Compare Cat Litter

13 ranked products · Two to 4 at a time · Updated 18 Sept 2026

Pick any two to four of the 13 ranked cat litter and read them side by side. This page opens on the board's top 3, Dr. Elsey's Ultra Premium Clumping Cat Litter (Unscented), Boxiecat Premium Clumping Clay Litter and Scoop Away Multi-Cat Clumping Cat Litter.

Choose what to compare

3 of 4 chosen

Cat Litter compared side by side. Each column is one product, each row is one measure taken from the same research that built the board.
Measure	Dr. Elsey's Dr. Elsey's Ultra Premium Clumping Cat Litter (Unscented)	Boxiecat Boxiecat Premium Clumping Clay Litter	Scoop Away Scoop Away Multi-Cat Clumping Cat Litter	Arm & Hammer Arm & Hammer Super Scoop Clumping Litter	Boxiecat Boxiecat Probiotic Clumping Clay Litter	Fresh Step Fresh Step Heavy Duty Odor Block Clumping Litter	Ökocat Ökocat Super Soft Clumping Wood Litter	Catalyst Pet Catalyst Pet Natural Cat Litter	Arm & Hammer Arm & Hammer Clump & Seal Clumping Litter	World's Best World's Best Cat Litter	Ever Clean Ever Clean Clumping Cat Litter	Feline Pine Feline Pine Original Cat Litter	Dr. Elsey's Dr. Elsey's Crystal Silica Cat Litter
Tier	S	A	A	A	A	B	C	D	F	F	F	F	F
Rank on this board	1 of 13	2 of 13	3 of 13	4 of 13	5 of 13	6 of 13	7 of 13	8 of 13	9 of 13	10 of 13	11 of 13	12 of 13	13 of 13
Ladder points	1327 LP	800 LP	778 LP	752 LP	712 LP	642 LP	363 LP	279 LP	26 LP	0 LP	0 LP	0 LP	0 LP
Our verdict	The rare litter that every major tester lands on independently, with hard clumps and low tracking that hold up over years of use. Unscented formulation means fewer cats rejecting the box, which is the real long-term failure mode.	The strongest clump integrity in the evidence, which is exactly what this lens rewards. A litter that never crumbles is a litter you never have to replace mid-bag.	Dependable clumping and multi-cat odor performance at one of the friendliest price points in the category. It does the core job for years without drama, which is what this lens pays for.	A Wirecutter-backed budget clay that clumps hard and controls odor for very little money. The sensible default if price is the deciding factor.	The probiotic odor approach keeps working as the litter ages rather than fading like a perfume cover-up. Two independent testers currently back it.	The odor-control benchmark, and it is backed by the widest range of testers of any scented clay litter. The trade is added fragrance, which some cats dislike, so it sits below the unscented leaders.	Business Insider's standout wood litter and the best evidence-backed natural option. It ranks below the top clays only because most cats and testers still favor clay texture.	The best-regarded wood-based option in the evidence, with a vet-authored review behind it and very low consumption per cat. It ranks below the clay leaders only because wood clumping is inherently less bombproof.	The baking-seal odor system holds up over the life of the box, and the quality-to-cost ratio is one of the best here. A workhorse that rarely disappoints.	The coasting-on-a-reputation pick. The corn-based formula gets dusty and tracks badly, and its clumps are softer than any decent clay, so odor breaks through sooner. It trades on its natural-litter pioneer image while clay rivals like Dr. Elsey's Ultra Premium Clumping Cat Litter (Unscented) beat it on every daily-use measure.	A long-established clay litter that still makes tester shortlists, with strong clumping. It carries noticeable fragrance, which keeps it out of the top tier under a lens that cares about cats staying in the box.	The heavily stocked natural-litter trap. Non-clumping pine pellets mean saturated litter must be dumped in bulk, and the strong pine scent puts some cats off the box entirely, the worst long-term failure a litter can have. Buyers wanting a natural option should get Catalyst Pet Natural Cat Litter.	The cross-shop trap for buyers already drawn to Dr. Elsey's. It looks like the premium sibling of the best litter in the category, but it is non-clumping, so you cannot scoop out the waste and the whole box turns over far more often. Buyers wanting the brand should get Dr. Elsey's Ultra Premium Clumping Cat Litter (Unscented).
What reviewers rate	Forms sturdy clumps that hold up over years of use Good odor control Tracks less than other litters Unscented formulation means fewer cats rejecting the box	Produces the most reliably solid, scoopable clumps A hit with the cats Same bentonite clay format as the newer Probiotic formula Reliably forms solid, easy-to-clean clumps	Dependable clumping Multi-cat odor performance at one of the friendliest price points in the category Does the core job for years without drama Good Housekeeping's Best Value award in its 2026 tested roundup	Named alongside Dr. Elsey's Ultra as a Wirecutter top pick Clumps hard and controls odor Budget workhorse backed by tough testers Long production history with consistent formula	Probiotic odor approach keeps working as the litter ages rather than fading like a perfume cover-up 100% bentonite clay formula with advanced odor control Consistently receives positive customer feedback The Spruce Pets' Best Overall pick	The odor-control benchmark Backed by the widest range of testers of any scented clay litter Good Housekeeping's Best Odor Control winner Evaluated in Consumer Reports' 13-litter test program	Excellent odor control for a wood litter Superior clumping performance Made from sustainable wood Soft wood granules track far less than clay	Efficient: roughly one pound per cat per month goes far Biodegradable at no additional cost Lighter, low dust, easier daily scooping than clay Genuinely low dust	Baking-seal odor system holds up over the life of the box One of the best quality-to-cost ratios in the category Good clumping and odor sealing Forbes Vetted's highest-scoring litter for cleanup	Budget-friendly, high-quality corn-based option that clumps quickly Controls odors effectively Flushable Large sizes stretch to weeks of use for multi-cat homes	Long-established clay litter that still makes tester shortlists Strong clumping Comparable clumping and odor performance to the leading value clays in Reviewed's testing Hard-working multi-cat odor control	Stands out on dust Most cats like the pine scent Affordable natural option Natural pine pellet material	Low dust, which draws cross-shoppers from clay Silica formula from a trusted specialist brand Highly absorbent silica gel formula Low-dust compared with traditional clay
Where it falls short	Nothing recorded	Outclassed by its own sibling, the Probiotic formula Lacks the probiotic odor control of the newer version at similar money The Probiotic sibling delivers the same brand's core performance for less money Costs more than the Probiotic formula from the same brand	Some users report dustiness Gives up a little to premium clumpers Slightly behind Arm & Hammer Super Scoop on documented dust and clump quality	Beaten on dust and tracking by the consensus top three	Costs more than the value clays that come close to it Probiotic odor approach has a shorter real-world track record than plain clay Priced above the supermarket clay brands A niche, pricier formula aimed at a specific odor problem	Added fragrance that some cats dislike A scented premium formula Artificial fragrance, unlike the unscented leaders Heavy artificial fragrance load	Wood texture is less favored than clay by most cats and testers Less forgiving if stored damp Costs more per pound than clay Some cats reject the texture	Wood clumping is inherently less bombproof than clay Shorter track record than the more established wood litters Pellet litters demand more frequent full changes Some cats refuse the texture	Scented formula Heavier and pricier than Super Scoop Top overall nods this cycle went elsewhere Does not clearly outperform the cheaper Super Scoop in tester recommendations	Gets dusty Tracks badly Clumps are softer than any decent clay, so odor breaks through sooner Some users report dust and tracking	Noticeable fragrance Costs meaningfully more than rivals with comparable tested performance Coasting on an old premium-clay reputation No current headline award from any outlet	Non-clumping pine pellets mean saturated litter must be dumped in bulk Strong pine scent puts some cats off the box entirely Non-clumping, requiring full box changes and more litter consumed Some owners find the pine scent too strong	Does not contain clumping properties Non-clumping means the whole box turns over far more often No clumping properties, requiring full changes rather than scooping Premium-priced for less convenience
Evidence behind it	24 sources across 22 outlets	5 sources across 4 outlets	3 sources across 3 outlets	3 sources across 3 outlets	20 sources across 14 outlets	3 sources across 3 outlets	2 sources across 2 outlets	3 sources across 3 outlets	25 sources across 18 outlets	25 sources across 20 outlets	1 source across 1 outlet Thin sourcing, read it as provisional	1 source across 1 outlet Thin sourcing, read it as provisional	1 source across 1 outlet Thin sourcing, read it as provisional
Flagged as one to avoid	Not flagged	2 of 12 research runs	Not flagged	Not flagged	Not flagged	1 of 12 research runs	Not flagged	Not flagged	5 of 9 research runs	10 of 12 research runs	6 of 9 research runs	5 of 9 research runs	4 of 6 research runs
Announced	Not recorded	Not recorded	Not recorded	Not recorded	Not recorded	Not recorded	Not recorded	Not recorded	Not recorded	Not recorded	Not recorded	Not recorded	Not recorded
Where to buy	Check it	Check it	Check it	Check it	Check it	Check it	Check it	Check it	Check it	Check it	Check it	Check it	Check it

Every column is the same research that built the board. Nothing here is a specification sheet copied from a maker. Read how we rank for what a tier and a ladder point mean.