12 Best Cat Litters of 2024

#1 Overall Best: Boxiecat BoxiePro Deep Clean Unscented Clumping Clay Litter

• Brand: Boxiecat
• Material: Sodium bentonite clay
• Clumping: Yes
• Flushable: No
• Features: Infused with probiotics, forms flat-top clumps
• Price per lb: $1.15 per lb

Winner of the 2018 Industry Recognition Award, Boxiecat litter has several unique qualities that set it apart from other clay litters. It’s designed to absorb liquid immediately on contact, forming flat clumps on top of the litter surface. This helps prevent urine from seeping through and pooling on the bottom of the box where it makes a sticky mess.

The flat-clumping design helps trap odor before it becomes an issue, a benefit compounded by the infusion of probiotics. These probiotics help control bacteria that cause litter box odor. These same bacteria can be spread to the surfaces in your home via your cat’s paws.

In our in-box testing, I found Boxiecat litter highly absorbent and it formed tight clumps that were easy to scoop. It didn’t produce a significant amount of dust, but the fine granules tracked to a moderate degree. My test cats seemed to like the soft feel of the litter, preferring it over alternative litters like silica and corn-based World’s Best Cat Litter.

What We Liked:

• Infused with probiotics for added odor control
• Absorbs quickly and clumps on top of the litter
• Fine granules are gentle on sensitive cat paws

What We Didn’t Like:

• Lightweight granules may track more than some litters
• May not be heavy enough for use in automatic litter boxes

#2 Budget Pick: Dr. Elsey’s Precious Cat Ultra Unscented

• Brand: Dr. Elsey’s
• Material: Sodium bentonite clay
• Clumping: Yes
• Flushable: No
• Features: Low-tracking, hard-clumping, inexpensive
• Price per lb: $0.59 per lb

Dr. Elsey’s offers several cat litter formulas designed to address specific issues, but this product is the most popular. Priced around $0.50 per pound, it’s an inexpensive product. This clumping litter is one of the most popular options on the market, though recent customer comments point toward a steady decline in quality over the years.

Made from sodium bentonite clay, this cat litter absorbs liquid quickly to form easy-to-scoop clumps. It’s a heavy litter with fairly large granules, so it tracks less than some formulas. Where it seems to fall short of the market is the amount of dust it produces. Owners of cats with respiratory issues may want to look elsewhere.

While this litter certainly isn’t perfect, its price and low-tracking qualities may make it worth considering. If you’re looking for a lightweight litter, however, this isn’t it. It only comes in 20- and 40-pound bags.

What We Liked:

• Priced around $0.50 per pound
• Large, heavy granules track less than other clay formulas
• Forms hard, easy-to-scoop clumps

What We Didn’t Like:

• Some customers report a decline in quality
• Can be very dusty

#3 Premium Pick: Ever Clean Extra Strength

• Brand: Ever Clean
• Material: Sodium bentonite clay
• Clumping: Yes
• Flushable: No
• Features: Strong odor control, forms hard clumps
• Price per lb: $1.08 per lb

For its strong odor control and hard-clumping ability, Ever Clean is an attractive option if you’re willing to spend a little more. Rather than relying on synthetic fragrance, this formula harnesses the superior absorbency of sodium bentonite clay to reduce odor in the litter box. It offers some of the best odor control I’ve experienced in a cat litter product.

This Ever Clean unscented litter appears to be a favorite among cats as well. The granules are soft under your cat’s feet and, because they’re so dense and heavy, this litter tends to track less than many formulas.

Availability of this litter can be variable depending on where you shop. It’s most easily accessible on Chewy where you can purchase it in 25-pound boxes or in a 4-pack of 10.5-pound bags. Chewy also offers the most competitive pricing on this brand.

What We Liked:

• Very strong odor-controlling ability
• Forms hard, easy-to-scoop clumps
• Free from synthetic fragrances
• Fairly low-tracking formula

What We Didn’t Like:

• Significantly more expensive on Amazon than Chewy
• Very heavy, may be difficult to manage for some cat owners

#4 Best Natural: Sustainably Yours

• Brand: Sustainably Yours
• Material: Corn and cassava
• Clumping: Yes
• Flushable: Yes
• Features: Sustainably sourced, fine-grained texture
• Price per lb: $1.85 per lb

While clay cat litter is technically natural, many cat owners are in the market for plant-based or biodegradable cat litter. Sustainably Yours Multi-Cat Plus Cat Litter is a fine-grained cat litter made from corn and cassava. This plant-based cat litter comes in three different formulas—two for multi-cat households and one with large grains to help prevent litter tracking and scatter.

In testing, this litter produced a little bit of dust when pouring it into the litter box, but I found it performed quite well overall. This litter forms very firm, cohesive clumps that are easy to scoop, and the odor control was pretty strong.

While the odor control of this litter isn’t as strong as some of the clay litters on this list, I found it to be much stronger than some other plant-based litters I’ve tested. The primary downside of this litter is the degree to which it tracks—it has incredibly fine granules that can stick to your cat’s paws and make their way out of the litter box onto your floor.

What We Liked:

• Forms firm, cohesive clumps for easy scooping
• Fine granules are gentle on your cat’s paws
• Biodegradable, made from plant-based materials
• Performed fairly well in odor control

What We Didn’t Like:

• May be a little bit dusty when you first pour it
• Very fine granules tend to track and scatter easily

#5 Premium Natural: SmartCat Unscented Clumping Grass Litter

• Brand: SmartCat
• Material: Grass
• Clumping: Yes
• Flushable: No
• Features: Biodegradable, lightweight, gentle on paws
• Price per lb: $1.98 per lb

Averaging over $2.00 per pound, this all-natural cat litter yields a higher monthly cost than the average clay formula. In exchange, however, you get the peace of mind knowing it’s made from renewable resources and that it’s biodegradable. This litter is made from 100% grass.

This grass-based formula is very lightweight which makes it a good option for cat owners who hate lugging around heavy bags or boxes of litter. The fine, lightweight texture also makes this litter gentle on sensitive cat paws. Because the granules are so light, however, they may track more than a denser clay litter.

This formula clumps on contact with liquid but some customers find that the clumps remain softer for longer than clay litter. If you scoop before the clumps fully absorb the liquid to harden completely, they may break apart and leave small pieces behind. As a result, the odor control ability of this litter may be weaker than the typical clay formula.

What We Liked:

• Made from 100% renewable grass materials
• Doesn’t produce crystalline silica dust
• Lightweight, sandy texture is gentle on cat’s paws

What We Didn’t Like:

• Lightweight granules make tracking an issue
• Clumps may take longer to harden than clay

#6 Best Pellet Style: Feline Pine Original

• Brand: Feline Pine
• Material: Pine
• Clumping: No
• Flushable: No
• Features: Sustainably sourced materials, no synthetic fragrance, large pellets
• Price per lb: $0.68 per lb

Pellet-style litters are popular among cat owners because they tend to track less than finer granules and natural varieties don’t produce silica dust. Feline Pine is a non-clumping, clay-free formula made from 100% sustainably sourced pine. The pine fibers are highly absorbent, and the new and improved formula absorbs liquid twice as quickly as the original.

Feline Pine is completely free from chemical additives and synthetic fragrance, though it does have a natural pine scent. Some customers say it develops an unpleasant odor when wet, however, so it may need to be scooped and refreshed often. In testing, I found it to be very low-tracking and low-dust.

What We Liked:

• Made from 100% sustainably sourced pine
• Pellets track less than fine clay granules
• Completely free from chemicals and fragrance

What We Didn’t Like:

• Not a clumping formula
• Can be heavy, especially the 40-pound bag
• May develop odor when wet

#7 Best For Automatic Litter Boxes: World’s Best in Best Cat Litter

• Brand: World’s Best
• Material: Corn
• Clumping: Yes
• Flushable: Yes
• Features: All-natural, good for automatic litter boxes
• Price per lb: $1.21 per lb

Automatic, self-cleaning litter boxes are great if you hate scooping. Most models cycle automatically, separating clean from dirty litter, and collect waste in a discrete compartment. Our top pick for the best cat litter for automatic litter boxes is also a natural alternative to traditional clay cat litter: World’s Best.

Made from whole-kernel corn, World’s Best Cat Litter doesn’t produce irritating silica dust. Plus, this multi-cat formula is free from artificial fragrance. Because it clumps quickly, this litter does a good job of controlling odors and the size and texture of the granules help reduce tracking.

Some users dislike the smell of the litter when it gets wet but odor shouldn’t be an issue with automatic litter boxes. Depending on the type of automatic litter box you’re using, however, you may need to adjust the cycling delay to give clumps a little extra time to harden so no pieces are left behind.

This litter comes in 15- and 28-pound bags with an average price under $1.25 per pound. It’s also available in several scented formulas.

What We Liked:

• All-natural alternative to clay litter
• Free from artificial fragrance
• Granule size and texture reduce tracking
• Good for automatic litter boxes

What We Didn’t Like:

• Some users dislike the smell when wet
• Clumps may take longer to harden than clay

#8 Best Crystal Litter: Frisco Micro Crystal Unscented Non-Clumping Litter

• Brand: Frisco
• Material: Silica gel
• Clumping: No
• Flushable: No
• Features: Fast-absorbing, fragrance-free
• Price per lb: $2.24 per lb

Frisco offers crystal cat litter in both clumping and non-clumping varieties. This non-clumping crystal litter has very fine, lightweight granules. Sold in 7-pound bags, the litter is very easy to manage but the small granules do tend to track more than heavier clay litters.

Because crystal cat litter is extremely absorbent, it soaks up urine very quickly. It also dehydrates solid waste, making it easier to remove from the litter box. Both of these features contribute to odor control but odor still tends to accumulate as the litter becomes saturated. This isn’t a clumping formula, so you need to stir the litter daily to help redistribute the saturated crystals.

Customer reviews for this product are varied. Tracking appears to be an issue across the board. I found the litter’s odor control on par with other crystal litters like Pretty Litter and the texture is very similar. It may be a good option for cats with sensitive paws who don’t like sharp or large-grained litter.

What We Liked:

• Fine, sandy texture is gentle on cat paws
• Highly absorbent, soaks up liquid quickly
• Dehydrates solid waste for easy scooping

What We Didn’t Like:

• Limited odor control once saturated
• Not a clumping formula

#9 Best Health Monitoring Litter : PrettyLitter

• Brand: Pretty Litter
• Material: Silica gel
• Clumping: No
• Flushable: No
• Features: Fine sandy texture, changes color with pH, highly absorbent
• Price per lb: $3.30 per lb

Crystal cat litter is nothing new but PrettyLitter takes it up a notch with the addition of pH-detecting particles. When exposed to urine, these particles change color to indicate the approximate pH of your cat’s urine. Changes in the acidity of your cat’s urine can be an early indicator for a number of health problems including struvite crystals, urinary tract infections, and kidney tubular acidosis.

PrettyLitter isn’t intended to be a diagnostic tool, but it can help you keep tabs on your cat’s health. The bag clearly indicates which colors suggest which conditions. Dark yellow/olive indicates urine within the normal pH range while blue, orange, or red indicate a problem. If you notice a change in your cat’s urine, you’ll be able to contact your veterinarian for diagnosis and treatment.

PrettyLitter has a very fine sandy texture. It’s very gentle on your cat’s paws but it does tend to track due to the small particle size. This litter doesn’t clump but it does help control odor in another way. The silica gel absorbs liquid and dehydrates solid waste. You’ll need to scoop solids daily and stir the litter to keep it fresh, however, as odor may accumulate more quickly than with other litter varieties.

What We Liked:

• Color-changing crystals indicate changes in urine pH
• May help cat owners detect developing health problems
• Absorbs urine quickly and dehydrates solid waste
• Lightweight, soft texture is gentle on cat paws

What We Didn’t Like:

• Not a clumping litter, should be scooped daily
• Needs to be stirred daily to distribute soiled litter
• Above market average price, over $3 per pound

#10 Best For Kittens: Fresh News Recycled Paper Litter

• Brand: Fresh News
• Material: Recycled paper
• Clumping: No
• Flushable: No
• Features: Made from recycled materials, highly absorbent, low dust
• Price per lb: $1.22 per lb

Cat litter for kittens should be soft enough for sensitive kitten paws and non-toxic in case of accidental ingestion. Fresh News is a non-clumping cat litter made entirely from recycled paper, making it eco-friendly and biodegradable. It’s also safer than clay, which can swell up to 15 times its size in the stomach if your kitten accidentally swallows it.

Non-clumping cat litter doesn’t typically contain odors as well as clumping varieties, but Fresh News is infused with baking soda to help neutralize odors. Customers confirm that the litter does have decent odor-blocking properties and it is very low in dust.

One thing to be mindful of with recycled paper litter is that moisture can build up in the bottom of the box. While this litter may be up to three times more absorbent than clay, large volumes of litter or diarrhea may seep through to the bottom of the pan and make cleaning a little more difficult.

What We Liked:

• Non-clumping formula may be safer for kittens
• Incredibly low in dust, great for sensitive noses
• Made from 100% recycled paper materials

What We Didn’t Like:

• May accumulate moisture if not changed often enough
• Non-clumping litter has limited odor control

#11 Best Low-Tracking: tuft + paw Really Great Cat Litter

• Brand: tuft + paw
• Material: Soybean byproduct
• Clumping: Yes
• Flushable: Yes
• Features: Biodegradable, low-tracking granules, lightweight
• Price per lb: $3.05 per lb

Many low-tracking litters are dense and heavy but Really Great Cat Litter from tuft + paw isn’t. It’s made from soybean byproduct and shaped in small, oblong pellets. The shape and size of the pellets helps keep the litter from tracking outside the litter box.

While you’ll pay a premium for this litter, it offers a few benefits few other products can boast. It’s biodegradable and compostable, for one. It’s also flushable. Though you’ll need to let the clumps soak in the toilet for a while before flushing, the material breaks down very well.

In the litter box, this natural cat litter absorbs liquid quickly and forms cohesive clumps. I found that the clumps are a little more delicate than clay litter, but if you scoop slowly they’re less likely to break apart. My cats didn’t seem to mind the texture of the pellets and the formula controls odor well, despite the lack of added fragrance.

What We Liked:

• Biodegradable, compostable, and flushable
• Lightweight, low-tracking pellets
• Forms easy-to-scoop clumps

What We Didn’t Like:

• Only available by subscription
• Costs significantly more than market average

#12 Best Non-Clumping: Tidy Cats Breeze Litter Box System

• Brand: Tidy Cats
• Material: Mordenite zeolite
• Clumping: No
• Flushable: No
• Features: Low tracking, unscented, moisture-wicking
• Price per lb: $2.61 per lb

Clumping cat litter makes the task of scooping the litter box a little easier but they can be bulky and heavy. If you’re looking for a convenient alternative, consider the Tidy Cats Breeze litter box system which utilizes unique mordenite zeolite pellets.

The Tidy Cats Breeze system is a sifting litter box that combines moisture-wicking zeolite pellets with an absorbent litter box pad. When your cat uses the litter box, urine passes through the pellets into the pad below. The zeolite pellets absorb moisture as well, helping dehydrate solid waste to make it easier to scoop.

This litter box system comes with everything you need to get started, including a scoop. The large, low-tracking pellets should be refreshed every 30 days and the absorbent pad lasts up to a week in a single-cat household.

What We Liked:

• Sifting litter box system with an absorbent pad
• Zeolite pellets dehydrate solid waste
• Large pellets are low-tracking

What We Didn’t Like:

• Large pellets can be tricky to scoop
• Some cats don’t like the pellets