The 5 Best Cat Litters For Kittens
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The best cat litter for kittens is the one that’s safe—safe to play with, snooze on, and dig in. It should even be safe to eat.
That’s why we recommend Yesterday’s News Softer Texture unscented cat litter as the best cat litter for kittens. It’s unscented, non-toxic, and non-clumping with a soft texture that’s gentle on baby toes.
Once your kitten gets past the toddler phase, you’ll probably want to transition to a clumping litter that controls odors and makes cleaning easy. That’s why we’ve also recommended four other litters for kittens, ranging from biodegradable products to training litters that help your kitten learn about the box.
We highly recommend looking at the comparison table we have below where we highlighted the features of each product. You’ll also find more detailed information about each product later in the article.
Compare Best Cat Litters For Kittens
|
Best For Odor Control
2. Feline Pine Original Non-Clumping Wood Cat Litter |
Best Training Litter
3. Naturally Fresh Herbal Attraction Scented Clumping Walnut Cat Litter |
Best Biodegradable Clumping Litter
4. Pioneer Pet SmartCat Unscented Clumping Grass Cat Litter |
Best For Older Kittens
5. Dr. Elsey's Kitten Attract Clumping Clay Cat Litter |
|
|
Type
Recycled Newspaper |
Type
Wood Pellets |
Type
Clumping Walnut |
Type
Clumping Grass |
Type
Clumping Clay |
|
Price per Pound
$0.72/lb |
Price per Pound
$0.68/lb |
Price per Pound
$0.99/lb |
Price per Pound
$1.79/lb |
Price per Pound
$1.20/lb |
|
Made In
United States |
Made In
United States |
Made In
United States |
Made In
United States |
Made In
United States |
|
Key Strengths
Safe, non-clumping litter that is gentle on kitten paws |
Key Strengths
Effective odor control and urine absorption without clumping |
Key Strengths
Effective clumping and odor control with an herbal blend intended to help kittens use the box |
Key Strengths
Forms excellent clumps |
Key Strengths
An all-around good cat litter infused with an herbal kitten attractant |
What’s The Best Kind Of Cat Litter For Kittens?
Kittens need the same high-quality litter that every other cat should have. The only difference is that young kitties are prone to splashing about in the litter box like it’s a pool. Sometimes they even take a taste of their litter.
When you’re using a hard-clumping clay litter, those playful moments could quickly turn into a serious problem. Think gastrointestinal distress or blockage.
That’s Why The Best Cat Litter For Kittens Doesn’t Clump.
Most clumping clay litter is made of sodium bentonite, a type of clay that expands 15-18 times when it gets wet. That’s great if you want to scoop out clods of urine, but it doesn’t look so pretty when the clod isn’t in the litter box but in your kitten’s tiny intestine. It’s unlikely that your kitten will ingest enough to experience this, but it’s still prudent to avoid the hard-clumping clay until your kitten is around three to four months old.
What About Biodegradable Clumping Litter?
Biodegradable—often referred to as natural—clumping litter doesn’t clump quite as hard as clay litter and some products even dissolve when immersed in water. But is it really safe? That’s up for debate, so I asked a veterinarian for their opinion. Maria Botinas, DVM says that she “I would stay away from the biodegradable clumping litters also because if ingested it can cause intestinal upset.”
It sounds like she’s taking the cautious route—and that’s the one that many kitten guardians will take. But not everyone agrees. For example, the people at World’s Best Cat Litter believe that their clumping corn-based litter is safe for cats of all ages, saying that “any litter ingested will pass through the animal’s system naturally, not causing any intestinal blockages.”
Ultimately, it’s hard to say whether biodegradable clumping litter is or is not safe for kittens. It’s unlikely that your kitten will eat enough to cause damage, but again, it never hurts to be cautious.
The Best Cat Litter For Kittens Has A Fine-grained, Gentle Texture.
Most kittens prefer fine-grained litter—it’s easy to dig in and comfortable under the paws. If you adopted a feral or outdoor kitten, it’s likely what she learned to go in. Look for fine, soft cat litter or, if you’re using a pellet-style litter, make sure that it gets positive customer reviews and seems to have a reputation for paw-friendliness.
The Best Cat Litter For Kittens Is Free Of Synthetic Fragrances And Harsh Additives.
Regardless of how old your cat is, it’s a good idea to avoid harsh fragrances and additives. These can irritate your cat’s skin and senses. Opt for unscented, all-natural litter instead.
Our Top Picks For The Best Cat Litters For Kittens
Yesterday's News Purina Cat Litter
Product Info
- Type: Recycled Newspaper
- Price per Pound: $0.72/lb
- Made In: United States
- Key Strengths: Safe, non-clumping litter that is gentle on kitten paws
- Easy on kittens’ paws
- Three times more absorbent than clay litter
- Biodegradable and environmentally friendly
- Non-clumping, making it safe for young kittens
- Doesn’t offer the best odor control
It’s highly absorbent and stays dry for a long time, but it doesn’t have the best odor control ability. The litter doesn’t clump, either, which limits the amount of time you can leave it out.
Because of these practical shortcomings, it’s not the best choice for long-term use, but it can be a good option for very young kittens during the first few months of life.
Feline Pine Original Non-Clumping Wood Cat Litter
Product Info
- Type: Wood Pellets
- Price per Pound: $0.68/lb
- Made In: United States
- Key Strengths: Effective odor control and urine absorption without clumping
- Highly-absorbent pine naturally locks in odors
- Effective absorption without clumping
- Unscented with no harsh additives
- Some kittens won’t like the way the firm pellets feel under their paws
Instead of clumping, the litter breaks down into sawdust when it’s saturated. Cleaning out a litter box with this kind of litter is kind of like traditional scooping in reverse. You’ll scoop out solid waste, then sift out the sawdust. Whatever filters through your scoop can go into the trash and the big particles stay in the box.
Pine pellets aren’t particularly soft under the paws, so some kittens might not like them, but they are safe for your kitten to dig and play in.
Feline Pine isn’t the priciest natural cat litter on the market, but if you’re used to traditional clay, it’ll look pretty expensive by comparison.
Naturally Fresh Herbal Attraction Scented Clumping Walnut Cat Litter
Product Info
- Type: Clumping Walnut
- Price per Pound: $0.99/lb
- Made In: United States
- Key Strengths: Effective clumping and odor control with an herbal blend intended to help kittens use the box
- Contains a blend of herbs selected to attract kittens to the litter box
- Highly absorbent
- Excellent odor control
- Virtually dust-free
- Cats like the texture of the litter
- Tends to stick to cat paws and track through the house
- Clumps well, but as a biodegradable litter, it shouldn’t cause problems
Walnut shells are naturally absorbent and odor-neutralizing. Because it’s three times more absorbent than clay litter, a bag of walnut litter should last longer than your traditional litter.
The litter is featherlight and has a dark color, so prepare for some noticeable tracking and scattering.
Pioneer Pet SmartCat Unscented Clumping Grass Cat Litter
Product Info
- Type: Clumping Grass
- Price per Pound: $1.79/lb
- Made In: United States
- Key Strengths: Forms excellent clumps
- Most cats like the fine, soft texture of the litter
- Great odor control
- Natural clumping ability
- Free from any artificial ingredients and fragrances
- An expensive litter
- Clumping litter may not be the best option for very young kittens
Its performance is on par with clumping clay litter without the dust. It creates firm, cohesive clumps that are easy to scoop. The litter appears to control odor well but isn’t outstanding in this department. You’ll have to clean the litter box frequently to make sure the odor doesn’t build up.
The litter is free of any fragrances or additives that could irritate your kitten.
Dr. Elsey's Kitten Attract Clumping Clay Cat Litter
Product Info
- Type: Clumping Clay
- Price per Pound: $1.20/lb
- Made In: United States
- Key Strengths: An all-around good cat litter infused with an herbal kitten attractant
- Small, fine granules are ideal for kitten paws
- Features an herbal attractant to aid in litter box training
- Controls odors effectively
- Forms firm, easy-to-scoop clumps
- Free of harsh fragrances or additives
- Not recommended for kittens younger than 3-4 months old
This litter is a clumping clay product infused with an herbal attractant that can help encourage kittens to use the box. According to customer reviews, it works.
In addition to making the training process easier, this litter does a good job of clumping, neutralizing odors, and feeling good under the paws.
Whether you need a training litter or just something that absorbs without clodding up, the above litters should make your kitten’s first months of litter box use even smoother.
With a great litter, a kitten-appropriate litter box placed in a quiet place, and a little encouragement, most kittens learn to use the litter box in a flash. They instinctively value cleanliness and the litter box is a welcome space to dig.
Once your kitten is used to using the litter box and is ready to switch to a clumping litter, you can either stick with his kittenhood litter or gradually transition to another product.
