10 Best Clumping Cat Litters – 2024 Expert Picks & Reviews

Clumping cat litter is convenient, helps to eliminate bad litter odors, and is usually easier to clean than non-clumping. The majority of litters on the market today are clumping, although non-clumping alternatives do still exist.

Clumping litters can be made from materials ranging from tried and traditional clay to silica crystals. They can be scented or unscented, and they can be designed for use with a single cat or in a multi-cat household.

To help you find the best clumping cat litters, we have compiled reviews of ten of the best.

A Quick Comparison of the 2024 Winners

The 10 Best Clumping Cat Litters

1. World’s Best Unscented Clumping Corn Cat Litter

World’s Best Multi-Cat Unscented Clumping Corn Cat Litter is designed for use in homes with two or more cats. Multi-cat litter can absorb more liquid without smelling of cat urine, which means that it can face the rigors of being used multiple times over the course of a day.

It will benefit from being skimmed and cleared more often, and thanks to the quick clumping nature of this corn-based all-natural litter, it is easy to skim the clumps away and replenish the litter stock a little at a time.

The natural litter is made from corn husks. These are more environmentally friendly than clay: the process of mining the clay leads to the destruction of trees and other local plants and wildlife. Clay also gives off dust that not only smells but is considered unhealthy for your cat and even for you.

As well as being made from clay, this formula does not contain any artificial perfumes or other artificial additives so is a sympathetic choice for your cats. It is reasonably priced and comes in a good variety of bag sizes, making it convenient for you, whatever your litter needs may be.

All in all, we think this is the best clumping cat litter of this year.

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2. Dr. Elsey’s Precious Cat Unscented Clumping Clay Litter

Dr. Elsey’s Precious Cat Ultra Unscented Clumping Clay Cat Litter is a clay litter. As such, it is cheaper than natural alternatives, and it does clump. In fact, like a lot of clay litters, it will clump solid, and its weight means that the soiled clay will find its way to the base of the tray. Cleaning the litter tray itself will prove difficult because the clay clumps are set like cement.

There is also the problem of clay dust clouds. Although Dr. Elsey’s is better than some other clay alternatives, it does still give off a lot of dust and this can be problematic for cats or owners that have respiratory problems.

The litter is unscented, which means that it does not have the strong, chemical smell that some litters give off. This smell can deter cats from using the litter and can prove too strong for owners. Despite this, the clumping nature of the clay helps to cover any litter odors. It is a low-tracking litter, as well, so your cat is less likely to tread it into other rooms and you won’t have to vacuum the carpets or the sofa as often.

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3. Arm & Hammer 40lb Clump & Seal Platinum Cat Litter

Arm & Hammer Clump & Seal Platinum Litter is another clay litter. This means that it has excellent clumping power but you should never try flushing clay litter down the toilet. Some natural alternatives, such as those made from 100% biodegradable materials like corn or wheat, can be safely flushed down the toilet although they may require some preparation by leaving them to soak first. However, if you try flushing a clay litter, it will solidify, not only blocking but likely demolishing your toilet and causing problems in the sewage.

This clay litter is cheap and it includes baking soda, which is used as a natural deterrent for odors. The clumping nature will trap most of the smells, and any that do get through, which is more common with feces than with urine smells, will be masked with the baking soda.

The problems with this litter are common to clay litter products. It does cause a cloud, which is not only a problem when pouring but also when the cat tries digging and covering up a mess. It also forms a rock-hard clump that can stick to the litter tray itself and make it more difficult to clean.

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4. Purina Tidy Cats 4-in-1 Strength Clumping Cat Litter

Purina Tidy Cats 4-in-1 Strength Clumping Cat Litter is a clay litter. It is reasonably priced and although it does cause some dust, as is typical with all clay litters, it does a better job than a lot of alternatives of offering a dust-free environment around the litter. It clumps and forms a strong bond, which makes it easy to lift out soiled sections but can make it difficult to clean the tray when the damp areas get stuck on the bottom or the inside edges of the litter tray.

Purina’s litter has a floral scent to help mask the smell of urine, ammonia, and feces, and it comes in a convenient plastic jug design. One thing worth noting is that clay litter is quite heavy and it can be difficult to pour into the litter itself. The large opening of the jug does make it easier and eliminates the risk of getting more on the floor than in the tray.

Overall, this is a decent clay litter. It is a little dusty, but it is inexpensive and comes in a convenient jug design. Whether you like the litter or not will largely depend on your appreciation of the floral scent. The smell, while it might be preferable to cat pee, is strong and chemical.

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5. Nature’s Miracle Intense Defense Clumping Cat Litter

Nature’s Miracle Intense Defense Clumping Litter is a clay formula cat litter that comes in a choice of a jug, pale, or box, and in a variety of different sizes. This combination of size and pouring choice makes it convenient. Nature’s Miracle claims that the litter is suitable for high-traffic boxes and multi-cat houses and that its formula will help eliminate odors straight away by fighting ammonia, urine, and feces smells. It clumps quickly, thanks to the bentonite, and is described as super absorbent, which means that it should prevent wetness from spreading around the tray.

Since recent formula changes have taken effect, the litter suffers from more dust. It tracks badly through the house on your cat’s paws, and it does not control odors as efficiently as it once did. Also, while the litter does not do well at eliminating unwanted odors, it has a very pungent, chemical smell from the formula itself.

Although the litter is cheap and does come in a good selection of sizes and container shapes, the litter itself is dusty and less effective following a recent formula change.

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6. Fresh Step Scented Litter With Febreze Clumping Cat Litter

The smell is one of the worst things about having an indoor cat litter tray. It is especially a problem if the tray is kept in the kitchen or dining room, both of which are common rooms in which to keep the litter because they are convenient and easy to access. Most litters claim to prevent, trap, or mask odors, and they aim to prevent the smell of urine, feces, and ammonia, from spreading.

One way in which odors are prevented is through the clumping of litter. This envelopes the cause of the smell which, in turn, prevents the odor from getting out. Another way to prevent or beat the smell is through the use of perfume or deodorant. Fresh Step Scented Litter combines the benefits of a clumping cat litter with the fresh goodness of Febreze. Fresh Step claims that this prevents bacterial odor for up to 10 days.

The litter itself is fast clumping and is said to be effective in multi-cat and busy litter boxes. The cost of the litter is reasonable, although there is only a limited size of box available, and it would be more convenient if alternative sizes were available.

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7. Purina Tidy Cats LightWeight Scented Clumping Cat Litter

Purina Tidy Cats LightWeight Glade Extra Strength combines the clumping action of Purina Tidy Cats litter with the scented freshness of Glade plugins. What’s more, this low dust litter is lightweight and Purina claims that a 17-pound jug of this litter is equivalent to a 35-pound jug of standard litter. That makes the price reasonable for a clumping clay litter and less expensive than natural alternatives to this traditional material.

Clay is the litter material of choice for many because of its quick clumping nature. As soon as liquid hits the litter, it clumps up into a solid ball and retains this shape until it is thrown away or disposed of. This does make it easier to remove soiled litter, but it also means that the clay can become encrusted on the side and the bottom of the litter. This is a problem common to clay litters and so too is the dusty nature of the material, which can be a problem if you or your cat has respiratory problems such as asthma.

This is expensive for a clay litter and doesn’t quite go as far as Purina claims. While the Glade smell will appeal to some, it may put some cats off using the litter and won’t be to everybody’s tastes.

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8. Ökocat Natural Wood Cat Litter

Ökocat Natural Wood Cat Litter is a natural litter that is made from wood fiber. It is a super soft pellet that contains natural enzymes that will trap and contain the odors that occur in cat urine and feces. The manufacturer claims that the precision-cut wood clumps quickly and forms a solid bond once it comes into contact with liquid and that the wood was carefully selected before being cleaned to avoid harmful toxins. The natural pellet does not contain any additional or artificial ingredients or additives, either, so it is considered safe for cats and their human families. The super-soft pellets are designed to be sympathetic to cats’ paws, and they are suitable for sensitive cats, too.

Wood pellets are preferred over clay because they produce less dust. They do not form a cement-like crust around the inside of the litter tray, so they are easier to clean. But despite these benefits, they still form a strong clump and offer a natural scent. It can also be flushed, although you should always take care when doing this, and bear in mind that flushing any cat litter is illegal in California.

Wood pellets, however, are more expensive than clay. What’s more, this particular litter tends to collect in cats’ paws and is easily trodden into carpets and scattered on sofas and around the home.

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9. Boxiecat Air Lightweight Premium Clumping Cat Litter

Boxiecat Air is a lightweight, extra strong plant-based litter. It is not made from clay but from a formula of plant-based materials including barley. The litter is 60% lighter than clay-based formulae but it still forms a tight bond around waste to help prevent the escape of any odors, liquids, or solids. Boxiecats says that all of its ingredients are sourced from the USA.

Despite this, it clumps well and creates a bonded clump that lasts until you want to empty it. It has a natural scent that helps remove the smell of urine, feces, and ammonia.

The litter is lightweight and natural, and it is gentle on cats, but it is also very pricey when compared to other brands and types of cat litter.

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10. Naturally Fresh Walnut Cat Litter

Naturally Fresh Cat Litter is made from 100% walnuts. It is completely natural and entirely biodegradable. It has a great natural smell and considerable environmental benefits. In fact, the company produces its litter in a 100% solar-powered plant.

The litter is very absorbent, although it does not clump anywhere near as well as clay litter, as you would expect from walnut shells. The shells do not stick to cats’ paws, so your cat won’t throw it off in the carpet or on the furniture around the house.

Although walnut can be considered preferable to clay because it is better for the environment and your cat, it can stain floors and even cat fur. The litter is also inexpensive to buy. It is a good alternative to clay litter, but it won’t suit all cats or owners, and some cats may not appreciate the bitter smell or the feel of the walnut shells.

Conclusion

Clumping cat litter can be made from natural materials but most products are made from clay. Other materials used include walnut, barley, and wood pellets. Ensure that you choose a litter that your cat likes, but that is easy for you to manage and clean up. Choose according to price, convenience, dust levels, and odor management.

We found the boldly named World’s Best Multi-Cat Unscented Clumping Corn Cat Litter to be the best clumping cat litter. It is competitively priced and because it is made from corn, it is biodegradable, better for the environment, and can even be flushed. Dr. Elsey’s Precious Cat Ultra Unscented Clumping Clay Cat Litter is a clay litter so it does set a bit like cement around the edge of the litter tray, but it is cheap and does a good job of odor control.