Best Kitty Litter List 2023 [Pictures & Videos]

So instead of a single definitive answer for “this is the best cat litter,” what’s included below is all the kitty litter that I’ve reviewed or used in the past, I’ve looked at the top-reviewed kitty litter on some of the biggest pet retailer sites, and (most importantly) I’ve asked our readers, the Floppycatters, what their own recommendations are.

With all that info, here’s a definitive guide to the different types of kitty litter you can buy and some good options for each. I use a personal best overall, but that might be wrong for you and your cat.

So read the whole guide, see what sounds best for you, and if you have any of your suggestions, I’d love you to leave a comment so I can update this guide even further.

Types of Kitty Litter

There are a few different types of kitty litter, so let’s quickly overview the various options available. These aren’t mutually exclusive types – kitty litter might be clumping and unscented.

Clumping kitty litter – designed to clump together when it is wet, so as your cat pees, it forms small clumps that you can then scoop out, leaving behind the clean litter.

Non-clumping kitty litter – rather than clumping together, this absorbs liquid, so in theory, it captures urine and dries out poop. You can scoop the dried poop, but you’ll need to change the whole tray for urine.

Scented kitty litter – litter with an artificial scent added to it to cover up any odors or using natural materials for a natural scent, such as pine. I cannot recommend artificially scented litter – I’ll explain more below.

Unscented kitty litter – litter that has no scented additives.

Lightweight litter – litter that mixes clay with other, lighter materials. These often don’t reveal their whole ingredients; be wary of these, calling them a ‘proprietary’ blend.

Dust-free litter- is made using a blend designed to prevent dust, which can sometimes be an issue with regular clay litter. It can help to stop your cat from kicking up bacteria when they use the litter box.

Natural litter – made using natural ingredients such as wood or wheat. Often biodegradable over time too, but it may be less comfortable for your kitty.

Flushable litter – litter that can be safely flushed down the toilet once used (clumps, not whole trays at once). A downside is usually that the clumps aren’t hard forming since they’re designed to break down to avoid clogging pipes – they may break apart while you scoop.

Cat litter is a massive industry – it was valued worldwide at $10.89 billion in 2021 and is expected to rise by around 4.8% from 2022 to 2023. In the US alone, it’s a $2 billion industry. So it’s no wonder there are so many options, not just in terms of types of kitty litter but also brands too.

With all that context, let’s look at some of the best kitty litter options for each category, based on those I’ve reviewed, popular options on Chewy and Floppycatter recommendations.

I won’t be recommending any artificially scented litter, though. These are scented through the use of chemicals that can be harmful to both cats and humans. There is no need to risk it. If you want to use a scented litter, make sure it’s natural, but there are other ways you can control odor too, which I’ll cover below.

Best Kitty Litter for Multiple Cats

Choosing the best litter for multiple cats means finding one suitable for heavy use. Unlike litter boxes that are only for one cat, these trays will see a lot of traffic throughout the day.

So, you’ll want to pick one that has reasonable dust control and that is low tracking. Multiple cats digging through a litter box over the day will kick up more dust, creating an unhealthier atmosphere. If you don’t choose a low-tracking litter, your cats will make quite a mess of your home.

You might want one that’s hard clumping since you don’t want your cats to constantly break apart the clumps left by their brothers and sisters when they use the tray.

Alternatively, suppose you have multiple cats that need to be sharing litter boxes. In that case, your priority might be finding one that’s affordable. After all, the more cats you have, the more litter you’ll get through, and not everyone’s budget can stretch to a lot of bags of premium litter.

Best Clumping Kitty Litter

Clumping cat litter is the most popular type used – in 2021, 75.6% of cat litter purchased was clumping litter. These litters – typically clay cat litter – are much easier to scoop, and it’s easier to see when the litter tray needs to be emptied – as you scoop clumps and poops, you’ll see the litter level dropping.

Clumping litter is often more absorbent, which means the urine has less chance of reaching the bottom of the litter tray, where it can stagnate and create odors. And while it will vary by the cat, most prefer the feel of a granulated clumping litter over crystals or gel-based litter.

Dr. Elsey’s Clean Tracks

Dr. Elsey’s Ultra litter is an excellent clumping kitty litter, but since I’ve already recommended that one, this Clean Tracks litter is another good option. As well as being hard-clumping, it’s also non-tracking, so your home won’t be a mess from clumps breaking up or from tracked clay granules.

Best Non-Clumping Kitty Litter

Rather than clumping together, non-clumping litter uses materials designed to absorb moisture. This dries out poop and also gathers urine.

Non-clumping litter can be natural or crystal/silica gel based. Still, one of the leading ‘benefits’ listed of non-clumping litter is how it is better for odors. With natural litter, there may be a natural scent that can help. Still, artificial litter usually has those chemical scents added that I mentioned earlier. Avoid these.

Best Affordable Kitty Litter

Whether you have multiple cats at home sharing a litter tray or using multiple trays, or your cat is having some health problems that mean more frequent toilet trips, or you need to work to a budget, there are some excellent options for affordable kitty litter.

‘Affordable’ kitty litter doesn’t always mean the cheapest, though – it’s more about value. It’s better to spend 25% more on a bag of litter if it weighs 50% more than a cheaper alternative. It’ll cost you less in the long run.

And on that note, you’ll typically save if you can bulk-buy. It depends on whether you have the storage space in your home, but buying larger bags of kitty litter most times costs less. And it’s also good in case your litter manufacturer stops making that brand – it means you’ll have more in stock to help you transition your cat to a new litter.

Dr. Elsey’s Cat Attract Litter

While prices can vary, you’ll often be able to find Dr. Elsey’s Cat Attract litter for less than $30 for a 40-lb bag. Most 40-lb litter bags cost more than $30, or they’re scented – which makes this a good, affordable option for your kitty litter.

Best Kitty Litter for Urinary Problems

If your cat has urinary problems, this often means they’ll be making more frequent trips to the litter tray. They might not actually be urinating much more than usual – it may be more frequent, smaller amounts, and uncomfortable visits – but sometimes it does mean your cat will also urinate more volume.

With that in mind, your two priorities for cats with urinary problems are a litter that is highly absorbent and good at clumping to capture all that extra urine and one that is comfortable for your cat to use since they’ll be visiting more frequently.

At the same time, don’t instantly change your litter if your cat develops health problems, but they’re still comfortable using their tray. It would be best if you didn’t change cat litter unless you need to or there’s another good reason to (like improved cleaning). Still, even then, you must manage it carefully with your cat.

Perhaps they’re going through some health issues. In that case, you don’t want to unnecessarily stress them out by changing litter type when they are otherwise happy.

SmartCat All Natural Litter

This litter has 4+ star reviews online from hundreds of people who’ve bought it previously. It’s made from 100% grass, creating a finer texture than clay which is softer on cats’ paws. But it is still highly absorbent and hard-clumping, so it’s suitable for cats making regular trips to the litter box.

Best Non-Tracking Kitty Litter

With kitty litter being made up of smaller particles, they can often get stuck to claws or kicked up as your cat climbs or jumps out of the litter box. This can get quite messy around your home.

You can combat it with a litter mat, which is often specially designed to grab onto a loose litter and prevent it from being tracked around the rest of your home. It’s still spilling out of the litter tray, but at least it’s captured in one place to either be re-used or disposed of neatly.

But non-tracking litter is also designed to stick to your cat’s paws less. Premium cat litter that is non-tracking will help to contain the litter within the tray so it doesn’t escape whenever your cat needs the toilet.

Best Kitty Litter for Odor Control

Odor control is a contentious issue with cat litter because some believe that odors can be masked with other scents, and others prefer to use a non-scented litter that captures the odors as best as possible.

Without being repetitive – don’t use artificially-scented cat litter; the chemicals used are harmful.

Before choosing a litter, look at what else might be causing the odor. Your cat’s diet is the starting point – certain foods will cause your cat’s toilet deposits to smell much more. A raw-fed cat will have a less stinky out-put, so consider whether there are changes needed to your cat’s meals.

Then, look at the location of the litter box. Is it an enclosed space, or is it well-ventilated? Moving air will help to disperse the odors as the particles become diluted in more fresh air.

And humidity also plays a part – the more humidity, the thicker the air and the easier it is for odor-producing particles to stagnate and smell more. So, try to place the litter box somewhere that has good ventilation and is quite dry, as this will help with odor control.

Or a regular air filter will do the job – I’ve reviewed the Air Doctor 5000 and found it quite effective for trapping all kinds of nasties in the air. It’s much larger but would work well if you have multiple cats.

Best Paper Kitty Litter

Paper litter is cat litter made from 100% recycled paper, making it better for the environment since you’re helping to reduce landfill and getting a fully biodegradable product.

Paper pellet litter is non-clumping but usually quite absorbent. Because it’s a softer litter, it tends to be gentle on cat paws and lower tracking.

Best Smelling Kitty Litter

Non-scented kitty litter is usually the best choice because they aren’t off-putting to cats. Still, if you want to try a scented one, some have a natural scent that can help mask some of the odors caused by the metabolic waste in the litter tray. They won’t ever cover the smell completely, and you might find the aroma blend unpleasant, but it could be worth a try.

Best Dust-Free Kitty Litter

Some clay clumping litter will naturally release a bit of dust when kicked around or scooped up – clay is a naturally crumbling material, so when multiple clay granules are pushed around, some dust can be expected. Except that in clumps of used litter, this dust can excrete nasty bacteria and release some odor particles.

Dust-free kitty litter is rarely 100% dust-free, but it can massively reduce it compared to other types. Dust-free litter is an excellent choice if you or your cats have allergies.

Best Natural Kitty Litter 

Best Kitty Litter for Kittens

You must choose the most suitable litter for your kitten – as choosing the wrong one isn’t just uncomfortable for them or messy – it’s dangerous. It would be best if you didn’t use clumping litter with kittens because they have a habit of exploring with their mouths and often eat parts of the litter in their tray when they begin training.

And if a kitten eats a couple of pellets of clumping litter, and they meet in the stomach (where there is moisture), guess what happens? Clumps form, which can become very dangerous inside the kitten’s body. They may even require surgery to remove them.

For a kitten, you should use the same litter they used at their breeder or the shelter. Consistency is critical here, so make sure you find out what they were using and continue with the same. Then, when the kitten reaches four months old, you should be safe to switch them to a clumping litter.

The Cat Attract litter for kittens does say it’s recommended for use from 8 weeks, but it’s better to wait until 4 months for safety. But you can buy their proprietary herb blend separately and add it to your litter to encourage them to use their litter tray and make them more comfortable.

Unscented Kitty Litter 

Unscented litter is the best choice for most cats because it doesn’t contain harmful chemicals or natural scents that can sometimes be off-putting. Generally, cats prefer to use fragrance-free litter – they are naturally inclined to bury their waste anyway.

If you do decide to go with an unscented litter, look for one that forms a tight clump to trap odors, and make sure to either put the litter box somewhere that is well-ventilated or use an air filter or purifier nearby if you do have problems with odors.

Lightweight Kitty Litter

Some kitty litter is designed to be lightweight. There’s no real benefit to your cat here. Still, it’s more about the benefit to you – it’s easier to store and move around, and if you’re buying in bulk online, then shipping costs might be lower too.

Lightweight litter is either natural ones – such as the Swheat Scoop – or they are specially-designed clay litter mixed in with other materials that are typically lighter than clay.

These may be safe, but you need to be careful and check the complete list of ingredients – sometimes, they aren’t revealed and are called a ‘proprietary blend.’ Remember that your cat will naturally inhale and ingest litter in small quantities. Hence, you must be very careful when choosing a litter.

Also, lightweight litter is more prone to being kicked up out of the box unless your kitty is an exceptionally tidy cat. Bear that in mind, as you may need to do more cleaning.

Do You Need to Switch Litter?

You shouldn’t switch to a new cat litter just because you want to or because another one sounds better.

Cats are creatures of habit, and if they are used to a particular type of litter, they will want to keep using it. A change without good reason will only upset your cat, and it could result in problems such as spraying urine around your home.

But there are some times when you might want to switch litter:

• When moving to a clumping litter from your kitten’s first litter
• When moving to a clumping litter to help with cleaning
• When your cat has problems using their existing litter – either they aren’t comfortable or are doing their business outside their litter tray.
• When your existing brand of litter suddenly becomes unavailable

You can mix litter to help your cat get used to a new one, but be aware that this can make them less effective. Remember, be prepared if your cat rejects the new litter – and forcing them will only do more harm.

If you’re worried about your cat’s preferred litter being withdrawn from stores, you should stock up, provided you have storage space. Litter can be kept safely in sealed bags for a long time.

Final Word

Experienced cat owners will have opinions on the best kitty litter to use. Still, if your cat is struggling with their current litter or you’re preparing to own your first cat, some of this list’s recommendations might help.

You may also need to switch to help reduce odors, but remember that artificial scents don’t solve the problem and can cause more issues. And if you notice a change in your cat’s odors, seek help – vets can diagnose any problems or help with dietary recommendations.

Let me know in the comments if you have any other suggestions for kitty litter that other Floppycatters might find helpful!