Every indoor cat needs litter — unless you want to spend your time picking up messes, that is. However, some cat litters are better than others. Generally, the best cat litters have features like these:
- Fragrance-free or fragrance-inclusive odor control. After all, you don’t want cat litter to stink up your house.
- Good ingredients. Generally, this means the type of cat litter you choose will use ingredients like activated charcoal. Natural cat litter will use different ingredients than other top picks, but any kind of litter blend can work well.
- Granules that aren’t too small. Otherwise, they could get stuck in your cat’s paws or lead to other issues. Litters with a clumping formula could prevent this issue.
- Reasonable change timelines. Cleaning litter boxes is a necessary part of being a cat owner, but you’ll only want to clean up litter every once in a while, not every day.
- No allergens. Dust-free cat litter is usually best for cats with respiratory issues.
Let’s take a closer look at the best cat litters you can purchase from Amazon, Chewy, and other retailers.
Best for Fresh Fragrance: Fresh Step Lightweight Clumping Cat Litter, Odor Control With Febreze
Key specs: 15.4 lbs.
This kitty litter is a great choice from start to finish due to odor control provided by Febreze, which is infused into the product. On top of that, it’s a clumping litter, so you never need to clean up litter throughout your house.
Pros
You might prefer this lightweight litter for a variety of reasons:
- Excellent fragrance and odor control properties
- Good for preventing messes from spreading around the house
- Proprietary and effective ClumpLock technology
- Low-dust formula, so it’s not as triggering for allergies
Cons
However, you might also find that it’s not the ideal cat litter for your feline friend because of this downside — tThe litter clumps can stick to the hair of some long-fur cats. If you have a cat with longer fur, this may not be the best choice for you.
Best for Odor Control: Arm & Hammer Clump & Seal Platinum Cat Litter
Key specs: 40 lbs.
Arm & Hammer, known for its baking soda, also produces one of the best odor-control cat litters on the market. It guarantees no odor in your home for up to seven days.
Pros
Some pet parents like Arm & Hammer litter because of its many benefits:
- Excellent clumping action
- Easy to scoop to avoid contamination from germs and parasites
- Fantastic odor control and protection, even with multiple cats
- Uses unique technology to form a seal around cat waste and destroy order, also facilitating easy cleanup
- Lots of litter per purchase
Cons
On the other hand, you might prefer an alternative cat litter because of the below downsides:
- Does not provide your home with additional fragrance
- Made for multi-cat households, so it’s not ideal for those with a single cat
Best for Multiple Cats: Cat’s Pride Max Power Total Odor Control
Key specs: 15 lbs.
Here’s a great cat litter choice if you have multiple feline friends you want to keep safe and clean. Its hypoallergenic and odor-controlling formula has strong clumping action and is perfect for a litter box used by multiple cats.
Pros
You should consider purchasing this kitty litter thanks to its major advantages:
- Hypoallergenic because of its lack of fragrances and dyes
- 99% dust-free to prevent allergic reactions
- Clumps pretty well overall
- Provides up to 10 days of odor control in most cases
- Suitable for cats of all ages and breeds
Cons
That said, the clumps in this litter can be difficult to dispose of, so it may not be the best choice.
Best for High Absorption: Litter Pearls Micro Crystals Unscented Non-Clumping Crystal Cat Litter with Odorbond
Key specs: 3.5 lbs.
This cat litter uses microscopic crystals to clump litter together, then controls odor for up to 30 days — whether multiple cats or one cat uses the litter box. It’s also an absorbing cat litter variety, meaning it’s perfect for multi-cat households.
Pros
Many cat parents like this kitty litter due to the major features and attributes described below:
- Safe for pets and people due to the non-toxic silica gel crystals
- Doesn’t trigger allergic reactions
- Soft on kitty paws for maximum comfort
- Absorbs urine and other liquids
Cons
At the same time, some pet parents prefer different litter options thanks to these possible cons:
- A bit expensive, given how much litter you get for your purchase
- Silica gel crystals can sometimes spread out throughout the house and are easy to see
Best for Natural Ingredients: Dr. Elsey’s Ultra Cat Litter
Key specs: 18 lbs.
This cat litter is made with only natural ingredients, making it a perfect fit for eco-friendly parents. It uses bentonite clay and other materials to clump and provide effective odor control while also minimizing tracking.
Pros
As a cat parent, you might like this high-quality cat litter for a variety of key reasons:
- Doesn’t use any synthetic additives or chemicals that can harm your cat
- Provides good clumping and odor-control action
- Hypoallergenic, so it’s good for sensitive cats or parents
- Good value for money given the purchase price
Cons
That said, there is one main disadvantage you may encounter if you purchase this cat litter. This litter is not ideal for a litter box used by multiple cats, so if you have more than one cat, you may want to look elsewhere.
Best for Septic Safety: World’s Best Cat Litter Original Unscented
Key specs: 32 lbs.
Here’s a unique and unscented cat litter option. This lightweight litter is safe for all sewer systems, and it’s naturally free of silica dust.
Pros
You may want to try out this cat litter thanks to the following advantages:
- Effective and lightweight ingredients
- Clumps quickly for easy scooping
Cons
However, tThis litter should never be mixed with non-clumping litter, which is something to keep in mind if you do prefer to mix litters for better results.
Best for Long-Term Odor Protection: Purina Tidy Cats Clumping Cat Litter, Tidy Max Instant Action Multi Cat Litter
Key specs: 38 lbs.
Maybe you want one of the best cat litters that won’t require you to change the litter box that often. This litter is just the ticket, as it uses a proprietary ammonia blocker to prevent odors for up to two weeks.
Pros
This is a popular cat litter among pet parents because of the following pros:
- Very strong odor control overall
- Great for using with multiple cats
- Excellent moisture-activated power pieces to absorb odors and liquids
- Acts almost instantaneously
Cons
However, other parents like different cat litter brands because of these disadvantages:
- Not an eco-friendly or hypoallergenic option
- Could cause tracking if you aren’t careful
Best for Biodegradability: Naturally Fresh Cat Litter – Walnut-Based Quick-Clumping Kitty Litter
Key specs: 26 lbs.
This fresh cat litter uses natural ingredients, like walnut, to facilitate odor control and cat urine absorption. Even better, it’s so absorbent that you’ll only need to use one bag of this litter compared to three bags of other litter varieties.
Pros
There are plenty of things to like and appreciate about this cat litter:
- Environmentally-friendly formula
- Virtually dust-free to prevent allergic reactions
- Will not track throughout your house
- Lasts for about three times as long as other litter brands
- Totally biodegradable
Cons
That said though, this litter is a bit expensive compared to other litter options on the market.
Best for Natural Alternative to Clay and Pellets: SmartCat All Natural Clumping Cat Litter
Key specs: Five lbs.
This all-natural clumping cat litter is another top choice since it doesn’t use any chemicals and is 99% dust-free. It’s great for pet parents and cats alike with allergies.
Pros
Cat parents might prefer this particular cat litter for a variety of reasons:
- Pretty good odor control overall
- Several bag sizes to choose from
- Made from 100% natural grass seed grown in the United States
- Biodegradable
- Easy to adapt or mix with another litter
Cons
Alternatively, they might like a different cat litter because of these downsides:
- Absorption could be a bit better
- Not ideal for litter boxes used by multiple cats
Best for Unscented Protection: ökocat Natural Wood Cat Litter
Key specs: 13.2 lbs.
If you prefer odor control but don’t want a synthetic fragrance harassing your nostrils, this is a perfect choice. This natural cat litter uses wood as its chief ingredient for biodegradability and eco-friendliness.
Pros
Try this cat litter out, and you’ll find that it is packed with several advantages you’ll appreciate:
- No toxic chemicals or GMOs
- 99% dust-free
- Easily biodegradable or compostable
- Clumps and absorbs liquid very well
- Provides exceptional odor control overall
Cons
You’ll also want to note that there are some possible downsides, however:
- Only appropriate for one cat per litter box
- Can still stick on cat fur if your kitty has long hair
Best for Fast Odor Absorption: PetSafe ScoopFree Premium Blue Crystal Litter
Key specs: 4.4 lbs.
This premium blue crystal cat litter is prized for its fast odor absorption rate. A single bag will last for up to 30 days in a one-cat household, and it’s low tracking and 99% dust-free.
Pros
Consider purchasing this cat litter for these benefits:
- Doesn’t usually cause allergic reactions
- Works with any litter box or litter tray
- Absorbs order instantaneously, five times faster than clumping clay cat litter
- Provides excellent customer care via the brand customer service hotline
Cons
Or consider the possible downsides you can encounter if you want to look elsewhere:
- Can appear throughout your house
- May not work for cats that are used to another litter variety
Best for Eco-Friendliness: Fresh News Recycled Paper, Original Pellet Cat Litter
Key specs: 25 lbs.
This cat litter is great if you only want eco-friendly litter. It’s biodegradable and absorbent, naturally fighting odors without synthetic chemicals, dyes, or perfumes. On top of that, it’s made of recycled paper, so it doesn’t result in more waste.
Pros
This could be the right cat litter for you and your feline friend due to these factors:
- Perfect for cats, hamsters, rabbits, chinchillas, gerbils, and other small mammals
- Totally nonallergenic
- Made of 100% post-consumer paper
- Does a good job of odor control in general
Cons
Fresh News may not be your first choice because of these possible downsides:
- Not as good for solid waste compared to other litter varieties
- Only suitable for single-cat households
The Bottom Line
There are plenty of excellent litter choices you can pick from. For instance, the PetSafe ScoopFree Premium Blue Crystal Litter is an ideal choice if you want to prioritize odor absorption, while the Naturally Fresh Cat Litter Walnut-Based Quick-Clumping Kitty Litter is an effective, biodegradable pick. Whatever you choose, be sure to swap out your cat’s litter progressively so they get used to the new litter over time instead of all at once.
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