12 Best Cat Litters of 2023

#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: $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 Clumping Clay Cat Litter

• Brand: Dr. Elsey’s
• Material: Sodium bentonite clay
• Clumping: Yes
• Flushable: No
• Features: Low-tracking, hard-clumping, inexpensive
• Price: $0.52 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 Unscented Clumping Clay Cat Litter

• Brand: Ever Clean
• Material: Sodium bentonite clay
• Clumping: Yes
• Flushable: No
• Features: Strong odor control, forms hard clumps
• Price: $1.30 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 Multi-Cat Plus Cat Litter

• Brand: Sustainably Yours
• Material: Corn and cassava
• Clumping: Yes
• Flushable: Yes
• Features: Sustainably sourced, fine-grained texture
• Price: $2.10 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 Cat Litter

• Brand: SmartCat
• Material: Grass
• Clumping: Yes
• Flushable: No
• Features: Biodegradable, lightweight, gentle on paws
• Price: $2.10 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 Non-Clumping Wood Cat Litter

• Brand: Feline Pine
• Material: Pine
• Clumping: No
• Flushable: No
• Features: Sustainably sourced materials, no synthetic fragrance, large pellets
• Price: $.54 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: Litterbox.com All-Natural Clumping Clay Cat Litter

• Brand: Litterbox.com
• Material: Sodium bentonite clay
• Clumping: Yes
• Flushable: No
• Features: Hard-clumping, strong odor control, good for automatic litter boxes
• Price: $1.50 per lb

Automatic, self-cleaning litter boxes are great if you hate scooping. They cycle automatically, separating clean from dirty litter, and collect waste in a discrete compartment. Some models flush it directly down the toilet. Our top pick for the best cat litter for automatic litter boxes is brought to you by the same company that makes one of our favorite automatic litter boxes, the Litter-Robot 4.

Litter-Robot is a leader in the pet tech industry, and they’ve developed a variety of complementary products like all-natural clumping clay cat litter. Like most clumping clay litter, this product is derived from sodium bentonite clay. This means it forms tight, hard clumps and that it does a pretty good job of locking in litter box odor.

This litter is naturally unscented, so it won’t irritate your cat’s nose, but it is likely to produce some dust. Customers comment that their cats seem to like the texture of the granules and that the litter works very well with their automatic litter box.

This litter is sold in 20-pound bags for $30 each. You can save by purchasing multiple bags at a time. Selecting the Autoship option gives you 10% off your first month plus free shipping and you can customize your delivery frequency to once every one, two, or three months.

What We Liked:

• Unscented clay litter forms tight, hard scoops
• Delivered right to your door through a Litter-Robot.com subscription
• Does a good job controlling litter box odor
• Cats seem to like the texture and size of the granules

What We Didn’t Like:

• Produces some dust, may be a problem for some cats

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

• Brand: Frisco
• Material: Silica gel
• Clumping: No
• Flushable: No
• Features: Fast-absorbing, fragrance-free
• Price: $2.10 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 : Pretty Litter

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

• Brand: Fresh News
• Material: Recycled paper
• Clumping: No
• Flushable: No
• Features: Made from recycled materials, highly absorbent, low dust
• Price: $1.05 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: $3.00 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 Instant Action Unscented Clay Cat Litter

• Brand: Tidy Cats
• Material: Sodium bentonite clay
• Clumping: No
• Flushable: No
• Features: Moisture-activated odor control, inexpensive
• Price: $0.43 per lb

Clumping cat litter makes the task of scooping the litter box a little easier but you pay for the convenience. Non-clumping cat litters like this Tidy Cats formula tend to be cheaper but can be equally effective in controlling odors.

This non-clumping formula from Tidy Cats is priced under $0.50 per ounce and it is made from sodium bentonite clay. It also contains deodorizing crystals that activate on contact with moisture to help deliver an instant odor-reducing effect.

Like many non-clumping litters, this formula is a little on the heavier side. However, the large, heavy granules track less than the average clumping clay litter. In testing, I didn’t find that the wet litter stuck to the sides of the litter box. Even though it doesn’t clump, the litter is fairly easy to scoop.

What We Liked:

• Priced under $0.50 per pound
• Starts neutralizing ammonia odors on contact
• Large, heavy granules help reduce tracking

What We Didn’t Like:

• Not a clumping formula
• May need to be replaced sooner than clumping litter