Cat Litter Reviews

The reviews below are assigned ratings by ConsumerSearch. These ratings are based on credibility in testing, evaluating and identifying the best Cat Litter. See our ratings criteria

For recommendations of best Cat Litter, see our Fast Answers page, which summarizes what these reviews say. A longer summary and analysis appears in our Full Story report for Cat Litter. Our Where to Buy page contains information on retailers and Cat Litter prices.

Where to Buy

Fast Answers

Full Story

All Reviews

Cat Litter Reviews Reviewed
Review Ratings	Citation	CS Credibility Rating	Cat Litter Ratings Comments on Reviews
1. Gomestic.com	The Best Cat Litter A. King Sep. 2, 2007		In this thorough article, author A. King tries out five different brands of cat litter using his own cat as the guinea pig. King dislikes the dust created by Tidy Cats clay (not to mention the fact that cats tracked it all over the house) and is suspicious of the sodium bentonite used in the Arm & Hammer clumping litter. The top choice here is Feline Pine, which King likes because it is flushable, biodegradable, sweet smelling and low on dust. Also, "one bag of this litter lasts forever."
2. Slate.com >> Details/Subscribe	Hello, Kitty: The Scoop on Newfangled Cat Litter Kelly Alexander Aug. 9, 2002		In this article, Kelly Alexander tests four different cat litters on her cat Izzy. She concludes that clumping Scoop Away offers the "overall best combination of price and convenience." She says crystal cat litter is too expensive and likens non-clumping litter to one-ply wiping. This test is fun, but we wish it were more recently written and covered more brands.
3. The Lighthouse Online	Alternatives to Clumping Clay Kitty Litters Marina Michaels Sep. 28, 2005		Marina Michaels, who doesn't trust clumping clay cat litters, goes into great detail about non-clumping alternatives, trying out many of the brands with her cat. She recommends Yesterday's News (made out of recycled newspapers) and Feline Pine (made out of pine pellets), although she says her cats aren't especially comfortable with the relatively large Feline Pine pellets. She criticizes World's Best Cat Litter for not using organic corn, but still says it's a safe alternative to clumping clay litters and cites World's Best and Swheatscoop as the two best non-clay clumping litters.
4. Cat-Urine-Cleaner.com	Types of Kitty Litter Editors of Cat-Urine-Cleaner.com Not Dated		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. Among the brands listed here are Tidy Cats (clumping clay), yellow pine (Feline Pine), recycled newspaper (Yesterday's News), ground wheat (Swheat) and whole kernel corn (LitterMaid). This review might rank higher if we knew who was behind this site or how the cat litters were tested.
5. SFGate.com	Digging Deep into the Cat Litter Question Christie Keith July 10, 2007		In this thorough article, Christie Keith discusses various types of cat litters and makes some recommendations. She says World's Best Cat Litter is the best clumping non-clay litter even though it's expensive. Also recommended is Feline Pine, with the caveat that some cats don't like its texture. Among supermarket brands, Keith favors Scoop Away and Arm & Hammer. She says the crystal Clear Choice is for the "lazy cat owner" because it controls odor well, but is very expensive and some cats don't like its texture. It is unclear how many of these picks are actually tested by Keith, however.
6. Petfinder.com	Pick of the Litter Jacque Lynn Schultz Not Dated		Although this ASPCA sponsored article doesn't mention specific brands, it offers excellent insights into the various kinds of cat litter. Schultz debunks the notion that the chemicals in clumping cat litter can be harmful to cats (citing the opinion of James Richards, the director of Cornell's Feline Health Center) and she points to a 1990 study showing that cats vastly prefer finely grained clumping litter, often leaving organic litters untouched.
7. Suite 101	What IS the Best Cat Litter? Darlene Cheek Aug. 21, 2007		Darlene Cheek, who runs a "cattery" and has 14 cats living in her home, compares six cat litters. She recommends Dr. Elsey's Precious Cat Attract for "special needs" cats, but admits that it's expensive. Cheek says that World's Best Cat Litter is dusty and messy (which runs counter to the opinion of most other reviewers). She concludes that Tidy Cats Clay Litter is the best choice all around.
8. About.com	Cat Litters Franny Syufy Not Dated		Although she has good things to say about all cat litters here, Syufy personally endorses World's Best Cat Litter which she admits is "pricier than most." However, she also says it is virtually dust-free, good for kittens and clumps well. She also likes the "pleasant scent" and clumping action of Arm & Hammer Odor Alert Cat Litter.
9. The Litter Box	The Litter Box from Your Cat's Point of View Lisa A. Pierson Sep. 30, 2007		In an update to her veterinary blog, Lisa A. Pierson compares two cat litters in depth: the biodegradable World's Best Cat Litter and the clay clumping Dr. Elsey's Precious Cat Attract. She says her rescue group has used Dr. Elsey's for years, but this litter is dusty (despite the "99% dust-free" claim on the package) and prone to tracking. However, she's more concerned about the dust in the corn-based World's Best, fearing that it can aggravate feline asthma. Moreover, she points out that cats, "are more apt to use a litter box when it is filled with a natural substrate like unscented clumping clay litter."
10. Cats International	Which Litter is Best for Your Cat? Editors of Cats International Not Dated		The writer of this article doesn't compare specific brands, but he disapproves of the recent use of such exotic materials as "paper, corncob, orange peel, wheat, wood, grass, silica, and peanut shell" for cat litters, noting that cats' sensitive footpads are most comfortable with fine-grained clumping cat litters. The only brand specifically recommended here is Scoop Away Unscented.
11. TreeHugger.com	Cat Litter? Contributors to TreeHugger.com Sep. 2007		This lively forum discusses the pros and cons of biodegradable cat litter compared to ordinary clumping clay. While Yesterday's News and Swheat are recommended by some, there's a certain tension here among cat owners who'd like to do well by the environment, but can't find an organic litter that performs as well as clumping clay. One owner who switched back to clay says, "I rationalize this by the NUMEROUS other things I do to save the environment on a daily basis."
12. Showcats Online	Litter Options: How Do You Choose the Best Litter for Your Cat? Lee Harper Not Dated		Lee Harper, who breeds Persian and exotic cats, compares the various types of cat litters and offers her personal picks. She recommends, "a good quality clumping clay litter with medium-sized granules" for everyday use and says she uses the Booda brand. For weaning kittens, she likes World's Best Cat Litter and her show cats use Litter Crystals.

Cat Litter Reviews above this line are significantly better than reviews below.

Review Ratings	Citation	CS Credibility Rating	Cat Litter Ratings Comments on Reviews

13. Petco.com	Choosing Cat Litter & Accessories Editors of Petco.com Not Dated		With the caveat that Petco is a huge retailer of pet products, the chart here comparing the pluses and minuses of various types of cat litter (clay clumping, clay non-clumping, crystal and biodegradable) is very useful. The chart is accompanied by Petco's recommendations, which include Ever Clean (clumping), Pet Gold (non-clumping and crystal) and Yesterday's News (biodegradable).
14. Petco.com	Litter Center Contributors to Petco.com Not Dated		The online pet-supply retailer Petco is a good source of customer reviews for cat litter (with the caveat that owners will always defend their favorite brands). Particular favorites here, based on average ratings and number of reviews, are World's Best Cat Litter, Fresh Step, Tidy Cats and Feline Pine.
15. PetSmart.com	Litter Reviews Contributors to PetSmart.com Not Dated		PetSmart doesn't sell a huge variety of cat litter, but it covers the major brands and allows customers to post reviews. Fresh Step, Feline Pine, Dr. Elsey's Precious Cat Attract and Yesterday's News all do especially well here, with the highest ratings from the largest number of posters.
16. Amazon.com	Cat Litter? Contributors to Amazon.com As of Oct. 2007		As at Petco.com, some cat litters sold here stand out as customer favorites. The highest-rated biodegradable cat litters with the most number of reviews are World's Best and Feline Pine, while Dr. Elsey's Precious Cat Attract is a popular clumping litter.

Cat Litter Reviews above this line are significantly better than reviews below.

Review Ratings	Citation	CS Credibility Rating	Cat Litter Ratings Comments on Reviews

17. Epinions	Untitled Contributors to Epinions As of Oct. 2007		Although many of the cat litters listed here are unrated, some attract a fair amount of attention from owners. With over 100 mostly positive ratings, Feline Pine is a particular favorite. Tidy Cats Crystals earns mixed notices, as does Arm & Hammer.