The Best Natural Cat Litter

What to Look For

In our search for the best, we considered three main questions: Is it made out of wholesome, natural components? Is the price reasonable for our budgets? Is the composition effective for soaking up pee and sticking to poo? With those questions in mind, we landed on a few favorites. Okocat’s plant-based litter, for example, won our top spot for a few reasons. Not only is it non-toxic, but it’s also virtually odorless and extremely absorptive. But if you’d prefer a non-clumping option, Skoon’s litter uses a unique non-clump formulation that we love. It’s an excellent low-maintenance option. For more on the rest of our favorites, keep on reading.

Okocat A Healthier Clean Plant-Based Litter

The cat's meow

Made from natural wood, this odor-control litter is an excellent option.

Best Overall

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For starters, this plant-based premium quality kitty litter is absolutely excellent at absorbing kitty messes and the smells that come along with them. With no toxic dyes, chemicals, or other artificial hazards, this litter is made from wood fiber for a completely dust-free space. Because wood fiber acts to prevent enzymes from bonding, there’s virtually zero smell. In fact, it helps prevent the creation of ammonia and other unwanted odors. The result is a lightweight, dust-free litter that doesn’t smell.

Pros:

• A lot of plant-based litter is less effective at stopping odor compared to conventional options, but this one does a better job than even artificial litter.
• The litter naturally clumps around pee and poo, so scooping out waste is easy.
• The composition is very similar to sawdust, but the pieces are large enough to eliminate dust from floating in the air. In fact, it’s 99% dust-free.

Cons:

• This premium litter is a bit pricier compared to conventional options.

Arm & Hammer Naturals Cat Litter Multi-Cat

Cat families, unite

For multiple cats, this option will keep the smell at bay.

Best For Multi-Cat Households

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If you have more than one cat, you’re going to want to aim for a multi-cat litter formula. More absorbent, Arm & Hammer’s take on a natural litter is an excellent option for multiple cat owners, thanks to the increase in agents that actually help to decrease the overall smell. Not only that, but they also work to control dust and instantly clump both liquid and solid waste for easy removal. And although we’re not big on artificial fragrances, this one does include an artificial scent. However, the scent is pleasing and works very well. When it comes to multiple cats, sometimes you just need that extra boost.

Pros:

• Arm & Hammer deserves their reputation for odor elimination since this one really reduces the stink. Even from up close, the smell of waste is contained.
• The price per pound is really low, so this is a great value-buy for those with multiple cats and low budgets.

Cons:

• This has an artificial fragrance that some people don’t prefer.

SmartCat All Natural Clumping Litter

Stink be gone

Even with just one cat, the smell of a kitty litter box can get a little overwhelming — until you use this odor-controlling option.

Strongest Odor Control

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Indoor cats definitely leave a scent, and when you add in the kitty litter, for many it can just be too much. Even cat lovers aren’t too keen on the stink. That’s why SmartCat’s litter is such a good choice – there are virtually no unwanted smells. The best part? It’s made 100% out of grass for a fragrance-free, dust-free, chemical-free, and biodegradable product. With an excellent clumping action that helps to keep smells at bay, this product works wonders for harmonious living with feline friends.

Pros:

• The clumps are lightweight and efficient, so it saves litter in the long run. It also makes it easier to clean, since you can just scoop out chunks without them breaking apart.
• It’s literally made out of the grass, so we feel good letting our cats do their business on it.
• It smells a bit like dried oats and absorbs the scent of cats’ waste products easily.

Cons:

• Because this is made from grass, some cats may try to eat this litter.

Skoon All-Natural Cat Litter

Low-maintenance cat care

Cats are typically low-maintenance pets, and this non-clumping formula makes the responsibility even easier.

Best Non-Clumping

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This all-natural formula doesn’t clump and keeps dust at bay, resulting in a non-tracking litter that is surprisingly low-maintenance. Made with both cat and human allergies in mind, Skoon’s use of a unique pebble system allows for a hypoallergenic formula that contains no harsh ingredients or chemicals. Instead, it’s just a natural, clean system for keeping cat waste out of sight and out of mind. And although it’s a lightweight formula, we love this for multiple cat households, too. One trick to keep things fresh is to make sure to stir the litter every day. It’s worth the few extra minutes.

Pros:

• If you’ve been struggling to find a natural cat litter that doesn’t smell at all, go with this one. If you give it a daily stir, the stone-like litter fully absorbs liquids for a truly stink-free litterbox.
• Unlike most options, this one is made up of high-absorption chunky solids, so it doesn’t cling to cats’ fur and track around the house.

Cons:

• The non-clumping formula lasts longer, but the price per pound is higher than most options.

Boxiecat Premium Clumping Cat Litter

No nasty chemicals

This scent-free formula helps to keep the dreaded kitty litter box a low profile.

Best Scent-Free

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If the scent of kitty litter has you feeling down, we can’t say that we blame you. From the artificial scents to the organic odors, kitty litter boxes aren’t known for being the most delightful-smelling household objects. Boxiecat has created a hard clumping litter that is natural, nearly 100% dust-free, and completely free of any smells. The best part is that it actually masks cat scents, too, for an experience that almost makes owning an indoor cat odor-free. The clumping agents of the granules expertly hide both liquids and solids for a smell-free bathroom break.

Pros:

• This is another great option for long-haired cats since there’s almost no tracking. That means no more litter clinging to your kitty’s belly.
• Because it’s free of dust and fragrances, this is an excellent option for allergy sufferers looking for something non-irritating.

Cons:

• When cleaning, the clumps tend to break apart easily, so it may take a few scoops to get everything.

Frequently Asked Questions

How often should you change your kitty litter?

Although there are certainly some who change their kitty litter every day, either out of necessity or sensitivity. However, a general guideline is to change your cat litter twice a week.

How many cats can use one kitty litter box?

Although some cats will happily share a kitty litter box, there is one rule that vets typically advise: for each cat, aim for one box plus one. That means if you have one cat, get two boxes. If you have two cats, make that three. Extra coverage never hurts.

About the Author

Tana is a writer and yoga teacher who has found zen from her feline friends. Her two childhood cats, Moses and Max, were the light of her life for over a decade. She has since then rescued numerous cats and has made it her mission to see that all animals are treated with care and affection. Tana’s goal is to equip cat owners with the tools they need to provide a healthy, safe environment.

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