The Best Kitty Litter

Dr. Elsey’s Premium Clumping Cat Litter

Easy peasy

This litter is known for its ability to clump well, making it super simple for you to clean your little box as often as you like.

Top Pick

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Dr. Elsey’s is a popular litter for good reason. For one, it’s 99.9% dust-free, so cleaning up is a breeze. Plus, it works well for sifting and in mechanical litter boxes. And for those with allergies, we’re pleased to report that it’s hypo-allergenic.

Pros:

• Since this litter is practically dust-free, it’s a great pick for asthmatic cats.
• It’s excellent at clumping and masking odors, which is ideal when you have more than one cat.

Cons:

• If your cat is particularly fluffy, the litter grains can get trapped in your cat’s fur.

Fresh Step Advanced Clumping Multi-Cat Litter

Odor prevention

This has been a popular cat litter brand for some time, but this formula adds something special — a Febreeze scent to keep odors away.

Runner Up

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Fresh Step Multi-Cat fights odors longer than most and is the perfect pick if you have more than one cat in your home. Its refreshing scent masks odors well, especially when you can’t change the litter as often as you’d like. And with low dust and high clumping, we think this cat litter should be at the top of your list.

Pros:

• Thanks to the Febreeze mountain springs scent, your litter will smell fresh longer.
• It clumps really well, which makes this a great pick if you own more than one cat.

Cons:

• We found that this litter produces more dust than other brands.

Fresh Step Crystals Premium Cat Litter

A breath of fresh air

This cat litter eliminates odor in your home; as a bonus, it's unscented for those in your family who are sensitive to smells.

Best Odor Control

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This kitty litter is packed with crystals, which are known for their ability to absorb moisture, and this comes with a 30-day odor control guarantee. If you’re concerned about lifting heavy litter, this is lightweight. There is low dust with this product, but you must use it as directed for the best results.

Pros:

• Due to the unique crystal formula, it produces very little dust and clumps well.
• If you dislike added scents, we’re happy to note that this unscented litter successfully reduced odors.

Cons:

• Some cats might find the crystals too hard on their paws.

Ultra Micro Crystals Cat Litter

Soft on paws

Cats sometimes have sensitive feet, and this litter is soft enough for them.

Best Value

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This kitty litter is super soft for cats and kittens with sensitive paws. It absorbs urine well while drying out solid waste for easy disposal. And not all of us like scents, so we appreciate that this product is non-scented. Plus, it produces little to no dust. What’s not to love?

Pros:

• This cat litter features a mixture of crystal sizes to help with easy absorption. We found this masked the smell of solid waste within a few minutes.
• Unlike other crystal-based brands, the grain is very fine. If your cat has sensitive paws, but you like the effectiveness of crystals, this is a good pick.

Cons:

• You may have to clean your litter box daily if you don’t have an automatic litter box.

Boxiecat Premium Clumping Cat Litter

Super stink control

This cat litter keeps odors away for a month, so this is a great choice, particularly if you have a cat in a smaller dwelling.

Best Long-Lasting

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This is a plant-based kitty litter that’s also flushable. The winner of the 2019 Pet Business Industry Recognition Award, Boxiecat produces minimal dust and is known for tracking less. It seems to keep odors away for a long time, meaning this is great if you’re looking for longer-lasting litter or if you live in a smaller space.

Pros:

• It’s unscented but gives off a natural, fresh aroma.
• We think it keeps odor away longer than other brands, so if you’re planning on leaving your cat for an extended period, this is a good pick.
• It’s excellent at keeping your floors free from litter dust.

Cons:

• This kitty litter may cost more than other brands, but we think it’s worth the price.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does it matter what kind of litter box I use? 
This is completely your preference. The litters mentioned above can work well in both a standard and automatic litter box, so it’s your choice and budget what you might use. If you have an automatic or robot litter box, be sure to read what litter is recommended because some brands require a specific brand or type to ensure that they work as described.

How often should you clean your litter?
If you don’t have an automatic litter box, it’s recommended to clean daily, but if this is something you are not prepared to do, search for the litters that are known for being odor eliminators. Additionally, automatic or robotic litter boxes will have varying directives for how frequently you should clean the litter box. It also depends on how many cats are using the same box.

About the Author

Dave is, admittedly, obsessed with his two Siamese-Lynx cats. In fact, he's always had feline companions growing up, so he's privy to the joys and challenges of cat ownership. He's picked up a vast knowledge of cat care through the years, and now he wants to help cat owners give their cats the best home and life possible.

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