5 Best Natural Cat Litters

Best natural cat litters are an eco-friendly, safe and healthy choice for cat owners who want to ensure the well-being of their feline friends while also reducing their impact on the environment. Made from natural, renewable resources and free from harsh chemicals and toxins, natural cat litters are biodegradable, absorbent, clumping and low-dust. They also offer a low-odor, lightweight and cost-effective solution that is safe for cats and humans alike. These litters are also made from natural materials, making them safe for ingestion, respiratory-friendly and safe for sensitive skin. They are also suitable for multiple cats, all cats, all ages, and even for kittens. Natural cat litters are a sustainable and responsible choice that not only reduces the amount of waste in landfills but also promotes a healthy environment for your cat and your home.

Natural cat litters come in a variety of types such as wood-based, corn-based, paper-based, plant-based and even silica gel. Each type has its own set of pros and cons, which makes it important for cat owners to research and compare the different options before making a decision. Natural cat litters are made from natural, renewable resources, and are free from harmful chemicals, making them a safer choice for cats and their owners. They are also more environmentally friendly as they decompose more easily, reducing the amount of waste in landfills.

In this article, we will take an in-depth look at the best natural cat litters available on the market today. We will cover the different types of natural cat litters, their benefits, and the most popular brands. We will also provide a comparison of the most popular natural cat litters on the market and offer tips on how to choose the right one for your cat.

What’s the Best Natural Cat Litter in 2023?

1. World’s Best Litter, Original Unscented
2. ARM & HAMMER Natural Cat Litter, Multi-Cat
3. sWheat Scoop
4. Almo Nature Natural Cat Litter
5. Nourse CHOWSING Tofu Litter
6. CatSpot Litter: Coconut Cat Litter, Biodegradable, All-Natural, Lightweight & Dust-Free
7. Weruva It’s A Tea Potty! Hinoki Wood & Green Tea
8. Naturally Fresh Walnut-Based Household Quick-Clumping Litter

Types of Natural Cat Litter

• Wood-based litters: These litters are made from natural wood products such as pine, cedar, or aspen. They are highly absorbent and offer good odor control. They are also biodegradable and are less likely to cause respiratory issues for cats. However, they may be more expensive than other types of natural litters.
• Corn-based litters: These litters are made from corn, and are highly absorbent, clumping, and have low dust. They are also biodegradable, but are not as environmentally friendly as other types of natural litters.
• Paper-based litters: These litters are made from recycled paper, and are highly absorbent, clumping, and have low dust. They are also biodegradable and are a good choice for cats with respiratory issues.
• Plant-based litters: These litters are made from natural plant materials such as wheat, barley, or rice. They are highly absorbent and offer good odor control. They are also biodegradable and are less likely to cause respiratory issues for cats. However, they may be more expensive than other types of natural litters.
• Silica gel litters: These litters are made from silica gel crystals, and are highly absorbent, clumping, and have low dust. They are not biodegradable and are not as environmentally friendly as other types of natural litters.

How to Choose the Right Natural Cat Litter for Your Cat

When choosing the right natural cat litter for your cat, there are several factors to consider:

• The type of cat you have: Long or short hair cats may have different preferences when it comes to litter, so consider the type of cat you have and whether they have any specific needs or sensitivities. Long hair cats may have a tendency to ingest more litter as they groom themselves, so it’s important to consider the type of litter that is safe for them to ingest. Some natural litters, such as wood-based litters, can cause intestinal blockages if ingested in large quantities. In this case, it may be better to choose a plant-based or paper-based litter. Also, short hair cats may have a tendency to kick litter out of the box, so it’s important to choose a litter that is lightweight and less likely to scatter. In this case, a corn-based or silica gel litter may be a better option.
• The size of your litter box: Make sure to choose a litter that will fit comfortably in your litter box.
• Whether you have multiple cats: If you have multiple cats, you may need to choose a litter that is more absorbent and has better odor control to accommodate multiple cats.
• Your budget: Natural cat litters can vary in price, so consider your budget when choosing a litter.
• The smell: Some cats are more sensitive to smell than others, so if your cat is sensitive to smell, choose a litter that has a low smell or no smell at all.
• The dust level: Some natural litters are dustier than others, so choose a litter that is low dust if your cat has respiratory issues.
• The clumping: If you want to make scooping easier and more efficient, choose a litter that clumps well.
• The Biodegradable: Some natural litters are biodegradable, if you care about the environment and want to reduce your waste, choose a litter that is biodegradable.

Read More: What Is Pica In Cats? Symptoms, Causes & Treatments

How We Tested

World’s Best Cat Litter, Original Unscented – The Best Multiple Cat Unscented Litter

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If you don’t mind the price, World’s Best Litter ticks all the boxes for most situations. This kitty litter uses an entirely natural unscented formula. I really appreciate the fact that it contains whole-kernel corn grown in the US, which is subject to farming standards. My kittens use it for several weeks with no accidents.

Neither sandy nor soft, but the texture was gentle enough for the cat to agree to use it. If you’ve used clay products before, you can notice a similar texture. From my own observations, liquid got absorbed into this litter upon contact quickly. The solid clumps formed afterward gave me no issue when lifting them out in a single piece. Flushing it down the toilet was no problem either.

The manufacturer claims this is a low-dust product. But from my experience, it is really a hit or miss. This cat litter isn’t as dusty as silica. But my cat was sometimes covered in a lot of dust after digging and left some prints on my couch and bed. Skip this product if your cat has any allergy problems.

Tracking does occur, but it isn’t a big issue for me. It created a much smaller amount than lighter materials like walnut and grass. The fibrous texture of corn doesn’t just absorb urine easily but also reduces the duration in which the owner can detect its odor. Even when I tried to sniff this unscented product, the smell of the clumps was barely noticeable.

This 32-pound unscented multi-bag is suitable for homes with one or two cats. The manufacturer says it can provide enough litter for two in 67 days. The cost per pound of litter isn’t the cheapest. But considering its quality, it isn’t too bad either. The upshot is that it is a very popular product among cat owners and veterinary technicians. You can find it in plenty of local and online stores.

Other Drawbacks

This unscented litter doesn’t smell too bad. But you would definitely notice some offensive odors after a few weeks. It seems that it loses some of its odor-control ability over time, even with regular cleaning.

Another thing to keep in mind that attracts bugs is the nature of corn. It is perfect for you to seal and store the bag properly.

ARM & HAMMER Natural Cat Litter – Best Clumping Corn Cat Litter

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As the top pick, Arm & Hammer uses corn fibers as the main ingredient in this product.

But the mixture also features some baking soda, clumping agents, and mineral oils to help the performance, especially odor-fighting. Give it a try if you don’t want a completely unscented product.

With some added ingredients in the formulas (mineral oil and baking soda), you should be a bit more cautious.

Overall, it’s a non-toxic product. But it is perfect to test and see if your cat is allergic to it before using it in your main litter box.

The litter doesn’t take much time to absorb liquid, forming tight clumps you can easily clean. However, I still saw some clumps sticking to the bottom.

Handling is still easy as the material is much lighter than clay. But I need more effort to make sure the old clumps wouldn’t mix with new litter.

Compared to the previous choice, dust is less of an issue. Perhaps it’s why Arm & Hammer employs mineral oil in the formula. After all, it’s a well-known dust suppression solution in grain.

I didn’t see big clouds of dust while pouring this litter. It spared my house from dust coatings on every surface as well.

Like other deodorizing products, baking soda in this package does a wonderful job of eliminating the bad smells associated with the waste. The light scent coming with this kitty litter also helps mask some odors.

My cat doesn’t seem bothered by this artificial perfume. But I can understand why others may refuse to use this natural cat litter even though it has great scores in other aspects.

This Arm & Hammer product would go easier on your wallet than the option from other top picks. The 18-pound bag can last for about one month, in line with most corn litters.

Other Drawbacks

Tracking is a huge problem with this product. These small corn particles aren’t as annoying as clay, but you still may find them all over the place.

sWheat Scoop – Best Wheat Cat Litter

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Wheat is another biodegradable option that carries one of the best natural odor-absorbing and clumping abilities. Additionally, it’s a common suggestion from many veterinarians for owners of cats severely allergic to litter.

It is one of the perfect replacements if your cat suffers from allergies. Free from nasty chemicals, sWheat Scoop uses only natural plant extracts to do its job.

Sensitive pets often have problems with no perfumes or dyes added to many products. But this biodegradable has none, which is a big bonus point.

When your pet refuses to use even a light natural scent, this biodegradable product can be a good choice. It’s also safe to use when they have wounds that need time to heal.

The urine of my cat clumped well enough for me. Compared to corn or clay litter, the clumps created might not be as firm and take a longer time.

I didn’t see the same consistency that clay balls normally have. But still, cleaning and scooping the box weren’t a big problem.

The biggest disappointment is how much dust it produces when pouring. It is a massive difference compared to the top low-dust products on this list.

Tracking happened a lot in my testing too. Prepare to invest in good vacuums and litter mats so you wouldn’t see them everywhere in your house.

The biggest highlight of this product is how it puts odors to rest. The sWheat Scoop litter smells great when I pour it out of the bag.

Once my cat buried their feces, the smells disappeared almost immediately. They only lingered when my cat forgot to do so.

If you scoop it on a frequent basis (about once a day), the sWheat Scoop litter won’t smell too unpleasant.

The price isn’t too bad for how much value it brings. Plus, you don’t need to change it often like other products. Even with three cats, a bag of 40 pounds allowed me to serve them comfortably for a whole month.

Other Drawbacks

Store this biodegradable product carefully, or pests will find it. Keep the bag closed to turn away the tiny bugs normally attracted to wheat.

Naturally Fresh Walnut-Based Household Quick-Clumping Litter, Natural

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This walnut shell litter should be on your shortlist if you prefer a sustainable product that comes closest to the dust-free definition.

This Naturally Fresh product is safe for most cats. Made entirely from Non-GMO walnut shells, less than 0.9% of its ingredients are genetically modified. The original unscented version comes with no added harmful chemicals.

The company also offers scented litter with extra fragrances. Make sure your cat has no issue with those smells when trying out.

To my surprise, this unscented litter had comparable performance when it came to clumping. You will have a smooth transition if you come from a regular clay product.

The un-clumped grains were small and fell out of the strainer easily. This natural ingredient cat litter formed clumps around feces and urine quickly and made scooping a breeze for me. They didn’t break apart even if I shook the scooper.

The only gripe I had was the color of this litter. It looked like dirt so spotting the clumps was more difficult.

The litter was lightweight, but there were no clouds of dust when pouring. It didn’t produce any dust when I cleaned the box either.

While the small grains provide excellent clumping ability, tracking becomes a more serious problem. This product left tracks throughout my house.

The unscented shells did a great job masking the odors. Kudos to Naturally Fresh for making this happen without using any chemicals.

The fibrous shells don’t only make them more absorbent but also allow this eco-friendly litter to last fairly well. If you scoop the litter box often, you can go through the 14-pound bag for at least 30 days.

The prices Naturally Fresh asks for its products are similar to other clumping litters. Compared to many premium products on this list, like the Cat Litter from Almo Nature, they even seem cheap.

Other Drawbacks

Odors might not be an issue in use. But it was easy to notice that the bag had a light earthy smell when unpacking. Lucky for me, it faded quite fast, and there was virtually no scent in the litter box after that.

Almo Nature CatLitter – Eco-Conscious Natural Litters Choice

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This natural cat litter is a special mention for those who truly care about pets and the environment.

This biodegradable product belongs to Fondazione Capellino, a non-profit organization created in 2018 to combat climate change and protect biodiversity. They invest all the profits from products like this in their campaigns.

If you’re looking for a way to make positive changes to the environment, this cat litter is your best bet.

Almo Nature doesn’t disclose the exact ingredients in the formulas, but it uses compostable vegetable fibers to make this all-natural product.
My testing showed no allergic issues. In fact, you can flush it down the toilet conveniently as well.

The urine got absorbed quickly in solid clumps. I followed the guidelines and waited for a few minutes first before scooping this natural cat litter. No urine remained on the bottom, and the clumps didn’t stick to the box.

The biggest issue I had to encounter was how it tracked more than I would like. It didn’t get too dusty, but the dust marks all over the feet of my cats were noticeable.

I swept up the area around the litter box frequently, so it wasn’t a big headache for me. But this amount of tracking could become a deal-break for many.

If you can keep up cleaning the box religiously, this litter produces little to no bad smells.

I didn’t have to put in the new litter every time. When cleaning, the instructions only need you to clean the box between removing the litter and putting it back again.

This natural product isn’t an affordable product if you’re seeking one. It doesn’t last as long as Almo Nature claims either, making it a very expensive investment for your pet.

Other Drawbacks

There is no full list of ingredients. So it might be difficult to know in advance whether a cat would be allergic to this natural cat litter.

Nourse CHOWSING Tofu Litter – Best Safest Option For Ingestion

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Tofu-based products like the Nourse Chowsing might not have the biggest following. But this niche material can be the best natural choice in many situations, like when your pets tend to eat their litter.

You don’t need me to tell you that bean dregs, the by-product of tofu, aren’t harmful to cats. They’re not typical food for these pets. But if your cat happens to eat some of this natural cat litter, there is nothing to worry about. The soft texture of tofu causes no harm to wounded or allergic animals either.

When it comes to absorbing liquid and clumping, the tofu delivers on both counts. If you need something flushable, you can’t go wrong with the Nourse Chowsing.

However, some of the litter couldn’t keep its texture and melted, getting stuck to the bottom of my box. Cleaning it was a bit messy.

This is the aspect of tofu that has truly shown its value. The Nourse Chowsing created no dust and delivered one of the top anti-tracking abilities in my test. This product didn’t get stuck to the paws of my pet, so you can breathe a sigh of relief too.

This eco-friendly litter was unscented, but the light milk scent didn’t turn away my cat. It smelt pleasant to me at first, too. However, I started to sense some bad smells after 4 or 5 days. It was a bit disappointing as Nourse claims a 10-day guarantee of no odors. Cleaning the box and replacing the litter would solve the problem for me.

Tofu isn’t a cheap material to make and process in bulk. It didn’t come as a surprise that a 6-pound bag of mine cost much more than similar packages of other formulas.

A bag like this can last for about two weeks – a bit faster than other formulas.

Other Drawbacks

Nourse only offers a single-weight option (6 pounds). There is no bigger bag to buy, even if you want to stick with it as the long-term solution.

CatSpot Litter – Best Odor Control

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Coconut coir isn’t new material for cat litter. But its limited availability has put a brake on its adoption. Try to get the CatSpot Litter on your hands if you want to hold off the foul smells as much as possible.

Made from coconut fiber, this litter may look rough. But it actually feels gentle enough in hand. My cats liked it and accepted it as their new litter almost immediately.

I bought the non-clumping version, and this type of litter absorbed the urine of my cats well enough. I had to stir the litter after my cats used it, but that’s about it. The super absorbency handled the rest of the job.

Handling this lightweight material left a great impression on me. Scooping everything out was easy, and I could feel how much waste the coconut fiber had absorbed from its weight.

I didn’t notice any significant amount of dust, but this lightweight material did track easily. If your cat is an enthusiastic digger, the problem can get even worse as the litter can fly out and create a bigger mess.

The main benefit of the non-clumping litter was how little smell it gave off. The only time I got bothered by it was when the litter was past due. When you notice the smell, it’s time to clean and refill the box.

Like the Nourse Chowsing, this natural cat litter isn’t a great choice for a tight budget. The prices of other products pale in comparison to the kind of money CatSpot is asking.

The bright side is one bag like that can last for more than a month.

Other Drawbacks

There is just one bag size for you to choose from. If you have multiple cats, the great option you have is to buy several of them.

Weruva It’s A Tea Potty – Best Flushable Choice

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This unique and cute product is the perfect litter if you want to dump your cat waste into your toilet.

The American husband-and-wife company goes its own way and uses some ingredients rarely found in competitors.

Made from Japanese Hinoki cypress and green tea, It’s A Tea Potty carries no carrageenan, gluten, or even grain in its formulas. It’s safe for cats of all stages.

The litter dissolves almost immediately when it hits the water. If you want to get the waste out of sight as fast as possible and avoid its bad smells, this Weruva product makes that task a breeze.

Green tea might give you the impression that this is a non-clumping product, but it’s not the case.

According to Weruva, potato starch is the clumping agent of this natural cat litter. The urine clumped before it could reach the bottom, leaving no goop on my litter box.

Products like Naturally Fresh can clump faster, but the difference wasn’t so big. The bigger hiccup was that the clumps were not too firm, and

I had to use a big scooper to not break them up.

I tried to dispose of the clumped waste by flushing it one time and saw no problems. The urine balls broke apart quickly upon hitting the water.

The wooden part in this formula created a little dust, but not enough to discourage me. Tracking occurred, but it was minimal. Compared to pine litter, the improvement is massive.

Weruva chose green tea and Hinoki because of their ability to suppress odors and bacteria. And they can do a good job of holding off unpleasant smells.

As long as I kept a constant cleaning schedule, there was no offensive odor from urine.

Feces gave off some noticeable smells when my cats used the litter. But after giving them some time for the ingredients to do their job, the odor disappeared quickly.

A single cat can go through a 6.7-pound bag in 30 days. This is a normal duration, but the prohibitive price can put off many customers.

Other Drawbacks

I’d love to be able to buy these amazing natural cat litter in large quantities. There are only two choices, 6.7 and 11.7 pounds. They can run out of litter quickly if you own several cats.