Best Cat Litter: Top 5 Feline Care Products Most Recommended By Experts

Embarking on the quest for the perfect cat litter is a journey every feline owner knows well. The cat litter world is diverse, with numerous options offering various benefits and features to cater to both cats and their owners. In this article, we sift through the options, exploring the best cat litter contenders that excel in odor control and clumping and prioritize the comfort and preferences of our discerning feline companions.

It’s no secret that our pets take top priority in our lives. In fact, a study shows that two in three pet owners take better care of their pets than themselves. With that being true for our furry friends, finding the best products for them is part of ensuring they receive the best care.

How many of us actually own cats? A survey conducted by The Discerning Cat discovered that 60.6 million U.S. adults own a cat in 2022, equivalent to 29 percent of the adult population, and a little over half of that portion of Americans own multiple cats. Owning a pet can be time-consuming and wallet-draining.

The average American spends $25,304 on their friendly fur ball during their life, according to a poll of 2,000 cat owners, but many of us would spend more without a second thought. Most pet owners consider their furry companions an established part of their family. In fact, one study shows that cats adore their human parents in the same way that dogs and even infants do!

If you’ve just adopted or are new to feline care, the main difference between dogs and cats is that cats require a litter box. With so many brands and options, StudyFinds has sorted through the best cat litter options for you so you don’t have to. We’ve examined 10 of the leading websites to determine which five options were recommended the most often. If we missed one, let us know in the comments below!

➡️How Our “Best Of The Best” Lists Are Created


StudyFinds’ “Best of the Best” articles are put together with the idea of taking the work out of common consumer research. Ever find yourself searching for a product or service on Google and reading multiple reviews to find items listed across many of them? Our Best of the Best lists are created with that process in mind, with each item ranked by how frequently it appears on expert reviews or lists. With Best of the Best, you are getting consensus picks — making them truly the best of the best!

Cat wearing a collar
Brown and white cat (Photo by Norma Gabriela Galván on Unsplash)

The List: Best Cat Litter, According to Experts

1. Dr. Elsey’s Ultra Multi-Cat Strength Litter

white and blue bag of cat litter
Dr. Elsey’s Ultra Multi-Cat Strength Litter

Dr. Elsey’s has been hailed as the best overall pick in scoopable clumping litters for many households, ringing in at 40 pounds per bag and outperforming many other more expensive brands. The New York Times says that no other brand can compete with Dr. Elsey’s because of their “solid odor control, scoopability, and low dust profile—all at an affordable price.”

This litter clumps and scoops easily, without releasing a significant amount of dust, making it easy to maintain a clean box and non-irritating for cats sensitive to dust or fragrances. According to Insider testers, “It absorbed liquid almost instantly and clumped tightly. With a bit of heft to its grains, less litter was tracked out of the box.”

2. World’s Best Cat Litter Clumping Formula

black and green bag of cat litter
World’s Best Cat Litter Clumping Formula

World’s Best is a non-clay litter option made from corn that still clumps easily and controls odors well. Good Housekeeping likes how it is lighter than traditional litter, so it won’t be overly heavy in a trash bag. They also note the 28-pound lasted two months for their tester. 

Besides being lighter than clay, it is the most budget-friendly biodegradable litter for the eco-conscious cat owner. It also is fragrance-free, yet still keeps odors under control, per The Spruce Pets.

If you are looking for a scented version, CNN points out their lavender option: “It’s infused with natural lavender oil that both squashes stink and is soothing to kitties.”

3. Fresh Step Simply Unscented Cat Litter

green and white box of cat litter
Fresh Step Simply Unscented Cat Litter

For cats with sensitive noses or respiratory issues, it’s important to use a litter that is both unscented and dust-free. “Cats have moderately sensitive noses. While the research is mixed as to what cats prefer, my recommendation for unscented is also based on hygiene. A person may not clean a litter box as often as needed if there is perfume covering up the smell,” says CNN.

Fresh Step Litter beats other brands of unscented clumping litter in the price and performance departments, with very little floating dust when poured and easy-to-scoop clumps. Fresh Step claims that the product is 99.9 percent dust-free, and that rang true for Reviewed testers.

According to Cats.com, the larger granules of this litter make it harder to get stuck in your kitty’s paws. That makes for a litter that is less messy than most, although no litter is completely mess-free.

4. OkoCat Litter

white box of cat litter
OkoCat Litter

If you’re looking for a natural litter free of chemicals and synthetic ingredients that might be harmful to your kitty, Okocat is the best. Why? It’s made from natural wood and paper fiber that is 99 percent dust-free. Modern Cat loves how there are six different formulas depending on your cats needs like coat-length and sensitivity.

Okocat doesn’t sacrifice any of the qualities that regular litter has, with lightweight odor control and great clumping abilities. Petco assures that this wood fiber litter does just as good a job as traditional clay litter, but it’s biodegradable and flushable. They call it one of the safest for your kitty and the earth.

Insider says this is the best paper-based product due to its powerful absorption that trumps the competition.

5. Pretty Litter

white bag of litter crystals
Pretty Litter

Senior cat owners or those who just want to keep an eye on their feline friend’s health might try Pretty Litter. It’s kind of like magic! This litter changes color according to the pH levels of urine, which could be helpful in detecting health issues.

All About Cats writes that this is helpful because “changes in the acidity of your cat’s urine can be an early indicator for a number of health problems including struvite crystals, urinary tract infection, and kidney tubular acidosis.”

Pretty Litter also makes maintenance easier than standard clumping litter. Scoop only solid wastes out of the crystals. Liquid gets absorbed. “Because it’s made from gel crystals, PrettyLitter actually absorbs liquids instead of clumping around it. This means you only have to scoop solid waste, which you can easily flush away,” adds NY Mag.

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Note: This article was not paid for nor sponsored. StudyFinds is not connected to nor partnered with any of the brands mentioned and receives no compensation for its recommendations. This article may contain affiliate links in which we receive a commission if you make a purchase.


Comments

  1. I have to disagree with this list. I’ve tried them all and I have 3 cats. Tofu cat litter is by far three best I’ve ever used! My cats love it. Hardly tracks, clumps very well, less smell and cleaner. If you haven’t tried it I highly suggest you do. You can find it on Amazon. I’m pushing for Petco and PetSmart to sell it. But it’s been a fight.

  2. The best cat litter that I found is Tidy cats pure and natural corn and cedar pine. Now I can not find it anywhere.

  3. I like wood pellets, can buy on Amazon or local feed store. Cheap, llmoisture create sawdust and Amazon has pellet sifting litterboxes online. Just scoop the poop as it appears, and flush. Sift litter on garbage pickup days and add new pellets as need. Inexpensive, convenient and simple

  4. I’d like to see the world through Donald Trumps eyes. Crowds of people in red caps cheering as he races down a black and white road leading to either the White House or prison.

  5. The best is Arm&Hammer SLIDE. It raises no dust, does not stick to cat’s paws, traps odors perfectly, and has no smells, so cats like using it. Expensive but well worth the costs; especially not having airbourne cat litter floating around in the air. Will also last longer since the litter does not clump into large balls, but just coats the poop and pee for easy scooping out of the box.

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