Best Cat Litter

Which Type of Cat Litter?

One of the first choices you will be faced with will be to decide which type of cat litter to use. The most common types of cat litter are clumping cat litter and non-clumping cat litter, and most litters will be one variation or the other.

Best Clumping Cat Litter

Clumping cat litter is one of the most common types of cat litter used among cat owners. It is convenient, economical and easy to use as the litter tray does not need to be changed as often as if you use a non-clumping cat litter.

This type of litter has traditionally consisted of granulated bentonite clay which forms nice and firm clumps when it comes into contact with moisture, making it easy for the clumps to be removed and leaving the rest of the litter clean and fresh.

Although this means that you won’t have to completely change the entire litter tray as frequently as if you were to be using non-clumping litter, you should still empty and thoroughly wash the tray every couple of weeks. This means that your bag of clumping cat litter should last just a little bit longer than if you were using non-clumping litter.

This has been a very effective way of managing cat litter, and it is still the most popular form of clumping cat litter available today.

Unfortunately, bentonite clay is not very environmentally friendly so newer forms of clumping cat litter have recently been developed. These take the form of materials such as wood pellets, corn kernels and paper.

Many of the leading brands have realised that consumers are now demanding a more eco-friendly version of clumping cat litter so they have developed excellent products that are much better for the planet, even if they are slightly more expensive.

Some of the recommended brands of clumping cat litter include Pettex Premium Clumping Cat Litter, Ever Clean Extra Strong Clumping Cat Litter and World’s Best Cat Litter, and we have provided more details in the reviews section below.

Clumping cat litters are also effective if you have more than one cat and need to use multiple cat litter, and is also worth mentioning that clumping cat litter is not the best option if you are introducing your kitten to the litter tray for the first time as kittens are so sensitive and it can be dangerous for them to digest.

Best Non-Clumping Cat Litter

The main difference between clumping and non-clumping cat litter is that non-clumping cat litter absorbs the moisture rather than forming into clumps.

This means that you will not have to remove clumps of litter on a regular basis, but you will need to change the whole tray more frequently.

Benefits of Non-Clumping Cat Litter

1. Absorbency

One of the main benefits of non-clumping cat litter is that it is usually very absorbent. This is true of market leading non-clumping cat litters such as Catsan Hygiene, which is able to quickly absorb and lock away moisture like a sponge.

Wood pellet cat litter is another type of non-clumping cat litter, and the natural elements of the wood can quite often absorb a large amount of moisture.

This is also true of silica cat litter, which comprises of large, solid granules of sodium silicate. These granules are super absorbent, so they absorb a lot of moisture and some manufacturers of silica cat litter claim that you will only need to completely change the tray a couple of times a month!

2. Ease of use

In general, trays of non-clumping cat litters will not need to be changed as often as clumping cat litter and they are also easy to use as it is simple to change the tray and dispose of the litter.

Some wood pellet cat litters can be deposited onto the compost heap, which will reduce the amount of waste and is also good for the environment.

It is also possible to flush some non-clumping cat litters down the toilet, and one of the leading brand is World’s Best Cat Litter. Although this is technically classed as a clumping cat litter, the clumps do disintegrate when they come into moisture for a second time making it possible to flush them.

3. Masks the smell

The best non-clumping cat litters are able to neutralize the odours associated with cat waste, even if the litter remains in the tray for a few days after use.

Wood pellet cat litter is a natural product, so this does help to mask and reduce the smells associated with cat litter.

The pellets can usually hold the ammonia smell quite well, and many litters are now scented. Although this can help to reduce the smell further, be careful when using scented cat litters as a strong scent can put your cat off from using the litter tray completely.

4. Dust free

Although it is almost impossible to find a completely dust free cat litter, some non-clumping cat litter such as paper cat litter will contain a lot less dust than traditional clumping litters.

Dust free cat litters are very good for cats that may have respiratory problems, and there are some excellent options available such as Pettex Premium Grey Cat Litter

There are many different brands and types of non-clumping cat litter, and we have reviewed such a few of the options such as Breeder Celect cat litter, Catsan Hygiene Litter and Pettex Pampuss

Best Cat Litter Tray

As well as selecting the best cat litter, you will also need to select a cat litter tray that your pet will be comfortable in using.

A huge range of cat litter trays are available today, and your choice of tray will depend upon your budget and the type of litter tray your cat prefers.

Options range from cheap and simple plastic trays to larger trays and enclosed hooded litter tray options.

Although this type of litter tray will be slightly more expensive, they can be more hygienic as the litter is hidden from sight so this is worth considering if you have small children or toddlers in the family.

They also provide the cat with a private place to use the toilet, which they will enjoy as naturally private animals.

Other types of cat litter tray include automatic litter trays which are great as there is no need for scoops or filters so you will have much less contact with the litter. One other option to make things easier is to use litter tray liners which should keep the litter within the liner so it is easy to dispose of.

Smelly Subject

Another factor to consider when selecting the best cat litter is the best way to deal with the natural odours associated with your pet’s waste.

Cat litters are available in a huge variety of scents, and although this does help to mask most of the smell it is recommended not to use a very strong scent as this can be overwhelming for the cat which means they may find their own place to go.

A small amount of baking soda in the litter can be a good option to help to mask the smell without turning the litter tray into a no go area.

Best Cat Litter for Kittens

If you are in the process of bringing a kitten into your home, then there are plenty of things to consider and litter training is just one of them!

It is advisable to start litter training as soon as possible so the kitten gets used to the litter tray, and although there are lots of different types of litter trays available it is best to keep things simple with a tray she can get in and out of easily.

Some cat litters are more suitable for kittens than others, and the best option to start with is to use a pellet or clay based litter.

Our website also reviews the most popular brands such as World’s Best Cat Litter, Catsan and Pettex to help you find the best cat litter, as well as considering other options such as scoops, mats, liners and storage. We will also try to tackle some of the other key questions all cat owners face such as just how to deal with the soiled litter.

Cat Litter Reviews

You will find reviews of many different types of cat litter on this site, but as there are so many variations and brands available we thought it would be useful to provide an overview of 5 of the most popular litters around.

World's Best Cat Litter