Last updated May 16, 2024
Mallory Crusta / Cats.com
Crystal cat litter is becoming more popular as it reaches the mainstream and consumers are starting to see the benefits. There are some definite advantages to using crystal cat litter over traditional cat litter products. For one, they absorb more cat urine than clay and most other litter products.
At a Glance: Our Top Picks for Best Crystal Cat Litter
Want a quick look at the products reviewed in this article? In the comparison table below, we’ve highlighted some of the most important features of each product. You’ll find more detailed information about each product later in the article.
Pretty Litter Ultra-Premium Cat Litter Subscription
- Lightweight silica crystal formula
- Absorbs liquid and urine odor
- One bag lasts a full 30 days
PetSafe ScoopFree
- Super absorbent material
- Practically no dust and no tracking issues
- Comes in two bags to preserve freshness
Kitty Poo Litter Bag (Silica)
- Comes with a disposable litter box
- Absorbs cat urine very well
- Soft and gentle on cat’s paws
Fresh Step Crystals, Premium, Clumping Cat Litter
- Motion activated fragrance
- Kills bacteria and bad odors fast
- Little to no dust
Just the Crystals Premium
- Lasts for a very long time
- One of the most absorbent crystals on the market
- No strong fragrance
Ultra Pet Cat Litter Pearls Micro Crystals
- Super absorbent product
- Fight odors very well
- Easy to clean up
Why Trust Cats.com
Kate Barrigton / Cats.com
Along with other members of the Cats.com team, W’ve personally purchased, tested, and reviewed over two dozen of the most popular cat litter brands and more than 60 individual litter products. The products were purchased at full retail price and the entire testing process was funded by Cats.com without direct input or influence from the companies involved.
When testing cat litter products, I use them in my own home for at least ten days. We made observations about the litter’s appearance, granule size, scent, and dust level when pouring it into the litter box. I also test the litter for odor control, and tracking.
Based on extensive research, hands-on testing, and expert insights, I’ve selected the following crystal cat litter products as the best you can put in your cat’s box.
Our Veterinary Advisors
Crystals generally hold up to 40% of their own weight in water, which makes them effective at keeping the litter box dry and comfortable for your cat.
You also need to change out the litter box less often with crystals, and this litter is often sold in small bags. That can be convenient for some cat owners who have trouble lifting heavy bags of traditional cat litter.
Top 6 Best Rated Crystal Cat Litters
There are six crystal cat litter products we want to take a look at. We hope one of these will be right for you and your cat.
#1 Overall Best: Pretty Litter Ultra-Premium Cat Litter Subscription
If you’re willing to pay more for a premium litter, try Pretty Litter. This silica crystal cat litter comes in a convenient monthly delivery with a single bag lasting up to a full month. It is extremely lightweight with a fine-grained texture delicate on even the most sensitive paws.
What makes Pretty Litter truly unique is that it changes color according to your cat’s urine pH. This helps you identify bladder issues early while they are still treatable, though you may have to do some observation in a multi-cat household to identify which cat is having the issue.
As a silica litter, Pretty Litter absorbs liquid and eliminates urine odor. Simply scoop solids and stir the box daily for maximum odor control.
What We Liked:
- Lightweight silica crystal formula
- Absorbs liquid and urine odor
- One bag lasts a full 30 days
What We Didn’t Like:
- May go quicker with multiple cats
- Fairly pricey by comparison
#2 Premium Pick: PetSafe ScoopFree Premium Crystal Non-Clumping Cat Litter
One of the neatest features of this cat litter is that it comes in two bags. That means that you only need to open half the litter at once and not risk allowing all the litter to lose its freshness if you don’t use it fast enough.As with most crystal litter, there should be little to no dust and very little tracking.
The scent is also very mild, which should make it appealing to your cats.It is incredibly absorbent and can absorb urine about five times better than traditional clay litter can. The litter can stick to your cat’s fur after it starts to absorb some urine, though, and that can make your cat interested in eating it as they clean themselves.
What We Liked:
- Super absorbent material
- Practically no dust and no tracking issues
- Comes in two bags to preserve freshness
What We Didn’t Like:
- Sticks to cat fur
#3 Kitty Poo Litter Bag (Silica)
The first thing you will likely notice about this litter is that it can create a lot of dust when you put it out. Dust can also fly up when your cat is using it and shift the litter around in the box.
On the plus side, it is affordably priced and super absorbent. The crystals do an excellent job of soaking up liquids, and that makes it easy to just leave the litter there for a while before changing it out and having to worry about the litter box becoming a mess that your cat would want to avoid.
The crystals are also very soft, and if you have a declawed cat or a cat with some physical sensitivity, then this can be the ideal litter for them.
What We Liked:
- Comes with a disposable litter box
- Absorbs cat urine very well
- Soft and gentle on cat’s paws
What We Didn’t Like:
- Creates lots of dust
#4 Fresh Step Crystals, Premium, Clumping Cat Litter
Fresh Step’s patented design only releases its fragrant, odor-killing scent when the crystals are activated. That means that you only have to smell these crystals working to kill bacteria and blocking bad odors when your cats are in the litter box and moving the crystals around.
Now, the smell can be quite powerful, but since it only activates when in use, it should not be enough to drive your cats away or make them seek out somewhere other than the litter box to do their business.This cat litter is designed to be soft, so your cat’s paws should not be bothered by it as they walk on it.
A lot of crystals can be too hard, and most cats prefer something softer. There is also very little dust to contend with, and cats typically love this litter.
What We Liked:
- Motion activated fragrance
- Kills bacteria and bad odors fast
- Little to no dust
What We Didn’t Like:
- Urine may build at the bottom of the litter box
#5 Just the Crystals Premium
This is one of the cheaper crystal cat litter products, and in that respect, it’s an excellent buy. It lasts for a long time, and it absorbs lots of urine before it needs to be changed out. Of course, you may want to change it out before the crystals are fully used up.
The smell can be overpowering from the cat urine that’s in the litter box. That’s because Just the Crystals does not do a lot to negate foul odors.
It does some but not as much as many of the other choices on this list, and if you have stinky cats or have the litter box placed in an unventilated area, then this may not be the best choice for you.
What We Liked:
- Lasts for a very long time
- One of the most absorbent crystals on the market
- No strong fragrance
What We Didn’t Like:
- Can start to smell after a few days
#6 Ultra Pet Cat Litter Pearls Micro Crystals
This cat litter is a little on the pricey side, but it does provide powerful control for odors. You should not smell anything nasty from the cat litter box for about a week, even with a few cats using the same litter box. It’s a very absorbent crystal as well, and it often keeps the urine from settling at the bottom and creating a mush.
This is also a fairly tracking free crystal litter. There should not be much to clean up when the cats use the litter box, and it should just take a few uses of the scoop to get the litter looking fresh again.
However, it does create a lot of dust sometimes, and you need to be aware that your cat may be bothered by the dust. It won’t be as much dust as conventional, non-crystal cat litters create, but it can be a lot for a crystal litter.
What We Liked:
- Super absorbent product
- Fight odors very well
- Easy to clean up
What We Didn’t Like:
- Kind of dusty
- A little on the expensive side
What You Need to Consider Before a Purchase Crystal Cat Litter
It’s not a good idea to buy just any crystal cat litter. Not all of them are worth your money and not all will be right for your cat and its needs. We want to give you a few pointers that will help you make the right decisions for you and your feline friend:
- Don’t use crystal litter with declawed cats– Not all cats can handle the rougher surface of the crystal, as compared to traditional cat litter granules. If you have a declawed cat, then you need to realize that its paws will be very sensitive, and it may not want to use this litter, as per VetInfo.com.
- Buy a small bag- You won’t need a lot of litter to start with if you are buying crystal cat litter. It doesn’t have to be changed out as often as regular litter, so try to forgo spending a bunch of money on a big bag at first to see how long a small bag lasts you.
- Watch the smell– When buying any kind of litter, crystal or otherwise, be sure to check how strong the scent is. Most cats won’t like a strongly-scented litter, and you don’t want to waste your money on something like that.
- Buy appropriately– If you have kittens, then you want to wait on the crystal litter for now. They tend to eat this kind of litter, which can be very dangerous for them, as per Consumer Research.
There you have it- our look at the very best in crystal cat litter products. Maybe one of these will be perfect for your cat, or maybe we just gave you enough information to make in an informed buying decision.
Either way, we hope you enjoyed our look at crystal cat litter and found something of use here. Please feel free to look at our many other guides for finding the right litter for your cat.