Cat Litter: Reviews

Updated March 2009

When it comes to choosing the best cat litter, pet owners have a number of choices, including clumping clay, biodegradable and crystal varieties. ConsumerSearch discusses potential health and environmental issues related to cat litter, consulting professional and consumer reviews to uncover the best cat litter choices.

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Best biodegradable cat litter

Feline Pine

*Est. $12 for 20 lbs. Compare Prices

In comparative reviews, Feline Pine is one of the most recommended cat litters of any type. It's made out of biodegradable pine-lumber pellets, so it can be flushed or reused as yard mulch. It's safe for very young… expandkittens, who shouldn't use fine clay litter. A 20-pound bag can last as long as 60 pounds of clay litter since you only need to put an inch of Feline Pine in the litter box. However, Feline Pine doesn't clump, and some cats dislike its texture. collapse

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Expert & User Review Sources:

Gomestic.com: In this thorough article, Alyn King tries out five different brands of cat litter using his own cat as the guinea pig.

The Lighthouse Online: Marina Michaels, who says she doesn't trust clumping clay cat litters, goes into great detail about non-clumping alternatives, trying out many of the brands with her cat.

Cat-Urine-Cleaner.com: This helpful article on an informal cat-care website describes the pros and cons of various kinds of cat litter and provides recommendations for each type.

San Francisco Chronicle: In this thorough article, Christie Keith discusses types of cat litter and makes some recommendations.

Petco.com: The online pet-supply retailer Petco is a good source of customer reviews for cat litter.

Amazon.com: Feline Pine receives very good scores from a handful of users at Amazon.com.

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for $11.99

Biodegradable clumping cat litter

World's Best Cat Litter

*Est. $40 for 34 lbs. Compare Prices

Unlike Feline Pine, World's Best Cat Litter clumps on contact with urine, making the litter box easier to clean. Because World's Best is made out of whole-kernel corn, it can be flushed down the toilet or used as yard… expandmulch. Many owners and experts swear by this cat litter, but it's very expensive, and some users say this litter is dustier than the manufacturer claims. Also, there's some evidence that cats prefer fine-grained clumping clay litters, which are much cheaper but not biodegradable. collapse

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Expert & User Review Sources:

The Lighthouse Online: Marina Michaels, who says she doesn't trust clumping clay cat litters, discusses non-clumping alternatives in detail, trying out many of the brands with her cat.

San Francisco Chronicle: In this thorough article, Christie Keith discusses various types of cat litters and makes some recommendations.

Suite 101: Darlene Cheek, who runs a "cattery" and has 14 cats living in her home, compares six cat litters.

Petco.com: The online pet-supply retailer Petco is a good source of customer reviews for cat litter.

Amazon.com: World's Best Cat Litter gets slightly above-average reviews at Amazon.com from about 30 users.

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for $38.49

Clumping clay litter

Scoop Away Multiple Cat Formula

*Est. $18 for 28 lbs. Compare Prices

Feline experts say cats are most comfortable with fine-grained, clumping clay cat litter, of which Scoop Away has a small edge in reviews. Clay cat litter can't be flushed down the toilet, and the clumping chemical they… expandcontain worries some pet owners (unnecessarily, in the view of feline health experts). Like other fine-grained clumping clay litter, Scoop Away isn't meant for kittens younger than 3 months (who can accidentally ingest some of the particles). Also, cats tend to track fine-grained clay litters around the house, so you may have to do more vacuuming than with other types of kitty litter. collapse

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Expert & User Review Sources:

Slate.com: Kelly Alexander tests four different cat litters on her cat, Izzy.

San Francisco Chronicle: In this thorough article, Christie Keith discusses various types of cat litters and recommends Scoop Away and Arm & Hammer for clumping litters.

Cats International: Specific brands are not compared in this article, but it is noted that cats with sensitive feet are most comfortable with fine-grained clumping cat litters.

Petco.com: The online pet-supply retailer Petco is a good source of customer reviews for cat litter.

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Alternative for kittens or special-needs cats

Dr. Elsey's Precious Cat Attract Cat Litter

*Est. $15 for 20 lbs. Compare Prices

Dr. Elsey's is a favorite among veterinarians and cat experts, who say the herb-scented, clumping clay Cat Attract is a good choice for training kittens to use the litter box, as well as for reinforcing this habit with… expandgrown-up cats that tend to urinate outside the litter box. Cat Attract is made of clay, but cats can't ingest its larger particles so it's a good choice for very small kittens (who can accidentally ingest finer-grained clay litter). collapse

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Expert & User Review Sources:

Suite 101: Darlene Cheek, who owns 14 cats, compares six cat litters.

CatInfo.org: At the very end of an update to her veterinary blog, Lisa Pierson recommends Dr. Elsey's Precious Cat Attract for cats that don't always use their litter box.

PetSmart.com: PetSmart doesn't sell a huge variety of cat litter brands, but it covers the major brands and allows customers to post reviews.

Amazon.com: Most cat owners posting reviews at Amazon.com give Dr. Elsey's Precious Cat Attract perfect scores.

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for $13.29

Crystal cat litter

Pestell Clear Choice Low Track Silica Crystals Cat Litter

*Est. $21 for 12 lbs. Compare Prices

In general, cat experts aren't fond of crystal-based cat litters, which absorb moisture and neutralize odors but can be hard on a cat's sensitive paws. However, for certain owners, crystal litter has a big advantage over… expandothers. It effectively absorbs moisture and odor and only has to be changed about once a month. However, if these aren't deal-breakers for you, your cat will probably be much more comfortable with a different type. collapse

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Expert & User Review Sources:

San Francisco Chronicle: Christie Keith discusses various types of cat litters and makes some recommendations.

Amazon.com: Reviews on crystal litters are limited, but seven users on Amazon.com give Pestell Clear Choice Low Track Silica Crystals Cat Litter well-above-average scores.

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for $19.56