The best natural cat litter we tested with multiple cats

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Most cats for illustration fine-grained, unscented clumping feline litter, which is emblematic of a bully clay formula. However, nan champion earthy feline litter is different option. While clay litter tends to create particulate that tin irritate some cats and humans, earthy litters are astir dust-free and besides much eco-friendly because they are biodegradable and often much sustainably originated than clay and silica gel litters. Natural litters besides activity good to soak up urine while minimizing odors pinch earthy scents and fibrous composition.

For this guide, we said to veterinarians and feline behaviorists to find retired what to look for successful a earthy litter. Then we tested 18 different corn, wood, grass, wheat, walnut, and tofu litters. Our apical prime is Sustainably Yours Small-Grain Formula, a maize and cassava litter pinch a soft texture our tester cats loved. It forms difficult clumps connected interaction and emits nary detectable scent aliases dust. Although earthy litters thin to beryllium much pricey than clay litter, World's Best Multiple Cat Unscented Litter is an affordable, high-quality corn-based litter that clumps quickly and manages odors, moreover successful multi-cat households.

Unfortunately, not each feline is consenting to move from their emblematic litter. Our experts opportunity that cats, being creatures of habit, often for illustration a acquainted worldly complete an unfamiliar one. This was somewhat evident successful our testing: Two tester cats occasionally utilized nan unfamiliar litter, while 2 from a different family showed small objection. 

Read much about how Business Insider Reviews tests and evaluates pet products.

Our apical picks for nan champion earthy feline litter

Best overall: Sustainably Yours Small-Grain Formula - See astatine Chewy

Best budget: World's Best Multiple Cat Unscented Litter - See astatine Chewy

Best wood: Ökocat Super Soft Clumping Litter - See astatine Chewy

Best walnut: Naturally Fresh Quick Clumping Litter - See astatine Chewy

Best grass: SmartCat Clumping Grass Litter - See astatine Chewy

Best overall

 After 4 and a half years of utilizing World's Best Multiple Cat Unscented Litter, 2 of our tester cats made it clear that Sustainably Yours was their caller favorite. We were initially skeptical it would make our apical prime for nan champion earthy feline litter because our cats spent nan first mates of days playing successful nan Sustainably Yours maize and cassava-based litter earlier utilizing it. But erstwhile they began utilizing it regularly, nan earthy feline litter excelled successful clumping, odor control, and longevity while producing nan slightest particulate of each nan earthy litters we tested. We besides couldn't observe immoderate scents from this fragrance-free litter.

Sustainably Yours is nan softest, astir sand-like substrate among nan litters we tested. It's nan texture cats prefer, and apt why our cats eagerly explored nan litter earlier utilizing it, says Rachel Geller, a certified feline behaviour and retention master and laminitis of All Cats All nan Time, Inc. While nan good litter tin instrumentality to toes and way extracurricular nan box, you tin easy negociate it pinch a litter mat.

The litter's longevity much than makes up for nan flimsy downside of tracking. It formed rock-hard clumps connected interaction and remained intact erstwhile we scooped it. It took 1 13-pound container to capable our ample litter container to 2 inches. However, erstwhile utilized and scooped daily, nan litter stayed caller for good complete a period successful a two-cat household.

Best budget

When looking for eco-friendly litter that reduces your cat's ecological (and litter tracking) footprint, you often expect to salary a premium. However, World's Best Multiple Cat Unscented Litter makes nan modulation from clay and silica litter much affordable. It costs astir 35% little per lb than our apical prime for nan champion earthy feline litter, but offers fantabulous value. 

World's Best is made of compressed maize kernels and a proprietary plant-derived constituent for other odor control. World's Best absorbs liquid connected contact, forming coagulated clumps that are easy to assistance retired successful a azygous piece. The corn-cereal-scented fibrous worldly absorbs odors easily, and sometimes we could hardly observe nan scent of urine. Of course, nan much clumps successful nan box, nan much it emitted a mild ammonia odor. While not soft and sandy, nan litter was gentle capable not to deter our cats from utilizing it. Litter search occurred astatine a acold little measurement than we saw pinch lightweight litters for illustration those made from writer and walnuts.

A 15-pound container lasts our two-cat family for complete a month. However, during our three-week testing successful a accepted litter box, we noticed an expanding ammonia odor moreover pinch regular cleaning successful nan last days. To maximize nan litter's lifespan, we typically usage it successful nan Whisker Litter-Robot 4, our apical prime for nan best self-cleaning litter boxes. While not a fund purchase, it tin support litter caller for longer, yet redeeming money.

Read much astir World's Best successful our guideline to nan best feline litters where it's our apical prime for nan champion multi-cat litter.

Best wood

Ökocat Super Soft Clumping Litter earned nan apical spot among its wood litter competitors for its fantabulous odor power and superior clumping ability. Sourced from sustainably managed forests, its soft, lightweight granules are astir akin to modular clay litter.

While our tester cats preferred to sojourn their favourite maize litter during our two-week testing period, they utilized nan wood litter occasionally. When they did, nan Ökocat litter absorbed liquids quickly and formed clumps that were easier to scoop than different wood litters. However, nan clumps collapsed isolated much than nan corn, grain, grass, and walnut litter varieties. 

Throughout our testing, it absorbed odors, prevented ammonia buildup, and gave disconnected a caller conifer scent. The wood produces minimal dust, but because nan litter is truthful lightweight, our cats easy tracked it extracurricular of nan box. 

Ökocat Super Soft was nan astir costly wood litter we tested, but it lasted astatine slightest arsenic long, if not longer, than nan others. The marque says nan litter tin past up to 7 weeks pinch regular scooping.

Best walnut

Naturally Fresh Quick Clumping Litter is made from non-GMO and integrated crushed walnut shells. Beyond its earthy and nontoxic ingredients, this litter stands retired for its affordability, bully clumping abilities, and effectiveness successful neutralizing odors. The texture is akin to medium-grained soil pinch ace good particles, which nan marque says are basal for its clumping ability. These particles created a mini particulate unreality erstwhile we poured nan litter, but nan particulate was hardly noticeable during vigorous digging by our tester cats and erstwhile we scooped nan box. 

We tested Naturally Fresh Quick Clumping Litter and Multi-Cat Ultra Odor Control side-by-side successful a two-cat family and recovered nary noticeable difference. According to nan brand, nan multi-cat look contains a moisture-activated probiotic that neutralizes urine and ammonia odors and minimizes nan odor of feline feces, which is astir useful for cats who deficiency burying skills. However, aft conducting thorough sniff tests, we concluded nan somewhat cheaper Quick Clumping Litter was arsenic effective astatine minimizing odors, albeit pinch a somewhat earthy scent. The high-fiber walnut absorbs liquid and forms clumps quickly, though clumps are prone to breaking successful half aliases thirds. 

Whether kicked retired by nan cats aliases tracked, nan lightweight litter ended up connected nan floor, pinch its acheronian colour only exacerbating nan issue. Despite immoderate litter being tossed from nan box, 1 2-inch capable lasted a month.

Best grass

Non-GMO sorghum writer seed gives SmartCat All Natural Clumping Litter superior clumping ability. The earthy fiber's precocious starch contented absorbs liquids instantaneously, and its tight, coagulated clumps are easy to remove. 

Because it's made from sorghum grass, nan litter has a ray wheat-cereal scent that helps minimize odors. The litter produced minimal dust, making it a bully prime for cats aliases group pinch respiratory conditions. However, because of its ray weight and mini granules, our cats easy tracked it extracurricular of nan litter box, and occasionally it stuck to nan fuzzy feet of 1 long-haired cat.

While 2 tester cats preferred nan texture of this sandy, soft litter complete nan wood litter, they didn't usage it consistently time aft time during our three-week testing period. The different 2 tester cats tried to eat nan litter alternatively than destruct it, truthful we discontinued testing. Because of our constricted use, we cannot opportunity whether this kitty litter continues to power odors arsenic it nears clip to alteration it.

What to look for successful a earthy feline litter

To get nan scoop connected what to look for successful a earthy feline litter based connected some quality and feline preferences, we consulted pinch six experts, including veterinary behaviorists and certified feline behaviorists.  

Not each of nan feline litter types we tested made our database of recommendations, and immoderate travel pinch caveats you whitethorn want to consider. For instance, tofu litters were nan astir costly among our contenders. However, they turned into a goopy messiness erstwhile urinated in, making scooping a sticky challenge. Although a bully action for immoderate households, wheat litter is not suitable for those pinch wheat allergies. We besides noticed that immoderate of our tester cats were much inclined to eat wheat and writer litter alternatively than usage it. 

Here are different important factors to see erstwhile choosing nan champion earthy feline litter for your household:

Clumping ability: Our picks for nan champion earthy feline litter are clumping because they simplify litter container attraction and support nan litter fresher for longer. We besides tested earthy non-clumping litters and discovered that removing soiled worldly was challenging, which tin origin immoderate cats to debar nan litter box, create unpleasant odors, and necessitate much predominant litter changes. 

Scent and odor control: A litter doesn't request to beryllium scented to power odors. In fact, nan champion feline litter useful by neutralizing bad smells alternatively than masking them pinch fragrance, and this is amended for cats, too. "Cats person an incredibly delicate consciousness of smell," says Dr. Katherine Pankratz, a veterinarian and behavioral medicine clinician astatine Animal Behavior Clinic successful Portland Oregon. "When litter contains scent, it could beryllium noxious and perchance aversive to cats, starring them to want to destruct elsewhere."

To guarantee effective odor trapping aliases neutralization, opt for litters pinch earthy starches that shape tight clumps to fastener successful odors effectively. For instance, Sustainability Yours uses cassava starch arsenic a clumping agent. Some earthy litters whitethorn incorporate baking soda to neutralize odors. Wood and walnut formulas people sorb liquid and neutralize odors.

Texture: Cats for illustration a soft, grainy substrate astir akin to sand, our experts say. Substrate that is excessively ample aliases crisp could beryllium challenging to excavation and whitethorn moreover beryllium uncomfortable connected your cat's paw pads.

Dust: When you're pouring and scooping litter aliases erstwhile your feline is digging, you want a litter that doesn't nutrient a ample unreality of dust. Dust tin irritate humans' and cats' respiratory systems, starring to coughing, sneezing, and trouble breathing. Natural litters typically nutrient little particulate than clay and silica litter and don't incorporate bentonite, a clay that tin beryllium harmful to humans erstwhile inhaled. 

Price: The simplest measurement to comparison feline litter prices is by calculating nan value per pound. In our testing, we besides considered nan longevity of each litter, arsenic nan value per lb doesn't ever correspond to nan monthly cost. For example, Sustainability Yours, priced astatine $1.85 per lb successful August 2024, whitethorn not look for illustration a bully worth astatine first glance. However, we recovered that nan litter remained caller passim nan month, and we only replenished nan litter because it was debased alternatively than stinky. 

Sustainability: "By switching to earthy litters that are compostable aliases biodegradable, we tin thief our planet," says Dr. Zay Satchu, main veterinary serviceman astatine Bond Vet. Natural litters are often made from sustainable resources, specified arsenic responsibly managed forests, upcycled nutrient waste, and quick-growing plants. Their acquisition and disposal person a little biology effect than strip-mined clay litter. To guarantee nan earthy litter you're considering is committed to eco-friendly initiatives, cheque their website for sustainability reports, goals, and transparency regarding their materials sourcing and processing methods.

How we tested nan champion earthy feline litter

We tested nan earthy feline litters by comparing litters of nan aforesaid worldly broadside by broadside to measure their absorption and clumping abilities, dustiness, scent, and texture. Then, nan apical 2 litters successful each class underwent further testing for 2 to 4 weeks to measure odor power and tracking. Below are nan further characteristics we examined for each litter.

Litter weight, shape, and softness: Our experts opportunity cats mostly for illustration a soft, grainy substrate that is easy to dig. We evaluated nan style and atom size utilizing a room strainer, texture by touch, and weight by measuring an adjacent measurement of each litter connected a room scale.

Clumping expertise and easiness of cleaning: We compared a measured magnitude of each litter successful matching dishes. We added 1/4 cup of h2o to find really quickly and easy nan liquid was absorbed and really solidly it held together successful clumps. After 2 absorption trials, we cleaned nan dishes, looking for immoderate escaped moisture that had near clumped litter stuck to their interior.

Odor power and tracking: We tested nan apical litters from each class successful litter boxes for 2 to 3 weeks. During twice-daily cleanings, we noted really good nan litter masked odors and whether that expertise changed complete time. We besides considered really easy it was to region clumps and really overmuch litter was tracked onto nan level astir nan litter pan. Because our tester cats were unwilling to usage writer litter regularly, we could not find really good it would power odors aft weeks of use. 

Cost: We compared nan costs per lb of nan litters. Additionally, we accounted for nan longevity of nan litter and nan amount needed to capable a ample litter container to a preferred extent — 1.5 to 2 inches, arsenic recommended by Geller.

Natural feline litter FAQs

Is earthy feline litter good?

Natural feline litters connection respective advantages. They are environmentally friendly, made from sustainable resources specified arsenic responsibly managed forests, upcycled nutrient waste, and quick-growing plants. Additionally, these litters supply earthy odor power without nan aggravated scents recovered successful artificially scented options, creating a much inviting situation for cats. Satchu says cats pinch respiratory issues whitethorn use from switching to a earthy litter pinch minimal dust. She says writer litters are consistently among nan astir dust-free of nan champion earthy feline litters, though we recovered successful testing that immoderate of nan walnut, wood, and atom litters produced arsenic minimal dust.

What is nan champion earthy feline litter to use?

When it comes to earthy feline litter, each of our experts opportunity that nan champion assortment is immoderate 1 your feline is consenting to usage consistently time successful and time out. Sometimes this comes down to what assortment of litter a feline was exposed to early on. "Just for illustration people, they person different levels of tolerance based connected penchant and learning history," says Micah McKechnie, a behaviour and training subordinate astatine East Bay SPCA.

Is maize feline litter immoderate good?

It tin be. The champion maize feline litters nutrient minimal dust, clump solidly, conflict odors pinch a earthy cereal scent, and are safe if accidentally aliases intentionally ingested by a cat. However, immoderate maize litters person a rocky texture that whitethorn deter immoderate cats.

Is wood feline litter better?

The works fibers successful wood litters are highly absorbent, and their earthy conifer scent offers nan champion odor power of each nan earthy varieties. They are besides made from sustainably originated forests aliases reclaimed lumber and nutrient minimal dust. However, successful our testing, we recovered that wood litters were slightest successful astatine forming tight, easy-to-remove clumps compared to their earthy competitors.

Is walnut litter bully for cats?

Walnut litters tin beryllium a bully action for immoderate cats and households. They are made from nan fibrous, absorbent shells of walnuts. This litter is processed into a sandy atom pinch a satisfyingly scratchable texture, but its ray weight results successful predominant search extracurricular nan litter box. Walnut litters clump good but person little of a earthy scent to power odors, meaning that ammonia whitethorn beryllium somewhat much noticeable than pinch wood, grain, and writer formulas.

Can I usage writer seed for feline litter?

Yes, you can. Satchu says writer feline litters are a bully action for cats pinch respiratory issues since they person a coarse sandy texture and make very minimal dust. Grass litters are produced from nan seeds of grasses for illustration sorghum. Although they are highly absorbent and their earthy wheat-cereal scent masks odors, their lightweight grains way easy extracurricular nan litter box.

Can clumping litter origin blockages?

While thing that cats can't digest tin origin gastrointestinal obstructions, clumping litter is not identified arsenic a communal cause. If your feline happens to eat earthy litter, arsenic our tester cats did, spot your vet to norm retired underlying aesculapian issues specified arsenic gastrointestinal disease, anemia, kidney disease, aliases nutritional deficiencies arsenic good arsenic behavioral causes. However, if they find your feline simply has unnatural cravings, Satchu says a atom litter is simply a safe replacement to clay and silica.