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Choosing the Best Cat Litter for Your Household

Choosing the Best Type of Cat Litter for Your Household

Updated on June 21, 2022
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Reviewed by Petco’s Animal Care
Education and Compliance (ACE) Team
Choosing best litter for your cat

If you are welcoming a new cat or kitten into your home or have noticed things getting a little more funky smelling around your current cat’s litter box, it may be time to research the best cat litter for your feline friend’s needs.

Finding the right cat litter can help ease feline stress and prevent litter box issues like urinating outside of the litter box. Easy cleanup and odor control are among the rewards for the humans in your household.

Cats can have strong opinions about litter, so don’t be afraid to experiment with different types and textures to find the best match for your cat or kitten. Let’s break down your options so that you can make an educated decision about which cat litter to use in your household.

Types of cat litter

Cat litter comes in a range of types, textures and scents. Finding out which litter works best for your cat and home may require some trial and error.

cat coming out of litter box

Scented vs. unscented cat litter

Litter comes in both scented and unscented varieties. Scented litters are designed to mask litter box odors, but some cats dislike strong scents and prefer unscented litters.

Unscented cat litter brands rely on ingredients such as carbon and natural plant extracts to help absorb odors from urine and feces and reduce litter box smells, keeping both you and your cat happy.

Clumping vs. non-clumping cat litter

Cat litter can also be clumping or non-clumping, which impacts how pet parents clean and empty the litter box. Clumping litters form scoopable, solid masses for quick and easy waste removal.

Clumping cat litters generally provide good odor control and need to be fully replaced less often than their non-clumping counterparts.

Clay cat litter

  • What it’s made of: Carbon and plant extracts
  • Scented or unscented? Available in both varieties
  • Clumping or non-clumping? Quick clumping
  • Non-tracking? No
  • Lightweight? Most varieties are lightweight
  • Dust-free? Available in both varieties
  • Natural? No

Clay cat litter is one of the most common types of litter among cat parents due to its clumping properties. Clumping helps making cleaning the litter box easier and typically means you have to change out the litter less often. However, it typically creates more dust, which is a big downside for cats and humans with respiratory issues.

Pros of clay cat litter Cons of clay cat litter
  • Clumps quickly for easy cleanup
  • Good odor control
  • Typically needs to be changed less frequently than other litters
  • Not biodegradable
  • May create dust

Corn cat litter

  • What it’s made of: Corn!
  • Scented or unscented? Scented (naturally or artificially)
  • Clumping or non-clumping? Clumping
  • Non-tracking? Low tracking
  • Lightweight? Yes
  • Dust-free? Yes
  • Natural? Yes

Corn cat litter has become a popular natural alternative to traditional litter. It clumps nearly as well as clay, but is dust-free and lightweight for pet parents who struggle to refill litter boxes with heavier varieties. However, corn litter’s biggest benefit is that it’s biodegradable and earth-conscious—just expect to pay a little more for it.

Pros of corn cat litter Cons of corn cat litter
  • Dust-free
  • Biodegradable and earth-conscious
  • May be pricier than other litters

Coconut husk cat litter

  • What it’s made of: Coconut fiber
  • Scented or unscented? Naturally scented
  • Clumping or non-clumping? Clumps lightly
  • Non-tracking? No
  • Lightweight? Yes
  • Dust-free? Yes
  • Natural? Yes

Cat litter made from coconut husks is even more environmentally friendly than corn, but not as easy to find at your average pet store. Like corn litter, coconut husk cat litter is lightweight and dust-free, but the composition of the fibers means they are more easily scratched out of your cat’s litter box. Still, it’s a good choice if you like to compost.

Pros of coconut husk cat litter Cons of coconut husk cat litter
  • Dust-free
  • Biodegradable and earth-conscious
  • Made from a renewable resource
  • Compostable
  • May be more difficult to find than more traditional cat litters

Wheat cat litter

  • What it’s made of: Wheat kernels
  • Scented or unscented? Naturally or artificially scented
  • Clumping or non-clumping? Clumping
  • Non-tracking? No
  • Lightweight? Yes
  • Dust-free? Yes
  • Natural? Yes

Wheat cat litter is naturally odor-absorbing and you can even flush this biodegradable variety down the toilet. Even if you don’t like the smell of wheat coming from your cat’s litter area, there are brands that come with pleasant artificial scents. However, it doesn’t clump as well as some types of litter, and since wheat is also a food source for many types of bugs, you’ll have to make sure this litter is properly sealed and stored.

Pros of wheat cat litter Cons of wheat cat litter
  • Naturally clumping and odor-absorbing
  • Dust-free
  • Biodegradable and earth-conscious
  • May not clump as firmly as clay litter
  • Must be stored carefully to prevent pests

Pine or other wood cat litter

  • What it’s made of: Wood by-product
  • Scented or unscented? Naturally scented
  • Clumping or non-clumping? Non-clumping
  • Non-tracking? Low-tracking
  • Lightweight? Yes
  • Dust-free? Low-dust
  • Natural? Yes

Litter made of wood pellets, especially pinewood, is some of the best cat litter for odor control and absorbency. It has the ability to soak up urine while putting out a pleasant and natural scent. While wood might sound uncomfortable for your cat’s sensitive feet, the shavings or pellets are formulated to be soft to the touch. However, since wood doesn’t clump, you’ll likely find yourself changing the litter box more often.

Pros of wood cat litter Cons of wood cat litter
  • Natural wood byproduct
  • Natural deodorizer
  • Dust-free
  • Environmentally safe and biodegradable
  • Can be used for landscape mulch and composting
  • Some pet parents may find pine scent too strong

Walnut shell cat litter

  • What it’s made of: Ground or pelleted walnut shells
  • Scented or unscented? Naturally scented
  • Clumping or non-clumping? Available in both varieties
  • Non-tracking? Low-tracking
  • Lightweight? Yes
  • Dust-free? Low-dust
  • Natural? Yes

When ground up or formed into pellets, walnut shells can be highly absorbent and practically dust-free. While walnut cat litter doesn’t clump as well as some other varieties on our list, it checks many other boxes for pet parents—particularly those who like litter made from a renewable resource.

Pros of walnut shell cat litter Cons of walnut shell cat litter
  • Highly absorbent
  • Biodegradable and made from a renewable resource
  • Low-dust
  • Low-tracking
  • May not clump as easily as clay litter

Recycled paper cat litter

  • What it’s made of: Recycled newspaper
  • Scented or unscented? Available in both varieties
  • Clumping or non-clumping? Non-clumping
  • Non-tracking? Yes
  • Lightweight? Yes
  • Dust-free? Yes
  • Natural? Yes

Cat litter made from recycled newspaper is one of the softest varieties for your cat’s sensitive feet. These paper pellets are so soft, they’re often recommended for cats who have stitches. However, this non-clumping type of paper is one of the least absorbent options and doesn’t control odor as well as other varieties, meaning you’ll spend a bit more time cleaning your cat’s litter box.

Pros of recycled paper cat litter Cons of recycled paper cat litter
  • Eco-conscious
  • Dust-free
  • More affordable than most natural litters
  • Great for cats recovering from surgery
  • Less odor control
  • Not flushable or compostable
  • May need more frequent changes than other litters

Silica cat litter

  • What it’s made of: Silica-based gel crystals
  • Scented or unscented? Available in both varieties
  • Clumping or non-clumping? Non-clumping
  • Non-tracking? Yes
  • Lightweight? Yes
  • Dust-free? Yes
  • Natural? No

The popularity of crystal cat litter is due to its incredible absorbency. The silica crystals are so porous that many pet parents can up to a month without changing their cat’s litter. Some might be concerned about using an artificial litter like silica, but this variety is non-toxic and dust-free, posing no health risk to healthy cats and humans. However, this litter doesn’t clump, and some cats dislike the texture of the crystals on their paws.

Pros of silica cat litter Cons of silica cat litter
  • Highly absorbent
  • Can be reused over a period of one month
  • Trackless and dust-free
  • May be more expensive than other litters
  • Some cats may not like the feel of crystal litter on their paws

How to switch cat litters

You’ve made your decision, and now it’s time to make the switch. Most cats will adapt to a new litter without incident if you commit to a slow transition.

Add small amounts of the new litter to the old over a seven- to 10-day period until you have switched over completely. This is especially important if you are changing litter forms, as a new texture may cause your pet to alter their litter box behavior.

If your cat or kitten is avoiding their litter box, try giving them a simultaneous selection of different litter types to choose from. Put down three or four boxes with different litters in each one and see if your cat has a preference.

Note: If your cat starts going to the bathroom outside of their litter box, your first call should always be to your veterinarian. Many medical conditions can cause a change in a cat’s litter box habits.

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