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12 Best Cat Litters  [Tested and Reviewed]

12 Best Cat Litters [Tested and Reviewed]

Cat litter is an absolute necessity for any cat owner. You want a product that makes using the box comfortable for your cat and cleaning the box easy for you. However, there is clumping and non-clumping litter, as well as a variety of materials to choose from, including clay, wheat, and silica gel. This can make it hard to decide which is best for you and your pet.

We've compared 12 of the best-selling cat litters available online and tested them to recommend the best one for you.

We tested each product for the following.

  • Deodorizing power
  • Low dustiness
  • Ease of disposal

Which product ended up being the best of the best? In our buying guide, we'll also tell you how to pick the best cat litter on your own, so read on for more shopping tips.

Last updated 08/30/2023
Sheri Rydyznski
Expert
Pet Care Service Provider
Sheri Rydyznski

Sheri Rydyznski is a professional pet care service provider who operates Fetch.Sit.Stay. Cincinnati. LLC. When she’s not busy providing care for clients, she is an avid audiophile, curious traveler, entertaining raconteur and content creator for @fetch_sit_stay. She lives in the Greater Cincinnati, OH area with her husband and spirited tortie, Mischief.

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Eiichi Ishikawa
Expert
Olfactory Measurement Operator
Eiichi Ishikawa

Eiichi Ishikawa is a first-generation olfactory measurement operator, which is nationally recognized in Japan, making him an expert on smells. Eiichi is also a licensed odor control advisor. After working at two companies specializing in odor control, Eiichi launched his own firm as an odor detective, working with various TV shows, magazines, and major companies to test the deodorizing properties of various products as well as provides technical guidance.

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Jun Abe
Guide
Former pet store employee; Head of Pets at mybest
Jun Abe

Jun is an experienced professional in the pet supply industry, with a strong background in sales and small breed care. Having previously worked for a major pet store, Jun was in charge of serving pet owners and understanding their pet-related concerns, and within half a year, Jun was appointed head of small breeds. Currently, Jun serves as the head of pet food and pet supply articles at mybest. She strives to promote products that enhance the lives of pets and communicate on behalf of pets to pet owners with information that will make their days more comfortable and enjoyable.

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How We Tested the Products

Scroll to testing method
We gathered the 12 bestselling Cat Litters and put them through rigorous testing.
  1. Deodorizing Power

    1
    Deodorizing Power

    Since you have to buy cat litter anyway, you might as well get a product that covers the pungent stench of your cat's waste. To that end, we enlisted the help of Eiichi Ishikawa, a certified smell and fragrance advisor, to check how the litter smelled right after being wet with urine, 90 minutes later, and eight hours later. We evaluated the deodorizing power using the method below.We poured 30 milliliters of imitation cat urine on 200 grams of cat litter.Mr. Ishikawa smelled the litter right after, 90 minutes later, and eight hours later, and compared it to the odor of the imitation urine.How we made the imitation urine:We mixed 40 grams of used mineral litter in 100 milliliters of water to create a solution close to real cat urine.We didn't evaluate each litter's fragrance in the test, only any unpleasant odors.

  2. Low Dustiness

    2
    Low Dustiness

    Low dustiness is an essential factor in protecting your cat’s health. You don’t want litter that creates a lot of dust when your cat kicks it around or when you change it out. For this test, we evaluated the dustiness of each litter with the help of five cat owners. The test was performed as follows.We filled a bag about a third of the way with cat litter.We used a measuring cup to scoop out 200 milliliters of litter and poured it into the bag from a height of about four inches.We evaluated how much dust was created and how long it lingered before settling.

  3. Ease of Disposal

    3
    Ease of Disposal

    Your cat is the one that uses the litter, but you’re the one that has to change it and dispose of it. If daily maintenance is a hassle, it can stress you out and make it harder to keep clean, which can harm your cat. We evaluated each product based on the following criteria and rated the overall ease of disposal.Can it be flushed down the toilet? If you have to throw it in the trash, you might have to let it sit in your house or garage for several days, which is a negative.How often do you need to dispose of it? Feces need to be disposed of daily, but if you don’t need to clean out urine every day, we evaluated it highly.Does it change color? We gave high ratings to products that change color and make it easy to see when you need to dispose of waste.

All product tests
were conducted in-house at mybest

Company Facility
The expert oversees the Buying Guide only, and does not determine the products and services featured.The mybest team independently conducts its own tests to rank products.

Table of Contents

What Type of Cat Litter Should I Consider?

When choosing a litter, it’s essential to consider whether or not it’s comfortable and easy to use for your cat. Let’s look at what kind of litter is best for your cat.

Look For a Litter Your Cat Will Use and That Protects Their Health

Look For a Litter Your Cat Will Use and That Protects Their Health

Cats cover their waste after doing their business, and they prefer fine-grained litter with some weight to it. If your cat doesn't like the litter, it might avoid using the cat box and eliminate its waste inappropriately. Choosing a litter they like is essential to protect your cat's health.


In addition, litter that produces a lot of dust can harm cats, especially seniors, and cats with asthma or sensitive skin. Dust isn't suitable for healthy cats either, so avoiding these litters is best.

Making Your Job Easier Is a Nice Bonus

Making Your Job Easier Is a Nice Bonus

While the cat litter must be comfortable for your cat to use, you’re the one that has to clean the cat box, so it’s even better if the litter makes this chore easier. When it comes to ease of use for the owner, the first thing to look at is how easy it is to dispose of waste.


Clumping litter doesn’t crumble easily, so you can clean up waste with one scoop, which makes it much easier to keep the box clean. Cats love cleanliness, so this is a big plus. In addition, litter with strong deodorizing power can mask the odor of urine and feces, allowing you to set the box in the living room, bedroom, or anywhere else without worrying about the smell. Not only that, but some cats will avoid the litter box if there are lingering odors, so this is a massive benefit for your cat as well.

How to Choose a Cat Litter - Buying Guide

Here are the points to remember when choosing the best cat litter.

1

Prioritize Your Cat's Comfort and the Litter's Deodorizing Power

Making sure your cat litter doesn’t harm your cat is the most important thing, but it’s also vital that it makes it easy for you to keep the litter box clean.

Litters That Produce Low Dust Are Better for Your Cat’s Health

Litters That Produce Low Dust Are Better for Your Cat’s Health

If dust is produced when your cat uses the box, it can lead to coughing, sneezing, and skin inflammation. This is especially bad for older cats and can worsen things for cats with sensitive lungs or skin.


The general belief is that mineral litter doesn’t produce much dust, while wood- and paper-based litters produce a lot, but in our testing, we didn’t find a consistent trend based on material or granule size.


Any product rated 4.0 or better in “Low Dustiness” in our ranking doesn’t produce much dust, so please take a look.

Jun Abe
Former pet store employee; Head of Pets at mybest
Jun Abe

Have you ever seen your cat cough or sneeze in the litter box? Dust can damage your cat’s respiratory system, especially if you have a closed litter box that traps it inside. If your cat often coughs or sneezes when using the litter box, switch to an open box or litter with low dustiness.

Clay Clumps Well and Makes It Easy to Keep the Box Clean

Clay Clumps Well and Makes It Easy to Keep the Box Clean

Litter that clumps well makes removing waste from the box easy, so it’s easier for you as the owner. We found that litter made from clay made good clumps, didn’t crumble, and didn’t allow wet urine to spread. This makes it easy to clean the box and comfortable for your cat to use.


Litter made from other materials didn’t clump as well when it got wet or crumbled when the clumps were scooped out, so look for a clay-based litter if you’re focused on clumping.

Scented Litter Has Great Deodorizing Power and Masks Odors From Urine

Scented Litter Has Great Deodorizing Power and Masks Odors From Urine

Urine is highly concentrated in a cat’s body and contains cauxin, which has an intense odor, so cat urine produces a pungent smell. A litter with good deodorizing power can prevent these odors from permeating your house. We found that cat litter that doesn’t clump, such as silica gel litter, doesn’t cover up odors from urine.


While plant-based litter covers them to an extent, it can’t eliminate them. On the other hand, scented clay litter covers urine odors effectively and reduces unpleasant odors. Our highest-rated product makes odors undetectable, so you can use an open litter box without worrying about the smell.


A litter with strong deodorizing power can mask the odor of urine and feces, allowing you to set the box in the living room, bedroom, or anywhere else. Not only that, but some cats will avoid the litter box if there are lingering odors, so this is a massive benefit for your cat as well.

Jun Abe
Former pet store employee; Head of Pets at mybest
Jun Abe

Some people worry that scented litters will harm their cats, but what effect these litters have on cats isn’t clear at this time. However, if your cat is sensitive to change or easily frightened, it may be wary of the cat box if you suddenly start using scented litter, so make the switch gradually.

We Liked Arm & Hammer’s Clump and Seal Platinum Because It's a Well-Balanced Litter

We Liked Arm & Hammer’s Clump and Seal Platinum Because It's a Well-Balanced Litter

Our rigorous testing found that Clump and Seal Platinum by Arm & Hammer had low dustiness, was easy to dispose of, and had great deodorizing power. The litter didn’t produce much dust even when poured from a height. This makes it perfect if you have a closed litter box or your cat is old or asthmatic.


It’s a clay litter that absorbs liquid and forms clumps that hold their shape when scooped out, making disposal easy. When we poured mock urine onto the litter, it covered the odor immediately and made it undetectable after 90 minutes. While there was a slight smell of urine after eight hours, it was unnoticeable unless you were focusing on it, so it shouldn’t be a problem in practical use.

2

Unscented Litter Is Better for Cats With Sensitive Noses

Some products that smell good to humans can be unpleasant to cats. They might not want to use the litter box if they don’t like the scent, so you must be careful when choosing a litter if you have a sensitive cat. We’ll show you some cat litters that are suitable for any cat.

Most Cats Don’t Mind Unscented Litter

Most Cats Don’t Mind Unscented Litter

Cat litter is usually made from clay, wood, corn, or other natural materials. These litters have scents that appear in nature, so they should be comfortable to use, even for sensitive cats. As mentioned earlier, scented clay litter can most effectively eliminate odors from urine, but unscented litter can reduce them to some extent without covering them with another scent.


If you don’t want to worry about which scent to choose or are worried your cat will hate it, we recommend going with an unscented litter.

3

If You Spend a Lot of Time Away From Home, Clumping Litter Is Best

Many cats will avoid their litter box if there’s waste in it, so it’s recommended to clean it out as soon as you notice your cat has used it. However, many owners cannot check for waste regularly, so we’ll show you some of the best options for people often away from home.

Clumping Litter Keeps the Box Clean Even if You Can’t Clean It Out Regularly

Clumping Litter Keeps the Box Clean Even if You Can’t Clean It Out Regularly

If the cat litter clumps when it gets wet, it can keep the waste in a small area, making the litter box comfortable for your cat to use, even if you can’t clean it regularly. Additionally, if the litter clumps, the urine is less likely to get stuck to your cat’s paws if they step on it, which helps keep your pet’s fur and the area around the litter box clean.


With non-clumping litter, your cat’s paws can get dirty, and the mess can spread to the area around the box when they walk around. Choose a highly absorbent clumping litter if you cannot check the litter box regularly.

We Recommend Clay Litter, Which Is Highly Absorbent, Doesn’t Crumble and Clumps Well

We Recommend Clay Litter, Which Is Highly Absorbent, Doesn’t Crumble and Clumps Well

Clay litter starts clumping when it comes in contact with liquid and absorbs it before it hits bottom, keeping it concentrated in a single clump. Not only does this make it easy to dispose of, but it also helps keep it off your cat’s paws.


On the other hand, litter made from wood, wheat, and other materials failed to completely absorb liquid and crumbled as soon as we touched it with a scoop. In addition, it allows the fluid to travel down to the bottom of the box, transferring the odor to the unit itself. Clay litter is the best choice if you’re away from home for long periods, as it absorbs liquid and clumps quickly.

4

Choose Carefully if You Have a Kitten or Cat That Tends to Accidentally Eat Litter

It’s hazardous for cats to eat litter accidentally, so if your cat does this, it’s crucial to consider how much you’re feeding them and how stressed they are and consult with a veterinarian to find the cause. However, if you have a kitten or cat with a habit of eating things it shouldn’t, you may be unable to correct the behavior immediately. We’ll explain which products are relatively safe when ingested.

If It Doesn’t Clump in the Box, It Doesn’t Clump in the Body

If It Doesn’t Clump in the Box, It Doesn’t Clump in the Body

Cat litter clumps by absorbing liquid, so if your cat eats it, it can absorb the liquid in the mouth or stomach and block the windpipe or intestines. In the worst-case scenario, your cat could die if this litter gets in its mouth.


Conversely, the granules in non-clumping litter stay separated even when it comes in contact with liquid, which makes them less likely to clump inside the body. We couldn’t tell whether the litter would clump or not based solely on the material, so please check what we discovered in our rankings.


Of course, we can’t say that eating even non-clumping litter is good. It’s your responsibility as the owner to make sure your cat isn’t eating its litter.

Sheri Rydyznski
Pet Care Service Provider
Sheri Rydyznski

Kittens, like human babies, will put everything into their mouths. It's one way that babies learn about the world around them. However, you don't want a kitten ingesting anything harmful or anything that may impact its future well-being. Opt for larger litter pieces in a more natural, non-clumping formula to decrease the potential of inhaling or ingesting cat litter.

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12 Best Cat Litters Ranking

Here are the best cat litters we found after testing. We ranked them against each of our weighted testing criteria.
Recommended
Price Performance
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Kitten-friendly
Deodorizing litters
Toilet-flushable litters
Low-dust litters
Products
Image
mybest Score
Click to purchase
Price
Key features
Ranking spec
Details
Deodorizing power
Ease of disposal
Low dustiness
Material
Type of cat litter box
Shape
Processing method
Capacity
Discoloration present
Scented
Granule size
Type
1

Arm & Hammer

Clump & Seal Platinum

Arm & Hammer Clump & Seal Platinum 1
4.48

$17.99

Mid

mybest’s Top Choice! Low Dustiness, Eliminates Odors, and Is Easy to Use for Cats and Owners

4.61
4.11
4.69

Clay

For regular litter boxes

unknown

Burnable waste

18 lbs.

unknown

Clumping

2

(Purina) Tidy Cats

Multi-cat Clumping Litter with Glade Clear Springs

(Purina) Tidy Cats Multi-cat Clumping Litter with Glade Clear Springs 1
4.43

$36.00

High Mid

Scented Litter That Covers Urine Odors and Doesn’t Produce Much Dust Despite Having Small Granules

4.50
4.11
4.65

Clay

For regular litter boxes

Sand

unknown

20 lbs.

unknown

Clumping

3

Ökocat

Next Generation Plant Based Litter

Ökocat Next Generation Plant Based Litter 1
4.33

$15.99

Mid

Flushable Litter With High Deodorizing Power Despite Being Unscented

4.79
4.47
3.81

Wood pulp

For regular litter boxes

unknown

Compostable

11.2 lbs.

unknown

Clumping

4

Cat's Pride

Max Power: Unscented Total Odor Control

Cat's Pride Max Power: Unscented Total Odor Control 1
4.29

$11.49

Low Mid

Urine Odors Lessen Over Time and Dust Settles Quickly

4.40
4.11
4.31

Clay

For regular litter boxes

unknown

Burnable waste

15 lbs.

unknown

Clumping

5

Naturally Fresh

Multi-cat Walnut Shell Litter

Naturally Fresh Multi-cat Walnut Shell Litter 1
4.22

$25.80

High Mid

Eliminates Odors for a Long Time, but Clumps Break Apart Easily

4.75
3.57
4.33

Walnut shells

For regular litter boxes

unknown

Burnable waste

unknown

unknown

Clumping

6

Fresh Step

Multi-cat Clumping Litter

Fresh Step Multi-cat Clumping Litter 1
4.14

$10.49

Low

High Deodorizing Power Keeps Odors at Bay for a Long Time, but It Creates Lingering Dust

5.00
4.11
3.50

Clay

For regular litter boxes

Sand

Burnable waste

14 lbs.

unknown

unknown

Clumping

7

Boxiecat

BoxiePro

Boxiecat BoxiePro 1
4.09

$16.18

Mid

Stops Odors From Returning, but Produces Dust That Lingers

5.00
4.11
3.41

Clay

For regular litter boxes

Sand

unknown

16 lbs.

unknown

Clumping

8

World's Best Cat Litter

Multiple Cat Unscented

World's Best Cat Litter Multiple Cat Unscented 1
4.06

$40.74

High

Unpleasant Odors Get Stronger With Time, and It Produces Thick Dust

3.82
4.47
4.07

Corn

For regular litter boxes

Sand

Flushable

28 lbs.

unknown

Clumping

9

Sustainably Yours

Multi-cat Plus

Sustainably Yours Multi-cat Plus 1
3.91

$21.99

Mid

Doesn’t Eliminate Unpleasant Odors, but Doesn't Produce Much Dust

3.22
4.47
4.95

Corn, Cassava

For regular litter boxes

Sand

Flushable

26 lbs.

unknown

Clumping

10

Dr. Elsey's

Ultra Multi-cat Litter

Dr. Elsey's Ultra Multi-cat Litter 1
3.84

$11.98

Low Mid

Urine Smells Intensify Over Time, Produces a Large Amount of Dust

4.29
4.11
3.32

Clay

For regular litter boxes

Sand

Burnable waste

20 lbs.

unknown

Clumping

If you don't see the product you're looking for, you can request that it be listed.
No.1
Top Choice Cat Litters

Arm & HammerClump & Seal Platinum

mybest Score
4.48
Deodorizing power
4.61
Ease of disposal
4.11
Low dustiness
4.69
View on Amazon
Clump & Seal Platinum 1
Lowest price
$17.99
Mid
Lowest price
$17.99
Mid
MaterialClay
Type of cat litter boxFor regular litter boxes
Processing method
Burnable waste
Capacity
18 lbs.
Type
Clumping

mybest’s Top Choice! Low Dustiness, Eliminates Odors, and Is Easy to Use for Cats and Owners

Arm & Hammer's cat litter is scented, eliminates odors, and has a unique blend that reduces smells. When we poured imitation urine on the litter, the odor was immediately suppressed, and it was undetectable after 90 minutes. There was a slight smell of urine after eight hours, but it wasn’t noticeable unless you tried to smell it, so it shouldn’t be a problem in everyday life.


The litter has small granules, but doesn’t generate much dust when poured from a significant height, and the small amount of dust produced was only visible for about three seconds. This litter is great for closed litter boxes and cats with asthma. This is a clumping litter, so it has to be disposed of regularly, and it’s made of clay, so it has to be thrown in the garbage. Still, it clumps well and doesn’t break up easily. This litter is easy to use for the owner and is our top choice.

Shapeunknown
Discoloration present
Scented
Granule sizeunknown
Was this Ranking helpful?
No.2

(Purina) Tidy CatsMulti-cat Clumping Litter with Glade Clear Springs

mybest Score
4.43
Deodorizing power
4.50
Ease of disposal
4.11
Low dustiness
4.65
Lowest price
$36.00
High Mid
MaterialClay
Type of cat litter boxFor regular litter boxes
Processing method
unknown
Capacity
20 lbs.
Type
Clumping

Scented Litter That Covers Urine Odors and Doesn’t Produce Much Dust Despite Having Small Granules

Tidy Cats is a brand of Purina, and is unique for its use of Glade air freshener fragrance. While there was a slight scent of ammonia immediately after pouring imitation urine on the litter, it was mostly replaced with the Glade fragrance after 90 minutes. While the odor comes back somewhat after eight hours, your face has to be really close to smell it, so it shouldn’t be a problem most of the time.


It doesn’t produce much dust when poured from a height and it’s not noticeable unless you’re really looking for it, so this is a good choice for cats who kick litter aggressively. Because there’s not much dust, it doesn’t linger long and settles quickly. This litter clumps and needs to be disposed of regularly, but you can’t flush it down the toilet. However, it clumps well and doesn’t crumble when scooped.

ShapeSand
Discoloration present
Scented
Granule sizeunknown
No.3
No.1 in Ease of disposal

ÖkocatNext Generation Plant Based Litter

mybest Score
4.33
Deodorizing power
4.79
Ease of disposal
4.47
Low dustiness
3.81
Lowest price
$15.99
Mid
MaterialWood pulp
Type of cat litter boxFor regular litter boxes
Processing method
Compostable
Capacity
11.2 lbs.
Type
Clumping

Flushable Litter With High Deodorizing Power Despite Being Unscented

“Oko” means “eco” in German, which is the origin of the name Okocat. This litter is designed to be environmentally friendly and doesn’t use synthetic chemicals. While it didn’t cover the odor of the artificial urine immediately, the odor was almost completely replaced with the natural scent of the wood it’s made from after 90 minutes, and this continued after eight hours. While it’s unscented, the natural scent of the wood covers the odor of the urine, so it has adequate deodorizing power.


However, it’s made of small wood granules, so it produces a fair amount of dust which takes a long time to settle. You might want to avoid this product if you have a cat that’s old, kicks litter aggressively, or has asthma. It’s a clumping litter, so you have to dispose of it regularly, but it absorbs liquid well and doesn’t break apart easily when scooped out. In addition, you can flush it down the toilet if you break it down to small enough pieces, so this is a good option if you want to reduce how much trash you produce.

Shapeunknown
Discoloration present
Scented
Granule sizeunknown
No.4

Cat's PrideMax Power: Unscented Total Odor Control

mybest Score
4.29
Deodorizing power
4.40
Ease of disposal
4.11
Low dustiness
4.31
Lowest price
$11.49
Low Mid
MaterialClay
Type of cat litter boxFor regular litter boxes
Processing method
Burnable waste
Capacity
15 lbs.
Type
Clumping

Urine Odors Lessen Over Time and Dust Settles Quickly

Cat's Pride is a family business passed down for three generations. The litter is lighter than traditional products, making it easier to store and carry. We could somewhat smell the urine immediately after pouring it on the litter, but the odor was mostly eliminated after 90 minutes. It's unscented, so there is essentially nothing to smell. The scent returned after eight hours, but it's hardly noticable.


Despite being made up of tiny granules, it doesn't generate much dust, and the small amount it does produce settles quickly, so it shouldn't linger much, even in a closed litter box. It has to be disposed of often because it forms clumps and can't be flushed down the toilet, so it has to be thrown in the trash. However, it absorbs liquid well and forms strong clumps that stay intact when scooped out.

Shapeunknown
Discoloration present
Scented
Granule sizeunknown
No.5

Naturally FreshMulti-cat Walnut Shell Litter

mybest Score
4.22
Deodorizing power
4.75
Ease of disposal
3.57
Low dustiness
4.33
Lowest price
$25.80
High Mid
MaterialWalnut shells
Type of cat litter boxFor regular litter boxes
Processing method
Burnable waste
Capacity
unknown
Type
Clumping

Eliminates Odors for a Long Time, but Clumps Break Apart Easily

This eco-friendly cat litter by Naturally Fresh is made from walnut shells, which are usually thrown away. The urine odor was unnoticeable without sniffing immediately after application, and this held up after 90 minutes and even after eight hours. While it’s an unscented litter, odors don’t come back, so this is a good option for people who aren’t home for long periods of time. Because it’s unscented, there is basically no smell at all.


It produces some dust, but it settles quickly. You need to be careful if you have a cat that kicks litter around violently, but if your cat doesn’t do that, this litter can be used in a closed litter box without worrying about lingering dust. While the litter absorbs liquid and clumps around it, it doesn’t hold up well when scooped, making it a bit of a hassle to dispose of. Unfortunately, it has to be disposed of often and also has to be thrown in the garbage.

Shapeunknown
Discoloration present
Scented
Granule sizeunknown
No.6
No.1 in Deodorizing power

Fresh StepMulti-cat Clumping Litter

mybest Score
4.14
Deodorizing power
5.00
Ease of disposal
4.11
Low dustiness
3.50
Lowest price
$10.49
Low
MaterialClay
Type of cat litter boxFor regular litter boxes
Processing method
Burnable waste
Capacity
14 lbs.
Type
Clumping

High Deodorizing Power Keeps Odors at Bay for a Long Time, but It Creates Lingering Dust

Fresh Step donates both money and litter to cat shelters. The litter is designed to lock up odors and uses Febreze fragrance to protect from foul smells. This litter eliminates odors immediately and they can’t be detected even with your face up close. The odor doesn’t return even after 90 minutes and eight hours, leaving only the pleasant smell of Febreze.


However, it creates a fine dust that lingers for an extended period of time, and it looked like it would travel outside the litter box when your cats kicks litter around or goes in and out of the box. This may not be the best choice for violent kickers, seniors, or cats with asthma. It needs to be disposed of often because it clumps, and your only choice is to throw it away. However, it absorbs liquid and forms clumps that don’t break apart when scooped out.

ShapeSand
Discoloration presentunknown
Scented
Granule sizeunknown
No.7
No.1 in Deodorizing power

BoxiecatBoxiePro

mybest Score
4.09
Deodorizing power
5.00
Ease of disposal
4.11
Low dustiness
3.41
Lowest price
$16.18
Mid
MaterialClay
Type of cat litter boxFor regular litter boxes
Processing method
unknown
Capacity
16 lbs.
Type
Clumping

Stops Odors From Returning, but Produces Dust That Lingers

Boxiecat was founded in 2009 and works with a number of shelters across the United States. The BoxiePro litter is made in the USA and won’t cling to your cat’s paws. This litter has great deodorizing power, as we couldn’t smell the urine immediately after pouring it on the litter, and the odor didn’t return after 90 minutes, or eight hours. It's unscented, so we couldn’t smell much of anything. This litter is a good fit for owners who spend a lot of time away from home.


We found that it produced a fine dust when poured, which lingered in the air. Since this dust is created every time you pour or scoop it, there’s a good chance of dust accumulating inside a closed litter box when your cat kicks it around. As with other clumping litters, you have to clean it out frequently and throw it in the trash. On the plus side, it absorbs liquid effectively and forms solid clumps that don’t crumble.

ShapeSand
Discoloration present
Scented
Granule sizeunknown
No.8
No.1 in Ease of disposal

World's Best Cat LitterMultiple Cat Unscented

mybest Score
4.06
Deodorizing power
3.82
Ease of disposal
4.47
Low dustiness
4.07
Lowest price
$40.74
High
MaterialCorn
Type of cat litter boxFor regular litter boxes
Processing method
Flushable
Capacity
28 lbs.
Type
Clumping

Unpleasant Odors Get Stronger With Time, and It Produces Thick Dust

This is corn litter by World’s Best Cat Litter that is unique for being made from natural plant materials. It’s unscented, and while there wasn’t a noticeable odor immediately after pouring urine on the litter, it intensified a good amount after 90 minutes. The smell subsided to some extent after eight hours, but it was still noticeable even from a distance, so this might not be the best fit if you spend a lot of time away from home.


A relatively large sawdust-like cloud was produced when pouring the litter. It settled quickly, which may be due to the large granules, but it could cause a closed litter box to fill with dust quickly and lead to coughing or sneezing. This litter needs to be disposed of frequently, as with other clumping products. However, it forms sturdy clumps and can be flushed down the toilet.

ShapeSand
Discoloration present
Scented
Granule sizeunknown
No.9
No.1 in Ease of disposal
No.1 in Low dustiness

Sustainably YoursMulti-cat Plus

mybest Score
3.91
Deodorizing power
3.22
Ease of disposal
4.47
Low dustiness
4.95
Lowest price
$21.99
Mid
MaterialCorn, Cassava
Type of cat litter boxFor regular litter boxes
Processing method
Flushable
Capacity
26 lbs.
Type
Clumping

Doesn’t Eliminate Unpleasant Odors, but Doesn't Produce Much Dust

This litter by Sustainably Yours is made from an original mix of corn and cassava. It’s unique for its completely white coloration, which allows you to check your cat’s health based on its urine. It’s unscented, and hardly covered the smell of the urine immediately after we poured it. It could be smelled even from a distance. This didn’t change much after 90 minutes or eight hours, so this litter doesn’t have much deodorizing power.


On the plus side, it had low dustiness despite its small granules, so it’s good for older cats and those with asthma. It most likely won’t cause your cat to cough or sneeze if used in a closed litter box. While the manufacturer recommends throwing it in the garbage, they also say it can be flushed down the toilet if you dissolve it in water first, so this might be a good fit if you don’t want to dispose of waste in your trash can. As with other clumping litters, you need to clean the cat box often, but it forms sturdy clumps that hold up well when scooped.

ShapeSand
Discoloration present
Scented
Granule sizeunknown
No.10

Dr. Elsey'sUltra Multi-cat Litter

mybest Score
3.84
Deodorizing power
4.29
Ease of disposal
4.11
Low dustiness
3.32
Ultra Multi-cat Litter 1
Ultra Multi-cat Litter 2
Ultra Multi-cat Litter 3
Ultra Multi-cat Litter 4
Ultra Multi-cat Litter 5
Ultra Multi-cat Litter 6
Ultra Multi-cat Litter 7
Lowest price
$11.98
Low Mid
Lowest price
$11.98
Low Mid
MaterialClay
Type of cat litter boxFor regular litter boxes
Processing method
Burnable waste
Capacity
20 lbs.
Type
Clumping

Urine Smells Intensify Over Time, Produces a Large Amount of Dust

Dr. Elsey’s is a company that produces cat food and litter. This one is unique for its natural odor control. Immediately after applying the imitation urine to the litter, the odor was mostly unnoticeable, but the odor gradually got stronger over time. As an unscented litter that doesn’t mask odors well, it has to be disposed of quickly and isn’t ideal for people who are away from home a lot.


This litter generates a lot of dust that takes about 10 seconds to settle. Even small movements kick up a lot of dust, which tends to linger. You need to clear the clumps from the litter box on a frequent basis, and your only option is to throw it in the trash. However, it absorbs liquid effectively, and the clumps don’t crumble when scooped.

ShapeSand
Discoloration present
Scented
Granule sizeunknown
No.11

PetSafePremium Crystal Litter, Blue

mybest Score
3.72
Deodorizing power
4.22
Ease of disposal
3.57
Low dustiness
3.39
Lowest price
$23.70
Mid
MaterialAmorphous silica gel
Type of cat litter boxFor regular litter boxes
Processing method
unknown
Capacity
4.3 lbs. (2 pack)
Type
Non-clumping

Strong but Slow-Acting Deodorizing Power, and Clumps Are Hard to Scoop

PetSafe produces a variety of products, including automatic food and water dispensers. This litter has a unique clear appearance and odor control built right into the grains. While this unscented litter struggled to cover urine odors right away, it gradually reduced them over time, eventually rendering them nearly unnoticeable. Because it takes time to subdue odors, it’s not the best choice for open litter boxes, but it could work well if you spend a lot of time away from home.


It’s made of silica gel, and we were concerned about the splinter-like dust that was produced when we poured it. It didn’t take long for the dust to settle, but this may not be a good option for seniors or asthmatic cats. This litter absorbs liquids and dries quickly without clumping, so you only need to clean out urinary waste about once a month. However, it will slip through the gaps if you try to use a traditional scoop, and it has to be disposed of in the trash.

Shapeunknown
Discoloration present
Scented
Granule sizeunknown
No.12

sWheat ScoopOriginal Wheat Cat Litter

mybest Score
3.62
Deodorizing power
3.72
Ease of disposal
3.57
Low dustiness
3.54
Lowest price
$28.85
High Mid
MaterialWheat
Type of cat litter boxFor regular litter boxes
Processing method
Flushable
Capacity
25 lbs.
Type
Clumping

Litter and Urine Odors Mix to Create an Unpleasant Smell, and It's Pretty Dusty

This wheat cat litter by sWheat Scoop is made exclusively from renewable resources. It’s made of wheat and contains natural starches. While this litter is unscented, the natural smells of the grains immediately mix with odors from urine to create a very unpleasant smell. This doesn’t improve with time, and in fact gets worse as the smell of the grains dissipates and is overpowered by the odor.


While it didn’t form a large dust cloud, we did notice some dust that took around 10 seconds to settle. This can cause problems if your cat is older or has asthma, but if this doesn’t apply to your cat and you decide to use this litter, we recommend an open box so it can’t linger. Despite being described as clumping litter, it breaks apart when you try to scoop it after it gets wet. It has to be cleaned immediately after use, which can be a hassle for the owner. However, it’s made from natural materials and can be flushed down the toilet, so that’s a plus.

ShapeSand
Discoloration present
Scented
Granule sizeunknown

How We Tested the Cat Litters

Cat Litters Evaluation
We tested some top-selling cat litter from Amazon, Walmart, and other sites to find the best one. Here at mybest, we define the ideal cat litter as one that makes using the litter box comfortable for your cat and makes maintaining it easy for you.

We tested each cat litter for the following things.


  • Deodorizing power
  • Low dustiness
  • Ease of disposal

Products we tested

  1. (Purina) Tidy CatsMulti-cat Clumping Litter with Glade Clear Springs
  2. Arm & HammerClump & Seal Platinum
  3. BoxiecatBoxiePro
  4. Cat's PrideMax Power: Unscented Total Odor Control
  5. Dr. Elsey'sUltra Multi-cat Litter
  6. Fresh StepMulti-cat Clumping Litter
  7. Naturally FreshMulti-cat Walnut Shell Litter
  8. PetSafePremium Crystal Litter, Blue
  9. Sustainably YoursMulti-cat Plus
  10. World's Best Cat LitterMultiple Cat Unscented
  11. sWheat ScoopOriginal Wheat Cat Litter
  12. ÖkocatNext Generation Plant Based Litter
1

Deodorizing Power

Deodorizing Power
Since you have to buy cat litter anyway, you might as well get a product that covers the pungent stench of your cat's waste. To that end, we enlisted the help of Eiichi Ishikawa, a certified smell and fragrance advisor, to check how the litter smelled right after being wet with urine, 90 minutes later, and eight hours later. We evaluated the deodorizing power using the method below.

  • We poured 30 milliliters of imitation cat urine on 200 grams of cat litter.
  • Mr. Ishikawa smelled the litter right after, 90 minutes later, and eight hours later, and compared it to the odor of the imitation urine.

How we made the imitation urine:

  • We mixed 40 grams of used mineral litter in 100 milliliters of water to create a solution close to real cat urine.

We didn't evaluate each litter's fragrance in the test, only any unpleasant odors.

2

Low Dustiness

Low Dustiness
Low dustiness is an essential factor in protecting your cat’s health. You don’t want litter that creates a lot of dust when your cat kicks it around or when you change it out. For this test, we evaluated the dustiness of each litter with the help of five cat owners. The test was performed as follows.

  • We filled a bag about a third of the way with cat litter.
  • We used a measuring cup to scoop out 200 milliliters of litter and poured it into the bag from a height of about four inches.
  • We evaluated how much dust was created and how long it lingered before settling.
3

Ease of Disposal

Ease of Disposal
Your cat is the one that uses the litter, but you’re the one that has to change it and dispose of it. If daily maintenance is a hassle, it can stress you out and make it harder to keep clean, which can harm your cat. We evaluated each product based on the following criteria and rated the overall ease of disposal.

  • Can it be flushed down the toilet? If you have to throw it in the trash, you might have to let it sit in your house or garage for several days, which is a negative.
  • How often do you need to dispose of it? Feces need to be disposed of daily, but if you don’t need to clean out urine every day, we evaluated it highly.
  • Does it change color? We gave high ratings to products that change color and make it easy to see when you need to dispose of waste.

How Often Should You Change the Litter?

How often you dispose of waste and change out the litter in the box depends on your lifestyle and your cat’s personality, but you should at least dispose of waste every day. We’ll explain how often you should change out the litter below.

Scoop Waste as Soon as You See It and Do a Full Change Once a Month

Scoop Waste as Soon as You See It and Do a Full Change Once a Month

If you have a sensitive cat, it may not want to use the litter box if there’s waste in it, so you should clean it out as soon as you notice it. You should then add new litter as necessary to make it comfortable for your cat to use.


In addition, you should wash the litter box once a month, and replacing the litter at the same time is a good idea. If you simply keep adding new litter to old for over a month, it can cause pathogens to spread and lead to odors, so we recommend replacing all the litter when you wash the box.

What to Keep In Mind When Switching the Type of Litter

You have to be careful not to put any stress or burden on your cat when putting a new kind of litter in the box. We’ll explain how to make the switch less stressful.

If You Switch Litters Suddenly, Your Cat Might Not Use It

If You Switch Litters Suddenly, Your Cat Might Not Use It

Cats are always on high alert. They tend to avoid places that feel different to their paws or have unfamiliar scents, so they might be reluctant to use the box if you switch types of litter. Cats are prone to lower urinary tract disease, so holding it in when nature calls can have an adverse effect on your pet. In order to avoid harming your pet’s health, be sure to switch the litter without scaring your cat.

Gradually Mix in the New Litter So That Your Cat Doesn’t Notice

Gradually Mix in the New Litter So That Your Cat Doesn’t Notice

Cats are sensitive to change, so start by mixing the new litter in with the old litter. Get the new litter ready before you run out of the old one. First, put half old litter and half new litter in the box and keep and watch on how your cat reacts. If it seems reluctant to use the box, reduce the ratio of the new litter and repeat.


Once your cat gets used to the half-and-half litter, start increasing the amount of new litter. Keep monitoring your cat’s behavior, and if it seems wary of the litter box, go back to using half-and-half. It’s important to gradually switch the litter at a pace that suits your pet.


Gradually increasing the amount of new litter used until you get to 100 percent is easier for your cat. This can take a lot of time, but it’s important to protect the health of your pet.

Top 5 Cat Litters

No. 1: Arm & HammerClump & Seal Platinum

No. 2: (Purina) Tidy CatsMulti-cat Clumping Litter with Glade Clear Springs

No. 3: ÖkocatNext Generation Plant Based Litter

No. 4: Cat's PrideMax Power: Unscented Total Odor Control

No. 5: Naturally FreshMulti-cat Walnut Shell Litter

View Full Ranking
The descriptions of each product are referenced from content available on manufacturer, brand, and e-commerce sites.
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