Top 10 Biodegradable Cat Litters
for June 2023

There are two big reasons we prefer Rufus & Coco's WeeKitty natural flushable litter: (1) It's made of corn, not clay, so it's biodegradable and environmentally friendly. (2) The proprietary clumping technology absorbs 4 times its own weight in liquid, so you need less litter, saving you money. The clump formation is also notable for its low dustiness -- there's very little dust in the litter, so there is less dust on your shoes or in your cat's litter box. For a cat owner, this really is huge. Cat litter tracking dust is annoying, especially if you've lived with cats for a while, but it's an even bigger problem for people with homes that run on septic systems. Because it's made of corn, WeeKitty poop is biodegradable, so it has less of a chance of clogging a septic system than clay-based litter. And, because you don't have to scoop as much as with clay-based litter, you'll save even more money over time.

The Litter One Biodegradable Cat Litter is the least expensive cat litter we tested and the one we recommend for most households. It effectively absorbs urine and neutralizes odors, and it does so without using any chemicals or additives. The pine pellets are less expensive and break down faster, which helps pet owners save money in the long run. The pellets are also more affordable than clay litter, which, while more environmentally friendly, can be uncomfortable for cats. The Litter One Biodegradable Cat Litter is most effective in medium- to high-activity homes, though, as this litter can be messy for cats who aren't used to free-roaming; the pellets, which are more absorbent, are messier than clay litter. This litter also needs to be cleaned more frequently than clay litter. The average cat owner may spend about $90 per year on litter, so this litter costs less over the long run than clay and clumping litters.

The Happy Cat Hemp Kitty Litter is our best pick for all-natural litter because it offers an excellent combination of absorbency, fragrance, and price. The high-absorbency hemp-based clay is 7X more absorbent than leading clay litters and 4X more absorbent than leading pine litters, meaning it eliminates more waste and smells. The litter is also 100% biodegradable and, unlike pine-based litters, it contains no toxic chemicals, such as pine tar, which has been linked to cancer. The litter is also non-toxic and odor-free, meaning it won't harm your cat and won't make your house smell the way pine-based litters do. The litter clumping ability isn’t quite as good as that of leading litters, but it’s still very good, and it doesn’t compact as easily as pine-based litters. The litter clumps up well, and it doesn’t leave clumps that are hard to clean off. The litter doesn’t come in resealable bags, so you can’t store it long-term, and the bag is quite large, so you’ll probably need to buy several bags at once.

Rufus & Coco's Wee Kitty Eco Plant Tofu Cat Litter is biodegradable and flushable, and it's an excellent alternative to clay litter, which is heavy and messy. The clumps of Wee Kitty Eco Plant Tofu Litter are light, almost fluffy, and they don't compact – they break down completely in water, leaving you with a reliably clean litter box. The litter is infused with soy bean fibers, which, while plant-based, are a similar composition to animal-based litters, so it's as absorbent and clump-forming as clay litter. It smells good and has less ammonia than clay litter, too. However, the litter is a bit more expensive and it's harder to find than clay litter, so it may not be the best choice for everyone.

GYTEJMI Tofu Cat Litter is a premium cat litter that blocks odor better than many clay litters. It clumps quickly, absorbs quickly, and doesn't track, so cleanup is a snap. The pellets are light and subtle, so they don't sink to the bottom of the litter box. They also feel softer than other cat litters, which is important for cats who like their litter to feel soft. It's low-tracking, so kitties don't track this litter throughout your house. It clumps well, but it's a bit on the heavy side, and we didn't find it as clumpy as the other cat litters we tested. It smells good, but the odor control is not as good as other cat litters we tested. It's also a bit more expensive than other cat litters we tested. But we like GYTEJMI Tofu Cat Litter's good odor control and low tracking, so if you're willing to pay more, this cat litter is a good choice for your cat.

Life's a beach with CatSpot. Our cats love playing with our sand toys, so they're always bringing home some sand and shells. When they're done, the litter gets messy, so finding an all-natural litter that isn't messy is a top priority. And, since it's biodegradable, it doesn't require as much cleanup as clay litter. The litter clumps easily, but quickly breaks down, so it's ideal for litter boxes with tight corners. The litter is dust-free, which means no dirty, dusty litter clumps in the litter box. And, like clay litter, CatSpot clumps well, so your cat will be able to dig right through the clumps and get to the litter, making it a low-dust litter. CatSpot's other main benefit is that it's an all-natural litter that you probably already use at home and in your kitchen. The litter is made from coconut coir, and it's made from coconut coir, so it's a natural product. The coconut coir is made from recycled fibers, so it's an environmentally friendly litter. And, CatSpot is biodegradable, so it's environmentally friendly as well.

The sWheat Scoop natural fast-clumping litter is a little more expensive than our other top picks, but it is worth it for its scent control, performance, and environmental impact. This litter is odor-neutralizing, odor-free, and flushable, and it clumps naturally and quickly. The litter is made from wheat, and it's mined from American farms rather than mined from the earth. Unlike our other top picks, sWheat Scoop is not biodegradable, but it's flushable, and it's produced from renewable resources. It also clumped consistently and cleanly, and it remained clumped even when we stood over it to empty the bag. The litter is normally priced around $10 for a 25-pound bag, which is a little more expensive than our other top picks. However, once you factor in the environmental impact of buying this litter over more traditional ones, it's actually pretty economical.

This litter is among the best we tested, and it's worthy of a recommendation. Its odor control is good, and it's quick to clump, so it's easy to use and clean up. It's also easy to scoop, and it's flushable so it should not cause any clogging issues. And, being a clumping litter, it should last quite a while, making it good value for money. The only drawback is that it's not particularly absorbent, so it won't absorb all the urine from a big cat, especially more than one cat. (Clumping litters absorb some of the urine, but not all of them.) But if you're only keeping one cat, you shouldn't need an absorbent litter, so this one should be fine.

The last thing you want to do is wade through a pile of cat litter, especially when dealing with more than one kitty. Natural litters are better for the environment and easier for your cat, but they arent always convenient. The World's Best Cat Litter is about half the size of other natural litters we tested, but it clumps just as well and takes up less space. The fresh lavender scent is pleasant enough, but if you prefer a scent-free litter, this might not be the one for you. The litter clumps easily, and there was no grinding or chiseling required. We liked the bag, which is wider than most natural litter bags and makes it easier to scoop out clumps and bag the litter. The litter is also dust-free, and we didn't detect any odor after cleaning up our cats. We were also impressed by the mound the litter left behind, which allowed us to scoop out more of the litter than with other natural litters, and we were able to scoop out clumps with our hands instead of using a scoop. We also found that this litter worked especially well in multi-cat households, where it can be hard to keep multiple cats happy.

Boxiecat Premium Clumping Cat Litter, Scent Free, Clay Formula, Ultra Clean Litter Box, Longer Lasting Odor Control, Hard Clumping Litter, 99.9% Dust Free, is our top pick for litter as it is both effective and cost-efficient. It has a soft texture that helps cats feel comfortable, and its odor-blocking capabilities are exceptional, especially for clay litters. The clumps stay hard and form easily, so scooping is quick and easy. The litter is completely dust-free, so if your cat has allergies, this is a litter you can feel good about using without worry. It's unscented, so it won't bother your cat's nose or eyes. It's also ideal for multiple cats, as it clumps well and doesn't track, so it's easy to scoop out for multiple cats. The only drawback is that Boxiecat is a little more expensive than some litters, but it's worth the extra expense if you want a litter that lasts a while and is effective at eliminating odors.