Best Cat Litter in 2024: Low-Tracking, Dust-Free, Eco-Friendly

Your cat might have various tactics to show you when they’re ticked off, but peeing in random places is not one of them.

Veterinarian Dr Annette Louviere, veterinary genetics and technology manager at Wisdom Panel, says, “Cats don’t urinate out of the box in spite,” which means the behaviour could be an indicator of a greater health issue.

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While this is one possibility that shouldn’t be overlooked, a more common cause for this unsavoury behaviour is that their litter isn’t up to snuff. It’ll save you the emotional aggravation and high vet bills to experiment with your cat’s litter while they’re young, so you’re aware of their preferences from an early age.

Dr Niwako Ogata, director of the Purdue Animal Behavior Clinic at Purdue University in the United States, adds, “Cats are notoriously fussy creatures that may react to the slightest change in their environment, even just a new type of litter.” Cats’ particularities can be frustrating – but it’s also what makes them such intriguing housemates, and we can all agree they deserve the best.

The best types of cat litter

According to Dr Jessica Bell, a professor at Washington State University School of Veterinary Medicine, “Scientists have actually researched litter preferences and found that cats prefer clay litter to silica (sand) or wood pellets.”

For something that holds your cat’s wee, cat litter can be surprisingly diverse in its promises to consumers: there’s low-tracking, dust-free, and odour-free. Not to mention clumping ability and flush-ability. Now, it’s still possible that your cat’s preferences may fall outside these picks, but we’d consider this a great start to a potentially lengthy hunt for their favourite litter.

Best cat litters

Btw, our editors (and their pets) picked out these products. They’re always in stock at the time we publish, but there’s a chance they’ll sell out. If you do buy through our links, we may earn a commission. (We’ve got a lot of toys to buy over here, you know?)

Best overall cat litter

• Best odour control litter: Ever Clean Extra Strength Unscented Clumping Clay Cat Litter

• Best low-dust litter: Catsan Hygiene Inlays Dust-Free Cat Litter Liner*

• Best clumping litter: World’s Best Cat Litter

• Best eco-friendly litter: Greenwoods Plant Fibre Natural Clumping Litter

Odour-control ability

Odour control is a must for any cat litter – but, let’s be real, some litter boxes need more help than others. If that sounds – or smells – like your cat’s litter box, read on.

Ever Clean Extra Strength Unscented Clumping Clay Cat Litter

£14.99

Activated carbon technology in this litter helps mask the stink of your cat’s litter box, which leaves it fresh for ages, so that’s a plus right off the bat. Each 10l box is said to last two months. Its clumping powers are also a cut above, making cleanup easy. What more could you want?

£14.99 at ZooPlus

Dust production

For some cats and their parents, dust can be a home and health hazard. No matter if you’re trying to keep the dust from getting into your mouth or your carpets, take a look here.

Catsan Hygiene Inlays Dust-Free Cat Litter Liner

£9.44

Not only is there no dust with this litter, these pre-filled liners are as effective as 30 litres of normal litter. When you’re done, just pull the drawstring for unbelievably easy disposal.

£9.44 at Pets At Home

*Catsan is a Mars brand. We think their products are pretty cool, but we don’t play favourites. So, when a product has family ties, we’ll be real with you.

Clumping ability

When it comes to urine absorption and scoop-ability, a top-tier clumping litter is a must.

World’s Best Cat Litter

£25.39

By no means the cheapest option, this corn-based product ticks the sustainability box and is great at forming strong clumps that don’t fall apart easily. It also claims to be 99.9% dust free and great for allergy sufferers.

£25.39 at ZooPlus

Environmental factors

If you’re trying to take a greener approach to pet parenthood, your cat litter is a good place to start.

Greenwoods Plant Fibre Natural Clumping Litter

£8.49

Made entirely of plant fibre, this biodegradable litter flushes down the toilet (check with your local system first!), is low in dust and suitable for even the most sensitive of paws.

£8.49 at ZooPlus

Litter box compatibility

Another factor to consider when picking out a litter is whether it‘s a good fit for your litter box. The answer there is that it really depends on the kind of litter box you have. If you have an automatic litter box, you’ll want a litter that has a very good clumping ability.

If you have an open-top litter box, you’ll want to make sure your litter produces a low amount of dust, in addition to clumping well. Again, it really comes down to your cat’s preferences (and you’ll want to figure those out as early as you can).

Your cat’s preferences

As any cat parent might know, cats can be picky about their litter box. Texture, scent and box style can influence your cat’s willingness to properly utilise their designated bathroom. 

Unfortunately, getting the right combo of litter and litter box might take some trial and error. As a general rule of thumb, keep the litter box in a private, quiet area away from their food and water. Also, just as with humans, cats are likely to prefer a clean box over a not-so-clean one. If location and litter don’t appear to be the issue, you might want to consider swapping out the box itself. 

Frequently asked questions

What is the best cat litter for multiple cats?

The best cat litter for multiple cats is the one they will all agree on. However, if multiple cats are using the same litter box, you might want to prioritise an odour-reducing litter above all else.

Why is my cat pooing outside the litter box?

There are multiple reasons for why your cat might not be taking to their litter box. For starters, pet parents should rule out medical issues, such as urinary tract infections (UTIs) or gastrointestinal distress.

Should I get a ‘Litter-Robot’ for my cat? 

Automatic litter boxes scoop used litter for you, keeping the box extra clean for your cat, which will encourage them to use it. These babies can be a real game changer for the cat parent grind. (Just make sure you get a safe model.)