activated micro granules and baking soda. The micro granules form a crust around the odors, while the baking soda neutralizes it from within.

There’s generally no issue with clumping because of the texture, which can form very hard clumps. It’s also great for multiple cats and keeps odor to a bare minimum. Since it’s dust-free, you’ll breathe easy while pouring it in.

The litter also comes in a box instead of a bag, which we like much better. However, the largest size is a 28-pounder, and you’ll have to repurchase more often. It’s also not hypoallergenic.

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7. World’s Best Multi-Cat Clumping Corn Cat Litter

If you’re looking for a clay-free alternative, you might want to consider the World’s Best Multi-Cat Corn litter. It’s a very eco-friendly blend entirely made out of corn, and it’s 100% free from other synthetic or harmful chemicals found in most litters. Since there’s no silica dust in the formula, you won’t have to worry about large clouds rising to meet you when refilling it.

World’s Best is also an unscented litter, and it’s even flushable! But some issues need to be addressed. It’s not the best when it comes to trapping odors. In fact, if you have multiple cats, it can smell terrible. Also, it doesn’t work well with automatic litter boxes. Lastly, it’s expensive, and picky cats aren’t typically very keen on it.

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8. Scoop Away Complete Performance Clay Cat Litter

While we’re not the biggest fans of scented litter, you may love them. If that’s the case, check out Scoop Away Complete Performance. It’s a clumping clay litter that does a great job of locking in odors and has a fresh scent to help brighten the room. The formula also contains several all-natural plant extracts to eliminate unwanted smells.

It also creates ultra-tight clumps that won’t crumble away while scooping but don’t stick to the sides of the box either. Scoop Away isn’t dust-free, but the dust isn’t as bad as it could be. It is relatively inexpensive, but the scent is very strong! So, instead of just lightly masking odors, Scoop Away replaces it with one of its own.

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9. Fresh Step Multi-Cat Clay Cat Litter

The other scented option on our list is the Fresh Step Multi-Cat Clay litter. Although we’re not too impressed by perfumed litter, this one isn’t the worst we’ve come across. However, it’s far from the best. The formula is designed for multiple cat households and utilizes the powerful scent of Febreze and specialized ammonia-block particles to keep odors in check.

The technology is supposed to seal away odors for up to 10 days, but it doesn’t last that long. Fresh Step claims to have a low-dust formula as well, but there’ a lot of dust compared to dust-free clay formulas or corn, wheat, or wood litter. However, it does a great job of clumping. It’s not cement-hard but firm enough to scoop out easily. Plus it’s very affordable.

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10. Cat’s Pride Total Odor Control Clay Cat Litter

We cannot recommend Cat’s Pride Total Odor Control Clay Cat Litter. At first glance, it shows promise. It comes in a resealable, easy-to-pour jug, and it’s very inexpensive. However, that’s about where the advantages end.

The litter claims to have 10-day odor control, produce solid clumps, and is 99% dust-free. However, none of these claims can be remotely substantiated. Cat’s Pride doesn’t do a good job concealing unwanted odors. If unchanged for 10 days, the fumes can become quite noxious.

Also, Cat’s Pride produces soft clumps that either dissolve when scooping or form a slurry that sticks to the sides or bottom of the litter box. And forget about dust-free. You might want to wear a mask when pouring this litter into your kitty’s box. There will more than likely be a giant dust cloud to chase you away. Honestly, if you purchase this litter, we only recommend you pour it out and refill the jug with a better brand.

Buyer’s Guide: How to Choose the Best Cat Litter

When selecting the best cat litter for your feline friend, there are several factors to consider.

Scented vs Unscented

The first decision you must make is whether you want your litter scented. Scented cat litter contains fragrance to mask the odors and replace them with other pleasing smells. We prefer unscented litter because it has a much lower chance of irritating you or your cat.

Also, cats are very particular about smells, especially near their litter box. Adding a fragrance could drive your cat away from their box and cause them to use your favorite rug as a restroom.

Litter Material

The most commonly used material for litter is clay because of its super clumping ability and ability to seal in odors. However, it’s not the only litter in town. Some are crafted from eco-friendly options, such as corn, wheat, and wood.

Clay litter comes in different-sized grains—some of which can irritate your cat. However, natural litters don’t tend to cause them too much issue. Also, some alternative materials are flushable, so you can instantly dispose of your cat’s waste without having to bag it up.

Odor Control

This is probably the most sought-after feature when shopping for cat litter. Nobody wants to live in a place that reeks of cat excrement and ammonia. However, finding a litter with maximum odor control can be quite difficult.

Ideally, you want to focus on litters that absorb and neutralize foul smells instead of just masking them. Unscented litters tend to focus on this concept more than scented ones, but you’ll find that non-clay materials provide the best odor control.

Clumping Ability

While non-clay cat litter typically wins out in odor control, clay is king for clumping. The ability to clump is important when it comes to actually cleaning out your litter box and replacing your cat’s litter altogether.

If your litter doesn’t clump tightly enough, you’ll end up with disintegrating clumps that create smelly dust that’s impossible to separate from the clean litter. Or the litter will form a slurry that’s difficult to remove and smells terrible. If your litter clumps too hard, it can bond to the sides and bottom of the litter box, forcing you to chisel away at it to remove it.

Age of Your Cat

When choosing cat litter, most people don’t think about their cat’s age as a factor. However,  clay litter is not safe for kittens. And that’s because of the clay’s clumping ability combined with a kitten’s exploratory mouth and smaller diameter intestines. A kitten is much more likely to ingest non-food items accidentally, and clumping cat litter will expand inside their bodies, potentially causing blockages.

Also, senior cats should have a special litter. They usually don’t clean themselves as regularly as younger cats would. You should find them a litter with very little to no dust that’s lightweight.

Price

Lastly, you need to consider your budget. Purchasing cat litter is a regular expense, just like their food is. The costs can quickly increase with litter systems, such as the Purina TidyCats Breeze system. However, that doesn’t mean going as cheap as possible—as you can see with the Cat’s Pride at the bottom of our list. Instead, find a good balance between price and practicality.

Conclusion

Choosing the right litter for your cat is a very important task. If your cat doesn’t like it, they’re not going to use it. However, selecting the right one is more than just trial and error. You and your cat must compromise on what’s important to you both.

You should choose one your feline is comfortable with while maintaining your smell-free, dust-free, and hygienic home. Hopefully, these cat litter reviews have given you insight into what to look for.

Our favorite is Kitty Poo Club for its convenience, odor control, and hypoallergenic qualities. Our favorite bargain buy is the Feline Pine Non-Clumping Wood Cat Litter because it provides a cheaper alternative to clay without sacrificing too much performance.

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Featured Image Credit: Chewy.com