• Cats are picky about the litter in their litter boxes, so it’s important to choose a formula that’s healthy for your cat and easy to clean.
  • Because there are so many different types of cat litter out there, it can be a challenge to make the right choice.
  • Our top pick is Dr. Elsey’s Precious Cat Ultra-Premium Clumping Litter because it’s a hard-clumping litter that traps liquids and odor without generating tons of dust.

Though cats can certainly be difficult at times, they are a low-maintenance pet in the sense that you don’t have to take them outside for a walk to do their business. Cats are fastidiously clean animals that spend hours grooming themselves each day and they do their business in a litter box. It makes your job as a pet owner easier – you simply have to scoop the litter a few times a week and change it out as needed.

When it comes to your cat’s litter, there are many options to choose from, and each cat has its own unique preferences for texture, fragrance, and absorbency. Because there are so many different types of cat litter out there, including natural cat litter, it can be a challenge to make the right choice. Lucky for you, we’ve done all of the research. We’ve looked into the different kinds of cat litter and read reviews for all of the top brands. We’ve also tested many of them ourselves to bring you our top picks for the best cat litters on the market. And if you’re looking for additional products to maintain your cat’s litter box, read our guides to the best products to reduce litter box odor and cat litter scoops.

Here are the best cat litters you can buy:

Prices and links are current as of 8/10/20.

The best cat litter overall

Dr. Elsey’s Precious Cat Ultra-Premium Clumping Litter uses an unscented, dust-free formula that traps liquid and odors to keep your cat happy and your home smelling fresh.

Although cats are naturally very clean, the litter box can get messy if you don’t choose the right litter. The perfect cat litter forms hard clumps to make cleanup a breeze, it’s dust-free and low-tracking, and it controls odors for days at a time. And that ideal litter is the Dr. Elsey’s Precious Cat Ultra-Premium Clumping Litter.

Made from traditional clay materials, this litter creates hard clumps from your cat’s urine and feces that are easy to scoop up. It is unscented and dust-free so it won’t cause respiratory problems, and its unique heavy clay granules help to reduce tracking. Dr. Elsey’s Precious Cat Ultra-Premium Clumping Litter is surprisingly inexpensive as well, making it ideal for multi-cat households.

The cat litter is super-affordable, and its hard-clumping action traps both liquids and odor, helping to keep your house fresh and clean.

Pros: Hard-clumping formula traps liquids and odor, unscented, dust-free and hypoallergenic formula, low-tracking, works well for multi-cat households, very inexpensive

Cons: Only available in large bags 18 pounds and up, lack of deodorizers may not mask smells as well as scented litters, not biodegradable

The best clumping cat litter

Foto: Source: World's Best/Business Insider

Made from all-natural corn granules, World's Best Cat Litter Clumping Formula is biodegradable, forms hard clumps for easy cleanup, isn't dusty, and offers excellent odor control.

When it comes to cat litter, there are two main types to consider: clumping and non-clumping. Clumping cat litter works by absorbing liquid, turning it into solid clumps that can be scooped up and thrown away. This type of litter is usually low in dust and can be great for odor control, though some clumping litters are not biodegradable. Our top pick for clumping cat litter is World's Best Cat Litter Clumping Formula.

Made entirely from renewable, whole-kernel corn, World's Best Cat Litter Clumping Formula is both environmentally-friendly and biodegradable. The hard-clumping action makes scooping the litter box a breeze, and, because the granules are made from corn and not clay, they can be flushed or composted. This litter absorbs liquid quickly and controls odors for days at a time. It is also very low in dust, which is beneficial for your cat's respiratory health.

This formula is fairly pricey compared to other litters, but it lasts a long time and it controls odors well if you scoop it often.

Pros: Hard-clumping formula makes cleanup easy, biodegradable and environmentally-friendly, made from all-natural corn, can be flushed or composted, can be used in mechanical and sifting litter boxes, offers excellent odor control, dust-free

Cons: Fairly expensive compared to other clumping litters, some cats dislike the texture or scent of the litter, some cats have trouble with tracking, clumps may dry out and crumble after a few days

The best newspaper cat litter

Foto: Source: Purina/Business Insider

Made from 100% recycled paper, Purina Yesterday's News Unscented Litter is a gentle, highly absorbent non-clumping cat litter that is great for the environment.

One of the main benefits of clumping cat litter is, of course, the fact that it makes scooping the litter box easy. There are, however, some benefits that non-clumping litter has to offer. For example, non-clumping litters can be made from a variety of materials including natural materials like wood, corn, and grass, which might be important for cats who are sensitive to clay. Some of these materials also have a naturally pleasant smell, and, for cleanup, you can save yourself the hassle of scooping by simply dumping the entire litter box and refilling it.

Though there are many non-clumping litters to choose from, our top pick is Purina Yesterday's News Unscented Litter. Made from 100% recycled paper materials, our testing revealed that this litter is almost completely dust-free and biodegradable. It works quickly, absorbing up to three times the liquid of clay litter by volume, and it lasts longer than non-clumping pine litters. Purina Yesterday's News Unscented Litter is unscented so it won't irritate your cat's respiratory system and it is super gentle on his paws.

Pros: Made from recycled paper materials, three times more absorbent than clay litter by volume, unscented and 99.7% dust-free, soft pellets are gentle on paws, lasts longer than pine pellets, completely biodegradable

Cons: Paper pellets may start to dissolve after absorbing liquid, odor control is limited which may require frequent cleaning, paper materials do not clump at all, some liquid may bypass the pellets

The best natural cat litter

Foto: Source: Ökocat/Business Insider

Made from all-natural reclaimed wood, Ökocat Natural Wood Cat Litter absorbs up to 500% its weight with 7-day odor control and superior clumping.

When it comes to natural cat litter, there are a number of different materials to choose from. One of the most popular materials, however, is wood because it is cost-effective, absorbent, and it has a naturally fresh scent. Natural cat litter is ideal for kittens, older cats, and cats who are sensitive to more abrasive materials. Many of these litters are also flushable for easy cleanup. Our top pick for natural cat litters is Ökocat Natural Wood Cat Litter.

This Ökocat Natural Wood Cat Litter is made from 100% sustainable and natural wood fibers, making this litter eco-friendly, biodegradable, and all-natural. Our testing confirmed that this litter is free from fragrances, chemicals, and dyes but it still offers excellent absorbency and long-lasting odor control. Ökocat Natural Wood Cat Litter binds to liquids to form scoopable clumps and the natural antimicrobial benefits of the wood fibers help to kill bacteria, keeping your home cleaner and fresher than more traditional cat litters.

Our test cats did take a few days to adjust to the texture of the materials but, once they did, there were no problems.

Pros: Made from 100% sustainable natural wood fibers, absorbs up to 500% its weight in liquid, forms clumps that can be scooped away, lightweight and dust-free, naturally inhibits bacteria growth, provides up to 7 days of odor control, contains no fragrances or chemicals, soft texture is gentle on paws

Cons: May track more than natural litters with larger granules, some cats dislike the texture of the wood materials, clumps aren't as hard as clay litter

The best multi-cat litter

Foto: Source: World's Best/Business Insider

Made from all-natural, renewable corn materials, World's Best Cat Litter Multiple Cat Clumping Formula offers fast-clumping action and excellent odor control for multi-cat households.

As clean as your cats may be, litter box waste and odors accumulate quickly in a multi-cat household. A cat litter designed for multi-cat households should offer excellent odor control as well as antimicrobial benefits to kill bacteria. Many multi-cat litters have strong fragrances that may help to mask odors but doesn't actually eliminate them. These fragrances can also be irritating to your cat's respiratory system. Our top pick for multi-cat litter that is fragrance-free, hard-clumping, and highly-effective is World's Best Cat Litter Multiple Cat Clumping Formula.

Made from all-natural, whole-kernel corn, World's Best Cat Litter Multiple Cat Clumping Formula is one of the safest and most effective multi-cat litters on the market. The natural corn materials absorb liquid quickly and form hard clumps that are easy to scoop away. The formula is eco-friendly, fast-clumping, and excellent for odor control. We also found in testing that this litter has low-dust benefits in addition to fast absorbency.

Pros: Made from all-natural whole-kernel corn, renewable and environmentally friendly, can be flushed or composted, excellent odor control for multi-cat households, high absorbency and fast clumping action, free from chemicals and fragrances, gentle on soft paws, 99% dust-free

Cons: More expensive than many cat litter brands, some cats may not like the texture of the corn materials, litter may need to be changed more often in multiple cat households

Check out our other great cat guides

Foto: Source: Jaromir Chalabala/Shutterstock/Business Insider

The best litter box

We spoke to a veterinary behaviorist and a cat behavior consultant to find out what qualities to look for in a litter box. We then tested 15 of the most popular litter boxes, including disposable, hooded, top-entry, and self-cleaning models.

The best natural cat litter

Natural cat litter has several advantages over conventional clay-based cat litter - it's more eco-friendly, it clumps well, and it's healthy for your cat.

The best litter mats

Even with low-tracking litter, you still need a mat to contain scatter. The best cat litter mats trap litter to prevent it from being spread all over the house. We tested mats with three cats and consulted veterinarians to select the best ones.

The best cat brushes

Brushing a cat regularly can help reduce shedding, matted fur, and hairballs. We tested 14 cat brushes, dematting tools, combs, and grooming gloves to select the best for short- and long-haired cats.

The best flea prevention and treatment for cats

Fleas can pose serious risks to your cat's health. With the right flea treatment for cats, you can keep your cat or kitten safe from fleas. Effective over-the-counter flea control products are available in the form of topical preventives, collars, shampoos, sprays, and oral options.

The best cat carriers

Travel makes many cats nervous. To keep your cat safe and secure, you need to invest in a high-quality cat carrier. Cat carriers come in all shapes and sizes with different designs depending on the intended use. Here are our top picks for the best cat carriers.

The best cat food

Cats need lots of protein and fat in their diets to be healthy, so it's important that you feed them the best nutritionally balanced cat food. Whether you're shopping for dry or wet cat food, we've researched many brands to give you high-quality options.

The best hairball medicine

Hairballs are inevitable for cats, and if your feline is extra fluffy, it may be a chronic problem. Luckily, there are plenty of great hairball remedies, medicines, and prevention tools out there.

The best scratching posts

Cats need to scratch, so to save your sofa and your curtains, you need a sturdy cat scratching post or scratcher. Scratching posts may be vertical, horizontal, or inclined, and some of them can be wall-mounted. Each cat has their own unique preferences, of course. These are the best scratching posts.

The best cat bowls

Some cats are picky about their food bowl. That's why it's important to choose the right one for their needs. When it comes to choosing the best cat food bowl for your cat, there are a number of factors to consider. Here are our top picks for the best cat bowls.

The best cat beds

There are many different kinds of cat beds, and cats, fickle creatures that they are, will all like different beds for special, mysterious cat reasons. Here are the best cat beds you can buy.