After testing dozens of automatic litter boxes, I can say it's been difficult to determine which is the best cat litter (or rather, if there is one). Most people will want to look for a low-tracking, clumping cat litter that's compatible with their litter box. But there are other factors to consider, like allergens, material, the litter box itself, and how you'll deal with the waste.
In recent years, there have been leaps and bounds in the pet tech sphere as a whole—including where our cats go potty and what litter they go potty in. In the past, the choices were an absorbent clay whose main compound was calcium bentonite, sawdust, or sand. Now, we have high-tech crystal litter, which aims to show health issues through changing color; eco-friendly tofu litter; and all types of clumping clay litter between. After a year of testing litter boxes and scooping tons of cat litter, let me sift through (get it?) the options so you can determine the best type of cat litter for you and your furry friend.
Should You Change Up Your Litter?
There are many reasons why you may want to change your litter. Your cat may be like mine, with sensitivities to strong odors or smells that can cause allergies or allergy-like symptoms like red eyes or itching. Or maybe your cat is long-haired, like mine, and you're tired of litter sticking to their fur.
If you want to be more eco- (and budget-) friendly, a biodegradable tofu or wood pellet litter may be better, but for these, you'll need to introduce the change slowly and oftentimes, you'll have to change the box you're using. (More on that below.)
As a helicopter pet parent who brushes their cats' teeth and shaves their butts, I honestly just want to make sure I have a litter that keeps my cat (and me) comfortable, giving them a safe space to potty and an easier time to clean it for me.
I look for, and recommend folks do trial-and-error to find, a litter that has all of these elements:
Clumping : Many brands claim to clump effectively, but you'll need to monitor while scooping to see if they actually are, or if they're leaving smaller bits that sneak through grates while cleaning.
: Many brands claim to clump effectively, but you'll need to monitor while scooping to see if they actually are, or if they're leaving smaller bits that sneak through grates while cleaning. Scent-free or low scent: Cats can smell 14 times better than humans, and strong odors can irritate their respiratory system and lead to itching, watery eyes, and other symptoms, including not wanting to use the litter box at all because the scent is too overwhelming.
or low scent: Cats can smell 14 times better than humans, and strong odors can irritate their respiratory system and lead to itching, watery eyes, and other symptoms, including not wanting to use the litter box at all because the scent is too overwhelming. Low-tracking: Same as clumping litters above, many litters claim to be low tracking, but I've found that the best way to lessen litter tracking around the house is to have a great clumping litter and add as much space between the box and the floor. This means that in addition to clumping litter, add accessories like stairs (if your cat is mobile enough), a ramp, or a litter-trapping mat to increase the distance between the box and your floor, to reduce litter tracking. Litters that aim to be low-tracking are generally better at dust control, which also help with general cleanliness and lower irritants.
I've tested several types of cat litter from Boxiecat, and although pricey, they have all managed odor well, had low dust/tracking, and scooped easily in clumps (and worked well with my automatic litter box).
Compare the Most Popular Types of Litter
As said before, there used to be super-limited litter options, now there's tofu, wood, silica crystals, recycled paper, and even nut shells. While something like wood pellets is more-eco friendly and cheaper, you'll have to factor in your litter box and whether your cat takes to the new litter. (Although slow introduction is key.)