Cat litter is an unpleasant—but necessary—part of pet ownership. If you have an indoor cat, the litterbox is a convenient spot for your cat to do its business that you only need to scoop once a day.
Litter comes in many types and formulas, however, making it difficult to know what’s right for your needs. From odor control to clumping to eco-friendly to low-tracking, you can shop for litter based on the type you prefer, the type your cat prefers, and the number of cats you have in your household.
Based on reviews from real pet owners like you, here are our top picks for the best cat litter in Australia.
World’s Best Cat Litter Red Multi-Cat Unscented is the best overall cat litter in Australia. This litter is made with natural corn for odour control and an eco-friendly litter option. If you have a multi-cat household, this litter is suitable for use by several cats each day.
Naturally free of silica dust, this lightweight cat litter won’t track or cause unpleasant dust that irritates your cat’s (or your own) breathing. It’s also flushable and safe for septic and sewers, so it’s better for the planet. Despite the dust-free formula, several reviewers noted that this litter produced a lot of dust and tracked everywhere.
CatMate Cat Litter is the best cat litter in Australia for the money. This eco-friendly litter is made from recycled wood fibre that’s highly absorbent and contains natural oils that inhibit bacteria and the ammonia smell. The pellets are small and lightweight, so the bag is easy to carry and pour, but they expand with liquid and absorb your cat’s urine.
This litter offers a lot of value because it’s easy to clean and plenty is left over, so a bag lasts a long time compared to clay litter and other types. As a byproduct of the timber industry, this litter can be used for composting or in a green bin. Some reviewers said their cats didn’t want to use this litter, however.
Biodegradable Tofu Cat Litter is the premium choice for cat litter in Australia. It’s made from natural and biodegradable pea fibres with baking soda, activated charcoal, and activated enzymes to absorb liquid waste and neutralize odour. It clumps quickly and easily for fast spot cleaning, and the dust-free formula prevents unwanted mess or breathing irritation.
This litter is flushable and safe for septic and sewer systems. Reviewers noted that it smells faintly like black tea and covers up odours well with minimal dust but complained about the price. Others said that the litter lasted a long time and offered good value.
Pros
Eco-friendly
Clumping
Odor-reducing
Cons
Expensive
4. Fresh Step Odor Shield Scented Litter – Best for Kittens
Fresh Step Odor Shield Scented Litter with the Power of Febreze is a good cat litter for kittens. It neutralizes odors and encourages your cat to use the litter box regularly. The litter has a 10-day odour control guarantee with activated charcoal that traps and eliminates kitty litter odor.
The litter is low dust and releases a fragrance every time your cat steps on it for long-lasting freshness and minimal dust and tracking. The box comes with four compact, resealable packs that make litter easy to carry and pour. Liquid waste clumps quickly and tightly for convenient cleaning. This litter isn’t eco-friendly or natural, however.
Purina Tidy Cats Light Weight, Low Dust, Clumping Cat Litter is an unscented cat litter that’s free of fragrances and dyes. The ammonia blocker formula prevents ammonia odor for at least 2 weeks when used as directed, giving you more mileage for your litter. There’s also odour-absorbing activated charcoal.
The low-dust formula offers a clean, easy pour, and minimizes tracking. The moisture-locking design also keeps your cat’s paws dry and clean, encouraging regular litter box use. Liquid waste turns into tight clumps for fast and convenient cleaning. Several reviewers said it was expensive, while others noted that it tracks everywhere and produces a lot of dust.
Dr. Elsey’s Ultra Scented Cat Litter is an ultra-scented clay litter with moisture-activated fresh scent that releases when your cat uses the litter box and offers excellent odor control. The litter is nearly dust free and has non-tracking granules for less mess. The liquid waste clumps tightly for easy cleanup between full litter changes.
This litter is appropriate for multi-cat households and ideal for mechanical litter boxes. Even with heavy use, the litter can last a while and keeps the litterbox dry and clean. Several reviewers commented on quality control issues between batches and significant dust or odors with some bags.
Arm & Hammer Naturals Cat Litter is a natural litter formula that features natural corn fibers, a plant-based clumping agent, baking soda, and mineral oil for dust control. There’s also an artificial fragrance that cuts down on unpleasant odors for multi-cat households.
The highly absorbent formula absorbs two times as much liquid as clumping clay cat litter. The clumps are tight and easy to remove for convenient cleaning. With the addition of mineral oil, the dust that comes with most clay formulas is virtually eliminated. Reviewers noticed some issues with dust and tracking, though noted that it’s less than comparable litters.
Pros
Natural litter
Highly absorbent
Scented for odor control
Cons
May track some
May have some dust
Buyer’s Guide: How to Select the Best Cat Litter in Australia
Cats can be particular about their litter. If you’re looking to change litter, it may be best to choose a similar formula and gradually transition to the new litter.
Here are some other points to consider:
Dust: Heavy dust can cause respiratory irritation for cats and humans. Choose a low-dust formula to reduce any breathing irritation.
Scent: Scented litters can mask odours and keep your house smelling fresh, but they may be too much for cats. If your cat doesn’t like the scent, it may seek other spots to do its business. Unscented litters can still have odour control that keeps the ammonia smell at bay.
Clumping: Clumping litter forms solid clumps with urine, making it easy to clean. Non-clumping litter simply absorbs the liquid without forming a tight clump. Neither has any impact on solid waste. Choosing between them is about your personal preference.
Eco-friendly or natural: If you’re concerned about the environmental impact of cat litter or undesirable chemicals and additives, many cat litters are eco-friendly and use natural or recycled materials. Still, you must pay attention to how this litter performs to ensure it meets your cat’s needs and doesn’t discourage them from using the litter box.
Conclusion
Deciding about the right cat litter can be tough, especially with so many options on the market. Our top pick is World’s Best Cat Litter Red Multi-Cat Unscented for its natural corn for odour control and an eco-friendly formula. For value, choose CatMate Cat Litter, which is made from recycled wood fibre that’s highly absorbent and contains natural oils that inhibit bacteria and the ammonia smell. The premium choice is Biodegradable Tofu Cat Litter, made from natural and biodegradable pea fibres with baking soda, activated charcoal, and activated enzymes for odour control.
Nicole is the proud mom of 3 rescue fur babies, Baby, a Burmese cat; Rosa, a New Zealand Huntaway; and Mac, a Lab/Mastiff. A Canadian expat, Nicole now lives on a lush forest property with her Kiwi husband and new baby daughter in New Zealand. She has a strong love for all animals of all shapes and sizes (and particularly loves a good interspecies friendship) and wants to share her animal knowledge and other experts' knowledge with pet lovers across the globe....Read more
