Best Clumping Cat Litter: Dr Elseys Ultra Clumping Cat Litter
I cannot imagine a list of top litters that doesnt include at least one product from Dr. Elseys. This all-natural, hard-clumping cat litter gets rave reviews from customers because it keeps things smelling fresh around your house. The granules are heavy and its 99.9% dust-free. It works well with a variety of litter boxes, including many sifting and mechanical boxes. Note: Clay litter is not safe for kittens.
What we like:
- Hypo-allergenic and no perfumes or deodorants
- Works in homes with multiple catslots of odor control
- Special formula keeps moisture from reaching the bottom of the litter box
Best Litter For Health Checks: Pretty Litter
This absorbent, non-clumping crystal cat litter traps odor and moistureplus it can give you a hint if your cat is sick. While typical cat urine will turn a patch of Pretty Litter crystals dark yellow or olive green, urine from a cat with urinary tract issues and certain types of inflammation can turn the crystals blue, dark orange, or red. Pretty Litter is available from the manufacturer, by subscription. Ive used it, and it helps me keep track of the health of my older kitties. Its great at controlling odor. The downside? My cats track those sandy crystals all over the house.
What we like:
Best Clumping Cat Litters With Our 2022 Budget
Amanda Yantos
Clumping cat litter is by far the most common and recognized litter feature. Generally speaking, clumping cat litters quickly trap liquid and moisture while absorbing even the most obnoxious of smells. Non-clumping cat litters can be difficult to scrape off your kittys box if liquid falls to the bottom without becoming absorbed by clumping technology.
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Clumping cat litters are known for keeping your home smelling fresh regardless of how many feline friends you have. There are several other benefits of using a clumping cat litter as well. Here we outline all of the benefits and what to look for when choosing the best clumping litter for your cat. We also have some phenomenal recommendations for you, so you dont have to do the dirty work . Lets begin!
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Heres What Makes Natural Cat Litter Different
Natural cat litters are made from biodegradable ingredients and are typically made with more environmentally-friendly ingredients. They dont have artificial fragrances or silica dust that could make you or your cat sick.
Another benefit of organic cat litter is that its usually safe to flush down the toilet. This convenient alternative to dumping dirty cat litter in the trash comes at a price, though: cats often carry Toxoplasma Gondii and shed the parasite in their feces. By flushing their waste down the toilet, you could allow more of these parasites to spread into rivers and oceans, putting wildlife at risk of infection.
While clumping clay litter still leads the pack in affordability, consistency, and clumping ability, the natural cat litter world is filled with options and many of them really are effective. Because cats are unique, youll probably need to experiment with a number of natural litters before you find one that you and your cat both love.
Before you start trying out the variety of natural cat litters on the market, you should be an informed shopper.
In this article, you will get familiar with what makes a great natural cat litter, weigh the pros and cons of some of the most popular natural litter substrates, and discover list our picks for the top 5 best natural cat litters available today.
Dr Elsey’s Precious Respiratory Relief
This cat litter is formulated for cat owners whose feline companions suffer from respiratory issues.
It is an entirely unscented cat litter that does not contain any chemicals, fragrances, or smells that can trigger allergic reactions both in the cat and the owner. To help with respiratory problems, the cat litter contains an herbal composition that calms the cat and reduces anxiety.
It is the only clay/silicon-based cat litter on this list. As a result, it displays high moisture retention and absorbent properties. Moisture is locked in and prevented from reaching the base of your cat’s litter box.
The clumps automatically arrange themselves, with the clumps staying at the apex of the litter box. Dr. Elsey’s cat litter makes cleaning fast, convenient, and less irritating. You cat check out our Dr. Elsey’s cat litter reviews here.
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tracking & reviews
As with many clay cat litters, Dr. Elsey’s cat litter is susceptible to tracking. Most cat owners reported this issue in their reviews
Pros
- Tracking problems
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// So Phresh Extreme Clumping Cat Litter
Price: $27.99
Grass seed cat litter! So I thought there could be no clumping without clay, but I was wrong. Thanks to Phresh Cat Litters grass seed formula, we have unscented, renewable, biodegradable, dust-free litter that clumps and is actually even lighter than clay.
Dont worry, the seeds wont sprout in your cats litter box. They have been heat-treated for that reason.
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.
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Grass Seed Cat Litter
Cleaning & the Environment
Grass seed cat litter is a fast clumping, easy scooping litter for single or multi-cat households. Noted for clumping as quickly and as hard as clay, it has the added benefit of being made from a 100% renewable resource and is flushable and biodegradable.
Plus, Only Natural Pet Grass Seed Cat Litter is Non-GMO Project Verified.
Safety
Grass litter is 99% dust free with no tracking, making it suitable for cats and cat parents with respiratory problems. It is allergy friendly compared to wheat and corn litters, and is safe for kittens, infection-prone cats, and cats recovering from surgery.
Performance
The fast clumping action of grass seed litter traps odors before theyre released into the air, preventing the need for chemicals or fragrances. Plus, the clean scoops allow for a long lasting litter.
Consistency
Grass seed litter is slightly coarser than clay, pine, and wheat litter. The medium sized grains are most similar to many corn litters.
Do Cats Prefer Open Or Closed Litter Boxes
Most cats prefer a clear view of their surroundings, so its best to opt for an open litter box. And since closed lids can trap smells, it may also make for an unpleasant environment for your pet. We like the open Natures Miracle High Sided Litter Box because its cheap, it has a low entryway but high sides that contain messes, and a smooth, easy-to-clean interior. You can read more about it in our guide to the best cat litter box.
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Best Hypoallergenic Cat Litters Of 2021
Is your cat prone to breathing problems and allergies? Maybe its time you need to change the litter type. We help you by reviewing the best hypoallergenic cat litters for your feline mate.
Did you know that cat litter is responsible for causing respiratory disorders to both you and your kitty? Litter particles are very dusty and tend to spread easily through the floor or via air.
These particles can enter your respiratory tract and cause a blockage as well as asthma to your kitty and household. Small children and seniors are more prone to such dangerous conditions and breathing difficulties.
For those who are prone to allergies and own cats and litter boxes, the best solution is Hypoallergenic Cat Litters. These litters are dust-free and safe and do not spread around forming dust and causing allergies.
We help you choose the best hypoallergenic cat litters for you and your feline beauty to breathe safe and stay free of allergies.
Whats the Best Hypoallergenic Cat Litter in 2021?
Flaws But Not Dealbreakers
The most obvious downside of Dr. Elseys Ultra is its container. Though this litter is sometimes sold in small boxes, the lowest price is found on a 40-pound plastic bag from Amazon. Out of all the containers that litter comes in, a plastic bag is the hardest to seal, and isnt as easy to stow away as a box or a plastic bin.
That 40-pound plastic bag is twice as heavy as other litters, which come in 20-, 30-, or 40-pound cardboard-box containers that are easier to lift and store. Pet owners with minimal arm strength may have difficulty pouring Dr. Elseys Ultra into a pan, so we recommend transferring some of the litter into an easy-pour container or using a large kibble scooper that you store in the bag. Or you can grab one of Dr. Elseys 18-pound bags, which cost 7 extra cents per pound.
Dr. Elseys Ultra fell in the middle of the pack in our cleanability tests because it can leave sticky messes at the bottom of the pan. Its average-size granules dont pack as tightly as tinier granules, like those in the Arm & Hammer Cloud Control Clumping Litter, so more moisture can get to the bottom of the litter box. Dr. Elseys Ultra performed about as well as two cheaper litters we tested: the Arm & Hammer Super Scoop Clumping Litter and the Frisco Scoopable Cat Litter. If you are willing to pay a premium for harder clumps that wont stick to the bottom of a dirty pan, try our other pick, the Arm & Hammer Cloud Control Clumping Litter.
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Litter Allergies In Cats
There is a list of symptoms that cats may show if they are suffering from litter allergies or respiratory issues. She may act moody, itchy, chew her paws, or snore due to an irritated throat. If your cat has suffered from asthma, then litter allergies can make it worse.
Allergic reactions occur when your bodys immune system tries to fight back against the allergic particles in the environment. Apart from litter, cats can also be sensitive to other substances like food, smoke, ash, perfumes, etc. It is difficult to analyze what causes trouble for your cats.
If she behaves oddly or refuses to use the litter box, starts sneezing or acts moody upon approaching the litter box, then there could be issues with the litter. Common symptoms include:
- Sneezing
- Runny Nose
- Coughing or Wheezing
If your cat has been a victim of asthma or respiratory issues or shows any of such symptoms around her litter box, it is best to consult a vet or change her type of litter. It is important to consider the different types of litter that can be non-dusty like silica gels or other natural types.
One of the best measures that is suggested for cats as well as humans who are prone to allergies is to choose dust-free hypoallergenic cat litters. These are made of safe, non-toxic materials that do not spread on the floor nor stay in the air as dust particles.
Blue Buffalo Naturally Fresh Walnut
Blue Buffalo offers a line of walnut cat litters, with their multi-cat type being the customer favorite. This is thanks to the litters superior absorption ability.
This cat litter uses the fibrous material of walnut shells to form an unscented litter that neutralizes odors naturally and clumps when in contact with liquid waste. According to the company, this litter absorbs 3X more than the leading brand of clay litter.
Walnut litter is typically quite dark in color, making it challenging to identify waste while scooping. The dark granules make tracking very apparent, and according to customer reviews, tracking tends to be a major issue in households using walnut cat litter. That said, its virtually dust-free.
One review suggested that while it is safe to flush this product, the walnut shell litter stained the inside of their white toilet bowl. The packaging of this litter doesnt indicate that its safe to flush. Buy It
Pros
- High tracking potential
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Worlds Best Cat Litter Scoopable Multiple Cat Clumping Formula Review
Worlds Best Cat Litter is a corn cat litter that does a great job of managing odor and produces strong, cohesive clumps that are easy to scoop out of the litter box. While this corn cat litter is one of the best clumpers in the natural cat litter arena, its under some scrutiny for corns predisposition to aflatoxin mold growth.
Many people report that they dont use this litter due to concerns about this toxic mold forming on the litter while its in use. Although the manufacturer inspects the litter for aflatoxin mold growth before it leaves the facility, they cant control what happens once its in your home. Because aflatoxin mold thrives in warm, damp environments, its a good idea to keep the litter box particularly clean when using this litter.
The product tends to be fairly dusty, although the company claims that its 99% dust free. The dust can lead to serious tracking issues.
Back to the bright side, Worlds Best Cat Litter has fine, soft granules that cats like to dig in and step on.
This biodegradable corn litter is safe to flush. Buy It
Pros
- Tends to have aflatoxin mold growth
- Can be dusty
Kocat Natural Paper Dust Free Cat Litter
ökocat Natural Paper Dust Free Cat Litter is the next generation paper-based litter pellets that are healthy and maintain cleanliness in your house and around the litter box. The natural paper fibers have plant-based proteins for long-lasting odor control.
The paper pellets are highly absorbent to quickly soak up the urine and moisture whereas the solid waste can be easily scooped and segregated. The paper pellets are firm yet soft which produces no airborne dust and is gentle on your cats sensitive paws.
Features
- Contains plant-based proteins to control ammonia odor
- Lightweight formula
Paper pellets make it light in weight for easy lifting, pouring, and sifting. Since they are highly absorbent, they also last longer than other forms of litter. These pellets do not contain any artificial fragrance, chemicals, or toxic dyes to cause respiratory diseases.
- Highly absorbent paper pellets that are long-lasting
- Does not contain any artificial scents, chemicals or fragrances
- Lightweight litter makes it easy to lift, pour and sift
- The paper pellets are difficult to scoop and sift with a scooper
- Does not control odor effectively
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Components To Look For In A Natural Cat Litter
Youve decided you want to try out a natural litter for your feline friends. We know there seems to be an endless list of eco friendly cat litter options. To narrow down your choice, here are some more components to look into when picking out a good natural kitty litter.
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 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.
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