Kittens are just beginning to get the whole litter box thing figured out. You should support their efforts by choosing a litter box and cat litter that is suitable for them. Just because a litter is great for adult cats doesn’t necessarily mean it’s a good option for kittens!
Luckily, there are quite a few litter options on the market that are suitable for kittens. Many of these are hypoallergenic because kittens are often more sensitive to fragrances and dust.
For the best litters for kittens, read our reviews here!
A Quick Comparison of Our Favorites of 2024
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Best Overall
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Feline Pine Wood Cat Litter |
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Best Value
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Tidy Cats Clay Cat Litter |
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Premium Choice
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Frisco Clumping Grass Cat Litter |
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World’s Best Unscented Cat Litter |
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Dr. Elsey’s Ultra Clay Cat Litter |
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The 10 Best Litters for Kittens
1. Feline Pine Non-Clumping Wood Cat Litter — Best Overall
| Litter Material: | Pine |
Out of all the litters on the market, Feline Pine Original Non-clumping Wood Cat Litter is the overall best litter for kittens. This litter is quite different from others on the market. It is made out of pine, which has natural odor-fighting oils.
It does not include any chemicals, additives, or synthetic perfumes. However, the pine does leave behind a nice scent.
The pine fibers are extremely absorbent, making them a good litter medium. That said, this litter is non-clumping, which can make it a bit more difficult to clean.
Since this litter also doesn’t have any clay, it is basically completely dust-free. The wood holds together much better than clay, which limits the amount of dust that ends up in the formula.
2. Tidy Cats Instant Action Clay Cat Litter — Best Value
| Litter Material: | Clay |
Compared to other cat litters out there, Tidy Cats Instant Action Clay Cat Litter is above average. It is made out of clay and it clumps, making it easy to clean and scoop out. This litter is scented, so it releases a fresh scent every time it is used. However, this scent may be overpowering for some people and cats. Kittens with sensitive skin or respiratory systems may also have a hard time.
This litter does guarantee 10 days of odor control, assuming that you use it as directed and scoop out the box regularly.
We found this litter useful for multi-cat homes because it does such a good job at controlling odors. Plus, it will keep your litter box dry and easy to clean. You won’t end up with a litter and urine slushie at the bottom.
Overall, this is easily the best kitten litter for the money.
3. Frisco Clumping Grass Cat Litter — Premium Choice
| Litter Material: | Grass |
If you’re looking for a natural cat litter, you may want to consider Frisco Clumping Grass Cat Litter. This cat litter is made out of grass, as the name suggests. It is a bit more expensive than most cat litters out there, but you aren’t going to find a similar option on the market. It is truly one-of-a-kind.
Despite not being made of clay, this cat litter does clump. This feature makes it quite easy to scoop and enables you to maintain a high cleaning standard for your cat’s litterbox, which is essential when you have kittens.
The grass is extremely absorbent and naturally fights odors. It also doesn’t include any added chemicals, dyes, or fragrances. If your kitten is sensitive, this may be a great option. Since it is made of grass, it is extremely low dust. Both you and your cat should be able to breathe easier with this litter.
4. World’s Best Unscented Corn Cat Litter
| Litter Material: | Corn |
Corn is a popular litter material, though it isn’t nearly as popular as clay. The World’s Best Unscented Corn Cat Litter is one of the best corn litters out there. It is clumping, making it easier to clean. There is no scraping necessary, and this litter won’t stick to the sides or bottom.
While it isn’t scented, it does naturally control odors. In many cases, it works just as well as scented litters, but without the often-overpowering artificial scents.
Since it is made from corn, this litter is completely flushable. It is safe for most septic and sewer systems. If you’re looking for something to make your life a bit easier, this flushable litter may fit the bill.
Furthermore, it is extremely lightweight. It is also dust-free, so it won’t bring down your home’s air quality.
That said, it isn’t quite as effective at handling odors as some clay litters. It also doesn’t clump nearly as efficiently.
5. Dr. Elsey’s Precious Cat Ultra Clay Cat Litter
| Litter Material: | Clay |
Dr. Elsey’s Precious Cat Ultra Clay Cat Litter is a popular option on the market. It combines larger granules with clumping clay to prevent tracking while also making the litter box easy to clean out.
Overall, this litter is good at clumping and prevents moisture from reaching the bottom. The clumps won’t crumble when you attempt to scoop it out. Since it is so absorbent, this litter is great for multi-cat households and whole litters of kittens.
You can use this litter with sifting or mechanical litter boxes, though it isn’t designed for that purpose alone. It also works great in the average litter box.
This litter is 99.9% dust-free and naturally hypoallergenic. There are no added fragrances or anything of that sort.
6. Arm & Hammer Clump & Seal Multi-Cat Clay Cat Litter
| Litter Material: | Clay |
Like some other cat litters, Arm & Hammer Litter Clump & Seal Multi-Cat Clay Cat Litter is designed specifically for multi-cat households. It provides up to 7 days of odor protection, making it a decent option for those who have multiple kittens.
It does clump, which makes scooping easy. It is also designed to reduce tracking, though it doesn’t do this super effectively.
The formula is designed to be low-dust. That said, it does produce more dust than some other options.
This clay litter also has micro-particles, which make it feel softer than some other litters. Some kittens will enjoy this feature, while others won’t care that much.
7. Tidy Cats 24/7 Performance Clay Cat Litter
| Litter Material: | Clay |
Compared to some other cat litters on the market, the Tidy Cats 24/7 Performance Clay Cat Litter is average. It is made out of clay and clumps together decently well. It has odor-locking capabilities that make this litter a good option for multi-cat households.
Specifically, this litter is designed to provide long-lasting odor control. It is advertised to fight odors “24/7,” though most cat litters on the market do this.
This litter is fragrant and includes added chemicals. Therefore, some sensitive kittens might have a reaction to it. We also don’t recommend it for humans that are a bit sensitive to scents, as this litter can be a bit overpowering.
That said, this litter may clump a little too much. If any liquid at all hits it, it clumps, which can make it difficult for your feline to find a fresh place to go. You’ll also end up scooping out this litter more often.
8. Frisco Multi-Cat Unscented Clay Cat Litter
| Litter Material: | Clay |
Frisco Multi-Cat Unscented Clay Cat Litter isn’t a poor cat litter by any means. In fact, it is unscented and hypoallergenic, which makes it a great choice for felines with sensitivities. It is also great for humans with allergies. It doesn’t have any plant protein, dyes, or perfumes. It also doesn’t produce much dust. However, as with all clay products, some dust will inevitably find its way out of the litter box.
This litter clumps naturally, making it easier to clean out. You can use it for sifting and mechanical litter boxes, though it isn’t specifically designed for this purpose.
That said, this litter doesn’t perform at the same level as some other litters. It doesn’t control odors that well, and the clumps occasionally fall apart.
9. Fresh Step Multi-Cat Scented Clay Cat Litter
| Litter Material: | Clay |
This brand is a popular budget option. If you’re dealing with many different felines, you may be interested in Fresh Step Multi-Cat Scented Clay Cat Litter. However, this litter does have a few problems.
For instance, it is extremely dusty. As a clay litter, some dust is to be expected. However, this litter is extremely dusty. It seems that no effort was put into limiting the amount of dust produced by this product.
This litter also doesn’t clump super well. The clumps are soft and tend to fall apart during scooping, making it more difficult to clean effectively.
That said, this litter is scented and does a good job of combating odors. It also does clump, even if it doesn’t do so to the extent that some others do.
For the most part, this litter is not that trackable. It tends to stay inside the litter box for the most part because the granules are large.
10. Fresh Step Non-Clumping Crystal Cat Litter
| Litter Material: | “Crystals” |
The Fresh Step Non-Clumping Crystal Cat Litter is a unique type of litter. It is made out of “crystals,” which are advertised to combat odor better than traditional clay litter. Furthermore, the crystals last much longer than clay and some other materials. In fact, they can last up to 1 month.
These crystals absorb moisture on contact, which helps fight against odors. When scooping, simply remove the used crystals and leave the unused ones behind, as they will continue doing their job for up to 30 days.
This litter is lighter weight than some others on the market because it isn’t clay. It is also low-dust because there isn’t much to break down.
That said, this litter doesn’t clump. Instead, the crystals directly absorb the litter. You also need to perform specific care to ensure that this litter continues to work. For instance, the box needs to be stirred regularly to ensure that the silica is evenly distributed.
Buyer’s Guide: Selecting The Best Litter for Kittens
When choosing a cat litter for kittens, there are many factors that you need to keep in mind. Not only do you need to pay attention to features, like clumping and dust, but you also need to be careful about added scents.
All cat litters used to be quite similar, but there are now many different options on the market. Here are a few things you need to keep in mind when choosing the best litter for your kitten.
Clumping vs. Non-Clumping
Clumping litter is often easier to clean out because the litter clumps around the urine. Otherwise, there is no way to remove the ammonia from the box without changing all the litter, which can lead to more money out of your pocket.
However, certain clumping litters clump a little too much. In these cases, you may end up removing much of the cat litter unnecessarily, which will cost you more in the long run.
Non-clumping litter absorbs much of the urine without needing to be removed. However, you do need to change it at least once a week because the affected litter cannot be removed by other means.
Neither option will necessarily save you money outright. It depends on the exact litter that you’re purchasing. Some non-clumping litters do a great job of neutralizing odors, while some clumping litters are efficient. There are good and bad products in both categories.
Kittens sometimes eat clumping litter, which can make them sick. However, this varies from kitten to kitten, though it is something that you should watch for if you have a new cat. If your kitten starts eating the clumping litter, you should remove the litter and replace it with a non-clumping option.
Tracking
No one likes to have tiny bits of clay all over their house. Litter that is very fine is easy to track. However, it is also essential for litters that clump. Therefore, clumping litter tends to track more easily than non-clumping litter, though there are certain non-clumping cat litters that are also extremely fine.
If you’re particularly concerned about tracking, choose a litter with large pieces. It doesn’t necessarily have to be clay, though clay litter can come in large sizes too.
There are other ways to limit tracking. For instance, you can use a litter mat around the outside of the box to help catch loose litter. Some litter boxes can also help prevent tracking, especially if your cat tends to leap out of the box and fling litter everywhere.
Odor Control
A litter isn’t that helpful if it can’t control odors. Typically, cat litters control odors in various ways. The most common is through the use of artificial fragrances and scents. When your cat uses the box, these are released, which help cover up the scent of whatever your cat did.
However, some cats are sensitive to these scents, especially as kittens. Certain scents can cause allergic reactions in both cats and people. If you have asthma or a similar underlying illness, these scents may make your symptoms worse. Cats with respiratory issues will sometimes have a similar response.
Some people simply don’t like the smell of these artificial fragrances. So, while they are effective at covering up odors, they aren’t always the best choice.
Fortunately, some cat litters use more natural methods of odor control. For instance, many focus on sucking up the urine as quickly as possible, which helps eliminate the odors. Others are made with naturally bacteria-resistant materials, which help reduce the overall smell.
Dust
Cat litter can be extremely dusty, especially if it is made with clay. During shipping and processing, the clay gets battered around and breaks down into smaller pieces, which creates dust. All clay litter will have dust, though the amount does vary. Even if a litter is described as dust-free, if it’s clay, this isn’t going to be the case.
Certain natural materials are much less dusty. For instance, wood holds up better during shipping and creates less dust.
Dust can be harmful to your home’s air quality and can irritate underlying health problems. Kittens are particularly prone to problems created by inhaling dust because their lungs are not yet fully developed. Therefore, you should avoid dust as much as possible with kittens.
Similarly, humans with respiratory problems may find their symptoms worsening after using a high-dust litter. Even after the initial cloud of litter has dispersed, the dust will hang around in the air for a while. If your lungs have a hard time with breathing already, this dust can make it even more difficult for them.
Furthermore, dusty litters will often kick up more dust when your cat uses them. For some cats, this is enough to put them off from ever using the litter box. They may decide to go elsewhere just to avoid the dust!
Related Read: New Kitten Checklist: Supplies, Preparing Your Home, & Things to Know
Conclusion
If you’re looking for a cat litter for your kittens, we highly recommend Feline Pine Original Non-Clumping Wood Cat Litter. This cat litter is made out of pine, so it creates less dust than some other options on the market. It also doesn’t include any added fragrances. The natural pine oils do a great job at limiting odors, making it our overall best cat litter for kittens.
For those on a strict budget or taking care of many kittens, we recommend Tidy Cats Instant Action Clay Cat Litter. This litter is clumping and quite affordable.
You may also want to consider Frisco Clumping Grass Cat Litter. Since it is made of grass, this litter is extremely absorbent and completely dust-free. However, it is a bit expensive, so we recommend it for those with extra money to spend.
Hopefully, our reviews helped you figure out the best option for your feline. Picking a cat litter for kittens doesn’t have to be complicated!
See also:
- 10 Best Purina Cat Foods – Reviews & Top Picks
- 7 Best Cat Litter Deodorizers – Reviews & Top Picks!
- 7 Best Cat Shampoo for Dandruff – Reviews & Top Picks
- 7 Best No-Scratch Sprays for Cats – Reviews & Top Picks
Featured Image Credit: New Africa, Shutterstock
