Best Kitten Litter for a Clean Home: Kitten Care Simplified

Last Updated: 7 months ago

If you’re looking for the best cat litter for kittens training to use the box (or wondering if they even need special litter), we’ve got your back!

Today, we’re going to talk about what to look for when you’re shopping for kitten litter.

We’ll cover both clumping and non-clumping, as well as a couple of rather unique solutions!

10 Best Kitten Litter Comparisons

1. Purina Yesterday’s News Paper Cat Litter

Purina’s cat litter is one of the best on the market. It’s almost dust-free, doesn’t track, and is gentle on your cat’s paws.

This particular formula is designed to be even softer and gentler for kittens. Let’s take a look.

Features And Pros

• Price per pound: about $0.66
• It’s 99.9% dust-free, so it’s gentle on delicate young kitten lungs.
• Recommended by veterinarians.
• Unscented, so it checks that “no harsh fragrance” box.
• Absorbs even better than the average clay litter.
• The pellets are soft and gentle on kitten paws.
• Chemical-free and non-toxic

Cons

• Since it doesn’t clump, you really have to stay on top of the box.
• Too large for most litter scoops, which makes scooping and sifting a challenge.
• Some kittens just don’t like pellet-style litter.

Recommendation

Yesterday’s news gets my vote for the best cat litter for kittens training to use the box for so many reasons.

I love that it’s gentle, eco-friendly, and budget-friendly. It’s hard to find a litter that checks all of those boxes.

2. ökocat Non-Clumping Cat Litter

As I mentioned when we were talking about non-tracking cat litter, Okocat doesn’t have the best reviews on Amazon, which I really don’t get.

I’ve used it and liked it quite a bit. I mean, it’s not my #1 favorite or anything, but I liked it enough to spend a lot of time searching for it in stores near me.

Also, while it may not be in my top 10 picks for the best overall litter ever, it’s definitely in the top 10 for the best kitten litter.

Features And Pros

• Price per pound: about $1.
• Made from soft, gentle paper pellets
• Very close to being dust-free.
• The pellets absorb 200% of their weight, so a box lasts a long time.
• Flushable and biodegradable.

Cons

• Not the best odor control if you don’t clean it out daily.
• The litter itself isn’t the best-smelling of the bunch.
• Kind of pricey at $1 per pound (although it lasts longer than typical litter).

3. Feline Pine Non-Clumping Cat Litter

Feline Pine is another popular brand that always gets high marks.

I love it because it’s not only non-tracking and almost dust-free, but also because it’s made with natural ingredients.

Features And Pros

• Price per pound: about $0.69
• No Harsh Chemicals
• Highly absorbent
• Low-dust (not dust-free, though)
• It’s pretty lightweight.

Cons

• Doesn’t do a great job of controlling odors.
• Some cats don’t like the way it feels (it’s not hard on their feet, but they may not like the texture).

Recommendation

Most of the kitten owners that I talked to had great things to say about Feline Pine.

It’s fairly inexpensive, which is always a plus in my book, and it’s all natural, so you don’t have to worry about nasty chemicals touching your kitty’s toes.

4. SmartCat All Natural Clumping Cat Litter

SmartCat is made from grass, making it one of the best options for kittens who are still in that “eat everything” stage.

I love it because it’s almost totally dust-free, so your kitten won’t breathe in nasty residue. Plus, it’s natural and chemical-free.

Features And Pros

• Price per pound: about $2.85
• 99% dust-free
• It’s clumping litter.
• Lightweight
• Chemical-free, clay-free, and biodegradable
• It’s also fragrance-free.

Cons

• It feels a little strange to cats who aren’t used to it.
• Obviously, if you’re allergic to grass, it’s not a good choice.
• Pretty pricey

Recommendation

I only really have two issues with SmartCat. First, the price Wow, right? I think it’s the most expensive litter on this list!

Second, I have pretty bad seasonal allergies, and grass plays a major role in keeping me miserable for months on end.

So, obviously, I wouldn’t want to bring it into my house if I didn’t have to. If you don’t have allergies, though, it’s a great option, even with the high price.

5. Purina Tidy Cats Natural Clumping Cat Litter

If you want to stick to a national brand that you already know and trust but still want something a bit more natural, this is what you want.

I had no idea that it even existed until recently, and I haven’t seen it in stores.

Features And Pros

• Price per pound: about $0.79
• Made from cedar, pine, and corn
• Naturally clumping 
• Pound for pound, it lasts as long as clay litter.

Cons

• It’s not fragrance-free.
• Not a low-dust option
• Tends to track

Recommendation

While I prefer the other options that we’ve discussed so far over this one, I wanted to make sure you had at least one well-known brand to choose from.

I know that some people are very loyal to certain pet product companies. If you’re one of them, this is really the best Tidy Cats litter for kittens.

6. Dr. Elsey’s Kitten Attract Clumping Clay Cat Litter

I’ve talked about Dr. Elsey’s other formulas before, but did you know they make one just for kittens?

It’s a great all-natural kitten training litter with granules that are just right for tiny paws.

Features And Pros

• Price per pound: about $0.80
• Made with a kitten-specific natural herbal attractant
• 99% dust-free
• Clumps
• Multi-cat formula
• Works with automatic cat cleaner boxes

Cons

• Tends to stick to paws and tracks a bit
• Although the fragrance is all-natural, it’s a bit strong for some kittens.

Recommendation

I love that Dr. Elsey’s makes a litter especially for kittens. Not many brands do!

However, I wish they would just skip the herbal “attractant.” It seems like an unnecessary ingredient.

That said, I still recommend it since it has such fantastic overall ratings!

2. Next Gen Pet Products Green Tea Fresh Cat Litter

Want something totally different than the usual cat litter and are willing to take a chance on a relatively little-known brand?

You definitely have to give Next Gen litter a try! They have a few different formulas, but I like the Green Tea Fresh one the best.

Features and Pros

• Price per pound: about $2.93
• Made from natural wood and green tea leaves
• The tea leaves naturally fight bacteria and control odor.
• One bag lasts about a month
• No chemicals or artificial fragrances
• Flushable and compostable

Cons

• Very pricey
• A bit dusty
• Clumps don’t always hold together very well

Recommendation

I love the idea of using green tea to combat odors and bacteria! So smart!

Yes, this is super duper expensive, but one bag lasts between a month and 6 weeks, so it’s really not much more in the long run.

3. Naturally Fresh Unscented Clumping Walnut Cat Litter

Another super popular brand that totally fascinates me is this one, which is made with walnuts!

I love it because it’s natural and gentle for kittens yet still clumps, so it’s easy to clean.

Features and Pros

• Price per pound: about $0.84
• One bag is the same as three bags of clay litter.
• Super absorbent and long-lasting
• Doesn’t track or stick to kitten toes.
• Made with renewable sources
• Non-toxic and chemical-free

Cons

• Not compostable, even though it’s made from walnut shells
• Smells a little odd, according to some
• Cats may not like it

Recommendation

As with the other natural litters on this list, you’ll definitely need to get your kitten used to this one if you’re switching from another brand.

On the other hand, if you’re looking for the best litter for kittens training to use the box, they won’t have anything to compare it to.

4. sWheat Scoop Multi-Cat Unscented Clumping Wheat Cat Litter

As the name implies, sWheat is made with wheat.

Features and Pros

• Price per pound: about $0.85
• Recommended by vets for kittens
• Clumps fast
• No added fragrances, and non-toxic
• Biodegradable
• Fantastic odor control 

Cons

• Not good for families with wheat allergies
• Cats may not like the way it feels
• Tends to track quite a bit

Recommendation

This is a great budget-friendly option that’s actually vet-recommended for kittens, so you can’t go wrong there!

5. World’s Best Multi-Cat Unscented Clumping Corn Cat Litter

Features and Pros

• Price per pound: about $1.07
• 99% dust-free
• A concentrated formula traps odors
• Flushable formula is safe for septic tanks and sewers (so it’s a good choice for the CatGenie litter box)
• Forms small clumps that are easy to remove.

Cons

• Pound for pound, it’s one of the pricier options.
• Although it has good overall odor control, it can get stinky in multi-cat households if you don’t scoop daily.
• Since it’s made of corn rather than clay, some cats may not want to use it.

What to Look for in the Best Kitten Litter

Let’s address the question that’s probably on everyone’s mind: do kittens really need special litter?

Yes, they do, and no, they don’t.

Let me explain. If you’re already using a good, natural, non-clumping litter, then you probably don’t need to run out and buy something special for a new kitten.

On the other hand, if you’re using the average clumping litter, then you’ll want to keep reading (although I’d love for you to keep reading either way).

What’s The Problem With Clumping Litter For Kittens?

The debate over whether kittens can safely use clumping litter is a pretty heated one among cat owners.

It really all comes down to the age of your kitten. If she’s under 4 months old, skip the clumping litter.

If she’s over 4 months, go for it if that’s what you prefer to use. Why 4 months?

While all kittens are different, that’s about the age that they stop looking at the litter box as a fun sandbox in which to play and start looking at it as a toilet.

It’s also about the age when they stop eating everything in sight, including litter, and when they’re big enough to not get seriously sick if they do ingest some.

It’s important to note that not all clumping litter is out the window, just the types made from clay or silica.

Unfortunately, that’s pretty much every type you’ll find on your grocery store shelves.

Don’t worry, though; I’ll give you some clumping solutions when we get to my top 10 picks for the best cat litter for kittens.

What is The Best Type of Kitten Litter?

If good old-fashioned clumping clay litter is out (at least for now), then what type of litter should you use?

We’ll talk about that in more detail as we go through the kitten litter reviews, but look for things like:

• Soft litters made from things like recycled newspapers
• Gentle pellet-style litter
• Brands made using corn and other digestible ingredients
• Fragrance-free litter

Basically, you want something that’s gentle on their delicate little paws and safe in the event that they accidentally ingest some.

Avoid litter with heavy fragrances, as they can be overwhelming for sensitive kitten noses.

Final Word

Since it’s vet-recommended for all cats, I’d have to say that Yesterday’s News is my top overall pick.

However, all of these should be just fine for your kitten! It really depends on your budget and personal preferences.

Tell me below: What are your picks for the best cat litter for kittens?

Last update on 2024-04-10 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API