My cats, Agnes and Peppercorn, adopted me when they were about nine weeks old. I tried several litter options with them, searching for the best litter for cats their age. Similar to human babies, kittens tend to explore their new world with their mouths.
We tested more than 30 popular and bestselling cat litters, sending them home with volunteers who provided regular feedback over several months. The best litter for kittens has large granules that your kitty won’t be tempted to try eating. Non-clumping formulas are often preferred as well since the litter is less likely to stick to your cat’s fur or paws. Our favorites are typically free of artificial chemicals, fragrances, and dyes, too.
What We Like
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No added fragrance or chemicals
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Made from sustainably sourced reclaimed pine
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Non-clumping pine fiber soaks in liquids
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Gentle on kitten paws
Feline Pine Original Cat Litter from Arm & Hammer is a great choice for most kittens. It’s made from sustainably sourced pine, giving it a very faint, natural, woodsy scent. It’s completely free of chemicals with no added fragrance, and the soft, non-clumping pine shavings won’t irritate a kitten’s delicate paws. Agnes and Peppercorn both adjusted to this litter without any speed bumps, and it ended up being such a great litter that I’ve continued to use it even though they’re no longer kittens (they’ll always be kittens to me, though!)
The naturally absorbent wood fibers quickly soak up urine and its odor. While testing with two foster kittens, the smell of urine was quickly neutralized by the wood shavings and their poop was easy to scoop out, and the smell of kitten waste was only apparent after two to three weeks of use when it was time to fully clean out the litter box–which will vary depending on how many kittens you have sharing a litter box. The only other downside our tester noted was that the wood pellets sometimes broke down into sawdust, which was easily kicked out of the box, requiring a little sweeping up.
Feline Pine Original Cat Litter is manufactured by Arm & Hammer, but this formula within the Feline Pine line of cat litter does not contain baking soda. It’s also an affordable litter that comes in three size options—7, 20, and 40 pounds—all packaged in a plastic bag. The bag itself is sturdy for storage, but does not have a resealable top and can be challenging to maneuver, especially the 40-pound version.
Litter Type: Wood pellets | Fragrance-Free: Yes | Container: Bag | Sizes: 7, 20, 40 pounds
What We Like
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Naturally neutralizes odors
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We experienced no tracking and no dust
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Pellets made from soybean byproducts disintegrate in water
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Easy to pour resealable bag
Tuft and Paw Really Great Cat Litter is sustainably sourced, fragrance-free, and suitable for use with cats of all ages, including kittens. It is available through the Tuft and Paw website and on Amazon. It also comes in a subscription. Depending on how many kitties are in your home, a monthly supply will consist of one to three resealable bags.
The pellet litter is made from a soybean byproduct that is unlikely to stick to or irritate your kitten’s paws. The non-traditional formula clumps together with urine but does not stick to poop, so daily maintenance scooping is straightforward. If desired, the pee clumps can be broken down into smaller pieces and placed in your toilet, where they start to break down, but you should always refer to your local ordinance for flushing pet waste.
Litter Type: Soybean byproduct pellets | Fragrance-Free: Yes | Container: Resealable bag | Size: 9.5 pounds
Frisco Natural Unscented Clumping Cat Litter neutralizes odors and forms sturdy clumps when it comes in contact with urine, helping you keep the litter box more appealing for the next time your kitten feels the urge. This fragrance-free litter is made from grass and has a very faint smell that reminds us of recycled paper. The naturally sourced formula is gentle enough for kittens to use and is typically a more environmentally friendly cat litter choice than clay.
The Natural Unscented Clumping Cat Litter is made by Frisco, which is only available at Chewy, and it only comes in one size: a 20-pound resealable bag. But it’s easy to pour and produces minimal dust.
Litter Type: Grass pellets | Fragrance-Free: Yes | Container: Bag | Sizes: 20 pounds
The Spruce Pets
What We Like
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Non-clumping
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Free of inks, dyes, and fragrance
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Suitable for households with respiratory ailments
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Recyclable cardboard box with handle for convenient pouring and storage
This gentle, dust-free cat litter is suitable for use in a kitten’s litter box and within households where respiratory ailments are a concern. Made from reclaimed paper fiber, Ökocat Dust Free Non-Clumping Paper Pellet Cat Litter has slightly larger pellets that won’t stick to or irritate baby kitty paws.
When poured directly out of the recyclable cardboard box, the fragrance-free litter has a very mild woodsy aroma. As a kitten goes about their business in their box, the pellets naturally absorb liquids and minimize odors. The white paper litter is completely free of inks and dyes, so it is easy to spot which areas of the litter have been used for maintenance scooping.
While testing with cats that kick to cover their mess, the litter caused a slight mess directly around the litter box area, but it was easy to sweep up.
Litter Type: Paper pellets | Fragrance-Free: Yes | Container: Cardboard box | Sizes: 8.2, 12.3 pounds
What We Like
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Fully absorbs odors from poop and pee
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Produced no dust and no tracking in our real world testing
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Litter lasts longer for most
Crystal litter can be a great alternative to clay-based litter. It leaves little mess, doesn’t need to be changed as often, and is affordable. Unfortunately, some adult cats struggle with making the transition—I count my cats among this number. However, it can be easier to introduce a kitten to crystal litter as they haven’t built a habit of using clay litter.
Fresh Step Crystals Premium Cat Litter is one of the top-performing products we tested, and crystal litter like this one tends to last longer than the clay-based variety. This budget-friendly litter is made from absorbent silica gel that absorbs liquids and odors. Its ammonia-blocking formula successfully keeps kitten waste odors at bay, so the litter box should only need to be fully refreshed every three to four weeks.
For daily maintenance, this litter is intended to be stirred and will not clump together after a kitten pees. Though scooping the poop is still a must, the sand-like crystals don’t easily adhere to paws, and we experienced no tracking throughout our real-world testing.
Litter Type: Non-clumping crystals | Fragrance-Free: No | Container: Resealable bag | Size: 8 pounds
Final Verdict
Our best overall choice, Arm & Hammer Feline Pine Original Cat Litter, is made from reclaimed pine, so it’s naturally odor-absorbent with a gentle texture that won’t irritate a kitten’s paws. It’s also affordable and easy to come by from multiple retailers. If you prefer a clumping litter, Frisco Natural Unscented Clumping Cat Litter will provide the non-toxic, non-irritating potty experience your kitten needs with the convenience of firm pee clumps for daily scooping.
How We Tested
We purchased and sent 30+ different cat litter products to real homes with felines of all ages, including foster kittens. For several months, with regular check-ins for updates, our testers followed our written methodology that guided them through long-term testing.
Each tester evaluated their assigned cat litter with a focus on odor absorption, its ability to provide a conducive environment for their cat to potty, ease of daily scooping, and how easy the litter is to pour and store within its container. We also looked for litters without added chemicals or fragrances that would be gentle on kitten paws and sustainable products. After reviewing feedback paired with numerical scores across different categories, we categorized and ranked our selections.
Other Products We Considered
In addition to our winners and recommended snuffle mats, we also tested:
What to Consider When Shopping for Kitten Litter
As your young cat adjusts to their new environment, there are a few things you can do to help them feel safe and support their litter box journey.
Fragrance-Free
Litter for kittens should be as free from artificial chemicals as possible, so eliminating options with added fragrance is a good place to start your search. Look for environmentally friendly options made from tofu, corn, and paper pellets.
Natural Ingredients
Generally, cat litter made from natural materials—like wood, grass, and soybean—is likely to offer a non-irritating encounter for your kitten, along with natural enzymes to combat odor-causing bacteria. Always check the label on the back of the litter package you select to make sure you know what’s actually inside.
The Spruce Pets
Best Practices for Litter Box Use With a Kitten
Type of Litter Box
A shallow litter box with a low entrance point is ideal for a kitten. Anything bigger might intimidate your young cat. We recommend the KittyGoHere Senior Cat Litter Box, which we tested, reviewed, and recommend for kittens as well as senior cats. As your kitten grows, you might enjoy the convenience of an automatic litter box.
Litter Box Placement
We recommend limiting a kitten’s space to roam to one room where their food and water are on one side and their litter box is on the opposite end–ideally in a corner. Cats are naturally drawn to corners because it helps them feel more protected during the vulnerable act of relieving themself.
Reward Your Kitten
Your kitten will instinctively recognize their litter box as the place for handling their business, but when they do use their bathroom space as intended, we’ve found that it helps to give them a treat or a toy to reinforce the behavior.
Why Trust The Spruce Pets
The Spruce Pets exhaustively tests and researches a broad range of products. We also tap a network of experts and testers to help you make smarter purchases.
This piece was updated by Ellie Welles, who has raised dogs, cats, rabbits, and even a green-cheeked conure and is passionate about finding the best products for your littlest family members. For this article, she relied on insights from our product testers, consulted countless product reviews, and cat owner feedback to find products that will bring pleasure to the cat owners in your life and their feline companions. She also pulled from personal experience: choosing kitten litter for her cats, Agnes and Peppercorn.
A previous version of this roundup was written by Anna Mejorada, a writer for The Spruce Pets. She shares her home with a very cat-like Pomeranian, Gidget, which she lovingly refers to as a meoweranian. Mejorada has written product roundups on the best premium dry cat food and the best cat brushes.
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