11 Best Non-Clay Cat Litters in 2024 – Reviews & Top Picks

Clay kitty litter is often chosen because of its convenience and affordability, but it comes with several drawbacks, ranging from a foul ammonia odor to causing respiratory issues in your cat. Luckily, the market is filled with many non-clay cat litters that are affordable, effective, and cat safe.

In this article, we provide eleven reviews of the best non-clay cat litters this year. At the end, we even provide a buyer’s guide to ensure that you find the best kitty litter for your budget, home, and kitty. Keep reading to learn more.

A Quick Comparison of Our Top Picks (2024)

	Image	Product	Details
Best Overall		Kitty Poo Club Organic Soy Litter	Derived from food-grade soybean Maximum odor control Biodegradable	Click to Save 35% Use code PETKEEN35
Best Value		Feline Pine Wood Litter	Large bag 100% chemical free Great at trapping odors	Check Price
Premium Choice		Pioneer SmartCat Grass Litter	Absorbs urine and traps smells Easy to clean Virtually dust and tracking free	Check Price
		Fresh News Recycled Paper Litter	Made from recycled paper Biodegradable Ammonia locking technology	Check Price
		World’s Best Clumping Litter	Traps odor Flushable Last 2x longer than competition	Check Price

The 11 Best Non-Clay Cat Litters

1. Kitty Poo Club Clay Cat Litter – Best Overall

If you are looking for a non-clay cat litter, but you don’t want crystals or wheat. Than you are going to want to check out our pick for overall best non-clay cat litter Kitty Poo Club’s Organic Soy Cat Litter. This company is unique because it delivers your litter right to your door. Plus their soy option is low dust, biodegradable, anti-microbial, and hypoallergenic

Overall, you won’t find another kitty litter as impressive as the Kitty Poo Club Organic Soy Cat Litter. Whether you want an environmental option or odor-free litter, this product delivers.

The best non-clay cat litter for the money is the Feline Pine Original Non-Clumping Wood Cat Litter. As our value pick, it makes sense that this kitty litter is super affordable. On top of the low price tag, the bag weighs 40 pounds, making it the biggest bag on the list.

Another benefit of the Feline Pine Original Non-Clumping Wood Cat Litter is that it uses pine to eliminate odors naturally. With this 100% chemical-free formula, the product does a great job of trapping odors and locking ammonia away.

Because it is a wood-based litter, this product does have a bit of a learning curve. Its wood design means that it does not clump, which can make it difficult to clean out the first couple of times. Once you learn how to use kitty litter, it makes your life so much easier by eliminating urine odor without breaking your budget.

The most impressive kitty litter is the Pioneer Pet SmartCat Unscented Clumping Grass Cat Litter. We have named this our premium pick because it is highly expensive, but it offers fantastic clumping and odor prevention features that make the price tag worth it to some buyers.

On the one hand, the Pioneer Pet SmartCat Unscented Clumping Grass Cat Litter can absorb urine and trap odor without the use of chemicals and perfumes. On the other hand, you can easily clean out your litter box since the grass material clumps, like traditional kitty litter.

The only drawback of the Pioneer Pet SmartCat Unscented Clumping Grass Cat Litter is its price. Because of how expensive it is, this kitty litter is less than ideal for those on a budget. Nevertheless, cat parents that will spend anything on their beloved feline will love this product despite its price tag.

If you are a fan of paper litter, we recommend the Fresh News Original Recycled Paper Pellets Cat Litter. This kitty litter is made from 100% recycled paper, and it is biodegradable whenever composted. These two features make the kitty litter much better for the environment than other kitty litter types.

Still, the Fresh News Recycled Paper traps odors because it is combined with baking soda, which is a natural neutralizer of odors. The amount of baking soda used is effective for odor neutralization, but it is safe for your cat’s respiratory system. It is even safe for small animals, such as rabbits, which have much more sensitive systems than cats.

The price of this kitty litter is pretty affordable, too. Even though there are other paper options more affordable, we recommend this paper kitty litter because of its recycled nature and ammonia locker technology. Like all paper kitty litters, you will have to clean out the litter box more frequently.

Another favorite non-clay cat litter is  World’s Best Multi-Cat Unscented Clumping Corn Cat Litter. Just as its name states, this kitty litter is the best because it traps in odor, is cat safe, and can even be flushed down toilets connected to septic or sewer systems.

What makes this kitty litter so unique is that it is made from all-natural corn kernels that are free from chemicals and perfumes, making the materials safe for your cat. At the same time, these kernels easily trap odors and clump on contact, resulting in no foul ammonia smell.

The only potential drawback of the World’s Best Multi-Cat Unscented Clumping Corn Cat Litter is its price. It is one of the more expensive products on this list, but its results are unmatched. Because it lasts 2X longer than traditional kitty litter, you won’t have to buy the product as frequently, making the high price tag more palatable.

The Naturally Fresh Unscented Clumping Walnut Cat Litter is one of the best products for cats with extremely sensitive respiratory systems. This walnut cat litter is free from any type of dust, grains, chemicals, or toxins, making it one of the safest products on the market.

In addition to being safe, the Naturally Fresh Unscented Clumping Walnut Cat Litter does a great job at cleaning after your furry friend. The formula quickly clumps into tight balls to lock in odor. Surprisingly, the product is very affordable too. It is one of the biggest bags on this list with a low price tag. This makes it a great product for cat owners who want an affordable product that is still highly effective and safe for their cats.

There are some complaints about scooping this product. It requires to be scooped once a day because the walnuts are so effective at absorbing moisture that they become practically rock solid if you wait too long in between scoopings. Parents who don’t want to scoop this often will need a different product.

If you have a multi-cat household, you need the sWheat Scoop Multi-Cat Unscented Clumping Wheat Cat Litter. Because of its wheat material, this product locks odors in on contact and further neutralizes any odors with natural enzymes. Because of how effective wheat is on its own for eliminating odors, this product is free from additives, toxins, and other chemicals.

Due to its effectiveness, this kitty litter can deal with frequent use. Whereas other kitty boxes will begin leaking odor fast with multiple cats, this kitty litter helps to keep your home smelling fresh, no matter how many cats you have – if you clean it frequently!

Many customers complain about cleaning out a litter box with this product, which is a problem since it needs to be cleaned often. It does not clump at all, despite claiming to have clumping powers. Instead, the wheat clumps more like crumbs, making it difficult to effectively clean out your cat’s litter box.

The Okocat Original Premium Wood Clumping Cat Litter is a unique product because of its interesting wood texture. It uses natural wood fiber to absorb urine and trap odors, but the wood isn’t traditional wood pieces. Instead, it almost looks like little rubber bits that have been colored to look like wood.

That to the side, the Okocat Original Premium Wood Clumping Cat Litter does a great job at absorbing liquid and trapping odors. Many users note that this product does a great job at removing the ammonia scent, likely because the natural enzymes present prevent the odor from developing in the first place.

There are a couple of drawbacks to the wood design. Several users note that even though it does a good job inside the litter box, the little pieces get stuck in between the cat’s toes and get tracked all around the house as a result. Not only is this uncomfortable for the cat, but it’s gross too.

The Frisco All Natural Unscented Clumping Grass Cat Litter makes a good option for multi-cat owners that want something super easy to scoop. This cat litter scoops just like clay litter, making it one of the easiest kitty litters to clean up. In addition to being easy to clean up, this cat litter is natural and biodegradable because it is made from 100% natural grass ingredients. Even kittens can use this kitty litter because of how gentle it is.

There are some serious drawbacks about the All Natural Unscented Clumping Grass Cat Litter, though. Customers report that senior cats have a hard time keeping this kitty litter inside the box, resulting in it being tracked everywhere.

More worrisome is the fact that this kitty litter is the perfect breeding ground for fleas. If your cats get fleas every year, do not get this kitty litter because the kitty litter will act as a suitable home for the fleas.

Frisco All Natural Unscented Clumping Grass Cat Litter is a relatively easy to find kitty litter alternative. In comparison to most of the products on this list that need to be specially ordered, this product is produced by Purina, which means you can find it at some pet stores near you. It is made from recycled paper pellets, resulting in a smaller ecological footprint and low tracking features.

Even though this product is relatively easy to find, it isn’t an ideal choice for everyday use. For starters, there is practically no odor control. No one likes a stinky house, but this kitty litter will not help you out much in that department. Thus, the News Original Unscented Non-Clumping Paper Cat Litter may work if you need a one-time product that you can find at the store, but don’t use it regularly.

The last kitty litter product on this review is the Frisco Unscented Non-Clumping Recycled Paper Cat Litter. Much like the other paper options, this product is made from recycled paper. This paper does a decently good job at absorbing moisture, and it is OK at absorbing odor too.

In comparison to the other paper cat litters on this list, the Frisco Unscented Non-Clumping Recycled Paper Cat Litter is the most affordable. So, this product may be ideal for you if you want a paper product that is also affordable.

We have ranked this at the bottom of our list because it simply is not as impressive as the other options. Because of its paper design, it’s difficult to scoop and doesn’t combat odors very diligently. We recommend opting for one of the other options unless you are specifically looking for an affordable paper option.

Buyer’s Guide: Finding The Best Non-Clay Cat Litter

Why Should I Buy Non-Clay Kitty Litter?

Non-clay kitty litter is often safer for your cat. Because of the material used in traditional kitty litter, the clay turns to dust, eventually causing respiratory problems in cats and humans alike. Especially if your cat already has respiratory issues, clay kitty litter will not be doing it any favors.

Non-clay kitty litters are safer for the environment too. Most clay litters are made through a strip-mining process, which is bad for the environment. Nearly all non-clay litter types are made from natural ingredients so that they are safer for both your cat and the environment.

What Materials Are Non-Clay Kitty Litters Made From?

Non-clay kitty litters can be made from a variety of different materials. Some of the most popular include recycled paper, pine, wood, corn, wheat, walnut, and grass. Each material comes with their own benefits and drawbacks, making it important to consider your cat’s kitty litter carefully.

How To Choose Kitty Litter

Whenever it comes time to choose a kitty litter, there are a few factors to consider. Here’s a look at some factors you need to think about before making your decision.

These are not the only factors you should consider, but they are some of the most important when selecting a non-clay kitty litter specifically.

Conclusion

Based on these reviews, the best non-clay kitty litter on the market is the Kitty Poo Club Organic Soy Cat Litter because of its great absorption, odor locking powers, and convenience. If you can’t afford Kitty Poo Club, we recommend the Feline Pine Original Non-Clumping Wood Cat Litter instead because it is affordable but offers fantastic results.

Regardless of which product you select, remember to keep our buying guide in mind to ensure you purchase the right kitty litter based on you, your budget, and your cat.

Featured Image Credit: MelodicinD, Shutterstock