10 Best Litters for Kittens in 2024

Posted in: Cat Litter, Cat Supplies - Last Updated: January 8, 2024 - Author: Mayurii Rajvanshi
Last Updated: October 26, 2021  
Author:  Mayurii Rajvanshi

Wushie-smoochie kittens! They are so cute. Little balls of fur. But these little champs can be quite mischievous especially when it comes to getting down and dirty with their feces. Kittens are notorious for rolling down in litter, nibbling at it, and licking their fur that might carry remnants of the litter sand and kitty mess. 

There are so many different types of cat litter brands out there for us pet owners to choose from! I bet you are thinking to yourself, "what litter is best for kittens?"

black and white kitten getting out of litter tray

That is perfectly normal and it makes sense to be wary about using just any new litter for your little furry friend. You need a kitten-approved litter that does its job well and is safe for your cutie-pie! In this article, we’ll review our 10 best kitty litter for kittens to help you pick the best one for your tiny furball. Before we begin the review let’s first get the basics right.

Weruva It’s A Tea Potty! Hinoki Wood & Green Tea Natural Cat Litter

Our choice is the Weruva It’s A Tea Potty! Hinoki Wood & Green Tea Natural Cat Litter, the best Cat Litter for your Kitten!

It's A Tea Potty! Weruva Cat Litter, 11.7lb Bag

Things You Need To Know

There are several types of kitty litter you can try for your kitten. Some of them are:

Avoid sodium bentonite

The majority of clay litter is made of sodium bentonite. They swell up to 15 times their size when your fur baby pees or defecates into it. In fact, this makes it a popular choice for cat parents as it’s easier to scoop out without needing to change the entire litter box.

But sodium bentonite isn’t safe for cats, especially kittens. If ingested it can make them sick. It can give them digestive issues, intestinal blockages, distress, and in rare cases can be fatal too. Look out for more traditional sand litters made of calcium bentonite instead. You might have to change the litter more often but it is far safer for your furball.

Plant-based litter

It’s time we go environment-friendly. Fortunately, there are a lot of eco-friendly litter available in the market. These consist of pellets made of recyclable waste like walnut shells, coconut shells, pines, and newspapers, etc. If you’re getting litter made up of corn or wheat, be a little careful with how you store them. They are susceptible to developing aflatoxin mold if stored improperly

grey kitten with orange eyes using their litter tray

Unscented litter

It is best to get unscented litter for your baby furballs. Your kittens might be still getting used to the idea of using a litter box. Strong smells, deodorizers, and scents can deter them. They might as well avoid using the litter box altogether. Still, if you’re concerned about the smell, get litter with baking soda. It will help in reducing the smell.

Clumping litter isn’t always good

Clumping litter might make your life easier but that’s not necessarily true for your kitty. Au contraire, kittens are more likely to play with the clumps. Some might even ingest them. And that’s certainly not good for their health. However good quality clumping litter you may get, there’s still a risk of your playful kitten eating it and ending up with gastrointestinal distress. To avoid that, consider non-clumping litter.

Senior cats might thrive on silica litter

Considering getting silica-based litter for your fur baby? Don’t! Not until your kitty is old enough to know how to use it. Ingesting a lot of silica litter can be too much to handle for your little kitty’s stomach.

Know your kitten’s allergies

There are several types of litter available in the market. Go for natural litter as the chances are high it will be safe for your kitten. Knowing your cat’s allergies and sensitivities might help you make the right choice for them. It is understandable, you might still be discovering their sensitivities. To be safe, go with natural litter options like the ones made from wood, clay, and paper.

two kittens resting on each other

Best Cat Litters For Kittens

Here’s our low down on the 10 best litter for kittens:.

1. SmartCat All-Natural Clumping Litter

The main reason why I like this product is that it dust-free. 

So what is it made of? Grass! SmartCat All Natural Clumping Litter is made completely of grass. You may wonder if that means it won’t clump but that’s not the case. 

In fact, it clumps really quick for you to scoop it up. Because it’s made of grass, it also means you don’t have to break your back while trying to scoop up the litter.

Another advantage of SmartCat low dust cat litter is it doesn’t contain any harmful chemicals. Despite being made of grass, the litter is soft so your furry friend will feel it gently on their paws. It is a litter brand designed to keep your cats safe.

SmartCat All Natural Clumping Cat Litter, 20 Pound (320oz 1 pack) - Alternative to Clay and Pellet Litter - Chemical and 99% Dust Free - Unscented and Lightweight

Pros:

  • Environmentally safe
  • Clumps quickly
  • Safe for the cats
  • No harmful chemicals

Cons:

  • A little on the expensive side
  • May not be great at locking in odors

2. World’s Best Cat Litter

This is another popular type of cat litter brands among cat parents. It is great at clumping and is nearly dust free. The litter is made of only natural ingredients, which means it is safe for your cat to use. 

What I like about this brand is that you do not have to put up with the odor. Good for your fur baby and friendly to your nose!

Good things come for a price. And this is true for World's Best Cat Litter as well. This product might be a bit heavy on your pocket.

The one thing a few cat parents have complained about is that your furry feline might end up tracking the litter sand on the floor. But considering the benefits, you definitely get all your money’s worth.

WORLD'S BEST CAT LITTER Multiple Cat Unscented, 32-Pounds - Natural Ingredients, Quick Clumping, Flushable, 99% Dust Free & Made in USA - Long-Lasting Odor Control & Easy Scooping

Pros:

  • Safe for flushing
  • Safe for cats of all types
  • Easy to clean

Cons:

  • A bit on the expensive side
  • Cats track the litter sand on to the floor

3. Feline Pine Original Non-Clumping Kitten Litter

While you may have seen litter sand made of grass and clay, this particular brand makes their cat litter with pines. Not only is it safe to use for your kitty, it also deters your pet from trying to eat it, as is the case with other types of litter.

You might be wondering if litter made of pine is as effective as the usual ones. Is it great for cleaning up or keeping out the odor? Definitely, yes!

The pines are designed in such a way that they absorb the urine while at the same time get rid of the odor.

The disadvantage may be that the fragrance used to ward off the urine odor could be too strong for your cat. If they don’t like the smell, they may not want to use the litter box.

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Pros:

  • Will get rid of cat odor effectively
  • Absorbs the cat urine efficiently

Cons:

  • Fragrance may be overpowering for your cat
  • You may not like the fragrance yourself

4. Jonny Cat Unscented Non-Clumping Clay Litter

If you’re looking for more traditional litter sand, go for the Jonny Cat brand. It is a non-clumping litter, which means that it won’t be as easy to scoop up as it would be with the clumping ones. But don’t let it deter you from trying this one out. 

This litter is especially good for cats sensitive to smells. If your kitty refuses to use scented litters, this is a nice option as it is fragrance-free. Another big advantage is that it is easy on your pocket. Jonny Cat Litter is not that expensive compared to the other options in the market. Yet, it works fairly decently, if not perfectly. It can be a bit inconsistent, but for the price you pay, it’s a decent choice to have.

If you do intend to switch to this brand, it is best if you use it in small portions to allow your cat to get acclimatized to it.

Jonny Cat Fragrance Free Cat Litter Bag, 10-Pound

Pros:

  • Inexpensive
  • Gets rid of odor quickly
  • Unscented

Cons:

  • Not the best quality
  • Won’t clump as it should

5. CatSpot Coconut Kitten Litter

Looking for a highly absorbent cat litter? Look no further! CatSpot coconut kitten litter is made using coconut fiber, which is highly absorbent. It is, however, a non-clumping litter, which means you would have to scoop up the solid waste every day. You can then spread the litter around for the fiber to absorb the urine in the litter box.

If you have more than one cat, you may have to replace the litter every few weeks to allow the fiber to absorb the pee. It is one of the more pricier options available for your kitty. But considering it has no perfume or clay, it could be a good option.

CatSpot Non-Clumping Litter: Coconut Cat Litter, All-Natural, 100% Organic, Biodegradable, Lightweight & Dust-Free (Non-Clumping, 3 Bags)

Pros:

  • Highly absorbent
  • Cat-friendly

Cons:

  • Expensive
  • Non-clumping

6. Purina Yesterday’s News Non-Clumping Paper Litter

There is no doubt that clumping litter is the most preferred option for cat parents as it is easier to clean up afterwards. So much so that you might even wonder why anyone would use a brand that doesn’t clump. However, there are a number of reasons why you would want to use non-clumping litter.

For instance, if your cat recently had surgery, clumping litter could end up sticking on the incisions and irritate your furry friend. Also, for diabetic cats, it is easier to monitor urine output through the non-clumping litter.

This is where Purina Yesterday’s News brand comes in, with its ace performer- non-clumping litter. As the name suggests, this brand uses newspapers in the form of pellets. So the good part is it won’t stick to your cat and at the same time, you can monitor how much urine your cat has excreted because it all sits at the bottom.

Pros:

  • Easy to monitor urine output for diabetic cats
  • Won't stick to your cats. No tracking.

Cons:

  • Non-clumping so difficult to scoop up
  • No dust to absorb urine

7. Naturally Fresh Walnut Shell Non-Clumping Cat Litter

So far we have come across litters made of newspaper, coconut, and pines. Naturally Fresh Walnut Shell Non-Clumping Cat Litter is a step ahead. Just like the name suggests, this non-clumping litter is made up of walnut shells! 

As a result, the pellets in this litter brand are harder and larger than any other brands you may be used to. For this reason, you will need to gradually transition your cat to this litter.

What I particularly liked about this product is that it is practically free of dust. And considering this litter is unscented, it is unlikely to overpower your cat’s sense of smell. Yet, you will have fantastic odor control. Combined with the fact it’s all-natural, it is a good option to try for your cat.

Naturally Fresh Cat Litter - Walnut-Based Quick-Clumping Kitty Litter, Unscented , 26 lb (23001)

Pros:

  • Dust free
  • No fragrances
  • Perfect odor control

Cons:

  • Does not clump
  • Cat will need getting used to

8. Frisco Natural Unscented Clumping Grass Kitten Litter

Most cat parents will tell you that they prefer the clumping kind of litter that makes it easy to scoop and clean the litter box regularly. At the same time, they would also tell you that they could do without all the dust that comes with having clay-based litter.

Frisco’s natural litter may well be the answer to this. It is made of naturally occurring grass that has been clumped together. This grass-based litter will clump up just like you would see with clay-based litter, making for an easy scoop.

Additionally, it is also easy on your cat’s feet because it’s made of grass. This brand of litter also comes with no harsh fragrances to overpower your cat’s sense of smell.

SmartCat All Natural Clumping Cat Litter, 20 Pound (320oz 1 pack) - Alternative to Clay and Pellet Litter - Chemical and 99% Dust Free - Unscented and Lightweight

Pros:

  • Natural, grass-based
  • Dust free
  • Easy to scoop

Cons:

  • Slightly more expensive
  • Cat will need to getting used to

9. Lucky Champ Litter Pan

Looking for a litter box for your kitten? Or your senior cat? Lucky Champ Litter Pan may well be the answer! This is a litter box specifically designed for very young kittens or very older cats. 

Pets of these age groups need litter boxes to have a lower height of entry so they don’t stumble over every time they try to use the box.

The Lucky Champ is also made of very durable material, and is designed in such a way that it is easier to clean up. More importantly, you can dispose of the litter without having to use plastic bags. The Lucky Champ disposal system can lock up the odor with just the turn of a knob. So you can transport the pan to flush the remains down whenever you want.

Lucky Champ Litter Pan,Large

Pros:

  • Low entry point for kittens and older cats
  • Durable

Cons:

  • May need some getting used to
  • Expensive

10. Weruva It’s A Tea Potty! Hinoki Wood & Green Tea Natural Cat Litter

I particularly love this cat litter because it is environment-friendly. Weruva It’s A Tea Potty! Hinoki Wood & Green Tea Natural Cat Litter is made with a combination of hinoki wood, or cypress (as it’s also called), and green tea. It might seem like an odd combination for cat litter, but it works perfectly well. 

Since this does not have the sodium bentonite that is common in clay-based litter products, it is safe for your cat as there would be no danger even if they end up licking the litter. Some cats even end up swallowing the litter sand, but this brand’s litter ensures your cat remains safe even if that happens. 

This flushable litter essentially ticks all the right checkboxes when it comes to picking up the best cat litter for your furry feline.

It's A Tea Potty! Weruva Cat Litter, 11.7lb Bag

Pros:

  • Environment friendly
  • No harmful ingredients

Cons:

  • Expensive
  • Cat might take time getting used to it

Final Thoughts on the Best Cat Litter for Kittens

If you are okay with spending a bit on getting one of the best cat litters for your kitten, I would recommend splurging on Weruva It’s A Tea Potty! Hinoki Wood & Green Tea Natural Cat Litter

It is environment-friendly and has no harmful ingredients, not even sodium bentonite clay. The brand makes sures that no matter how notorious your kitten is at licking the litter, it is safe for your fur baby. Since there are no harmful ingredients, it is perfect for kittens with sensitivity issues. The only downside is it can be a bit expensive. 

If you’re looking for a more budget-friendly option, go for Naturally Fresh Walnut Shell Non-Clumping Cat Litter. It is efficient in controlling odor, has no dust, and is fragrance-free. Plus it is all natural!

We hope this article helps you pick out the best cat litter fro kttens 

Just to finish on, if this is your very first kitten we have these really handy tips for new owners that will really help you out.

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About the author

Mayurii Rajvanshi takes pride in being a content ninja, who is an avid animal lover. She has fostered numerous cats and developed in-depth knowledge of feline facts so she can write about cat health and cat care to help dispel myths with authentic information. Her aim is to encourage responsible pet parenting and cat adoption.

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