We independently evaluate all of our recommendations. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation. Shopping Pet Products The 6 Best Cat Litters of 2024 to Keep Your Home Smelling Fresh Our top pick is the Tidy Cats Naturally Strong Unscented By Jessie Quinn Jessie Quinn Jessie Quinn is a Los Angeles-based contributing shopping writer at PEOPLE with over 10 years of experience covering all things beauty, fashion, and lifestyle. At PEOPLE, she collaborates with the PEOPLE Tested team to share our top recommendations for everything from the best shapewear to the best dark spot correctors. People Editorial Guidelines Updated on October 28, 2024 11:40AM EDT In This Article View All In This Article Our Top Picks Reviews Things to Consider How We Tested FAQ Why Trust PEOPLE? What Is PEOPLE Tested? Photo: People / Brian Kopinski One of the biggest cat parent woes is the litter box. If not cleaned and cared for properly, it can stink up your space and quickly become one of your most dreaded chores. Part of cleaning and caring for the litter box is choosing the right cat litter, especially one that is high-quality with excellent odor control. Experts Say When it comes to buying cat litter, Joey Lusvardi, a certified cat behavior consultant, says buying low-quality cat litter is as enjoyable for your cat as using cheap toilet paper is for you, since “it may be uncomfortable for your cat to use or may not control odor as well as better quality litter.” We set out to find the best cat litter and tested dozens of options until we found the best of the best. We consulted Dr. Bruns, a veterinarian with PetSmart Veterinary Services, to determine testing criteria based on factors that are key to a cat’s comfort, like scent and clumping capabilities. Plus, we looked at other factors like package design. We also paid close attention to odor control since that is a major concern for cat parents and can make or break a litter box situation Keep reading for the best cat litters that trap odor, clump up neatly, and allow your cat to do their "business" in peace. Our Top Picks Best Overall: Purina Unscented Cat Litter at Walmart $24 Jump to Review Best Budget: Scoop Away Unscented Clay Cat Litter at Amazon $31 Jump to Review Best Odor-Control: SALE Arm & Hammer Fragrance-Free Clumping Cat Litter at Amazon $34 $20 Jump to Review Best Clumping: Fresh Step Clumping Cat Litter at Amazon $33 Jump to Review Best Mess-Free: Tuft & Paw Cat Litter at Amazon $58 Jump to Review Best Scented: Fresh Step Calm Cat Litter at Chewy $18 Jump to Review Best Overall Purina Unscented Cat Litter PHOTO: Target $24 at Walmart $33 at Chewy View on PetSmart Star Qualities Outstanding odor control No dust when scooping and cleaning Easy to pour into a litter box Red Flags Doesn’t clump as well as some of the other cat litters we tested After testing dozens of cat litter options, the Tidy Cats Naturally Strong Unscented litter is our top pick. We were most impressed by its odor control and how switching to this cat litter significantly cut down the smell of the litter box, which cat owners are all too familiar with (seriously, you couldn’t even tell there was a litter box in the room). Apart from its odor control, the box it comes in makes it really easy to pour and fill the litter box with little hassle. It has an opening that’s designed specifically for pouring and doesn’t require any awkward grips or struggle that comes with re-filling the litter box compared to other designs, such as bags. Though it’s not the most impressive feature, the litter clumps well enough (just not as good as other options on our list, like the Fresh Step Outstretch Clumping Cat Litter with Febreze) for those who change the litter box on a more regular basis. Overall, we cannot recommend the Tidy Cats Naturally Strong Unscented litter enough. The impressive odor control alone is enough to make us want to re-purchase, as it truly worked wonders on targeting one of the biggest cat owner woes: a stinky litter box. Size: 35 lbs. | Scent: Unscented | Ingredients: Natural clay with activated charcoal PHOTO: People / Cara Milhaven PHOTO: People / Cara Milhaven Best Budget Scoop Away Unscented Clay Cat Litter PHOTO: Walmart $31 at Amazon $12 at Walmart $11 at Chewy Star Qualities Clumps well and does not get sticky Unscented option has fantastic odor control Handle makes it easier to pour into the litter box Red Flags A little dustier than other litters If you’re looking for the best budget-friendly cat litter that works just as well as some of its pricier counterparts, look no further than the Scoop Away Unscented Clay Cat Litter. The box features a clay-based cat litter that is unscented (though, you can also purchase it in a “Clean Breeze” scent) and has incredible odor control. When testing this litter out, we were most impressed by the lack of smell as well as how easily it clumps. We also appreciated that the clumps didn’t get sticky and gross, which we can’t say the same for other litters we’ve tried. In addition to its clumping, the budget-friendly cat litter also comes in a box that is super easy to use. To fill the litter box, it has an opening on the side along with a handle that helps you carry it while pouring. And, although there was some dust when pouring, it wasn’t too terrible to manage and didn’t take away from the fact that this is one of the best cat litters available, especially considering the price tag. Size: 25 lbs. | Scent: Unscented | Ingredients: Clay PHOTO: People / Lisa Pezzuto PHOTO: People / Lisa Pezzuto Best Odor-Control Arm & Hammer Fragrance-Free Clumping Cat Litter PHOTO: Amazon $34 $20 at Amazon $19 at PetSmart View on Petsupermarket.com Star Qualities Completely odorless Litter clumps well, making it easy to clean out the box Excellent odor control Large size makes it a great value Red Flags Box isn’t as easy to open and pour Litter can kick up more dust than other options The Arm & Hammer Super Scoop Cat Litter is another option we tested with outstanding odor control. This kitty litter is completely odorless, provides excellent odor control, and is unscented, so it basically goes undetected in your home. We found that, considering the odor control and the 40-lb. box, it is also a fantastic option for those with multiple cats, since it will last you a long time and helps keep litter box stench at bay. In addition to its odor control, we were also very impressed by how well it clumps, which made cleaning the box even easier. With that said, there was more dust compared to the other cat litter we tested, which could be an issue for those with carpets in their home. We also found that the box was a challenge to open and use because it's so heavy. Also, the box is designed with a cardboard opening that closes up easily when trying to pour (kind of like a box of baking soda). That being said, we still love this litter's performance and highly recommend it for multi-cat households. Size: 40 lbs. | Scent: Unscented | Ingredients: Clay with baking soda crystals PHOTO: People / Asad Richardson PHOTO: People / Asad Richardson Best Clumping Fresh Step Clumping Cat Litter PHOTO: Amazon $33 at Amazon $17 at Target $17 at Walmart Star Qualities Thin, sandy texture is gentler on a cat's paws Febreze scent keeps odor at bay without smelling overwhelming Feels more lightweight than other litters we tested Clumps easily Red Flags Gives off a lot of dust when filling the litter box The best clumping cat litter is the Fresh Step Outstretch Long Lasting Concentrated Clumping Cat Litter with Febreze Freshness. This lightly scented cat litter has a refreshing Febreze fragrance that helps keep bad odors at bay and keeps the room with the litter box smelling ultra-fresh. The litter itself has a thin and sandy texture that feels more lightweight than other options and boasts excellent clumping abilities — even larger clumps stay together well — that makes it really easy to scoop and keep the litter box clean. Clumping isn’t the only thing we liked about this cat litter. We also loved the box it comes in, which we found was super easy to use. It’s easy to pour litter into the litter box (though there is a lot of dust when re-filling) and doesn’t create a lot of mess, which isn’t always the case with other kitty litter options. Size: 32 lbs. total (between 2 boxes) | Scent: Febreze | Ingredients: Clay with activated charcoal and Febreze PHOTO: People / Alessandra Amodio PHOTO: People / Alessandra Amodio PHOTO: People / Elizabeth Theriot The 10 Best Cat Carriers of 2024, Tested by Our Cats Best Mess-Free Tuft & Paw Cat Litter PHOTO: Tuft & Paw $58 at Amazon $29 at Etsy View on Tuftandpaw.com Star Qualities No dust at all when pouring the litter into the litter box Flushable and compostable Bag is resealable and easy to pour from Red Flags Doesn’t clump as well as other litters, but it clumps the best compared to other natural litters Smaller amount of product included versus others on the list The most mess-free cat litter we tested is the Tuft & Paw Really Great Cat Litter. This subscription-based cat litter comes in a 9.5-lb. resealable bag that is easy to pour into the litter box with minimal mess. Made from natural and non-toxic white sorghum grass, the litter also makes clean-up easy since it’s 100 percent flushable and compostable, too (although, if you live in California, flushing used cat litter is prohibited). When testing this litter out, we found that the large pellets made for a much better pouring situation, since there was virtually no dust. Plus we found it was easy to clean out the cat waste since it easily separated from the pellets. Size: 9.5 lbs. | Scent: Unscented | Ingredients: Soybean fiber, corn Starch, corn flour, guar gum, charcoal PHOTO: People / Lu Han PHOTO: People / Lu Han PHOTO: People / Lu Han PHOTO: People / Lu Han The 10 Best Cat Brushes of 2024, Tested by Our Cats Best Scented Fresh Step Calm Cat Litter PHOTO: Target $18 at Chewy $18 at PetSmart View on Petsupermarket.com Star Qualities Pleasant yet subtle scent Box has a built-in handle, making it easier to pour Sand-like consistency doesn't create any dust Red Flags Scent is great for humans, but some cats may not take to it It’s no secret that litter boxes can wreak havoc on your sense. While there are some excellent options for odor control — many of which are on this list — sometimes you need a little extra help to keep things smelling fresh. Our top pick for the best-scented litter is the Fresh Step Calm, which features a pleasant rose, chamomile, and hemp seed oil that provides a refreshing aroma. While not every cat takes to scented litter, this one is on the light side, so some kitties might not mind it. In addition to its scent, the litter is also formulated with activated charcoal for eliminating odor smells and definitely does a great job of keeping the stench at bay. Its scent and odor elimination aren’t the only things that make this a standout cat litter. The litter has a sand-like consistency that doesn’t create any dust when scooping or pouring into the box, plus it clumps really well making it easy to use. Size: 22.5 lbs. | Scent: Rose, chamomile, and hemp seed oil | Ingredients: Clay with activated charcoal PHOTO: People / Elizabeth Theriot PHOTO: People / Elizabeth Theriot The 6 Best Pet Cameras of 2024, Tested by PEOPLE What to Know About Cat Litter Scent When shopping for pet litter, Dr. Bruns says it’s important to consider scent. “While many litters come in both scented and unscented varieties, it is typically best to choose an unscented option as cats have very sensitive noses, and the strong chemical scent can discourage them from visiting their litter box or lead to an allergic reaction," she explains. With that said, many pet parents might be drawn to scented litter to help with odor control. If you wish to go the unscented route but want an odorless litter, Dr. Bruns says to look or litter made with ingredients like activated charcoal — such as the Fresh Step Calm litter which comes in scented and unscented. Cat litter with baking soda (like the Arm & Hammer Super Scoop Cat Litter) can also help contain scents and keep them from permeating a living space. Odor Control Speaking of scent, odor control is another important factor to choose from, as many unscented cat litters do an excellent job of keeping odor at bay without the inclusion of perfume. Erin DeAngelis, a cat product specialist at Pet Supplies Plus, recommends doing a five-day test to see if the litter lives up to the package claims and is truly odor-controlling. If you don’t wish to test on your own, we did the testing for you and found that Tidy Cats Naturally Strong Unscented and Arm & Hammer Super Scoop Cat Litter both have outstanding odor control. We love also love the latter because it features absorbent clay and odor-diffusing baking soda crystals to help combat the litter box stench. Pellet Size While it’s not the most important thing to consider, it’s worth looking at the cat litter pellet size as this can often be the culprit for some cat parent woes. “Pet parents should consider a litter with large pellet sizes if they are tired of finding litter all over their house,” says Samantha Patterson, an educator at Pet Food Express. “The larger the pellet size, the less likely the stuff will stick to the cat’s paws,” she adds, noting that this means less tracking throughout the house. We tested small and large pellet cat litters for tracking and found that tracking can also depend on the quality of the litter and your litter box set-up. If your cat prefers smaller pellets, you can minimize tracking by placing a mat at the end of the litter box to catch any excess pellets on their way out. Behind the Scenes Figuring out products your pet loves is no easy feat — especially when it comes to something like cat litter. To find the best cat litter (for us and our fur babies), we tried some of the most popular options, testing each over a four week trial period and looking at the following qualities: Convenience: The first thing we looked at when considering the litters was how convenient they were to lift, open, and pour into the litter boxes. Features like handles, resealable containers, and lightweight feel that helped make the litters easier to handle were noted.Performance: During our testing, we monitored our cats’ reaction to the litter — whether they immediately took to the litter and used the box, or if they hesitated to use them. If the litters were scented, we also took note of how strongly they smelled. We also considered how well the litter was able to control odor, and how often we needed to scoop the litter.Mess: Lastly, we looked at how well the litter clumped, and how easy it was for us to scoop and clean the boxes. We took note of the floor around the litterbox, and inspected it daily to see if the litter was tracking outside of the box. After performing all tests, we rated each cat litter on a 1-5 scale for the following categories: odor, design, clumping, and mess. We carefully reviewed the results of each to determine which ones we can most recommend for cat owners. The products with the highest average ratings earned a spot on this PEOPLE Tested list of the best cat litters. People / Alessandra Amodio Frequently Asked Questions What type of cat litter is best? “Each type of litter offers different benefits and will largely depend on the cat’s preference and lifestyle of the pet parent,” says DeAngelis. She explains that clumping clay litter is typically the most popular because it’s easy to scoop and conserves litter. However, some might also prefer natural litter since they are biodegradable and better for the environment. “No matter which forms you choose, unscented is best since cats have 14 times more smell receptors than humans so added fragrance can be overwhelming to your cat,” DeAngelis adds.After testing out dozens of litters, we recommend the Tidy Cats Naturally Strong Unscented, which has excellent odor control, is unscented, and doesn’t give off a lot of dust when changing the litter box. If you’re looking for a litter with outstanding clumping abilities, consider the Fresh Step Outstretch Long Lasting Concentrated Clumping Cat Litter with Febreze Freshness, which clumps easily and was proven to keep odor at bay. Which cat litter is best for odor control? According to Lusvardi, clay litter is excellent for odor control since it is more absorbent and excels at clumping, making it easier to scoop and get all of a cat’s waste out of the box. In addition to clay and clumping, Dr. Bruns recommends looking for ingredients like activated charcoal for absorbing and neutralizing scent and baking soda for diffusing scent. With that said, cat litter is only as good as the cleanliness of the litter box. “The most important thing a cat owner can do to control odors is scooping their cat’s litter box at least once per day,” says Lusvardi. Does the pellet size of the cat litter matter? Pellet size is an important thing to look for when shopping for cat litter. For humans, larger pellets might be preferred since they don’t track as easily throughout the house. However, Lusvardi says some cats prefer smaller particles, so it’s best to go with your cat’s preference (or else they might not use the litter box in protest). If your cat has joint pain, pellet size is especially important since “smaller particle litters are a bit softer and less likely to cause cats to be in pain when using the box,” says Lusvardi. The 9 Best Cat Food Brands of 2024, According to 299 Cat Owners Why Trust PEOPLE? Jessie Quinn is a contributing commerce writer for PEOPLE and has written for publications such as Byrdie, InStyle, The Spruce, NYLON, and more. (She's also a proud pug mom.) For this story, Jessie spoke with multiple experts who helped inform which qualities were most important in the best cat litter, which included clumping, mess, and odor control. Jessie spoke with Joey Lusvardi, a certified cat behavior consultant, as well as Dr. Jennifer Bruns, DVM, MPVM at PetSmart Veterinary Services, Samantha Patterson, an educator at Pet Food Express, and Erin DeAngelis, a cat product specialist at Pet Supplies Plus, Our Expert Pannel Joey Lusvardi is a certified cat behavior consultant with Class Act Cats, a behavior consulation service for cat owners. Dr. Jennifer Bruns, DVM, is the MPVM at PetSmart Veterinary Services Erin DeAngelis is a cat product specialist at Pet Supplies Plus, What Is PEOPLE Tested? We created the PEOPLE Tested seal of approval to help you find the very best products for your life. We use our unique methodology to test products in three labs across the country and with our network of home testers to determine their effectiveness, durability, ease of use, and so much more. Based on the results, we rate and recommend products so you can find the right one for your needs. But we don’t stop there: We also regularly re-review the categories in which we’ve awarded the PEOPLE Tested seal of approval — because the best product of today might not be the best of tomorrow. And by the way, companies can never buy our recommendation: Their products must earn it, fair and square. In short, PEOPLE Tested provides recommendations you can trust — every day, every purchase.