Cat Litter Types Compared: Clay, Clumping, Silica, Pine, Paper and Tofu

Litter is the least glamorous part of living with cats and the part that causes the most trouble when it’s wrong. A cat that dislikes its litter doesn’t complain. It goes somewhere else. In a house of hairless cats there’s another factor coated-cat owners rarely think about: dust. A coat keeps litter dust off the skin. A Sphynx has nothing between the litter and its skin, so the dust ends up on the cat, then on your bedding, and if anyone in the house is allergic, in the air too.

Here’s how the main cat litter types compare, and what we’ve learned setting up boxes for a full household.

The six main types of cat litter

1. Traditional (non-clumping) clay

Absorbent clay granules that soak up urine but don’t form clumps.

• Pros: Cheap, widely available, and most cats accept it.
• Cons: You can’t scoop the urine out, so the whole box needs changing often. It’s heavy, smells sooner and is often dusty.
• Best for: Tight budgets and short-term use. Not our first choice.

2. Clumping clay (bentonite)

The most popular litter in the US for good reason: urine forms a solid clump you can scoop out, leaving the rest clean.

• Pros: Easy daily maintenance, good odor control, and cats like the fine, sandy texture. It’s the type most automatic and self-cleaning boxes are designed around.
• Cons: Heavy, not biodegradable, and cheaper brands can be very dusty. Look for “low dust” and unscented.
• Best for: Most adult cats and multi-cat homes.

3. Silica crystal

Silica gel beads or crystals that absorb moisture and trap odor.

• Pros: Very light, very good at controlling odor, and low in dust.
• Cons: Doesn’t clump in the usual way; some cats dislike the feel or the crunch under their paws. Usually costs more per bag.
• Best for: Odor-sensitive homes and cats that accept the texture.

4. Pine (wood pellets or clumping pine)

Compressed pine that breaks down into sawdust when wet, or a finer clumping wood version.

• Pros: Natural pine scent, light, biodegradable, and pellets are very low in dust.
• Cons: Pellets feel strange to some cats; the sawdust can track. The natural scent is strong to some noses (and some cats).
• Best for: Eco-minded households willing to transition slowly.

5. Recycled paper

Pellets or granules made from recycled paper.

• Pros: Soft, very low in dust, and light. Often recommended after surgery or for cats with sore paws, because it doesn’t stick to wounds.
• Cons: Weaker odor control, and most types don’t clump.
• Best for: Recovery periods, older cats, kittens, or very dust-sensitive homes. Follow your vet’s advice after surgery.
• A good place to start: Purina Yesterday’s News Non-Clumping Paper Cat Litter, Unscented, 30 lb. Unscented recycled-paper pellets, and the best-known paper litter on Amazon (about 4.4 stars from roughly 5,900 ratings at the time of writing). If it’s out of stock, Fresh News Original Pellet Paper Cat Litter, 25 lb is the budget alternative with more than 10,000 ratings.

6. Tofu (soy-based)

Pellets made from soybean fiber, which clump and break down easily.

• Pros: Light, low in dust, clumps well, and many types can be disposed of more easily (check the brand’s instructions and local rules).
• Cons: Costs more; some cats need time to accept the pellet shape. Keep the bag dry.
• Best for: Households that want clumping convenience with less weight and dust.

Pee pads: the helper that isn’t a litter

Cat pee pads aren’t a litter type. They’re an absorbent liner. They earn their place in three situations:

• Two-tier “sifting” boxes (pellet-and-pad systems). Pellets on top let urine pass through to a pad in the drawer below. Paper pellets suit these boxes well.
• Under and around the box to catch kicked litter and the occasional near miss, especially with kittens, seniors or a cat recovering from surgery.
• Travel. A pad in the carrier makes a long car ride or flight much less miserable for everyone.

Worth considering: Amazon Basics Cat Pee Pads, Unscented, 60 Count. Unscented, a universal fit for most pull-out-drawer boxes, about 4.5 stars from more than 45,000 ratings at the time of writing, and the lowest cost per pad of the options we compared. Choose unscented, for the same reason as the litter.

Pads don’t replace a litter box, and a self-cleaning box like the Litter-Robot doesn’t use them.

How to choose the right cat litter

Run through these in order:

1. Will your cat use it? Most cats prefer a fine, soft, unscented texture. Their preference beats yours.
2. Dust. For hairless cats, kittens and anyone with allergies or asthma in the house, low dust matters more than almost anything else on the label.
3. Scent. Choose unscented. Heavy fragrance can put cats off the box and irritate bare skin. Good odor control comes from scooping, not perfume.
4. Your box. Self-cleaning boxes usually need a specific litter type. Check the manufacturer’s guidance before you buy.
5. Weight, cost and disposal. Hauling heavy bags of clay up the stairs is a real consideration.

Litter for kittens

Kittens explore with their mouths. Many breeders and vets prefer an unscented, low-dust litter for the first weeks. Above all, keep using the litter the kitten already knows when it comes home, then change slowly if you need to. Wrinklebottom kittens go home already litter trained, so ask us what they’ve been using and keep it the same for the first weeks.

Changing litter without accidents

Mix the new litter into the old over a week or two, increasing the share of new litter gradually. A second box with the new litter next to the old one also works. Suddenly swapping a cat’s litter is one of the most common reasons it stops using the box.

Litter box setup that actually works

• Number: One box per cat, plus one. Two cats means three boxes, ideally not side by side.
• Size: Bigger than you think. The box should be roughly one and a half times the length of the cat, nose to base of tail.
• Depth: About 2–3 inches (5–7 cm) of litter for most types. Follow the instructions for pellets and self-cleaning boxes.
• Location: Quiet, easy to reach and away from food and water. Not next to a noisy washing machine, and not in a spot where another cat can ambush.
• Covered or open: Covered boxes keep litter and dust contained (our kitten checklist recommends one), but some cats prefer open boxes. If your cat hesitates, take the lid off.
• Cleaning: Scoop at least once a day. Fully empty, wash with unscented soap or a pet-safe disinfectant, and refill on a schedule that suits your litter type. Clumping litter usually goes every two to four weeks.

What we use and recommend

Check Whisker’s own litter guidance before you buy litter for it. Self-cleaning boxes are designed around clumping litter.

Litter, pads and cleaning kit we recommend

These are affiliate links. A purchase can earn us a small commission at no extra cost to you. The REScue, Rocco & Roxie, wipes and FELIWAY picks are from our own list; the paper litter and pads are suggestions chosen for low dust, ratings and value. The full list is on Our Favourite Things.

Browse Our Favourite Things →

When litter box changes mean a vet visit

A change in toilet habits is often the first sign that something is wrong. Call your vet promptly if your cat:

• strains in the box or produces little or no urine. In a male cat this can be an emergency. Go the same day.
• goes to the box much more often than usual, or cries while going
• has blood in the urine or stool
• has diarrhea or constipation lasting more than a day or two (sooner in kittens)
• suddenly starts going outside the box after using it reliably

Clumping litter makes the first warning signs easier to spot, because you can see the size and number of clumps every day.

This article is general information, not veterinary advice. If you’re worried about your cat’s health or toilet habits, contact your veterinarian.

Meet the cats behind the advice

Everything here comes out of running a household of Sphynx and Donskoy cats — meet the queens, studs and kittens, or send us an enquiry if you have a question we have not answered.

Frequently asked questions

What is the best type of cat litter?

The best cat litter is one your cat uses reliably. Unscented, low-dust clumping clay suits most cats and households because it is easy to scoop and controls odor well. Silica, pine, paper and tofu litters are good alternatives if you need less dust, less weight or a biodegradable option.

Is clumping or non-clumping litter better?

For most adult cats, clumping litter is easier to live with because you can remove urine every day and keep the rest of the box clean. Non-clumping clay has to be changed completely more often. Paper or other non-clumping litters can suit cats recovering from surgery, on veterinary advice.

What litter is best for kittens?

Choose an unscented, low-dust litter, and keep using the type the kitten already knows when it comes home. Kittens explore with their mouths, so many breeders and vets prefer to avoid very fine, dusty litters in the first weeks. Change litter gradually if you need to switch.

Is dusty litter a problem for hairless cats?

Yes, it can be. A Sphynx has no coat to keep litter dust off its skin, so dust settles on the cat and transfers to bedding and clothing. Low-dust, unscented litter and a covered or self-cleaning box keep the box and the cat cleaner.

How many litter boxes do I need?

The usual guideline is one litter box per cat, plus one extra. Two cats would have three boxes, placed in different quiet spots rather than side by side, so no cat can block another's access.

How often should I change cat litter?

Scoop clumping litter at least once a day and top it up as needed. Empty, wash and refill the whole box every two to four weeks for clumping litter, and more often for non-clumping types. Follow the instructions for silica, pellet and self-cleaning systems.

When should litter box changes worry me?

Contact a vet if your cat strains, passes little or no urine, visits the box far more often, cries while going, has blood in the urine or stool, or suddenly goes outside the box. A male cat straining to urinate can be an emergency and needs to be seen the same day.