The 12 Best Clumping Cat Litters

#1 Overall Best: Boxiecat BoxiePro Deep Clean Unscented Clumping Clay Litter

• Material: Sodium bentonite clay
• Flushable: No
• Features: Infused with probiotics, forms flat-top clumps
• Price: $1.31 per lb

A great cat litter forms hard, easy-to-scoop clumps, controls odor well, and doesn’t irritate your cat’s nose or paws. Boxiecat BoxiePro Deep Clean cat litter performs well in all three categories.

BoxiePro is a sodium bentonite clay cat litter that adds probiotics for enhanced odor control. These help destroy odor-causing bacteria in the litter box, keeping things smelling fresh. This litter is also designed to absorb liquid quickly, forming tight clumps on the surface of the litter where they’re easy to see and scoop away.

Like many clay litters, BoxiePro produces some dust when poured, but it settles quickly and doesn’t cause a problem during scooping. The clay granules are fairly fine, and cats seem to find the texture appealing—though some reviewers suggest the litter tracks to some degree.

No cat litter is perfect, but Boxiecat’s customers praise the litter’s strong odor control. Our testers were impressed with the litter’s clumping ability, which made scooping easy and helped reduce litter waste.

What We Liked:

• Infused with probiotics for added odor control
• Forms tight, hard clumps for easy scooping
• Fine granules are gentle on your cat’s paws
• Clumps form on the surface of the litter

What We Didn’t Like:

• Fine granules may track
• Produces some dust when first poured

#2 Budget Pick: Frisco Multi-Cat Unscented Clumping Clay Litter

• Material: Sodium bentonite clay
• Flushable: No
• Features: Unscented, forms hard clumps, affordably priced
• Price: $0.45 per lb

Since litter needs to be purchased regularly, many cat parents are concerned about affordability. There are plenty of low-priced brands out there, but we think Frisco offers the right combination of affordability and quality.

This clay litter is made with odor-neutralizing technology for long-lasting odor protection. It’s also very absorbent and forms hard clumps that are easy to scoop. We like that this litter has a light, fresh scent—it can be a little strong at first, but after a few minutes, it fades to a subtle fragrance. Overall, Frisco is affordable and makes an economical choice for multi-cat households.

What We Liked:

• Light fresh scent
• Fast absorbing and hard clumping
• Low in dust and tracking

What We Didn’t Like:

• Bags are very large and can be quite heavy

#3 Best for Multi-Cat Homes: Dr. Elsey’s Precious Cat Ultra Unscented Clay Litter

• Material: Clay
  
• Flushable: No
  
• Features: Solid, tight clumps, great odor control, affordable
  
• Price: $0.52 per lb

Dr. Elsey’s Ultra Litter is the brand’s bestselling cat litter. It combines the heavier granules of their Precious Cat Classic formula with medium-grain clay to deliver a litter that’s low-tracking and hard-clumping.

This litter excels on several fronts, making it a solid choice for homes with more than one cat. For starters, it clumps really well. In testing, we discovered it formed tight, solid clumps, making it easier to clean up (a significant consideration when scooping for multiple kitties). We also liked that it controls odors with natural ingredients, so there are no intrusive deodorants or sickly perfumes.

Finally, multi-cat homes with several litter boxes will appreciate how affordable this litter is. The long-lasting odor control also means it needs less frequent changing: which adds to your savings.

What We Liked:

• Unscented formula
• Long-lasting odor control
• Can be used in mechanical litter boxes

What We Didn’t Like:

• Some cat parents report high dust levels

#4 Best for Kittens In-Training: Dr. Elsey’s Kitten Attract Clay Litter

• Material: Clay
• Flushable: No
• Features: Soft texture and smaller grain, contains herbal attractant
• Price: $0.85 per lb

When litter training a kitten, it’s helpful to use a litter that appeals to your pet’s senses. The clay in Dr. Elsey’s Kitten Attract Litter is ground into granules that are ideal for kittens. In testing, we found the size and texture of the granules to be very fine, almost sand-like—which makes them perfect for delicate kitten paws.

On top of its gentle texture, Dr. Elsey’s contains an herbal blend that attracts kittens and encourages them to use their litter box. The company recommends using this litter for kittens 8 weeks to one year of age. After the first year, guardians can switch to their Cat Attract brand for consistency.

This litter works well if you have adult cats in the home, too. It has excellent odor-fighting properties, and it can be used in automatic litter boxes.

What We Liked:

• Gentle on tender kitten paws
• Herbal attractant helps with training
• Clumps well

What We Didn’t Like:

• Only available in one size (20 pounds)

#5 Best Eco-Friendly: Catalyst Pet Multi-Cat Formula Cat Litter

• Material: Pine
• Flushable: Yes
• Features: Natural fibers
• Price: $1.25 per lb

Catalyst Pet makes litter engineered from upcycled softwood fiber that would normally go to waste. They currently offer three kinds of litter: Healthy Cat, Unscented, and Multi-cat which are 99% dust-free. The sustainable formula is lightweight, soft on paws, and offers sturdy clumping with powerful odor control. One pound of Catalyst litter can do the work of three pounds of clumping clay.

What We Liked:

• Made from renewable resources
• Fine-grained texture is gentle on your cat’s paws
• Doesn’t contain crystalline silica dust

What We Didn’t Like:

• Tends to Track
• May be dusty when first poured

#6 Best Fragrance-Free: Fresh Step Simply Unscented Clumping Cat Litter

• Material: Sodium bentonite clay
• Flushable: No
• Features: No added fragrance, strong odor control, affordable
• Price: $0.94 per lb

Easily one of the most recognizable names in the cat litter industry, Fresh Step has a devoted following among cat owners. Their products have a reputation for affordability and strong odor control.

Though the majority of Fresh Step’s products contain fragrance, this clay formula is unscented. This makes it a good choice for cats with asthma, allergies, or other respiratory concerns who should avoid scented litters. It’s also a smart pick for cat parents who detest the off-putting fragrances in most scented litters.

Though it’s unscented, this cat litter offers effective odor control. Fresh Step contains activated charcoal for added protection against ammonia odor and other litter box smells. Like most clay litters, it can be a little dusty—but it clumps well and is very easy to scoop.

What We Liked:

• Fragrance-free formula for sensitive noses
• Contains activated charcoal for added odor control
• Clumps well and is easy to scoop

What We Didn’t Like:

• May be dusty at first

#7 Best Natural: World’s Best Unscented Clumping Corn Cat Litter

• Material: Corn
• Flushable: Yes
• Features: All-natural, septic-safe, lightweight
• Price: $1.21 per lb

It’s hard to beat the clumping ability of clay, but some natural litters hold their own against the competition. World’s Best cat litter is made from corn, so it’s biodegradable and compostable—but it also clumps well and is easy to scoop.

This highly absorbent litter forms clumps quickly, so there’s no wet and sticky mess left on the bottom of the box. This unscented clumping corn litter does a good job of controlling odors, though some users comment that it develops an aroma of damp grain when wet.

Since cats can be fussy when it comes to texture, it’s worth noting this litter feels quite different from clay. The granules are similar in size and shape to standard clay litter, but the corn material can be a bit rougher and sharper—and some cats may not like it.

Another feature that makes World’s Best cat litter unique is that it’s flushable. It’s best to break up the clumps before flushing them, but the natural material is septic-safe.

What We Liked:

• Made from natural corn materials
• Highly absorbent and clumps well
• Easy to scoop and flushable
• Strong odor control

What We Didn’t Like:

• Some granules may have sharp edges
• May have a slight grain aroma when wet

#8 Best For Sensitive Paws: Okocat Natural Wood Clumping Cat Litter

• Material: Wood fiber
• Flushable: No
• Features: Lightweight, soft texture, unscented
• Price: $1.57 per lb

This unscented formula is made from natural wood fibers and has a finely shredded texture that makes it soft under your cat’s paws. Because ökocat isn’t made from clay, it may also be a comfortable choice for kittens.

The wood fiber’s enzymatic properties prevent the buildup of ammonia and odor in the litter box. This litter is also very lightweight, which makes it easier to manage than clay litter, though it does tend to track. A few customers mentioned it can be a little dusty when you get to the bottom of the box.

Ökocat Super Soft wood litter is super absorbent and clumps very well, though you’ll need a litter scoop with large holes or slots to make scooping easier.

What We Liked:

• Soft texture is gentle on your cat’s paws
• Made from reclaimed wood fibers
• Highly absorbent and clumps well
• Much lighter than most clay litter

What We Didn’t Like:

• A little pricey: about $1.60 per pound
• Scooping can be tricky
• Tracking can be an issue

#9 Best Hypoallergenic: SmartCat All Natural 100% Grass Litter

• Material: Grass seed
  
• Flushable: No
  
• Features: Quick-forming clumps, lightweight, no harsh chemicals or fragrances
  
• Price: $1.5 per lb

Cats (and cat parents) with sensitive lungs or respiratory issues like asthma will benefit from a litter with minimal dust. Not only is this SmartCat formula virtually dust-free, but it’s also made with 100% grass: meaning your kitty won’t be breathing in any harsh chemicals or irritating fragrances.

Unlike many other natural substrates, this grass litter absorbs urine on contact and forms solid clumps that can be scooped within a few minutes. We were impressed by how quickly this litter absorbed liquid and how well the clumps held together.

Texture-wise, SmartCat is similar to conventional clay litter, but it’s considerably lighter in weight. This is convenient for carrying and pouring, but the tradeoff is slightly more scattered particles. While there are no perfumes or artificial scents in this litter, it does have a natural, earthy smell that some folks may find disagreeable.

One final bonus: You can safely repurpose unused litter as a fertilizer in non-edible gardens.

What We Liked:

• 100% USA-farmed grass
• Lightweight & minimal dust
• Quick clumping action trap odor-causing bacteria to eliminate smell
• Biodegradable
• Soft texture

What We Didn’t Like:

• Has a subtle earthy smell that some people won’t like

#10 Best Flushable: tuft + paw Really Great Cat Litter

• Material: Soybean byproduct
• Flushable: Yes
• Features: Lightweight, low-tracking, compostable and flushable
• Price: $2.78/pound

In terms of convenience, flushable cat litter ranks pretty high. As long as you break up the clumps and only flush a few at a time, this tuft + paw Really Great Cat Litter is safe for well-maintained septic systems. (Though it’s not recommended for older plumbing systems.)

This pellet-style litter is made from soybean byproduct, which makes it an eco-friendly, compostable, sustainably sourced option. To improve clumping ability and odor control, the litter also contains cornstarch, corn flour, guar gum, and charcoal. It doesn’t contain any added fragrances or dyes.

We appreciated that the pellets were very small and lightweight, so they’re gentle on your cat’s paws. This litter clumped well during our testing, and we found that the added charcoal helps with odor control.

What We Liked:

• Made from sustainably sourced materials
• Lightweight pellets are gentle on cat paws
• Free from synthetic fragrances and dyes

What We Didn’t Like:

• Only available by subscription
• Expensive: almost $3.00 per pound
• Not recommended for automatic litter boxes

#11 Best Lightweight: Catit Go Natural Pea Husk Clumping Cat Litter

• Material: Pea husk
• Flushable: No
• Features: All-natural, vacuum-sealed, lightly scented
• Price: $1.68 per lb

Traditional clay litter can be heavy—which is a real drag when you’re lugging it up several flights of stairs or if you have a bad back. Catit Go Natural clumping cat litter is a lightweight pellet-style cat litter made from pea husk fiber, a sustainable and renewable resource.

The problem with many lightweight litters is their tendency to scatter and create dust. Not so with this Catit formula, which consists of very small, thin pellets that help reduce tracking. Not only is it 100% natural, but it is also virtually dust-free, which makes it a good choice for cats with respiratory issues.

This cat litter comes in 14.8-pound packages, which are divided into two vacuum-sealed bags. This helps keep the little fresh and dry until you’re ready to use it, and each bag contains enough to fill a standard litter pan.

Pea husk fiber is a naturally absorbent material, and our in-box testing revealed that the litter clumps well with minimal waste. The main challenge with scooping is finding a litter scoop with large enough holes or slots.

Though dust isn’t a significant concern with this cat litter, both Catit Go Natural litter formulas contain added fragrance. Both our in-box testing and numerous customer reviews confirm, however, that the vanilla and lavender scents are subtle. The fragrance is noticeable when you first pour the litter, but it fades fairly quickly.

What We Liked:

• Lightweight and vacuum-sealed
• Made from sustainable and renewable resources
• Pellets are soft under your cat’s paws
• Clumps well with minimal litter waste

What We Didn’t Like:

• Pricey: over $2.00 per pound
• Contains some added fragrance

#12 Best Silica: So Phresh Scoopable Odor-Lock Clumping Micro Crystal Litter

• Material: Silica
• Flushable: No
• Features: Lightweight, highly absorbent, fine-grained
• Price: $3.12/pound

If you’re looking for a lightweight option with exceptional odor-busting power, silica gel litter should be on your radar. Silica particles are highly porous—a feature that makes them ultra-absorbent, long-lasting, and light. What’s more, crystal cat litter excels in odor control because it absorbs liquid quickly and dehydrates solid waste.

So Phresh offers a lightweight alternative to clay that forms easy-to-scoop clumps. What makes this litter cat-friendly is its fine-grained texture. It isn’t chunky like some crystal litters, so it might be a better pick for cats with sensitive paws.

Crystal cat litter tends to be pricey, and this product is no exception. At over $3.00 per pound, you’ll pay more for an 8-pound bag of this litter than you would for three times the amount of some other litter. Because silica gel litter is highly absorbent, however, it tends to last longer than clay. You’ll still need to scoop daily and stir the litter regularly to distribute urine-saturated crystals.

As numerous customer reviews mention, the small, lightweight granules tend to track more. But overall, cat owners seem pleased with the product’s odor control, absorbency, and easy-scooping convenience.

What We Liked:

• Fine-grained texture is gentle on your cat’s paws
• Absorbs high volumes of liquid quickly
• Dehydrates solid waste

What We Didn’t Like:

• Expensive: over $3.00 per pound
• Tracking can be an issue