Congratulations! You got a kitten. And that kitten needs to poop. What is the best litter for your little baby feline to potty in? Based on our research, non-clumping clay litter and pine pellet litter are best for your kitten especially due to price and health, and we break down other reasons why these two options are the best choice for your new kitten.

 

List of litters

When browsing litter, especially for the first time, there are a lot of options to choose from. Below is a list of common litter options available at most pet stores and retailers. Litter comes in two categories: clumping and non-clumping. But clumping litter is not recommended for kittens under 12 weeks due to safety concerns.

 

1. Clumping

1. • Grass litter
   • Wheat
   • Corn
   • Walnut
2. Non-clumping
   
   • Clay
   •  Silica Gel
   •   Pine Pellets
   • Wheat
   • Corn
   •  Newspaper pellets

 

Why clumping cat litter is unsafe for young kittens

Perhaps you’re at the pet store right now looking at a wall of cat litters wondering, “which litter is best for my kitten?” Clumping litter is not ideal for kittens under 8-12 weeks because there is more risk of ingestion, which could cause gastrointestinal issues. 

Keep in mind the exploratory nature of very young kittens. Everything is new, and everything needs played with, including litter. This extreme exploration paired with a kitten’s natural grooming tendencies increases litter ingestion risk. The clumping properties in clumping litter might put a lot of stress on the kitten’s digestive tract. 

Furthermore, a lot of clumping litters come with fragrances and other chemicals that are not ideal for kittens in the height of exploration. 

Instead, we encourage you to evaluate non-clumping litters.

 

Pros and cons of clay non-clumping litter for kittens

Clay non-clumping litter is a great option for your kitten. Because it doesn’t clump, there is less risk of causing any kind of digestive stress. The litter granules are smaller, so there is less clinging to paws, which means less risk of ingestion.

 However, we have observed clay litter to stick to the bottoms of especially furry kittens. Again, it’s non-clumping so there is less risk of adverse effects.

 Another great benefit to non-clumping clay litter is that it is extremely manageable. You can still scoop out the little poo-poos. 

 A disadvantage is dust. This is really going to be a big issue when pouring the litter. And if your kitten is curious about what’s happening to his litter box, you might want to keep him away while you pour fresh litter into his pan. 

 Another disadvantage is that you’ll have to change it out completely almost twice a week – probably every 5 days is good. But this is a disadvantage to all non-clumping litters.

 When purchasing clay non-clumping litter, make sure to check the bag for a fragrance free option.

 

Our verdict: Non-clumping clay litter is a great option for your kitten because of the price, ease of use and overall safety. But you can review the table below to decide for yourself.

 

Non-Clumping Clay Litter Pros and Cons Table
Price	Cheap – large bags can be found for an amount between $10 – $15. And the bags can last more than a month.
Odor	Low if changed every 5-7 days.
Ease of use	Extremely easy to manage.
Kitten preference	Most kittens will have no issue using this litter.
Tracking out of the box	A little messier than other non-clumping options, but less messy compared to fine clumping litters
Environmentally friendly	Clay non-clumping litter is not very environmentally friendly.
Dust level	High
Ingestion concerns	Minimal – There is lower risk of kittens ingesting clay litter, and because it’s not clumping and fragrant free, the health risks are lowered if low-dose ingestion occurs.

 

Pros and cons of silica gel litter for kittens

Silica gel cat litter offers a lot of advantages: very low odor, less waste, less dust, extremely easy to handle. 

However, there are mixed feelings about the safety of this type of litter. This is the same material that is in the desiccating silica packets you see in shoe boxes and backpacks, which have warnings about not eating. 

Additionally, there is concern that even though the dust emission is low, there might be micro silica dust that could be dangerous for the kitty. 

Finally, some cats and kittens do not like the feeling of this litter and will stop using the litter box. 

 

Our verdict: Silica gel litter has some great benefits, but is probably not the best choice for kittens.

 

Non-Clumping Silica Gel Litter Pros and Cons Table
Price	Expensive – 8-pound bags run between $15 – $25
Odor	Low odor – one of the advantages of silica gel litter
Ease of use	Extremely easy to manage.
Kitten preference	Kittens may not like the feel of this litter type
Tracking out of the box	Low due to the size of the crystals.
Environmentally friendly	Lower waste output, and manufacturing is not as harmful as other litters
Dust level	Very Low
Ingestion concerns	High – Though there is lower risk of ingestion, the toxicity and long-term safety is not well understood.

 

Pros and cons of pine pellet litter for kittens

Pine litter is made of ground up pine that is pressed into pellets. These pellets absorb your kitten’s waste and because of its material, it helps minimize odor. 

There are several advantages when using pine pellet litter for your kitten. There is very little tracking out of the box, low dust, and many versions available can be flushed.

When it comes to poop smell, this litter is at a disadvantage. It does nothing to block poop odor, especially if your kitten isn’t the best at burying his poo-poos. However, you can quickly scoop the poop and flush it. The silver lining is that the poo-poo smell will motivate you to scoop that box more.

Another problem is that your kitten may not like it. 

 

Our verdict: Pine litter is an awesome option for your kitten, with so many advantages. If you’re considering it, we recommend you giving it a try. 

 

Pine Pellet Litter Pros and Cons Table
Price	Cheap – a 40-pound bag runs between $15 – $25
Odor	Low pee odor, high poo odor.
Ease of use	Fairly easy to manage. Many brands are flushable.
Kitten Preference	Kittens may not like this litter as much, but it’s cheap enough to experiment with.
Tracking out of the box	Extremely low! Due to the size, very few pellets will get kicked out of the box. It’s easy to vacuum, and you don’t have that icky litter pebble feeling on your feet.
Environmentally friendly	Very environmentally friendly – biodegradable
Dust Level	Very Low
Ingestion Concerns	Moderate – kittens are less at risk for ingesting this. However kitties are sensitive to pine oil.

Pros and cons of non-clumping wheat and corn litter for kittens

Non-clumping wheat and corn litter is cheap, environmentally friendly and it’s flushable. Some vets recommend this litter option as a post-op litter. 

There are some disadvantages to consider:

• Because it’s fine and granular, it can be tracked more throughout the house.
• Because it’s made of grain products, it may attract pests like mice and insects.
• If not properly managed, these litters can develop fungal growth that is harmful to pets.
• Some are concerned about pesticides and herbicides used for these grain plants.

Despite these disadvantages, if your vet is recommending this litter, especially for a short term, you should act on their advice.

 

Our verdict: Wheat and corn litter is probably not a good first choice for kittens. It might only be a good option if your vet has suggested it.

 

Wheat and Corn Litter Pros and Cons Table
Price	Moderate- a 25-pound bag costs between $20 – $30
Odor	High
Ease of use	Moderately easy to manage. Many brands are flushable.
Kitten Preference	This is a softer litter that kittens might like
Tracking out of the box	Higher due to the granular nature
Environmentally friendly	Very environmentally friendly – biodegradable
Dust Level	High
Ingestion Concerns	Moderately high – kittens are at higher risk of ingesting this litter. Though it is edible on its own, if not managed well (even if managed well) there is risk of fungal growth that may make your kitty sick.

 

Pros and cons of newspaper pellet litter for kittens

Like pine pellets, newspaper pellet litter is non-clumping pelleted litter that absorbs your kitten’s potties. Many pet owners love this option because it is environmentally friendly, nontoxic, low risk if ingested, emits very little dust and doesn’t track around the house.

However, it is not the best at blocking odors, some kittens won’t like the texture, and it’s not very easy to scoop. Scooping can also take a bit longer not just because it’s harder to sift, but also because poo-poos are camouflaged.

 

Our verdict: Pelleted paper is a great option for many reasons, but we would recommend this only after trying non-clumping clay or pine litter – or if your vet has specifically recommended it.

Paper Litter Pros and Cons Table
Price	Cheap – a 30-pound bag costs between $20 – $25
Odor	High
Ease of use	Harder to manage and scoop
Kitten Preference	Kitties might not like the texture
Tracking out of the box	Low
Environmentally friendly	Very environmentally friendly – biodegradable
Dust Level	Low
Ingestion Concerns	Low – There is low risk of your kitten ingesting this litter and it is nontoxic if low amounts are ingested.

Best Litter for young kittens buyers guide printable