What cat litter should I buy? A Cat Sitter’s Candid Guide to Cat Litter

When you spend your days caring for cats the way I do, you learn very quickly which litters actually work and which ones only claim to. As a professional cat sitter, it is quite literally my job to scoop litter boxes all day — in every kind of home, with every type of cat, and with every litter on the market. I’ve seen the best, the worst, and the truly baffling, and I’ve scooped thousands of boxes just this year. So when I say a litter clumps beautifully or falls apart like wet tissue, it’s because I’ve watched it happen over and over again in real-life conditions. My opinions aren’t theoretical; they’re earned one scoop at a time.

CLAY CLUMPING LITTERS

⭐ Dr. Elsey’s — Grade: A

The best unscented clay clumping litter on the market — and what I use for my own cats. It clumps extremely well, controls odor reliably, and only occasionally becomes sticky (easily fixed with a little “senior” variety mixed in).

Verdict: Excellent choice for most homes.

👉 Shop it on Amazon: Dr. Elsey’s Cat Litter – Clay Clumping

Fresh Step Clumping — Grade: B

One of the better budget-friendly grocery store options. Clumps stay together well, and it performs consistently. Avoid scented varieties.

Verdict: Solid mid-range pick.

👉 Shop it on Amazon: Fresh Step Clumping Cat Litter

Tidy Cats Lightweight — Grade: C

Clumps slightly better than their standard scoopable version, but still not ideal. Clumps can feel wet, like it doesn’t absorb urine as well as it should — though to its credit, clumps do stay intact.

Verdict: Acceptable in a pinch, but far from great.

 Shop it on Amazon: Tidy Cats Lightweight Free & Clean Litter

Arm & Hammer Slide — Grade: C

Less terrible than their regular clumping litter, but still heavy, difficult to scoop, and prone to tracking.

Verdict: Below average.

👉 Shop it on Amazon: Arm & Hammer Slide Cat Litter

Tidy Cats Scoopable — Grade: F

Clumps fall apart immediately, leaving a mess and lingering odor. One of my least favorite options to encounter in a client’s home.

Verdict: Strongly discouraged.

👉 Shop it on Amazon: Please Don’t

Arm & Hammer Original Clumping — Grade: F

One of the worst performers. Clumps always fall apart, leaving urine odor behind.

Verdict: Avoid completely.

👉 Shop it on Amazon: Please Don’t

PLANT-BASED AND OTHER NATURAL LITTERS (TOFU, CORN, WHEAT, GRASS, SOY, WOOD) 

Natural litters are incredibly popular right now, and many people swear their cats don’t mind them — but in my experience, they simply don’t clump as well as clay, (with a few exceptions) and that matters when you’re scooping every single day. I’ve tried nearly every natural option on the market, and every time I set up a natural litter side-by-side with a traditional clay litter, my own cats chose the clay pan without hesitation. You may truly believe your cat “doesn’t mind” natural litter, but I’d genuinely challenge anyone to put the two options next to each other and see what your cat actually prefers. Cats are honest critics, and their paws don’t lie.

⭐ Happy & Polly Tofu Litter (Tofu-Based) — Grade: A

Made from tofu and consistently one of the highest-performing natural litters available. The clumps stay together perfectly, control odor well, and track less than sand-based options. The only potential drawback is the non-sand texture, which may bother very picky cats.

Verdict: An excellent choice and one of the most reliable litters on this entire list.

👉 Shop it on Amazon: Happy & Polly Natural Tofu Cat Litter

SmartCat Grass Litter (Grass-Based) — Grade: A

Impressively strong natural clumping. Clumps stay together well. Good odor control.

Verdict: Great product — if your cat accepts it.

👉 Shop it on Amazon: SmartCat Natural Grass Cat Litter

Sustainably Yours (Corn + Cassava) — Grade: A

Forms super-hard, reliable clumps that stay together perfectly. Excellent odor control. Sandy texture causes significant tracking; the new larger-grain version may help.

Verdict: High performance with one major drawback: tracking.

👉 Shop it on Amazon: Sustainably Yours Natural Cat Litter

Tuft & Paw Really Great Cat Litter (Soy-Based) — Grade: B

Controls odor well and performs decently, but clumps do not stay together perfectly. Larger pieces don’t track as bad but may not be as easily accepted by picky cats.

Verdict: Good but not exceptional.

👉 Shop it on Amazon: Tuft & Paw Really Great Cat Litter

World’s Best Litter (Corn-Based) — Grade: C

Absolutely not the world’s best. Clumps often fall apart, though it controls odor reasonably well.

Verdict: Middle-of-the-road at best.

👉 Shop it on Amazon: World’s Best Cat Litter

Swheat Scoop (Wheat-Based) — Grade: C

Controls odor very well, but the clumps do not stay together.

Verdict: Good smell control, poor clumping.

👉 Shop it on Amazon: Swheat Scoop Wheat Cat Litter

Naturally Fresh (Walnut Shell- Based)— Grade: C

Smells pleasant, but clumps fall apart like many of the natural options.

 (my cats refused to use it)

Verdict: Unreliable.

👉 Shop it on Amazon: Naturally Fresh Cat Litter

Ökocat (Wood-Based) — Grade: C

Controls odor quite well, but clumps like crap, falling apart into mush.

Verdict: Smells clean, performs poorly.

👉 Shop it on Amazon: Ökocat Wood Clumping Cat Litter

Catalyst (Wood-Based) — Grade: C

Made from wood. Smells pleasant but clumps poorly, like other natural litters.

Verdict: Nice smell, unreliable clumping.  (my cats refused to use it)

👉 Shop it on Amazon: Catalyst Wood Cat Litter

Pretty Litter (Silica-Based, Non-Clumping) — Grade: D

Good idea, poor execution. Because it doesn’t clump, urine stays in the box and causes odor. Tracks everywhere. Expensive. Best used only as a health indicator when mixed with a real clumping litter.

Verdict: Not sufficient as a standalone litter.

👉 Shop it on Amazon: Please Don’t

Feline Pine, Yesterday’s News,  all other large pellets varieties— Grade: D

Most cats dislike the large pellets. Non-clumping versions allow urine to sit in the tray — even if you can’t smell it, your cat can.

Verdict: Poor choice for most households.

👉 Shop it on Amazon: Please Don’t

Breeze Pellets System (Porous Mineral Pellets)— Grade: F

One of the worst designs on the market. Pads frequently reek of urine, the tray gets wet, and the system requires constant cleaning. Pellets are large, hard, and uncomfortable for cats. I don't understand why anyone buys this more than once!

Verdict: Avoid entirely.

👉 Shop it on Amazon: Please Don’t

FINAL THOUGHTS: WHICH LITTER SHOULD YOU CHOOSE?

Top Performers:

• Dr. Elsey’s (clay)

• Happy & Polly Tofu Litter

• SmartCat Grass

• Sustainably Yours

These offer the best combination of odor control, strong clumping, and cat acceptance.

Decent Mid-Options:

• Tuft & Paw Grey Clumping

• Fresh Step Clumping

Good but with notable drawbacks.

Average or Unreliable:

• World’s Best

• Swheat Scoop

• Naturally Fresh

• Tidy Cats Lightweight

• Arm & Hammer Slide

• Ökocat

• Catalyst

These have redeeming qualities but major flaws.

Avoid:

• Pretty Litter

• Pine Pellets / Wood Pellet Systems

• Tidy Cats Scoopable

• Arm & Hammer Original Clumping

• Breeze System

These consistently create more problems than they solve.