Last updated Jul 30, 2025
Kate Barrington / Cats.com
The Litter-Robot is one of the most popular self-cleaning, automatic litter boxes on the market. It takes the hassle out of litter box maintenance but choosing the right cat litter is key for optimizing its performance.
The best cat litter for the Litter-Robot forms tight, hard clumps that work well with the unit’s gravity-based sifting system. Clumping clay litter is the most popular pick but there are still plenty of options to choose from. Below we outline our top recommendations and offer tips regarding what to look for when shopping for cat litter to use in the Litter-Robot.
At a Glance: Best Cat Litter for Litter-Robot
In the comparison table below, we’ve highlighted some of the most important features of each product. You’ll find more detailed information about each product later in the article.
GreatLitterⓇ by Whisker
- Single-ingredient formula made from sun-dried clay
- Forms tight, hard clumps
- Convenient automatic refills when you use Autoship
Boxie Pro Self-Cleaning Probiotic Clumping Clay Cat Litter
- Quick-clumping formula
- Targets odor-causing bacteria
- All-natural and fragrance-free
Tidy Cats Odor Control Scented Clumping Cat Litter Designed for Litter-Robot
- Designed to promote a perfect cleaning cycle
- Fast-clumping clay litter
- Motion-activated fresh scent
Fresh Step Clean Paws Simply Unscented Clumping Clay Cat Litter
- Fragrance-free formula good for sensitive noses
- Quickly forms tight, hard clumps
- Infused with activated charcoal for odor control
Sustainably Yours Large Grains Cat Litter
- Made from corn and cassava
- Virtually dust-free and fairly low-tracking
- Forms hard, scoopable clumps
Scoop Away Multi-Cat Clumping Clay Cat Litter
- Economically priced around $0.50/pound
- Lightly scented for improved odor control
- Forms tight, hard clumps on contact
Why Trust Cats.com
Kate Barrington / Cats.com
Over the past several decades, I’ve tested just about every type of litter on the market in dozens of different litter boxes—both as a pet parent and as a professional tester with Cats.com. I became a personal fan of Litter-Robot by Whisker when the Litter-Robot 3 Connect was launched in 2017 and, in 2022, added the Litter-Robot 4 to my collection. While all of my cats have enjoyed Litter-Robot, my oldest cat, Munchkin, uses them almost exclusively.
To choose cat litter products to test with Litter-Robot, I relied on a combination of my personal experience, recommendations from the manufacturer (Whisker), and thousands of customer reviews. The final selection of recommendations represents a combination of fan favorites and products designed specifically for use with Litter-Robot.
In addition to researching the market and scouring customer reviews, I ordered each of the products to conduct in-home testing with my two cats, Munchkin and Biscuit. During testing, I assessed each product for its dust level, tracking, odor control, and clumping ability as well as its performance in the Litter-Robot.
The Best Cat Litter for Litter-Robot: Our Top 6 Recommendations
While many cat litter products are compatible with Litter-Robot, Whisker’s self-cleaning litter box, some work better than others. Clumping ability is key but it’s not the only factor to consider.
Litter-Robot users consistently recommend cat litter that sits on the heavy side, so it slides easily into the waste compartment as the unit cycles. Low-dust litter is preferred to prevent a grimy film from forming inside the globe and interfering with sensor function. Finally, larger granules are more effective than fine litter in keeping litter inside the box where it belongs.
Our recommendations were made with these factors in mind. To help you decide which is the right option for you, we’ve categorized them by key benefit.
#1 GreatLitterⓇ by Whisker
Kate Barrington / Cats.com
- Material: Clay
- Flushable: No
- Features: Tight-clumping, low-dust, low-tracking, strong odor control
- Price: $1.50 per lb
From the manufacturers of the Litter-Robot, GreatLitter is a clumping clay cat litter made specifically for use with self-cleaning litter boxes like the LR3 and LR4.
Kate Barrington / Cats.com
Kate Barrington / Cats.com
Kate Barrington / Cats.com
It contains just one ingredient—sun-dried clay—which makes it an all-natural, unscented option safe for sensitive noses and paws. Plus, its low-dust formula and low-tracking texture help keep your home clean.
GreatLitter features a quick-clumping formula optimized for use with sifting systems like the Litter-Robot. I found that it absorbed liquid on contact, immediately locking away odor, and dried quickly so I didn’t have soggy litter sitting in the waste drawer. My only complaint was that the zipper on the resealable bag was awkwardly placed, making it a little tough to empty the bag completely.
What makes GreatLitter our top pick, however, is the convenience of automatic delivery (complete with free shipping and 20% off your first Autoship order). Customize your order to suit your needs and get all your Litter-Robot or Feeder-Robot essentials right on schedule.
What We Liked:
- Single-ingredient formula made from sun-dried clay
- Forms tight, hard clumps
- Low-dust and low-tracking
- Convenient automatic refills when you use Autoship
What We Didn’t Like:
- Only sold online through Whisker
- Costs about $1.50/pound before discounts
- Resealable zipper isn’t on top of the bag
#2 Boxie Pro Self-Cleaning Probiotic Clumping Clay Cat Litter
Kate Barrington / Cats.com
- Material: Clay
- Flushable: No
- Features: Fast-clumping, long-lasting odor control, fragrance-free
- Price: $1.17 per lb
A long-standing favorite of mine, Boxie Pro Probiotic clumping clay litter is also one of the most popular picks among Litter-Robot users. Its fast-clumping formula is a great fit for self-cleaning litter boxes and it’s completely free from fragrance and other artificial additives.
Kate Barrington / Cats.com
Kate Barrington / Cats.com
Kate Barrington / Cats.com
What makes this Boxie Pro recipe unique is the inclusion of a proprietary probiotic blend. It’s unusual to see probiotics outside the realm of cat food but they really seem to work here. Combined with its quick-clumping action, this clay litter delivers up to 40 days of odor control—even in multi-cat households.
No matter what litter box I’m using, Boxie Pro does a great job of reducing odor, though I couldn’t tell if it tracked significantly less than other clay litters. I like that it’s sold in three volumes (16, 28, and 40 pounds) and comes in fold-flat bags instead of cumbersome boxes.
What We Liked:
- Quick-clumping and low-tracking formula
- Prebiotic blend targets odor-causing bacteria
- All-natural and fragrance-free
What We Didn’t Like:
- Some customers complain about tracking
- Priced upwards of $1 per pound
#3 Tidy Cats Odor Control Scented Clumping Cat Litter Designed for Litter-Robot
Kate Barrington / Cats.com
- Material: Clay
- Flushable: No
- Features: Fast-clumping formula, motion-activated scent, strong odor control
- Price: $0.95 per lb
Another product formulated specifically for use with Litter-Robot, this clumping clay litter from Tidy Cats features a fast-clumping formula and motion-activated scent. It’s designed to encourage a perfect cleaning cycle by absorbing liquid on contact, leaving minimal residue in the globe. Plus, you’ll enjoy a burst of fresh scent with each cycle.
Kate Barrington / Cats.com
Kate Barrington / Cats.com
Kate Barrington / Cats.com
This Tidy Cats litter makes good on its promises of quick-clumping action and strong odor control. I didn’t have any issues with the litter sticking to the globe and I didn’t find the scent overwhelming (though some customers do). I also appreciated the convenience of the easy-pour jug over the awkwardly-placed zipper on the GreatLitter bag.
It’s hard to tell exactly what makes this product different from other Tidy Cats formulas but it’s generally well-liked by Litter-Robot users. Some customers report improvements in tracking and odor control over other clumping clay litters they’ve tried.
What We Liked:
- Designed to promote a perfect cleaning cycle
- Fast-clumping clay litter
- Motion-activated fresh scent
What We Didn’t Like:
- Some customers find the scent too strong
- Only sold in 2-packs on Chewy
#4 Fresh Step Clean Paws Simply Unscented Clumping Clay Cat Litter
Kate Barrington / Cats.com
- Material: Clay
- Flushable: No
- Features: Fragrance-free, forms hard clumps, activated charcoal for odor control
- Price: $0.72 per lb
If you prefer a product with a trusted track record over the relative novelty of the previous pick, Fresh Step Clean Paws might be a good choice. It’s fragrance-free but contains activated charcoal to help minimize odor by keeping bacteria under control.
Kate Barrington / Cats.com
Kate Barrington / Cats.com
Kate Barrington / Cats.com
This Fresh Step formula forms tight, hard clumps which make for a smooth cleaning cycle. I found that this litter absorbed liquid on contact, so the clumps were nice and firm by the time the Litter-Robot cycled. I didn’t notice any odor from the waste drawer with this litter either.
My only complaint with this formula is that it did seem a little dustier than some of the other clay litters I tried (something other customers have reported in reviews). One of my cats tends to spray instead of squat when she pees, so a dusty globe can be messy. I’ve been using this product for a long time, however, and the dust level seems to vary from one batch to another.
What We Liked:
- Fragrance-free formula good for sensitive noses
- Quickly forms tight, hard clumps
- Infused with activated charcoal for odor control
What We Didn’t Like:
- Some batches may be dustier than others
- Only sold in boxes, not bags
#5 Sustainably Yours Large Grains Cat Litter
Kate Barrington / Cats.com
- Material: Corn and cassava
- Flushable: Yes
- Features: Natural, large granules to reduce tracking, forms hard clumps
- Price: $2.10 per lb
Natural cat litter doesn’t always work well with the Litter-Robot’s sifting system but Sustainably Yours appears to offer consistently positive results. It’s a fan favorite and I had a great overall experience with it during testing. Compared to clay cat litter, it was virtually dust-free and it still did a good job with odor control.
Kate Barrington / Cats.com
Kate Barrington / Cats.com
Kate Barrington / Cats.com
My main concern with natural cat litter is the clumping ability. I was pleasantly surprised by this pick and found it absorbed liquid well, forming hard clumps that didn’t stick in the Litter-Robot’s sifting mechanism.
Because it’s made from corn and cassava rather than clay, this formula is a little lighter than some of the products on this list. I found this led to a little bit of tracking but the large granule size helped keep it to a minimum.
Note: This litter comes in both large-grain and small-grain formulas, but Whisker recommends the large-grain formula for use with the Litter-Robot.
What We Liked:
- Made from corn and cassava
- Virtually dust-free and fairly low-tracking
- Forms hard, scoopable clumps
What We Didn’t Like:
- More expensive than clay litter
- May track more than heavier materials like clay
#6 Scoop Away Multi-Cat Clumping Clay Cat Litter
Kate Barrington / Cats.com
- Material: Clay
- Flushable: No
- Features: Lightly scented, fast-clumping, strong odor control
- Price: $0.50 per lb
Priced as low as $0.50 per pound, Scoop Away is a budget-friendly choice for Litter-Robot users. Despite being economically priced, however, it works well with automatic litter boxes and delivers strong odor control.
Kate Barrington / Cats.com
Kate Barrington / Cats.com
Kate Barrington / Cats.com
Scoop Away is a clay cat litter, designed to form tight, hard clumps on contact with liquid. Like the Tidy Cats formula above, this cat litter is lightly scented, so you’ll enjoy a fresh burst of fragrance each time your Litter-Robot cycle.
It’s worth noting that this litter is on the heavy side, so Whisker recommends keeping the litter level ½-inch below the fill line to avoid interference with the litter level sensors.
What We Liked:
- Economically priced around $0.50/pound
- Lightly scented for improved odor control
- Forms tight, hard clumps on contact
What We Didn’t Like:
- Some customers find the scent too strong
- Some batches may be dustier than others
How To Choose the Best Cat Litter for Litter-Robot
When it comes to choosing the best cat litter for the Litter-Robot, it’s crucial to choose a product that supports optimal performance instead of impairing it. Though there are several models to choose from, all Litter-Robots operate on the same gravity-based sifting system.
During each cleaning cycle, the Litter-Robot globe rotates, sending the contents of the litter bed pouring through a sifting grate. Clean litter passes through the grate into a holding area while waste and clumps tumble down into the waste collection drawer to be discarded. As the globe rotates back into place, clean litter returns to the litter bed for reuse.
Here are some factors to consider when shopping for cat litter to use in a Litter-Robot.
Clumping
Whisker, the manufacturer of Litter-Robot, recommends using clay clumping cat litter. Other cat litter materials may be appropriate, however, as long as they form tight, hard clumps. If you use non-clay litter in your Litter-Robot, you may need to adjust the delay timer on your unit to give the clumps more time to harden before the cleaning cycle begins.
Non-clumping cat litter is not appropriate for the Litter-Robot, which includes most paper-based and pellet-style litters. Some natural cat litter products will work as long as they clump quickly and the granules are appropriately sized for the sifter.
Dust
Depending on how often your unit cycles, the entirety of the litter bed could be disturbed multiple times a day, kicking up a cloud of dust each time. This could lead not only to an unpleasant experience for your cat but it also means more dust around your home and a grimy layer coating the inside of the globe. That’s why low-dust cat litter is best for the Litter-Robot.
Tracking
Litter-Robot models with wide entries (like the LR4) may be more problematic than narrow-entry models (like the LR3) when it comes to litter being flung out of the litter box, but the type of litter itself has a greater impact on tracking. Cat litter consisting of moderately sized, heavy granules appears to work best in the Litter-Robot. This is another area where clumping clay cat litter tends to excel but other low-tracking, clumping cat litter products may work as well.
Fine-grained and lightweight cat litter particles are likely to stick to your cat’s paws when they exit the litter box. Larger, heavier granules tend to track less but if the granules are too big they might not fit through the sifter. For this reason, pellet-shaped litters aren’t recommended for Litter-Robot.
Color
While color doesn’t play a role in how the cleaning mechanism of the Litter-Robot functions, it could impact other aspects of performance in certain models. For example, the type of sensors used in later models like the Litter-Robot 4 may respond differently to light- versus dark-colored litter. White and light-colored litters (like crystal cat litter) may reduce the accuracy of waste and litter level readings in the LR4 but should not impact the performance of early Litter-Robot models like the LR3 and LR3 Connect.
Frequently Asked Questions
What litter works best in the Litter-Robot?
Clumping cat litter works best in the Litter-Robot. Though any tight-clumping litter may work, the manufacturer recommends clay. Look for low-dust clumping clay cat litter with large or heavy granules.
Can you use non-clumping litter in a Litter-Robot?
No, you should not use non-clumping litter in the Litter-Robot because it is designed specifically for use with clumping cat litter. The unit may still be effective in sifting out solid waste but dirty, urine-soaked litter will just be returned to the litter bed at the end of the cleaning cycle.
Can I use Pretty Litter in my Litter-Robot?
It depends on which Litter-Robot model you have. Pretty Litter is very fine silica-based litter. It’s both lightweight and light in color, which could affect the accuracy of waste and litter level readings in the Litter-Robot 4. Pretty Litter may work in the Litter-Robot 3.
Can you put too much litter in a Litter-Robot?
Yes, you can put too much litter in a Litter-Robot. If you overfill the globe, it could impact the unit’s ability to cycle properly. Fill the Litter-Robot to the maximum fill line indicated inside the globe.
World’s Best by Whiskers is extremely dusty, never used any litter that is as dusty as it is. It is not low dust. The more the cats use it the more dust and then cement mud from the dust when they pee. It’s the World’s worst. I used for over a year, it used to be good.
For Scoop Away, you guys should mention that Costco has a 42lbs version for sale around $17 regularly priced. And goes down to around $13 when on sale! By far the most economical choice!