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10 Best Cat Litters for Kittens – 2024 Reviews & Top Picks

Jessica Kim

By Jessica Kim

small grey kitten in plastic litter tray

Kittens are naturally curious throughout their growth and development, and they learn a lot through exploration. Therefore, it is a top priority to create a safe environment for kittens and purchase products and supplies that encourage and support safe exploration. Choosing the right cat litter for your kitten can protect them from multiple accidents, such as ingesting harmful chemicals or choking on granules.

Our reviews include a selection of the best types of cat litter for kittens. We will also go over key features to look for as you shop for new cat litter so that you can choose the best cat litter for your precious kitten.

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A Brief Glance at Our Favorites (2024 Update)

Rating Image Product Details
Best Overall
Winner
Dr. Elsey’s Kitten Attract Clumping Clay Cat Litter Dr. Elsey’s Kitten Attract Clumping Clay Cat Litter
  • Made with all-natural ingredients
  • Contains a natural herbal attractant
  • Compatible with sifting and mechanical litter boxes
  • Best Value
    Second place
    Sanicat Evolution Kitten Scented Clumping Clay Sanicat Evolution Kitten Scented Clumping Clay
  • Scented to attract kittens
  • Soft and gentle on paws
  • Clumps very well
  • Premium Choice
    Third place
    Catalyst Pet Multi-Cat Formula Cat Litter Catalyst Pet Multi-Cat Formula Cat Litter
  • Eco-friendly and biodegradable
  • Excellent odor control
  • Absorbs and clumps quickly
  • Arm & Hammer Litter Naturals Scented Clumping Arm & Hammer Litter Naturals Scented Clumping
  • Eco-friendly option
  • Lightweight and easy to pour
  • Low-dust formula
  • Okocat Original Premium Wood Clumping Okocat Original Premium Wood Clumping
  • Made with biodegradable materials
  • Soft on the paws
  • No strong artificial fragrances
  • The 10 Best Cat Litters for Kittens

    1. Dr. Elsey’s Kitten Attract Clumping Clay Cat Litter – Best Overall

    Dr. Elsey’s Kitten Attract Clumping Clay Cat Litter

    Check Price on Chewy
    Material: Clay
    Clumping: Yes

    Dr. Elsey’s Kitten Attract Clumping Clay Cat Litter is the best overall cat litter for kittens because it’s made with all-natural ingredients and is specifically designed for kittens. This cat litter contains a natural herbal attractant to encourage kittens to use their litter box and speed up litter box training. The formula is also 99% dust-free and clumps quickly.

    The texture of the granules is gentle on kittens’ delicate paws, and it’s compatible with sifting and mechanical litter boxes. However, depending on your kitten’s litter box habits, the cat litter can get sticky and cause tracking. So, it is important to set up cat mats around the litter box to reduce tracking.

    Pros
    • Made with all-natural ingredients
    • Contains a natural herbal attractant
    • Compatible with sifting and mechanical litter boxes
    Cons
    • Can have a sticky consistency

    2. Sanicat Evolution Kitten Scented Clumping Clay Cat Litter – Best Value

    Sanicat Evolution Kitten Scented Clumping Clay Cat Litter

    Material: Clay
    Clumping: Yes

    If you’re looking for a budget-friendly option, Sanicat Evolution Kitten Scented Clumping Clay Cat Litter is the best cat litter for kittens for the money. This cat litter is another option that’s specifically formulated for young kittens and helps with litter box training. It’s soft and gentle on the paws and is dust-free. It’s also infused with natural valerian extract to enhance odor control.

    This cat litter clumps very well, but it can be sticky for young kittens that are still learning to use their litter box. It can get stuck between their paws and on kittens with longer hair. Fortunately, it’s relatively easy to rinse or wipe off with pet wipes.

    Pros
    • Scented to attract kittens
    • Soft and gentle on paws
    • Clumps very well
    Cons
    • Can be very sticky

    3. Catalyst Pet Multi-Cat Formula Cat Litter – Premium Choice

    Catalyst Pet Multi-Cat Formula Cat Litter

    Material: Softwood
    Clumping: Yes

    Catalyst Pet Multi-Cat Formula Cat Litter is an excellent premium cat litter that’s safe for kittens to use. It’s made with natural and sustainable upcycled softwood and is biodegradable. It doesn’t have a strong smell, but it does an excellent job with odor control. The litter is also lightweight when compared to clay cat litter, and it absorbs moisture quickly and clumps well.

    It’s important to keep in mind that this cat litter isn’t compatible with mechanical litter boxes. You can end up wasting a lot of cat litter when a mechanical litter box cycles through it.

    Pros
    • Eco-friendly and biodegradable
    • Excellent odor control
    • Absorbs and clumps quickly
    Cons
    • Not compatible with mechanical litter boxes

    4. Arm & Hammer Litter Naturals Scented Clumping Corn Cat Litter

    Arm & Hammer Litter Naturals

    Material: Corn fiber
    Clumping: Yes

    Arm & Hammer Litter Naturals Scented Clumping Corn Cat Litter is another natural and eco-friendly cat litter. It’s made with natural corn fibers and a plant-based clumping agent and also contains natural baking soda that activates quickly after coming in contact with moisture. This cat litter is lightweight and easier to pour than clay cat litter, and it has a low-dust formula. It’s highly absorbent and clumps. However, you do have to be more gentle when scooping because the clumps tend to break easily.

    Pros
    • Eco-friendly option
    • Lightweight and easy to pour
    • Low-dust formula
    Cons
    • Clumps tend to break easily

    5. Okocat Original Premium Wood Clumping Cat Litter

    Material: Wood
    Clumping: Yes

    Okocat Original Premium Wood Clumping Cat Litter is a popular choice among kitten parents because of its many benefits. It’s made with biodegradable wood fiber that’s also been sustainably sourced. The granules are soft on the paws and aren’t sticky, which minimizes tracking. It also clumps, but the clumps do tend to break easily.

    Another great feature is the odor control. This cat litter has a light, fresh scent. The fragrance isn’t overpowering, and the formula still does a great job of reducing litter box odors. So, it’s a considerable choice for both humans and cats that are sensitive or allergic to artificial fragrances.

    Pros
    • Made with biodegradable materials
    • Soft on the paws
    • No strong artificial fragrances
    Cons
    • Clumps break easily

    6. sWheat Scoop Fast-Clumping Unscented Natural Clumping Wheat Cat Litter

    sWheat Scoop Fast-Clumping

    Material: Wheat
    Clumping: Yes

    sWheat Scoop Fast-Clumping Unscented Natural Clumping Wheat Cat Litter is made with plant-based, all-natural ingredients. The base of this cat litter is biodegradable and renewable wheat. It includes wheat starches and natural enzymes to trap and neutralize odors. It’s free of any artificial fragrances and has low dust levels.

    This cat litter forms firm clumps that make litter box maintenance fast and easy. It’s also flushable, and you can flush small amounts of it at a time. Just keep in mind that this cat litter doesn’t tend to work well with mechanical litter boxes and can cause damage and clogging.

    Pros
    • Biodegradable and flushable
    • Natural ingredients trap and neutralize odors
    • No artificial fragrances
    Cons
    • Not compatible with mechanical litter boxes

    7. Naturally Fresh Unscented Clumping Walnut Cat Litter

    Naturally Fresh Unscented Clumping

    Material: Walnut shells
    Clumping: Yes

    Naturally Fresh Unscented Clumping Walnut Cat Litter is made with 100% natural walnut shells. It’s another excellent biodegradable and eco-friendly option. It absorbs quickly and can lock moisture within 15 minutes of contact. The formula is also dust-free and keeps tracking at a minimum. It doesn’t contain any strong artificial fragrances but still performs well in reducing litter box odors.

    The only downside to this cat litter is that its texture is on the coarser side. So, some kittens, especially smaller ones, may not like walking on it.

    Pros
    • Made with 100% natural walnut shells
    • Biodegradable and eco-friendly
    • Dust-free and low tracking
    Cons
    • Has a coarse texture

    8. PrettyLitter Health Monitoring Cat Litter

    PrettyLitter Health Monitoring Cat Litter

    Material: Silica-based gel
    Clumping: No

    PrettyLitter Health Monitoring Cat Litter helps you keep track of your cat’s urinary health. The litter is formulated to change colors when it comes in contact with cat urine. The litter color can change if it detects UTIs, bladder inflammation, urinary stones, or blood in the urine.

    The base of this cat litter is silica-based gel. It’s non-toxic and doesn’t contain any traces of crystalline silica. It’s also low-dust, lightweight, and easy to pour. The granules are designed to reduce tracking and have low dust levels. It’s highly absorbent and can last a long time. You just have to make sure to sift and scoop daily to reduce odors and prevent urine from reaching the bottom of the litter box.

    Pros
    • Helps track urinary health
    • Made with non-toxic silica-based gel
    • Lightweight and low dust
    Cons
    • Requires frequent maintenance

    9. OleyHemp OH! Kitty Litter

    OleyHemp OH

    Material: Hemp
    Clumping: Yes

    OleyHemp OH! Kitty Litter is a great cat litter if you’re looking to shop consciously. It’s admittedly priced higher than other types of cat litter, but it’s highly absorbent and can absorb up to seven times more moisture than traditional clay cat litter.

    This cat litter is made with 100% renewable, eco-friendly hemp. It forms tight clumps and is both biodegradable and flushable. It also contains a natural, fresh scent and performs well with reducing litter box odors. It’s best for single-cat homes because it comes in smaller packaging. So, one package usually doesn’t contain enough cat litter for multiple cats.

    Pros
    • Made with 100% renewable hemp
    • Biodegradable and flushable
    • Highly absorbent
    Cons
    • Relatively expensive
    • Not well-suited for multi-cat homes

    10. Next Gen Pet Products Cypress Fresh Unscented Clumping Wood Cat Litter

    Next Gen Pet Products Cypress Fresh

    Material: Cypress wood
    Clumping: Yes

    Using this cat litter by Next Gen Pet Products comes with many benefits. It comes in the form of a soft, lightweight pellet that’s gentle on your kitten’s paws. It’s unscented but has powerful odor control, and it has low dust, making it a considerable option for allergy sufferers.

    This cat litter is made with 100% natural ingredients. The pellets contain highly absorbent cypress wood and green tea leaves, which prevent bacterial growth and control odors. They’re also compostable and flushable. The only issue is that this cat litter doesn’t clump very well. The clumps tend to be delicate and must be scooped gently.

    Pros
    • Soft pellets are gentle on paws
    • No artificial fragrances and low dust
    • Made with 100% natural ingredients
    • Compostable and flushable
    Cons
    • Doesn’t form strong clumps

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    Buyer’s Guide: Picking the Best Cat Litter for Kittens

    Shopping for new cat litter for kittens can take some time because you can choose from so many different options. Here are some key factors to consider when looking for new cat litter.

    Clumping vs. Non-Clumping

    Both clumping and non-clumping cat litter have their advantages and disadvantages. Clumping cat litter contains binding agents that activate when they come in contact with moisture. These types of cat litter make cleanup quick and convenient because you can simply scoop up the clumps without having to change out the entire litter box. When shopping for clumping cat litter, it’s important to check and see how well they clump. Most clay-based cat litter forms tight clumps, but clumping cat litter made with other materials may form loose clumps that crumble easily when you try to scoop them.

    Non-clumping cat litter is often a more budget-friendly option than clumping cat litter. It also tends to perform really well with reducing odors. It’s highly absorbent and helps to keep the litter box dry. However, since you can’t really scoop up urine, you do have to change it out more frequently. Most non-clumping cat litter needs to be replaced every week, and the litter box has to be cleaned more often.

    Granule Size and Texture

    It’s important to consider granule size and texture because they can potentially cause discomfort for your kitten’s paw pads and increase the amount of dust in your home. Cat litter with finer granules will feel soft on your kitten’s paws, but they tend to have higher levels of dust and can increase tracking around the house. If you choose cat litter with larger granules, make sure that the material is soft, as coarse granules can discourage kittens from stepping onto the cat litter.

    Kitten pooping in litter box
    Image Credit: Stefano Garau, Shutterstock

    Stickiness

    Kittens learning to use litter boxes may not know how to avoid wet spaces and can end up stepping on soiled cat litter. This can end up causing the cat litter to stick to their paws. Some cat litter made with finer granules can form a sticky paste before they dry completely. This paste can stick to a kitten’s paws and be difficult to clean and remove. Therefore, it’s often helpful to find cat litter that absorbs moisture and dries quickly.

    Natural Materials

    Kittens are very curious, and some can end up wanting to play in their cat litter or try to taste it. Choosing cat litter with an all-natural formula can be an extra safety measure that prevents your kitten from coming in contact with artificial chemicals and fragrances.

    Just keep in mind that it’s generally not safe for cats to ingest any type of cat litter. Cat litter can contain clumping agents that can cause gastrointestinal upset and intestinal blockage. So, if your kitten eats some cat litter, it’s best to contact your veterinarian for advice and treatment.

    kitten in litter box looking up
    Image credit: Andrey_Kuzmin, Shutterstock

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    Conclusion

    Dr. Elsey’s Kitten Attract Clumping Clay Cat Litter is the best cat litter for kittens among our reviews. It’s formulated specifically for kittens and makes litter box cleanup and maintenance more convenient. Sanicat Evolution Kitten Scented Clumping Clay Cat Litter is a good affordable option that’s highly absorbent and has strong odor control. Lastly, Catalyst Pet Multi-Cat Formula Cat Litter is a great premium cat litter that’s both safe for your cat and good for the environment. Using any of these types of cat litter will help your kitten with litter box training while keeping them safe.


    Featured Image Credit: Africa Studio, Shutterstock

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