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When it comes to cat litter, odor control is a top priority — your cat’s urine and solid waste won’t be flushed down the toilet and will instead be buried in a litter box somewhere around your home. As such, you’ll need to watch for problems such as litter box odor, which good cat litter can combat and neutralize. In this comprehensive guide, we share the 7 best cat litter for cats that pee a lot, along with features you need to look for to get the right option for your needs.
Types of Cat Litter Available
Before you fill your litter boxes with any kind of litter, it’s best to first look at the different types of litter available in the market.
Clay Litter
Many veterinarians and cat behavioral specialists believe that most cats will be tolerant of clay cat litters that are unscented. This is because clay allows your cat to practice their natural toileting behavior such as easily digging up and covering their waste. Some litters made from clay will come with activated charcoal to further help trap odors and will come in scented and unscented varieties.
In general, experts recommend using fine-grained clumping cat litter that’s clay-based without any added scents. However, keep in mind that traditional clay litter can also produce quite a bit of dust when you pour it, but many of the newer formulas have addressed this problem.
Paper Litter
Cats that have recently gone through surgery or those that have respiratory problems will need to stick with paper litter according to cat experts. This option will be less dusty compared to clay litters, and won’t stick to sites where an incision has been made. Paper litter will usually come in the form of pellets and will often be made from wood that’s been sustainably sourced or from recycled materials.
If you’re looking for non-clumping litter, you’ll almost always find pellets that can quickly absorb cat urine and then slowly break down over time. Because of this, you only need to scoop out the solids from the cat litter box.
Silica Gel Litter
Crystal or silica gel litter is made using sodium silicate sand, which are natural materials that can be acquired by a process called strip mining. These don’t contain any carcinogenic materials that could be harmful to your cats but inhaling too much silica dust may result in respiratory issues. The main reason for using this option is to absorb the litter box smell but these non-clumping granules lose their effectiveness over time as they get saturated with urine.
One thing to keep in mind with this option is that their crystals could be sharp enough to hurt your cat’s paws.
Natural Litter
If you’re looking for natural litter, you can find great materials to use such as walnut shells, wood, grass, and grain. These provide you with biodegradable options that aren’t just environmentally friendly but also come with plenty of additional benefits. Because they’re so absorbent, the wood litter will do well when it comes to minimizing an unpleasant odor.
On the other hand, grain litter is a great solution for cats that may have behavioral issues such as snacking on litter. However, the right cat litter will ultimately come down to your cat’s preference and your needs, so be sure to check out the options you have and stick with the one that works for you and your cat.
The 7 Best Cat Litters for Cats That Pee a Lot
Pet parents looking for great cat litter will surely find this list useful. Here are our top picks for the best kitty litter in the market.
1. Dr. Elsey’s Precious Cat Ultra Clumping Cat Litter
Highlights:
- A natural clay litter that’s 99.9% dust-free and is also hypoallergenic
- This medium-grain and hard-clumping clay helps to prevent moisture
- Formulated for multiple cats and offers a fresh and clean smell all-day
- Ideal for a litter robot and helps you easily dispose of cat waste
This Precious Cat Ultra Clumping Cat Litter by Dr. Elsey provides you with a unique litter that uses medium-grain clay and a formulation that’s resulted in a great clumping litter. It prevents moisture from reaching the bottom of the pan as well as clumps that won’t break down. As such, this is a great option for pet owners living in multi-cat households using an automated litter box.
2. Tidy Cats Free & Clean Lightweight Unscented Clumping Clay Cat Litter
Highlights:
- This unscented cat litter is 100% free from dyes or fragrances
- Contains an ammonia blocker that keeps your new litter smelling fresh for 14 days
- A low dust cat litter made from natural ingredients and clay that’s clean to use
- Tidy Cats is among the most popular and recommended brands by veterinarians
The Purina Tidy Cats LightWeight Free & Clean Unscented Clumping Clay Cat Litter With Ammonia Blocker is absolutely free from any dyes or fragrances and has low dust content that allows you to pour it into your litter box mess-free. Thanks to the activated charcoal in its formula, it offers high absorbency to eliminate odors upon contact, keeping a clean and fresh scent around your home. This option weighs half the weight of the best clumping litter currently available in the market, so taking care of messy cats will be much easier from now on!
3. World’s Best Multi-Cat Unscented Clumping Corn Cat Litter
Highlights:
- A multi-cat litter with odor control that lasts for a long time
- Made with a quick clump formula that allows you to scoop clumps without scraping
- Safe and flushable in most sewer and septic systems for easy maintenance
- Made from whole corn kernels and is completely free from chemicals or perfumes
With the World’s Best Cat Litter, you can dispose of all the so-so clay pellets in your cat box and replace them with this powerful litter that quickly traps odors for a clean litter. It quickly forms tight clumps that are easy to scoop upon contact, saving your home from the smell of heavy urination. This natural formula is free from dust and won’t hurt your cat’s respiratory system while also providing an environmentally-friendly solution for cat parents who want to replace their old litter.
4. PrettyLitter Cat Litter
Highlights:
- Provides you with lightweight crystals that eliminate moisture and trap odors
- With a low-dust formula that helps cats stay away from health issues
- Can change colors to help determine potential medical problems
- Every 8 lb bag will last for around two months and is a good choice for homes with multiple cats
The PrettyLitter Cat Litter is the best option for tracking your cat’s health by changing colors and can help detect a particular health problem. This can include kidney disease, urinary tract infection, urinary stones, bladder inflammation, and more while producing little dust, making it an excellent choice for an older cat that may be experiencing different health conditions. Furthermore, its absorbent crystals gather and eliminate smells without any perfumes, and it comes with a lightweight formula for easy scooping.
5. Okocat Dust-Free Unscented Non-Clumping Paper Pellet Cat Litter
Highlights:
- A paper-based litter that provides a healthy and clean alternative for your cats
- Made from 100% dust-free paper pellets that won’t trigger your cat’s allergic reactions
- Offers easy cleanup using sustainably sourced wood fiber that’s biodegradable
- Made without any synthetic chemicals, artificial fragrances, GMOs, or toxic dyes
Give your furry feline the best litter box possible with the Okocat Dust-Free Unscented Non-Clumping Paper Pellet Cat Litter. Made from clean and reclaimed paper fiber, this low tracking litter is soft on paws and is free from dyes, scents, and inks, making it a good option for small cats. It’s also fortified with odor control that’s long-lasting and absorbs all liquids to give you and your cat a cleaner, fresher, and healthier home.
This high-quality, plant-based litter doesn’t contain any GMOs, synthetic chemicals, or artificial fragrances to guarantee the safety of your furry friend, making it a good option for cats with post-surgical or respiratory needs.
6. Fresh Step Multi-Cat Scented Clumping Clay Cat Litter
Highlights:
- Specifically made for homes with multiple cats and busy litter boxes
- Delivers a low-dust design combined with Febreze for a luxurious scent
- With activated charcoal to eliminate odors for as long as 10 days
- ClumpLock technology helps to form hard clumps to avoid crumbling
If you live in a house full of cats, then it’s a good idea to purchase Fresh Step Multi-Cat Scented Clumping Clay Cat Litter to give your big cat clean and extra fresh cat litter. This high quality clay type of litter won’t make a mess and uses the sweet scent of Febreze so that you use less litter at an affordable price. With its ClumpLock technology, this cat litter can quickly absorb liquid and keep odors at bay as soon as it makes contact, resulting in litter clumps that you can easily scoop up.
7. Arm & Hammer Litter Slide Multi-Cat Scented Clumping Clay Cat Litter
Highlights:
- Uses micro-granules activated by moisture that seals away waste for quick and easy scooping
- This clumping and scented clay litter can neutralize smells from the litter box for as long as 7 days
- A great choice for homes with many fur babies thanks to a low dust formula
- A non-stick litter that will easily slide out for effortless cleanup
The Arm & Hammer Litter Slide Multi-Cat Scented Clumping Clay Cat Litter offers the perfect way to clean your litter box and keep it fresh through its low-tracking, low-dust, clumping features. It’s also odor-absorbing and non-stick for a quick and pain-free cleanup, making it one of the best choices for cat litter across the United States. With a powerful formula, it contains 10% more odor-neutralizing agents along with baking soda while providing a 99.9% dust-free solution, which is why it’s a great option for homes with multiple cats.
Things to Look for in Cat Litter
With so many different formulas and brands to choose from, it can be hard to tell the main differences between them and come up with the right choice for your pets and home. Luckily, we’ve also come up with a way to make this decision easier; below are a few things you should consider when looking for your next cat litter.
Material Used
The kind of material used to create the litter will determine its softness, shape, and weight, making it a very important factor to look into. Cats will generally prefer a grainy and soft litter that they can easily dig into, so be sure to look into these features, along with their density.
Clumping Ability
Reading online reviews about a litter’s clumping ability will give you a sense of how quickly and effectively it can absorb liquid and smells. You should also double-check how well it can stick and clump together once you need to scoop it up. If you can pick up the clumps easily, then you should have a better experience when it comes to cleaning out your litter every few days.
Odor Control
There are also reviews that will tell you how long a certain litter can hold off unwanted smells and odors, and you should look for the option that can keep your home smelling fresh for longer. Once you have a particular litter in your home, you can also do a sniff test daily to check if odors are kept under control. You can also use your cats to test out a product for you — cats will stop using their litter box if they feel it’s too messy or smelly.
Scent and Dust
Because cats have a high sensitivity to scent and dust, you’ll need to find out the intensity of each feature in your chosen cat litter. You’ll be able to see and smell these as you pour and scoop up your litter, and will be able to determine if it will be a good option for your kitty. Cats will also prefer low-dust litters that won’t irritate their respiratory system, while a fresh scent will be able to cover the smell of ammonia every time your cat uses its litter box.
Cost
This is probably the least important factor but is still worth looking into if you’re torn between two similar choices that provide results that are close to each other. If one option costs more than the other but gives you similar results to one that’s more affordable, you can save a few dollars by choosing the latter option.
Get the Best Cat Litter Today!
If you’re looking for the best cat litter in the market, you’ll be happy to know that you have plenty of options to choose from. However, don’t make the mistake of taking the first cat litter you see from the shelves at your local store — doing research online first will go a long way towards getting the right cat litter for your cat’s needs. Above are just some of the best options available in today’s market, and you’ll be happy with any of the choices here because they will bring the most value for your money.
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