/best cat litter/

News.com.au

20-05-2025

Every cat owner has and will experience at least one of these situations – finding litter tracks in the most random places in the house, getting a whiff of a foul odour coming from the litter box and witnessing your cat go potty anywhere but the litter box.
Unsurprisingly though, all of these scenarios come down to having the wrong litter. That's why it's important you choose the right cat litter for your feline friend as it will make a world of a difference for you and them.
Luckily for you, we've rounded up all the best cat litter options including non-clumping biodegradable pellets and absorbent crystals to clumping clay and natural granules.
Our current pick is the top-rated World's Best Cat Litter that has received over 2,000 five-star ratings. Shoppers have dubbed it the ' best cat litter I've tried ' as it 'does well with nasty odours'.
There's also the Michu Wonder Litter that shoppers say has ' completely won me over ' as it's fast-clumping, absorbent and easy to scoop. Plus, it's eco-friendly!
Scroll on for more.
OUR TOP PICKS
BEST OVERALL CAT LITTER
World's Best Cat Litter 6.35kg, $44.99 at Amazon Australia
World's Best Cat Litter
Picture: Amazon Australia.
What You Need To Know
Just like the name suggests, this cat litter might be the best there is – according to the 2000 five-star ratings. Made from corn, it's naturally safe and sustainable, flushable, dust free, quick clumping and offers outstanding odour control – which is great for homes with two or more cats. Plus, it's unscented so it won't irritate your feline friend and it's the perfect litter for homes with two or more cats.
Five-star reviewers say it's the 'best cat litter I've tried' and 'does well with nasty odours'.
'This really is the best cat litter in the world. I came by it because the other litter was out of stock and after reading the reviews tried this and I am delighted I did. My cat was naughty about his toilet habits and used to use my balcony plants but since buying this, no more problems and no more nasty smells,' a shopper raved.
Michu Wonder Litter
$22.99 at Michu
What You Need To Know
When it comes to the best litter brands, you can't go past Michu. Their Wonder Litter in particular is made from a tapioca starch, corn starch and guar gum blend that is non-stick and easy to clean up. The texture can be described as small granules and it boasts fast-clumping action and unrivalled absorbency – it's capable of absorbing up to four times its dry weight in fluid, easily scoopable (no sticking to the litter box tray!) and dust-free.
A great option for eco-conscious pet owners, five-star reviewers have attested to its greatness saying it's 'completely won me over'.
'I've tried many types of cat litter, but this cat litter has completely won me over! It's incredibly lightweight, which makes carrying and pouring a breeze. The clumping action is impressive — it forms tight clumps that are easy to scoop without breaking apart, making clean-up faster and less messy,' one wrote.
CatMate Pet Litter
What You Need To Know
Known to have excellent absorption power, this litter by CatMate highly-rated as a non-clumping cat litter. Made from wood, it's biodegradable, low tracking, controls odours and will not stain your cats fur. It's completely natural and eco-friendly, and can be easily disposed in the green bin or your garden.
Five-star reviewers say they 'wouldn't use anything else'.
'I used to buy a different brand of pinewood pellets, but prefer CatMate. I have 2 cats and one that is slightly diabetic thus pees a lot. This litter is excellent in absorbance and contains smell appropriately. The litter breaks down quite easily, and with a sieving system it is pretty easy to clean the box even with my high maintenance box. I also like that the litter is light of colour which makes it easy to find and dispose of solids (opposed to some other brands),' the reviewer wrote.
BEST SCENTED CAT LITTER
Michu Clumping Tofu Watermelon Cat Litter
Picture: Petbarn.
$14.99 at Petbarn
Tried and Tested by news.com.au checkout Shopping Writer Harriet Amurao's cats, Basil and Poki
Eco-friendly and scented, the Michu Natural Clumping Tofu Cat Litter is perfect for neutralising unwanted scents and odours. Basil and Poki don't mind the peach and watermelon scented options as they aren't too strong and overpowering. The pellets are made from tofu, so they're soft and comfortable for their paws and they boast a fast-acting clumping ability that makes scooping up their waste easy. Not to mention, there's a variety of scent options to choose from including unscented.
BEST UNSCENTED CAT LITTER
Ever Clean Unscented Extra Strong Clumping Cat Litter 10L, $39 at Petstock
Ever Clean Unscented Extra Strong Clumping Cat Litter
Picture: Petstock.
$39 at Petstock
What You Need To Know
If your cat is sensitive to scents, this unscented litter is a great option. Made from a premium blend of natural minerals and clays, this cat litter is a low dust formula with extra strong clumping abilities and it effectively eliminates odours.
'Superb cat litter. This litter is the best one we have used, it does exactly what it says, prevents odours and clumps superbly to help efficiently clean the litter. The little kitty cats also don't mind the litter its perfect for them,' a five-star reviewer wrote.
'The cats are very happy – we put it in a tray beside the litter we were using before, and they didn't go near the old stuff again. We had no idea some litters can hurt their sensitive paw pads. This litter can be more messy, it goes everywhere because its so small … They walk a little bit of it out, but that's ok. It clumps very well, and there are no unpleasant smells,' another wrote.
BEST CRYSTAL CAT LITTER
Trouble & Trix Crystal Anti Bacterial Cat Litter 15L, $43.99 at Petbarn
Trouble & Trix Crystal Anti Bacterial Cat Litter
Picture: Petbarn.
$43.99 at Petbarn
What You Need To Know
This crystal cat litter is made from silica sand and boasts antibacterial technology. It effectively kills bacteria, neutralises odours and rapidly traps liquids. What makes it even better is that the crystals change to a solid colour which makes it an easy indicator for when its time to change the litter.
'Hands down the best odour control cat litter on the market. The cats do kick a bit of it out of the tray and track it through the house so I recommend a mat to catch the stray crystals,' one five-star reviewer wrote.
Another reviewer say it's 'literally odourless', writing: 'Best cat litter we have found! So absorbent. Do not have to change as frequently and does not get carried throughout the house! Totally recommend. Does not produce dust! Highly rate this product.'
BEST NATURAL CAT LITTER
Breeder's Choice Recycled Paper Cat Litter 30L, $32.98 at Petstock
Breeder's Choice Recycled Paper Cat Litter
Picture: Petstock.
$32.98 at Petstock
What You Need To Know
Made from recycled paper, this cat litter takes the cake for being eco-friendly and biodegradable. It comes in the form of pellets and it's lightweight, offers excellent absorption power and odour control, and low tracking.
'I've bought this litter for years and it's great. There's no smell and it's very easy to clean up. My cat also finds it fun to use as confetti to celebrate his use of the litter tray,' one five-star reviewer wrote.
BEST HEALTH MONITORING CAT LITTER
Smart Box Health Monitoring Scented Cat Litter 2.72kg, $24.99 at Petbarn
Smart Box Health Monitoring Scented Cat Litter
Picture: Petbarn.
$24.99 at Petbarn
What You Need To Know
This game-changer cat litter is perfect for anxious cat owners that are concerned about their feline friends health. Made from corn-fibre pellets and colour-changing Hallmark pellets, that uses Hallmark Technology to detect potential health issues. It lasts up to one month and boasts lightweight, dust-free, clumping and low tracking properties and odour control.
'Best cat litter I've used, super helpful in monitoring my cats health. When the pellets started to change to red one day I knew something was wrong straight away and got her to a vet,' one five-star reviewer wrote.
WHAT TO CONSIDER WHEN BUYING CAT LITTER
When it comes to buying cat litter, it can take a little trial and error. However, these are some factors to consider before hitting purchase:
Style: If you're after convenience and great odour control, clumping litter is the best style of litter to go for as you don't have to change the entire litter box as often, just scoop out the soiled bits. If you're eco-conscious, after a low-dust option, and don't mind changing the whole litter box often, non-clumping is for you.
Type: Determine whether your cat prefers clay litter, crystal litter, paper litter or natural litter.
Dust: Dust production is an important factor to consider as it can affect cats and owners with respiratory issues or allergies. Look into dust-free or low dust litter options.
Odour control: If odours are a critical issue for you, you're better off looking into clumping litter as they tend to offer better odour control as they trap the moisture and odours into the clumps formed and they can be easily discarded. You can also pick scented cat litter to neutralise odours.
Tracking: If finding litter tracks around your house is the bane of your existence, non-clumping litter might be the way to go as they tend to track less than clumping litter which tracks a lot. You can also look for litter that's made with larger pellets instead of tiny granules as they have a lower chance of getting caught in your cats paws or fur, plus they're heavier.
Scent: If you and your cat are sensitive to scents, opt for an unscented cat litter. Otherwise, scented cat litter is ideal for masking any odours.
HOW WE CHOOSE PRODUCTS
To help you find the right cat litter for your cat, our team of experienced writers spent hours researching products to include in articles. We found out what factors make a good product by talking to experts, reviewing test results and analysing thousands of customer reviews.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENT STYLES OF CAT LITTER?
There is a variety of litter options available based on consistency, clumping ability and scent, so it may be difficult deciding which one is perfect for your feline friend. Just like litter boxes, litter itself depends on your cat and their preference, so it may take some trial and error.
Clumping litter absorbs moisture quickly and requires you to scoop and remove the urine clumps and faeces while the rest of the litter remains dry and clean.
Non-clumping litter typically absorbs moisture slowly and requires you to scoop out the faeces and change the entirety of the litter when urine is absorbed.
WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF CAT LITTER?
Clay Litter is a popular choice for many cat owners due to the fact that it is easy to come by. There are low dust and dust-free options as well as scented or unscented options, and the litter turns into a soft, wet cement-like texture when urine is absorbed. It is available in a clumping and non-clumping option, and is not environmentally friendly.
Crystal Litter is a non-clumping litter option that is more expensive. It is made from clear silica gel and is absorbent, long-lasting and offers odour control. However, crystal litter can become very saturated and cause urine to pool in the litter box.
Paper Litter is an environmentally friendly non-clumping litter option. It is made from recycled paper and is completely biodegradable, and it provides good absorbency with natural odour control.
More Coverage
'No scoop' self-cleaning litter boxes cat owners rate
'Brilliant' gadget solves 'anxious' pet issue
Natural Litter is typically grain-based and made from corn, wheat, pine and more. It is lightweight, biodegradable and super absorbent with natural odour control.
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Harriet Amurao Shopping writer
Harriet knows a lot about helping Australian shoppers find the exact product they're looking for. She started her career at popular fashion website Showpo where she analysed thousands of fashion pieces (how stretchy is that dress?, are those linen pants see-through?) to create the detailed product descriptions online shoppers rely on. She joined the news.com.au checkout team in 2022 and spends every day scouring the web for deals to share and new products to test and review. She's always on the lookout for new trends and the dupes that are just as good as the expensive version. When she isn't working, she's most likely being influenced into buying trending TikTok products or gushing over her dogs.