The 7 Best Eco-Friendly Cat Litters of 2024 (2024)

To earn the top overall spot, the litter must be absorbent, available, reasonably affordable, sustainably produced, and capable of preventing odors. Corn-based cat litters are made from finely ground whole corn kernels or ground corn cobs. The cobs are more environmentally friendly because a waste product is being given a new purpose, and they biodegrade.

The magic of this brand is that it is made from whole-kernel corn compressed into tight granules that expand to absorb and clump quickly to trap odors. To accomplish that odor control the litter includes a proprietary “wood fiber” free of chemicals, additives, or preservatives.

We like that it has no dust and no obvious smell. It clumps well so it’s easy to scoop. Made in Iowa, we also love that World’s Best gives back. The company reports that it has donated more than 662,000 pounds of litter to rescue cats in need.

If you’ve never tried an alternative litter, this is a great place to start. It’s carried affordably in a lot of major stores as well as health-conscious pet stores.

Non-clumping cat litters tend to be more affordable, although you’ll likely need to change them more often than the clumping kind. Non-clumping litter is absorbent and holds odors well.

Feline Pine is one of the more affordable brands: A 40-pound bag is around $15 to $20, although our testers note that the giant bags can get unwieldy. Rescue agencies and shelters that are on tight budgets like it also for its smell-reduction without scents or perfumes. Feline Pine uses sustainable kiln-dried shavings reclaimed from lumber production so no new trees are killed to make it.

Perhaps the best part is the litter is 100% pine shavings. It has a naturally fresh pine scent while also being lightweight and gentle for cat paws. No additional ingredients also means no added toxins, allergens, or other preservatives. It can be found at most major pet retail stores and even many grocery stores.

Like walnut shells, corn cobs, and some wood-based litters, this paper cat litter is made from a product that would otherwise be thrown away. Fresh News Recycled Paper cat litter is made with 100% post-consumer paper from recycling centers. In fact, the company created a community recycling program called PaperGator where non-profit organizations, primarily churches and schools, get paid for collecting paper products both internally and from their communities.

Recycled paper litter is safe for animals and can be composted so it doesn’t have to end up in the landfill, although cat waste must be composted with care so that the resulting soil is never applied to food crops.

Fresh News claims to be almost three times more absorbent than clay litters, so it lasts longer. The soft, dust- and allergen-free pellets retain their form when they get wet but they don’t clump so you’ll need to change it more often than clumping litter.

Made in Michigan, this litter has added baking soda to control odors. However, our testers did note that not all cats are willing to use this litter.

Ökocat's Original litter is free from excess dust so you and your cat can breathe easily. Made from natural wood fiber that has been responsibly rescued, its texture is smaller than the pellets of many other brands of eco-friendly litter. The natural wood fibers absorb urine and prevent the formation of ammonia, the substance that causes the strongest odor in your cat box.

Our tester found their cat transitioned to this product easily. The box's spout makes it easy to pour the litter, and that the texture doesn't track when kitty leaves the box. It also clumps well, something that's less common with an eco-friendly cat litter.

We also tested Ökocat's Super Soft version because its texture may appeal to some cats, particularly those who may have certain injuries or health issues. Test cats were happy to use it and it worked well to control smells. However, our tester found the softer texture to be super messy and difficult to clean up.

Walnut cat litter is made from crushed walnut shells and fibers, but not the nut meat. If the shells are sustainably sourced, they will come as a byproduct from walnut growers or packagers that would otherwise throw the shells away. So, it’s a win-win. It has a pleasant smell when it first comes out of the bag, but the scent doesn’t remain for long afterward to scent the room.

Naturally Fresh Quick-Clumping cat litter is made from 100% annually renewable, organically-grown, non-GMO walnut shells from California. Our tester found it forms tight scoopable clumps within 15 minutes. The manufacturer claims that this litter is so absorbent, one bag will last as long as three bags of clay-based litter. Naturally Fresh is dust-free and doesn’t stick to kitty paws so it's low tracking.

An added bonus is that Naturally Fresh is manufactured in a 100% solar-powered plant. Because walnut litters are not as common as clay-based litters, you may not find them in all stores.

This Quick-Clumping variation is a fine ground recommended for one or two cats. This brand also comes in Multi-Cat Unscented, Multi-Cat Ultra Odor Control, Non-Clumping Unscented Pellet, and Scented Clumping cat litter in Alpine Meadow and Herbal Attraction fragrances.

For some, the choice of which litter to use is all about odor control—especially if you have multiple cats and litter boxes at home. We recommend Pioneer Pet brand SmartCat All Natural Grass cat litter. We found there are no negative smells even when deposits have been made. It also clumps well—the bag claims it clumps better than clay—so it’s easy to scoop. This litter is also great for multi-cat households because it doesn’t track, saving you from the extra cleanup.

SmartCat is made from 100% organic non-GMO grass seed that is chemical-free and 99% dust-free. That also means it’s a renewable resource. The moisture is removed from the seed leaving behind a high-starch, lightweight, and fine-grained litter that is quite absorbent and locking in odors. Containing no fragrance, this litter is biodegradable.

Grass cat litter is a newer concept so you won’t find it everywhere. That means it can cost more than some of the other non-clay/non-silica litters. Rarely, cats can be allergic to grass, so keep that in mind as you try it out.

Our testers also gave high marks to this recycled paper litter from ExquisiCat Naturals. It does an excellent job covering smells, with no lingering scent of urine even when the paper is saturated (an issue we found with other paper litters). The litter itself is free from any artificial or chemical odors, and only smells faintly of paper.

In addition to post-consumer recycled paper, the litter also contains baking soda and minerals called zeolites to help control smells.Treehugger's tester reports that ExquisiCat pellets don't tract out of the box much, and they particularly liked the resealable packaging. The lightweight litter is also easy to pour.

Final Verdict

If you’re just venturing into non-clay and non-sand cat litters, World’s Best Multi-Cat Unscented Clumping Corn Cat Litter is an excellent place to start. Its price, performance, and clumping ability have made it a favorite. Treehugger editors also love Feline Pine, which is affordable and good as masking urine smells.

Frequently Asked Questions

• Is clay cat litter biodegradable?

  The clay used in cat litter is a natural soil component made of minerals—either calcium montmorillonite or the clumping sodium bentonite. Neither type breaks down further in a landfill or your compost pile. So although both are naturally occurring, they are not technically biodegradable.

• Is clay cat litter eco-friendly?

  Clay cat litter is not considered good for the environment because it is often not sustainably sourced. Although clays are naturally occurring soil minerals, and therefore better than synthetics, they must be mined. The process commonly used—strip mining—involves the removal of all trees, plants, and topsoil which then results in erosion into nearby waterways. Most strip mines are so destructive that they cannot and are not repaired or remediated.

  Often, these clays are strip-mined from the Southern United States, Montana, Wyoming, or South Dakota. Some clays may also be strip-mined from distant countries like China and the Ukraine.

• Are silica cat litters eco-friendly?

  Many clay cat litters have added silica, which generates silica dust.Silica is a type of sand. It is also known as silica sand, silica gel, or crystal cat litter. Silica is made from mined quartz (silicon dioxide). Like clay, it is made from naturally occurring elements that weather slowly and will not technically biodegrade.

  Some companies are marketing it as a better alternative to clay cat litters because it is non-toxic, technically reusable and it doesn’t generate harmful dust the way clay does. It also is better at neutralizing odors and lasts longer than clay cat litter. Although the silica mining process is less damaging than clay strip mining, the process still causes damage to the environment. It also requires a lot of processing and energy to produce. The litter will still sit in the landfill on a geologic time scale and is not sustainable long-term.

• What is the best way to dispose of biodegradable cat litter?

  So glad you asked! There are many ways to dispose of the litter, each with advantages and disadvantages. Check out this Treehugger article for the pros and cons of the greenest options.

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