Any cat owner knows perfectly well that cats are proud and independent creatures. Make no mistake – you live in their home… but when they’re kittens, it’s a totally different matter.
Kittens can be particularly mischievous and curious if you leave them to it and you don’t want them to get themselves into trouble. They need all the help they can get from their mother and you to learn the ropes, such as how to use a litter box.
Cat litter’s main aims are just to absorb liquid, dehydrate solids, control odor, and give your kitten a place for them to go to the bathroom. Honestly, any litter does the trick – but some are better than others.
In fact, some can be dangerous if your kitten has any interest in putting the litter in their mouth.
After all, it’s not something you want them to eat, and it can be a choking hazard too. So, to be on the safe side, you might want to get the litter that will be best for kittens.
Product
Details
Best Overall
World’s Best Cat Litter Clumping Formula
- ITEM WEIGHT: 32 Pound
- Material: corn
Premium Choice
Pretty Litter
- ITEM WEIGHT: 8 Pounds
- Material: Ultra Fine Silica Gel Crystals
Best Eco-friendly
Purina Yesterday’s News Original Formula
- ITEM WEIGHT: 30 Pounds
- Material: Paper
Super Lightweight
SmartCat All-Natural Clumping Litter
- ITEM WEIGHT: 10 Pounds
- Material: Grass Seed
Best Odor Control
Elsey’s Cat Ultra-Premium
- ITEM WEIGHT: 40 pound
- Material: Clay Litter
For Sensitive Kitties
Jonny Cat Unscented Non-Clumping Clay Litter
- ITEM WEIGHT: 10 Pounds
- Material: unique clay mineral
For Nature Lovers
Feline Pine Original Cat Litter
- ITEM WEIGHT: 40.3 Pounds
- Material: Wood
Great Value
sWheat Scoop Multi-Cat Natural Wheat Cat Litter
- ITEM WEIGHT: 36 Pounds
- Material: biodegradable wheat
Our Top Picks of the Best Litter for Kittens
If you ever feel worried about keeping your kitten safe, don’t worry – you’re not alone. Whether it’s getting the best food or the best cat litter, every cat owner understands the concern for your kitten’s safety.
So, to make sure your kitten has the best start to its life, here are some of the best litter for kittens.
1. World’s Best Cat Litter Clumping Formula
Clay litter might well be the most common, but it’s far from environmentally friendly. So, in our current environmental crisis, perhaps it’s time to start thinking about getting eco-friendlier litter so you can do your bit.
But this is more than just an eco-friendly litter: although World’s Best Cat Litter is an expensive option, it lasts longer than others, making it more cost-effective.
Since it’s an all-natural litter, you can rest assured that it’s unscented which is sure to keep your cat happy.
Although it’s not clay litter, it’s still able to clump and absorb any odor your cat might leave behind, keeping the litter box fresh and neutralizing any smells.
One thing that makes this litter stand out is how easy it is to dispose of. It’s both lightweight and flushable, meaning you just need to scoop solid waste down the toilet. And don’t worry about clogging – this is one of the best flushable cat litter for kittens.
However, you might need to do a bit of cleaning around the house since it’s not totally dust-free and does track a bit.
Pros
- Kitten-safe
- Biodegradable and eco-friendly
- Flushable
- Able to control odors
- Lightweight
- Easy to scoop
Cons
- More expensive option
- Can lead to tracking and not dust-free
World’s Best Cat Litter Clumping Formula
The price of “World’s Best Cat Litter Clumping Formula” varies, so check the latest price at
2. Pretty Litter
Pretty Litter is far from your usual, everyday litter, but it’s a very popular one with plenty of 5-star reviews behind it.
It’s a convenient litter that lasts a long time, with one 8lb bag lasting up to two months.
But its selling point is how it can indicate your cat’s health – and when your kitten is still so young, understanding their health is critical.
Whenever your cat uses the litter, the pH technology changes the color of the litter to tell you how they’re doing. This can save your cat’s life by telling you when you might need a trip to the vet.
If your cat leaves a dark yellow or olive-green color in the litter box, then they’re all fine. Blue litter indicates high alkaline levels, caused by a urinary tract infection or an increased risk of stone formation.
Orange indicates high acid levels, caused by metabolic acidosis or kidney tubular acidosis. And red can indicate bladder crystals, FLUTD, or kidney disease.
But changing color isn’t all this cat litter does. It’s a lightweight cat litter that’s highly absorbent and able to control odors. Since it’s made from silica gel, each granule has millions of tiny pores that absorb liquids and dry out solids, trapping any odors that are left lingering.
Each refill of Pretty Litter lasts about 30 days and is powerful enough to take on a house with multiple cats, but the odor control is less effective towards the end of its life.
It’s worth keeping in mind that this litter doesn’t clump. Instead, you have to coop up any colored parts and the solids your cat leaves. However, this can result in damp litter sticking to your cat’s paws and then tracking it throughout the house.
Pros
- Color changes to indicate health
- Non-clumping kitten litter avoids choking risks
- Highly absorbent
- Effective odor control
- Soft texture for kitten’s paws
Cons
- Expensive
- Odor control weakens over time
- Can result in tracking
- Scooping harder without clumping
Pretty Litter
The price of “ Pretty Litter” varies, so check the latest price at
3. Purina Yesterday’s News Original Formula
Recycling is something we should all be trying to do nowadays. And you never know, if you recycle your newspaper, it could end up in your cat’s litter tray before long.
That’s because Purina Yesterday’s News is made from unscented paper pellets produced from recycled paper. Even the packaging is recyclable!
This isn’t just a random eco-friendly cat litter though; it’s actually rated as the number-one veterinarian-recommended eco-friendly cat litter. It is also one of the best low-tracking cat litter out there.
Even though the pellets are just made out of paper, they’re three times more absorbent than any clay litter and still clump for easier scooping. However, they are soft clumps that break easily when scooping, making cleaning harder than with other cat litters.
Still, paper pellets are incredibly safe for your kitten and don’t present a choking hazard. They’re still able to control odors too, as well as boasting a low dust level, reduced tracking, and a soft texture for your kitten’s paws.
Pros
- A more affordable eco-friendly litter
- Minimal tracking and dust levels
- Gentle texture
- Environmentally friendly
- Highly absorbent
Cons
- Clumps break apart easily
- Doesn’t last as long as other cat litters
Purina Yesterday’s News Original Formula
The price of “Purina Yesterday’s News Original Formula” varies, so check the latest price at
4. SmartCat All-Natural Clumping Litter
The first thing you’ll notice about SmartCat litter is how easy it is to pour out. Not only is it particularly lightweight, but it’s almost totally dust-free, meaning you and your cat won’t have to inhale anything unpleasant.
It’s an all-natural cat litter too. Since it’s made from 100% grass, it’s totally biodegradable. Nevertheless, it still clumps just as well as clay; in fact, it actually clumps better than clay!
The clumps it creates are so hard and tight that you can throw them on the ground, and they’ll still remain intact. This makes scooping this litter easier than any other.
Its natural ingredients extend beyond grass; you can rest assured it doesn’t contain any hidden extras – no harmful chemicals, no GMOs, and no fragrance. The grass litter pellets create a very soft texture for your cat’s paws and are unscented to ensure sensitive noses aren’t irritated.
However, it’s worth noting that although unscented, it doesn’t do too much to control the odors your cat might leave behind. Some litter can also stick to your cat’s paws and result in some tracking in the house.
Pros
- Kitten-safe
- Excellent clumping ability
- Environmentally friendly
- Lightweight
- Unscented
- Natural and chemical-free
Cons
- A more expensive option
- Less effective odor control
- Can leave tracking
SmartCat All-Natural Clumping Litter
The price of “SmartCat All-Natural Clumping Litter” varies, so check the latest price at
5. Elsey’s Cat Ultra-Premium
Dr. Elsey’s cat litter is ideal for both cats and cat owners alike. Using veterinarian-formulated solutions, Dr. Elsey focuses on science and pets’ welfare more than profits, meaning this premium product comes at an affordable price.
Made from bentonite clay, this premium-quality kitten litter is highly absorbent and effective at clumping, making scooping particularly easy when it comes to cleaning. The clumps can be sticky though and some stick to cats’ paws when they jump out, leaving tracking around the house.
However, you don’t need to worry about cleaning up a big dust cloud when pouring out the litter. Even if there is some dust, rest assured that it’s a hypoallergenic formula for both you and your cat. It’s not completely dust-free though, so do be careful when pouring it out.
One area where this clay litter excels is how it’s the best cat litter for odor control. Dr. Elsey’s Ultra cat litter keeps your house and litter boxes smelling fresh and is even formulated for multicat households. Even if lots use the same litter box, it will manage to control odors effectively.
Pros
- Affordable
- Hypoallergenic
- Clumps well for easy scooping
- Good odor control
- Unscented
- Low levels of dust
Cons
- Clumps can stick to paws and cause tracking
- Not completely free of dust
- Heavier than other cat litter
Elsey’s Cat Ultra-Premium
The price of “Elsey’s Cat Ultra-Premium” varies, so check the latest price at
6. Jonny Cat Unscented Non-Clumping Clay Litter
Sometimes simple is better. This unscented kitten litter has nothing added to it: no fragrances, no dyes, and no additives. It’s ideal for young kittens or any adult cats who might have allergies or sensitive noses.
However, Jonny cat litter is still effective in controlling odors, doing so naturally with botanical extracts from fruits and vegetables, to keep your litter box and house smelling crisp and fresh. Its odor control is helped by how absorbent it is, trapping any lingering smells within the litter itself.
Though made from a unique clay mineral, each granule contains lots of pores to trap liquids, binding grains together and sealing in any moisture or bacteria that might create an odor. While this clay is effective, it’s not particularly eco-friendly.
However, unlike many other clay litters you might find lying around, this one is a non-clumping litter. While this can make scooping up waste and cleaning a bit more of a chore, it also means that there won’t be any choking hazards left in the litter box to pose a risk to your curious kitten.
Pros
- Affordable
- Great at controlling odors
- Long-lasting odor control
- Unscented
Cons
- Clumps are weak and tricky to scoop away
- Not eco-friendly
Jonny Cat Unscented Non-Clumping Clay Litter
The price of “Jonny Cat Unscented Non-Clumping Clay Litter” varies, so check the latest price at
7. Feline Pine Original Cat Litter
As you can guess from its name, Feline Pine kitty litter is made from pine shavings, all of which are sustainable sourced and totally environmentally friendly. This is certainly a natural litter for nature lovers out there!
Although just made from pine shavings, it’s still a highly absorbent kitten litter, able to absorb both liquids and odors, trapping in any smells to keep your house smelling fresh.
Although it’s highly absorbent, be aware that it doesn’t clump, making scooping and cleaning harder, but keeping any choking hazards out of the litter box and away from your kitten.
On the plus side, the litter contains no trace of artificial dyes or fragrances. It does, however, have its own natural scent. It’s worth noting, though, that some sensitive cats aren’t big fans of this scent.
Still, the pine shavings result in a soft and gentle texture for your kitten’s delicate paws. Plus, it’s easy to pour thanks to it being a lightweight litter with a low-dust formula.
Pros
- Highly absorbent
- Effective odor control
- Environmentally friendly
- Low dust levels
- Non-clumping avoids choking hazards
Cons
- More expensive compared to others
- Scented litters might irritate some cats
- Non-clumping litter is harder to clean
Feline Pine Original Cat Litter
The price of “Feline Pine Original Cat Litter” varies, so check the latest price at
8. sWheat Scoop Multi-Cat Natural Wheat Cat Litter
This cat litter is better for everyone: for you, your kitten, and even the whole planet! This eco-friendly option is an all-natural cat litter, made from 100% wheat that’s been domestically sourced and farm-grown in the USA.
As an environmentally friendly kitten litter, it’s so good for the planet that each pack you purchase prevents up to 120 tons of plastic from entering waterways each year, equating to 6 million single-use plastic bottles.
However, it might be a little too ‘natural’ for some since some customers have reported finding bugs in their kitten litter – not ideal for those of you with bug-based phobias!
It’s an easy litter to maintain though: with low dust levels, there’s no cloud to fuss over when pouring a refill; you’ll have fewer pawprints tracked around the house, although there will likely still be a few; and it’s easy to clean up since it’s flushable – just scoop the waste straight into the toilet and flush it away!
Fortunately, it’s a highly absorbent litter with an excellent clumping ability that makes it simple to scoop waste away.
Despite being unscented, it’s able to control odors effectively too, thanks to its natural starches and odor-neutralizing enzymes. As soon as the litter comes into contact with cat urine, the ammonia odor is quickly eliminated. Just be aware that if it’s not scooped regularly, the odor can get out of control.
Pros
- Environmentally friendly and good for the planet
- Highly absorbent and clumps well
- Flushable
- Low dust levels and minimal tracking
- Odor neutralizing enzymes
- Natural and kitten-safe
- Effective for multi-cat households
Cons
- Odor control relies on frequent scooping
- Can occasionally contain bugs
sWheat Scoop Multi-Cat Natural Wheat Cat Litter
The price of “sWheat Scoop Multi-Cat Natural Wheat Cat Litter” varies, so check the latest price at
FAQ’s
All pet owners have a bunch of questions regarding the best cat litters. And it’s understandable – after all, you want to make sure you’re doing the best for your adorable furball! So, here are a couple of the top questions about the best kitten litter.
Do Kittens Need Special Litter?
Kittens don’t necessarily need a special litter. However, if they seem likely to eat or lick either the litter or its dust, it might be safer to get a more kitten-safe litter than any old clumping cat litter.
Plant-Based Litter
You could opt for a plant-based litter made from pine, walnut, coconut shells, or paper. But be careful around wheat or corn litter since these can develop aflatoxin mold if you don’t keep it fresh.
Clumping vs Non-Clumping Litter
Alternatively, you could choose a non-clumping litter. Most clay litter is made of sodium bentonite; this is a clumping litter that solidifies into clumps when wet and poses a choking risk to your tiny kittens.
However, non-clumping litter is made from calcium bentonite which doesn’t have any choking risks but needs to be changed more often.
Scented Litter
It might be worth choosing an unscented litter for your kitten too. Some scented litter contains chemicals that won’t be good for your kitten if they ingest it.
Besides, unscented litter can still control odors too, especially if you add a bit of baking soda in there to neutralize any lingering smells.
Is Clumping Litter Okay for Kittens?
Clumping litter is the most popular type out there for the simple reason that it’s easiest to scoop and clean. But kittens are curious and playful little things – there’s always danger they might play with it and cause a mess or even put it in their mouth.
If there’s any chance that your kitten might decide they want to lick or eat a clump, it’s best to opt for non-clumping cat litter until they get older – it’s worth avoiding any risks!
Final Thoughts
At the end of the day, the kitten litter you choose to fill in your kitten’s litter box isn’t as big a decision as things like what food to give them.
But if you can’t keep your eye on them 24/7, picking one of these kitten-friendlier options is a wise idea.
Not only are many of these cat litters eco-friendly, but you should get one that has a soft texture for your kitten’s paws, has minimal dust and tracking, and is unscented – and if your kitten’s a bit too curious, maybe opt for a non-clumping cat litter too!
