Best Cat Litter

Litter is to cats what toilet paper is to us. You can sit on the most posh throne it there, but if you have nothing to wipe with, you will hate it. We all have your toilet paper preferences too. Some people love scented, some people hate it. Some people like little designs and colors, some don’t. There are so many choices you can make about toilet paper and most are made subconsciously. Cats are the same. When choosing litter for your cat, remember that it is something that your cat will use several times a day and will have an impact on your furry friend’s wellbeing. We searched the market to find the best litter for any type of cat or multiple cat household.But remember that no litter will do the manual labor for you – you need to clean out your cat’s litter box twice a day and replace the litter every week(depending on the amount of cats and type of litter) or even the most premium litter will make your cat’s life unpleasant.

In this guide, we have compiled a set of criteria for you to judge cat litter by. They are listed in no particular order, as each cat is an individual with different needs. Scientists and cats agree that clumping litters are the best, so we will focus on how to choose the best products in the category of clumping litters. Most cats love clumping litters, especially the clay ones, and the clumps are easy to scoop up for us humans. Unlike non-clumping litters where you need to take out all the litter, you can removed just the clumped litter and feces from clumping litter types.This makes clumping litters better for your wallet, since you don’t need to replace the contents of the entire litter box as often.

That being said, animals, especially cats, are creatures of habit. If your cat looks displeased with the current state of your litter box set up, by all means change it, but do so gradually. Don’t switch from one litter to another in one go. You should mix the new litter in with the old one, just like when you switch cat foods. If the change seems acceptable, slowly up the percentage of the new litter and add less of the old litter.Basically, you don’t want your cat to notice the change, since change is negative for our furry friends. Did you find any other important criteria that help you choose the best litter for your cat? Let us know!

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Buyer's Guide

Watch out for Dust

The first thing you should look out for is dust. All cat litter has some dust and even if you have been buying the same brand for years, you will notice that one package is dustier than another.There are, however, materials that are dustier than others are. Clumping litter that are made of clay are dustier than wheat or corn clumping litter, for example. This is one of the only downsides to clay clumping litter though, as most cats love clay-based litter! A downside of natural, less dusty clumping litters is that they are more expensive. There is no easy and complete solution to eliminating that puff of dust when you pour litter into the pan, but if your litter is significantly dusty and makes your or your cat uncomfortable, it’s time to switch. This is especially important for households with humans or animals with breathing issues such as asthma or lots of sneezing and coughing.If any of these health problems sound familiar, do not use silica crystal litter or clay litter, try paper or corn litter.

No Litter Tracking

The best cat litters are simply those that your cat doesn’t track outside of the litter box. Of course clumping litters are a classic choice for tracking resistant litter, but you can also buy litter pellets, which are larger than other litter materials so they don’t get stuck in cat paws as easily. Another low-tracking option are silica crystals. Of course, if your feline overlord is a vigorous digger, you will get tracking no matter what you do, but a litter mat and a non-tracking litter will help reduce the tracking significantly.

No Scent

You might prefer scented litter, but studies have proven that cats prefer unscented. Maybe your cat gets mildly unhappy when you try to mix some scented litter into the litter box, but watch out! If your cat begins to hate the litter box, you will face a much bigger problem than non-scented litter. If your cat accepts scented litter, don’t worry too much.This part is mostly for kitties that are hesitant or apprehensive about strong smells.

Natural Cat Litters

Are you passionate about reducing waste and fighting pollution? Recycled litters are not only eco-friendly, but they are also easier to clean up – you can just flush them down the toilet, they won’t clog it. One popular option in this category is recycled paper litter, which is completely biodegradable, very absorbent and dust-free. The paper is shaped into pellets or granules, so you can choose between clumping and non-clumping with this material. Pine litter is another great option if you want to go green. It is made using old lumber scraps and comes in three forms: crushed, pellets or granules. Unfortunately, these natural litters are more expensive than other litter options. If you are worried about your cat or any other pets swallowing some litter, these litters are much safer to ingest than any other type.

Odor control

This one is a biggie for us humans. We love our cat, but not the litter box smell. The litters that are the best at absorbing odors are actually grass litters and non-clumping litters. They contain charcoal or baking soda to help contain the smell. Unfortunately, they are dustier that way. If your cat is happy with a non-clumping litter, then that is the litter you should buy. There are many odor concealing cat litters out there, but watch out, this just means they are scented! Ideally, we want to minimize the odor, not try to cover it up. Cats have very sensitive noses and they will thank you for knowing the difference.

Covered versus Uncovered Litter Boxes

Of course, the litter you choose to buy is of utmost importance, but you also have to consider what litter box you will be putting the litter in. Some cats prefer covered litter boxes to make them feel safe, others hate the enclosed space and need an uncovered litter box. If your cat likes a covered litter box, then dust will play a big role in your cat litter selection. If your feline friend digs in such a confined space, the dust will be much more concentrated in a closed litter box than in an open space.

Open top litter boxes are less worrisome with respect to dust, but they make us notice the odor more. If your cat has an uncovered litter box, consider odor control and absorption (not covering up!)your mission in finding the perfect litter.

Fine Litter or Big Chunks

Most cats seem to prefer fine litter of unscented, natural materials. As mentioned before, fine-grained litters are better at absorbing odor, but there are some risks involved. If you are a dog and cat owner, fine grains of litter that your dog inevitably ingests could cause alarming health problems. This is also the case with kittens, especially those that are younger than 3 months old. Observe your pets and their behavior around the litter box. If any of them likes to lick or swallow litter, it is best to avoid fine-grained litter as the small particles could cause illness, especially if ingested in larger amounts.

Large granules or litter pellets may not absorb smells as well as fine grains of litter, but they are far less likely to be ingested by a curious animal. They are also more difficult to track out of the litter box because the pellets will not get stuck in your cat’s paws as easily.

Litters for Multiple Cats

If you are looking for a litter suitable for multiple cats, these are the things to look out for and focus on. First, you want to get a cat litter that is marketed as extremely absorbent. With multiple kitties using one litter box, you definitely need more absorbency than a one-cat household. Your second go-to is of course odor control. All of the criteria listed above apply, but for multiple cat litters, these two are at the top of our list of priorities. Litters that specifically say they are for multiple cats are generally more absorbent and odor reducing than other litters out there, so just seeing that on the package means that this is some heavy duty litter. If any cat in your household has allergies, make sure to check the litter you choose is safe and will not cause any allergic reactions. If any of your cats is less than a year old, we would advise you to get non-clumping litter like silica crystals so your kitten doesn’t have health problems from ingesting litter. Clumping litter is dangerous in this aspect because it absorbs water, even after it is in your cat’s body. This could lead to your cat's digestive system being blocked, which requires immediate veterinary attention!

What if my cat hates any litter I tried?

If you’re desperately looking for the best litter for your furry friend and nothing you buy seems to be satisfactory, there could be a variety of other problems than litter itself. First of all, check your litter box. Did you recently switch types of litter box? Was your cat used to a specific type of litter box from a previous owner? Always check your cat’s history and don’t make changes from what your cat knows unless necessary. The second thing to look at is the litter box size. If you have your cat since it was a kitten, chances are that the cat outgrew the litter box.Does your cat have enough space to turn around in the litter box comfortably?If it is an open litter box, make sure the sides are low enough to let your cat get in and out comfortably. We don’t want to make bathroom time uncomfortable and unpleasant. If it is a closed litter box, make sure the cat door is big enough for your cat. If the door is a bit higher off the ground, check that the surface is paw and claw friendly. Your cat needs to be able to jump out without slipping. Last but not least, litter box location. Cats need peace and quiet too for their business, just like we do. If the litter box is in a noisy or crowded place, chances are that this deters your cat from using the litter box. Place the litter box away from the cat’s food and water, cats like to keep the food and bathroom separate.

Checklist for Choosing Best Cat Litter

• Clay litter is the least expensive option
• No clumping litter for kittens, they could swallow some!
• Odor control is better than odor concealing, minimize odor rather than conceal it.
• The less dust, the better. Dustman cause health problems to you and your cat.
• Most cats love unscented, natural litters
• Litter might not be the problem, check with your cat’s previous owners