The best natural cat litter in 2020

The best natural cat litter overall

Quick-absorbing World's Best Multiple Cat Unscented Litter locks up offensive odors in tight clumps of compressed corn.

Pros: Made from compressed corn kernels, prevents odors when cleaned frequently, minimal dust

Cons: Odors can build up without frequent cleaning, odors become more noticeable around three weeks of use by two cats

This was the only type of natural litter my cats agreed to use regularly and that's no accident. We used corn-based litter in their youth, and according to Dr. Zay Satchu, chief veterinary officer at Bond Vet in New York City, cats are partial to using the litter they were trained to early on. But while my cats' preference for a corn/grain substrate is rooted in history, mine was formed through testing. World's Best Multiple Cat Unscented Litter excelled not just in relation to its corn/grain competitors but also in comparison to all of the natural litters we tested.

World's Best absorbs liquid on contact, forming solid clumps that are easy to lift out in a single piece during cleaning. The corn-cereal-scented fibrous material absorbs odors easily — sometimes I could barely detect the scent of urine when I sniffed a clump. But the more clumps in the box, the more it emitted a mild ammonia odor.

In its texture and tracking, World's Best Multiple Cat Litter scored well. While not soft and sandy, the substrate was gentle enough not to deter my cats from using it. Tracking outside the box occurred, but at a far lower volume than lightweight litters like those made from grass and walnut.

World's Best Multiple Cat does not contain any synthetic additives, chemicals, or perfumes and produces very little dust. But, while the litter prevented the escape of offensive odors if I cleaned the box twice a day as is my normal habit, in the last few days of our three-week testing period an ammonia scent was increasingly obvious even with frequent cleaning. World's Best recommends that the litter be changed every 33 days for two cats, and I would expect based on my observations, there would be at least as much, if not more, of a mild ammonia scent by then.

At a little over a $1 per pound, World's Best Multiple Cat Unscented Litter was among the least expensive of the natural litters we tested and about 50% more than our favorite clay litter, Purina Tidy Cats Naturally Strong Litter.

The best wood cat litter

Sustainably sourced Ökocat Super Soft Clumping Litter has superior odor control and a texture similar to the clay litters that many cats prefer.

Pros: Made from sustainably sourced wood, absorbs odors and emits pine scent, clumps well, soft texture similar to clay litters

 Cons: Expensive, easily tracked out of litter box

Ökocat Super Soft Clumping Litter earned the top spot among its wood litter competitors for its excellent odor control and superior clumping ability. Sourced from sustainably managed forests, its soft, lightweight granules are also closer to a standard clay litter.

While my cats preferred to visit their clay litter during Ökocat's two-week testing period, they did use the wood litter occasionally. When they did, it absorbed liquids quickly and formed clumps that, though easier to scoop than competitors in this category, broke apart more than the corn/grain, grass, and walnut litter varieties.

The wood produces minimal dust. It also absorbs odors, prevents the buildup of ammonia, and emits a fresh pine scent. It does not contain toxic inks, dyes, or synthetic chemical additives.

Although the litter prevented odors when my cats used it, because they didn't toilet in the box consistently through the testing period, I can't say for sure that they don't become more intense over time. What I can say with certainty is that, because the litter is so lightweight, it is easily tracked outside of the litter box. We will be testing this litter with other cats in the near future to evaluate how it holds up after several weeks of regular use.

Ökocat Super Soft was the most expensive wood litter we tested, but it lasts at least as long, if not longer, than the others — the company recommends changing the litter only every two to four months for a single cat. 

The best grass cat litter

Pioneer Pet Smart Cat All Natural Clumping Litter forms tight clumps on contact that make for fuss-free cleaning.

Pros: Clumps tightly, easy to clean, very little dust, good odor control

Cons: Expensive, easily tracked out of litter box

It's non-GMO sorghum grass seed that gives Pioneer Pet Smart Cat All Natural Clumping Litter the superior clumping ability that helped it land at the top of this category. The natural fiber's high starch content absorbs liquids instantaneously, and its tight, solid clumps are easy to remove. 

With its light wheat-cereal scent, sorghum also helps to minimize any odors that might escape. But while my cats preferred the texture of this sandy, soft litter over the wood litter, they did not choose to toilet in it consistently day after day during our three-week testing period. Because of their mediocre reception of the substrate, I'm unable to say whether this litter continues to control odors the closer it gets to needing to be changed. We will be testing this substrate with other cats in the future to determine if it continues to prevent bad smells after continuous use over several weeks.

When my cats did use it, Smart Cat Litter produced minimal dust, making it a good choice for cats or guardians with respiratory challenges. Because of its light weight and small granules, however, it did track easily outside of the litter box, sticking occasionally to the fuzzy feet of my long-haired cat.

Besides the tracking, the thing I disliked most about this grass litter was its cost: approximately 30% more per pound than our best overall pick, World's Best Multiple Cat Unscented Litter. Nevertheless, for a beautifully clumping, minimal dust litter with solid odor control, Smart Cat All Natural Clumping Litter is an excellent choice.

The best walnut cat litter

Made from upcycled food waste, Littermaid Premium Walnut Litter clumps tightly and produces very little dust.

Pros: Made from discarded walnut shells, generates minimal dust, clumps tightly, absorbs odors

Cons: May be slow to absorb liquids fully, not suitable for people with nut allergies, tracks easily 

Arguably among the most eco-friendly of all the natural cat litters, Littermaid Premium Walnut Litter is made from the discarded shells of edible walnuts. Littermaid grinds the fibrous and naturally absorbent material into a sandy texture that is easy on the paws. 

Each of the three walnut litters we tested were high quality and effective at clumping and controlling odors, making it a challenge to select a category winner. This was especially true because, like the grass litter, my cats did not use the box consistently enough to determine whether each litter would continue to control odors equally well on day 21 as it did on day 1. We will be testing this substrate with other cats in the near future to find out.

Still, Littermaid's walnut litter did have a couple of characteristics I preferred. First off, despite being a soft substrate, this was the heaviest of the three litters. Although it tracked easily out of the box, the volume of the escaped litter was a little less than its lighter competitors. When pouring and cleaning, this walnut litter also produced even less dust than its competitors — though the other walnut litters also generated very little dust.

The biggest flaw we found in Littermaid Premium Walnut Litter was that, at times, it absorbed liquids slowly. In phase one testing, a sheen of liquid was left on top of the clumps that formed on one of our trials, even after waiting the full 15 minutes recommended by the company before scooping. When cleaned, though, I was able to lift the whole thing out in a single piece. The same thing did not happen in our second trial nor when in use by my cats and, most often, liquid was absorbed in less than a minute.

Relative to the other natural litters we tested, walnut litters have less of a natural scent and did a slightly worse job at preventing ammonia odors from escaping. However, when cleaned regularly, I still found the substrate to be sufficient at preventing ammonia from becoming noticeable. Because trace walnut meats may remain in these litters, they should be avoided by anyone with a tree nut allergy.

What else we considered

Corn/grain litter

• World's Best Zero Mess Cat Litter: My cats and I both liked this formula from World's Best that combines compressed corn kernels and plant fibers. Good instantaneous absorption, tight clumping, and minimal dust also worked in its favor. In testing, I couldn't really identify a difference in odor control, tracking, or absorption between the Zero Mess and Multiple Cat formulas. Ultimately, the decision was made based on price with Zero Mess costing around 20% more than World's Best Multiple Cat Unscented Litter.
• World's Best Original Unscented Natural Corn Litter: There were many similarities between this litter and other formulas from World's Best, but its absorption and clumping were inferior. Though it performed better than Frisco Corn and Wheat Clumping Litter, the tendency for its clumps to fall apart in cleaning just made the job harder.
• Frisco Corn and Wheat Clumping Litter: This was the least absorbent of the four grain litters we tested. Instead of sucking up liquid on contact, it seeped around the testing dish and all the way to the bottom. On cleaning, clumps easily broke apart instead of lifting out in a single piece.

Wood litter

• Ökocat Original Clumping Litter: Ökocat's original clumping formula absorbed liquids well and masked odors with a fresh pine scent, but it did a poor job of clumping. It managed to cement some of the liquid together into lumps, but what wasn't locked up spread through the box, degrading the substrate into sawdust. This litter is also significantly stiffer and harder than Ökocat's Super Soft formula, which cats with sensitive paws may choose to avoid.
• Feline Pine Clumping Litter: I can safely say this was one of the worst natural litters we tested in all categories. While the wood scent masked odors, this substrate absorbed liquids slowly and, instead of forming tight clumps, turned it into a pulpy mulch. It was also the dustiest of all 12 of the litters we tested for this guide.

Grass litter

• Frisco Natural Grass Litter: I was disappointed by Frisco's take on grass litter. Instead of being instantly absorbed, liquids spread out over the pan. Once fully absorbed, the clumps this litter formed were tight but also wide and shallow, making them more challenging to remove.

Walnut litter

• Naturally Fresh Quick Clumping Litter: This formula absorbed liquids and prevented odors well. However, it was dustiest of the walnut litters we tested, and when it came time for cleaning, the clumps fell apart easily. Relative to Littermaid Premium Walnut Litter, both of Naturally Fresh's substrates were stiff and rocky.
• Naturally Fresh Multi-Cat Ultra Odor Control Litter: I preferred this multi-cat formula to Naturally Fresh's quick clumping litter, but the rocky substrate failed to clump as tightly as Littermaid. Of the three walnut litters, it also left the most stuck to the interior of the litter pan.

How we tested

I tested the litter for this guide in two phases. In the first, I compared litters of the same material side by side to assess their absorption and clumping abilities, dustiness, scent, and texture. 

The top two litters in each category from the first phase of testing then went on to face my two cats for a period of two to three weeks. During this phase, I assessed litters for their odor control and tracking. Below are the additional characteristics I examined for each litter:

Litter weight, shape, and softness: According to our experts, cats generally prefer a soft, grainy substrate that is easy to dig. I evaluated the shape, texture, softness, and weight of each litter, measuring 1/4 cup on a kitchen scale for the latter.

Dust and scent: One of the reasons veterinarians recommend natural litters is because they tend to be lower in dust than the average clay litter, making them a good option for cats or guardians with respiratory issues. For each litter, I observed how much dust was emitted when pouring and scooping the litter, as well as how much stuck to the sides of the pan. Many cats are also sensitive to scent. Even natural scents like those emitted by wood litters can make some cats avoid their litter box, according to Dr. Christine Calder, veterinary behaviorist at Midcoast Humane in Brunswick, Maine. I did a careful sniff test of each litter to determine the strength of its natural scent.

Clumping ability and ease of cleaning: In the first phase of testing, I compared a small amount of each litter in matching plastic dishes. I added 1/4 cup of water to determine how quickly and easily the liquid was absorbed and how solidly it held together in clumps. After two absorption trials, I cleaned the dishes, looking for any escaped moisture that had left clumped litter stuck to their interior.

Odor control and tracking: The top two from each category of natural litter went on to litter box testing for two to three weeks. In twice daily cleanings, I noted how well the litter masked odors and whether that ability changed over time. I also considered how easy it was to remove clumps and how much litter ended up tracked onto the floor around the litter pan. Because my cats were not willing to use three out of four varieties of natural litter (walnut, grass, and wood) regularly, I was unable to determine how well they would control odors after weeks of use. We will be testing these litters with other cats in the near future to find out.

Cost: I calculated the cost per pound and compared them. 

Types of natural cat litter

When it comes to natural litters, all of our experts agreed that the best variety is whatever one your cat is willing to use consistently day in and day out. Sometimes this comes down to what variety of litter a cat was exposed to early on. "Just like people, they have different levels of tolerance based on preference and learning history," said Micah McKechnie, behavior and training associate at the East Bay SPCA, in Oakland, California.

Corn/grain litter

This type of litter is made of compressed corn kernels, sometimes combined with particles from other grains such as wheat. A good corn/grain litter produces minimal dust, clumps solidly, fights odors with a natural cereal scent, and is safe if accidentally (or intentionally) ingested by the cat. 

Pros: Made from corn, wheat, and other grains; safe for ingestion; clumps well; minimizes odors with natural cereal scent; produces very little dust

Cons: Can have a rocky texture that deters some cats

Wood litter

The plant fibers in wood litters are highly absorbent and their natural pine scent offers the best odor control of all of the natural varieties. They are also made from either sustainably sourced forests or reclaimed lumber. In our testing, we found that wood litters as a whole were least successful at forming tight easy-to-remove clumps compared to their natural competitors.

Pros: Natural scent masks odors, highly absorbent, sustainably sourced, produces minimal dust

Cons: Least successful of the natural litter options at clumping

Grass litter

Grass litters are produced from the seeds of grasses like sorghum. They have a coarse sandy texture and generate very minimal dust, making them a good option for cats with respiratory issues, according to Satchu. They are highly absorbent and their natural wheat-cereal scent masks odors, but their lightweight grains track easily outside the litter box.

Pros: Made from grass seeds, highly absorbent, controls odors with wheat-cereal scent, produces very little dust

Cons: Tracks easily outside the litter box

Walnut litter

Walnut litters are made from the fibrous, absorbent shells of walnuts. Processed into a sandy grain, this litter has a satisfyingly scratchable texture, but its light weight results in frequent tracking outside the litter box. Walnut litters clump well but have less of a natural scent to control odors, meaning that ammonia may be slightly more noticeable than with wood, grain, and grass formulas.

Pros: Made from upcycled walnut shells, absorbent and tightly clumping, produces minimal dust, soft texture

Cons: Tracks easily outside litter box, may be slightly less effective at controlling odors than other natural litters, should not be used by people with tree nut allergies

Why choose a natural litter?

There are several reasons why a natural litter might be a better fit for your cat and your family, as a whole. 

They are environmentally friendly. "By switching to natural litters that are compostable or biodegradable, we can help our planet," said Satchu. Indeed, natural litters are made from sustainable resources such as responsibly managed forests, upcycled food waste, and quick-growing plants. Both their acquisition and disposal have less of an environmental impact than strip-mined clay litters.

They provide natural odor control. "The nice thing about natural options is that the scents tend to be less intense than the intentionally scented ones," said McKechnie. That means odors are kept at bay without producing a cloying perfume fragrance that many cats dislike.

They produce less dust than the average clay litter. Cats with respiratory issues may benefit from switching to a natural litter with minimal dust, according to Satchu. Grass litters, she said, are consistently among the most dust free of the natural options, though we found in testing that some of the walnut, wood, and grain litters produced equally minimal dust.

They won't harm cats who like to snack on their litter. A cat that eats its litter may have an underlying medical problem or just an unusual craving. After a visit to the vet rules out issues such as anemia, kidney disease, or nutritional deficiencies, Satchu often recommends that snacky cats switch to a grain litter that is safe for ingestion.

Why we didn't consider the flushability of natural cat litters. One of the purported benefits of some natural cat litter varieties is that, because materials like corn/grain and wood can be flushed in the toilet, they make cleaning out a soiled box not just more convenient but more environmentally friendly. But just because you can flush natural cat litter doesn't mean you should, and not only because low-flush toilets and pipes made for human waste often can't handle clumps without clogging.

Cat waste can contain Toxoplasma gondii, a parasite that causes flu-like symptoms at best and, at worst, fetal development disorders, brain damage, and premature birth in babies. Because wastewater treatment plants are unable to filter out the harmful parasite, T. gondii can end up in treated water that's released back into the environment, harming fish, killing native plants, and making recreation areas unsafe. Scientific studies have found that T. gondii from flushed cat feces especially poses a threat to marine mammals like sea otters.

Frequently asked questions about cat toileting

How many times a day does a cat normally use the litter box?

It is typical for cats to urinate two to four times a day and defecate once or twice a day, but every cat is different — some may go more or less frequently than others. Cleaning litter boxes at least once daily can help guardians identify changes in toileting frequency, which may indicate an emerging health problem.

What size and how many litter boxes do I need?

Cats need a litter box that is at least 1.5 times their length and has enough space for them to comfortably dig and bury their waste. Regardless of their size, households with more than one cat need more than one litter box, according to Dr. Megan Wilson, a veterinarian at the Pennsylvania SPCA in Philadelphia. A good rule of thumb is one litter box per cat plus one extra. See our guide to the best litter boxes for more on this.

What does it mean if a cat stops urinating?

If a cat stops urinating altogether, it is likely they are experiencing a feline urinary tract disease (FLUTD) such as bladder inflammation or urinary stones or crystals, problems to which male cats are particularly susceptible. When a cat can't urinate, deadly toxins begin to build up, triggering a life-or-death emergency. Blockages that aren't removed within 24 to 48 hours by a veterinarian can kill a cat. 

If a veterinarian rules out medical problems like FLUTD, anxiety may be the culprit. A behaviorist can help identify what is triggering the behavior and offer solutions.

What does it mean if a cat goes outside the litter box?

According to Calder, cats that eliminate outside the litter box are either toileting or marking. Toileting, also called inappropriate elimination, refers to a cat that has found a place to do their business outside of the litter box. Sometimes this behavior can be attributed to a cat's preferences: They may be communicating their disapproval of the location or size of the litter pan, the type of litter in the pan, or the cleanliness of the litter.

Going outside the box can also be related to a medical problem such as FLUTD or anxiety. For example, a cat that worries about being ambushed by another pet while using the litter box may stop using it altogether. Some cats choose to go outside of the litter box simply because they've found an alternative that better satisfies their need to scratch and bury their waste like a pile of dirty laundry or a potted plant.

Marking is different from toileting in that it typically occurs on vertical instead of horizontal surfaces. When a cat marks, they back up with a raised tail to spray their pheromones as a form of communication, said Calder. Most marking cats are experiencing some kind of conflict or anxiety. Intact males are most commonly those that spray, but fixed males and females can engage in the behavior, too.

Who we consulted

Dr. Christine Calder, veterinary behaviorist at Midcoast Humane, Brunswick, Maine

Dr. Megan Wilson, veterinarian at the Pennsylvania SPCA, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Dr. Zay Satchu, co-founder and chief veterinary officer at Bond Vet, New York, New York

Micah McKechnie, behavior and training associate at the East Bay SPCA, Oakland, California