The Best Litter For Healthy Cats
Your kitty is part of your family, and keeping them healthy is a priority. While clay is the most commonly used cat litter, it's not the best choice for all felines. Whether your cat is sensitive to dust or you prefer using environmentally friendly products, natural cat litter is an excellent option. Natural litter offers many of the same advantages as clay litter, including clumping and odor control, without artificial chemicals and fragrances that may harm your cat. With that in mind, we've rounded up some of the best natural cat litter on the market.
What to Look For
We recommend keeping the following questions in mind when shopping for a natural litter for your cat: Does it neutralize smells and control odors? How easy is it to clean? Does it contain any additives that could be harmful to your cat? Our top pick was the litter from Naturally Fresh, which uses walnut shells and produces much less dust than clay litter. We were also impressed by the litter from Swheat Scoop, which has no artificial chemicals or fragrances and is 100% biodegradable. Read on to learn more about our top picks and discover the right one for your feline friend.
Naturally Fresh Walnut-Based Natural Cat Litter
If you’re looking for a natural litter that effectively absorbs liquids, prevents odors, and clumps quickly, there’s no better choice than this litter from Naturally fresh. The litter is made of walnut shells that naturally neutralize odors better than most clay litters. Not only that, it’s silica dust free and low-tracking, which will help keep messes to a minimum. It also weighs much less than traditional litter, with one bag equalling three bags of clumping clay litter.
Pros:
- It’s Compostable
- Walnut shells absorb odor and are soft on cats’ feet
- Does an excellent job of absorbing odors
- Dust-free formula helps control allergies
Cons:
- Clumps are looser than with traditional clay litter
Swheat Scoop Wheat-Based Natural Cat Litter
Naturally clean
Made with biodegradable, all-natural wheat, this natural litter from Swheat effectively controls odors without using artificial chemicals or fragrances. It’s also highly absorbent and clumps into tight balls, making it easy to scoop. Since it’s 100% biodegradable, you can flush it if you want. This litter is lightweight but not to the extent that your cat will kick it out of the box every time they use it. It’s also soft, so your kitty will love walking on it.
Pros:
- Wheat-based with natural odor control
- Biodegradable and flushable
- Soaks up liquid quickly and forms solid clumps
- Doesn’t contain artificial fragrances or dyes
Cons:
- Needs to be changed often
Fresh News Recycled Paper Natural Cat Litter
Goodbye smells
This kitty litter from Fresh News is made from 100% recycled paper, is biodegradable, and can be composted. You won’t have to worry about unpleasant odors when using this litter because it has moisture-locking pellets with baking soda, which help neutralize smells to keep your cat’s box fresh. That’s not all; the litter is low-dust, so it won’t exacerbate respiratory issues in you or your cat. It’s also low tracking, so it stays where it should, in your cat’s box.
Pros:
- More absorbent than clay litter
- Unscented and non-allergenic
- Doesn’t generate much dust
- biodegradable and compostable
Cons:
- It doesn’t clump, which can make scooping more difficult
Catalyst Upcycled Soft Wood Natural Cat Litter
Odor control
This litter from Catalyst is made with soft, ultra-fine grain wood that does an excellent job of simulating traditional cay litters. The litter absorbs quite well and forms easy-to-scoop clumps. Since it’s made of soft wood, it doesn’t produce much dust when scooping, which is good for your and your cat’s lungs. It has a light floral scent that effectively masks odors. Plus, one pound of this litter is the equivalent of three pounds of clumping clay litter, allowing you to do your part to help the environment.
Pros:
- Produces very little dust
- Lightweight and easy to carry around
- Does an excellent job of controlling odors
- Uses all-natural clumping agents
Cons:
- The scent may be too overpowering in small spaces
Petkit 5-in-1 Mixed Natural Cat litter
Spick and span
If you need a highly absorbent litter with effective odor control for your feline friend, this cat litter from Petkit is ready to get the job done. This litter does such a good job at trapping odors that visitors to your home won’t know you have a cat unless you tell them. The litter owes its superior odor control powers to activated carbon and deodorant particles, which neutralize smells without using harsh ingredients. Moreover, plant and corn starch form the base of this pellet-style litter, which won’t clog your toilet and flushes without any problems.
Pros:
- Rapid clumping
- Conveniently flushable
- Made with all-natural ingredients
- Uses small particles which clump easily
- Controls odors without using chemical perfumes
Cons:
- It’s much more expensive than other cat litters
Frequently Asked Questions
How often do cats typically use the litter box?
Keeping in mind that each cat is different, on average, they urinate between two and four times a day and defecate once or twice a day. You may find your cat relieves themselves more or less frequently. You can keep an eye on how often your feline friend uses their litter and identify changes in their pattern by cleaning the litter box at least once daily. If you notice their habits have changed, this could signify a health problem, so you should consult your vet.
What size litter box should I purchase for my cat?
Your cat needs a litter box at least 1.5 times their length to give them plenty of room to dig and bury their waste. If you have more than one cat at your home, you’ll need to invest in multiple litter boxes to ensure they can relieve themselves comfortably when they need to.
About the Author
Why Trust Us
Since 2008, CatTime has provided millions of cat owners with all the information they need to keep their pets happy and healthy. Our experts know exactly what it takes to raise our furry friends and our goal is to help all owners, new or experienced, care for their cats with all the right food, toys, equipment, and accessories.