Published Dec 28, 2025
Kate Barrington / Cats.com
Whether you’re welcoming a kitten into your home for the first time or expanding your feline family, it’s important to be thoughtful when choosing a cat litter product. The best cat litter for kittens is non-toxic, low in dust, and gentle on your kitten’s sensitive paws. Even with these conditions in mind, there are still countless options to choose from.
Here, we offer our top picks for the best cat litter for kittens based on market research, customer reviews, and our own in-home testing. We’ll also provide helpful tips for narrowing down the choices to find a formula to fit your particular kitten.
At a Glance: Our Top Picks for Best Cat Litters for Kittens
SmartCat All-Natural Clumping Litter
- Kitten-friendly formula made from grass
- Lightweight with a soft, paw-friendly texture
- Forms hard clumps that are easy to scoop
Catalyst Pet Multi-Cat Formula Cat Litter
- Made from sustainable, renewable materials
- Fast-absorbing and forms strong clumps
- Lightweight with a paw-friendly texture
World’s Best Comfort Care Unscented Clumping Corn Litter
- Natural litter made from whole kernel corn
- Free from fragrance and crystalline silica dust
- Low-dust with an ultra-soft texture
Tuft & Paw Really Great Cat Litter
- Kitten-friendly alternative to clay
- Forms scoopable clumps
- Contains activated charcoal for odor control
Nature’s Miracle Corn-Cob Clumping Cat Litter
- Plant-based litter made from corn cobs
- Lightweight and soft on your kitten’s paws
- Suitable for kittens over 6 months
Feline Pine Original Non-Clumping Wood Cat LitterE
- Made from sustainably sourced pine
- Low-tracking pellet-style cat litter
- Natural pine scent with no added fragrance
Okocat Super Soft Clumping Wood Unscented Cat Litter
- Made from sustainably sourced wood fibers
- Ultra-soft texture is gentle on kitten paws
- Highly absorbent and forms easy-to-scoop clumps
Sustainably Yours Cat Litter
- Made from sustainably sourced ingredients
- Lightweight with a soft texture
- Forms firm, easy-to-scoop clumps
Dr. Elsey’s Kitten Attract Clumping Clay Litter
- Herbal attractant encourages litter box usage
- Fine-grained litter is gentle on kitten paws
- Forms hard, easy-to-scoop clumps
Why Trust Cats.com
Kate Barrington / Cats.com
Picking the right litter for your kitten can be tough, considering how many options there are to choose from. At Cats.com, we understand that every kitten is different, so there’s no perfect choice for every situation. We aim to provide a diverse array of recommendations based on expert input and real-world testing to help you find the product that best suits your kitten’s needs.
Every product on this list has been personally purchased and tested by members of our team. We also take into consideration customer reviews and overall satisfaction with the brands when making our selections.
For this review, we focused on natural cat litters with kitten-safe formulas and paw-friendly textures. You’ll find recommendations for kittens who are just starting litter training as well as those who’ve already gotten the hang of it. Keep your kitten’s age, litter box behavior, and personal preferences in mind as you peruse the list to determine which product might be the best fit.
9 Best Rated Cat Litters for Kittens
For its all-natural ingredients and soft, paw-friendly texture, SmartCat is our top pick as the best cat litter for kittens. But it might not be the ideal choice for every kitten, so we’ve included an array of products made with different materials, textures, and stand-out features to help you find the right one for your own furry friend.
#1 Overall Best: SmartCat All-Natural Clumping Litter
- Brand: SmartCat
- Type: Grass
- Clumping: Yes
- Scented: No
- Price Per Pound: $1.50 per lb
Veterinarians typically don’t recommend clay litter for kittens until they’re fully litter trained, since it can swell in the digestive tract and cause blockages if accidentally ingested. Completely clay-free and designed with a gentle sand-like texture, SmartCat all-natural litter is a kitten-friendly formula made entirely from grass.
Kirsten McCarthy / Cats.com
Kirsten McCarthy / Cats.com
Kirsten McCarthy / Cats.com
Not only is this SmartCat formula lightweight and soft on your kitten’s sensitive paws, but it’s free from added fragrances and synthetic chemicals of any kind. It’s highly absorbent which is useful for keeping odor at bay and it’s dust-free, so it won’t irritate your kitten’s nose or lungs.
This SmartCat litter does form clumps which makes it easy to scoop, and it’s relatively low-tracking for such a lightweight litter. Customers find that the clumps don’t fall apart as easily as some natural cat litter and the litter does a good job of controlling odor.
What We Liked:
- Kitten-friendly formula made from grass
- Lightweight with a soft, paw-friendly texture
- Forms hard clumps that are easy to scoop
- Clay-free formula with no added fragrance
What We Didn’t Like:
- Some customers had issues with tracking
#2 Best Natural: Catalyst Pet Multi-Cat Formula Cat Litter
- Brand: Catalyst Pet
- Type: Pine
- Clumping: Yes
- Scented: No
- Price Per Pound: $1.25 per lb
Another all-natural formula, Catalyst Pet Multi-Cat is made from upcycled softwood fiber. It’s a combination of pine, spruce, and fir, so the litter has a naturally pleasant pine scent (but doesn’t contain any synthetic fragrance). It’s lightweight and has a soft texture that’s gentle on paws.
Liz Coleman / Cats.com
Liz Coleman / Cats.com
Liz Coleman / Cats.com
In addition to being extremely paw-friendly, this Catalyst formula offers strong clumping action and effective odor control. The wood fibers are naturally very absorbent, soaking up liquid on contact, while the woody scent helps mask feces odor. Because this litter forms easily scoopable clumps, there’s minimal waste.
Customers appreciate Catalyst’s use of sustainably sourced ingredients as well as the biodegradable formulas. If you’re looking for a kitten-friendly litter that’s easy on your budget and on the planet, this is a good one to consider.
When you select the 40 lb option, it costs just $12.35 per month and lasts one cat at least 4 months, making it substantially more affordable than the average cat litter.
What We Liked:
- Made from sustainable, renewable materials
- Fast-absorbing and forms strong clumps
- Lightweight with a paw-friendly texture
- Free from fragrance and crystalline silica dust
What We Didn’t Like:
- Lightweight litters may track more than heavier formulas
#3 Premium Pick: World’s Best Comfort Care Unscented Clumping Corn Litter
- Brand: World’s Best
- Type: Whole-kernel corn
- Clumping: Yes
- Scented: No
- Price: $1.25 per lb
Made from whole kernel corn, World’s Best has long been a popular choice among cat parents. It’s an all-natural litter completely free from harsh chemicals, synthetic fragrances, and crystalline silica dust. The Comfort Care formula, in particular, is designed to be low-dust and lightweight, so it’s gentle on your kitten’s paws.
Kate Barrington / Cats.com
Kate Barrington / Cats.com
Kate Barrington / Cats.com
World’s Best Comfort Care litter is fast-clumping, which helps keep litter box odor at bay. It also means the litter doesn’t stay wet for long, so it’s easy to scoop. Whether you’re transitioning an older kitten from non-clumping litter or seeking a more comfortable alternative to pellets, this corn-based formula is a strong option.
This cat litter is unscented, so odor control depends largely on the absorbency of the materials and the frequency of scooping. Some customers dislike the smell of this litter when it becomes soaked with urine while others don’t find it noticeably unpleasant.
What We Liked:
- Natural litter made from whole kernel corn
- Free from fragrance and crystalline silica dust
- Low-dust with an ultra-soft texture
- Highly absorbent and forms strong clumps
What We Didn’t Like:
- Some customers are disappointed with the odor control
#4 Best Low-Tracking: Tuft & Paw Really Great Cat Litter
- Brand: Tuft & Paw
- Type: Soybean byproduct (tofu)
- Clumping: Yes
- Scented: No (scented available)
- Price: $3.05 per lb
Kittens can be messy, especially when they’re just learning to use the litter box. If you’re looking for a low-dust litter that also helps to reduce tracking, try Really Great Cat Litter from Tuft & Paw. It’s a kitten-friendly formula made from soybean byproducts (tofu) rather than clay.
Kirsten McCarthy / Cats.com
Kirsten McCarthy / Cats.com
Kirsten McCarthy / Cats.com
What makes Really Great Cat Litter effective in reducing tracking is the long, narrow pellets. They’re lightweight and gentle on sensitive kitten paws but they don’t tend to stick in your cat’s fur like clay and other fine-grained litters. Plus, there’s no crystalline silica dust to worry about if your kitten accidentally ingests a piece during grooming.
Not only is Really Great Cat Litter a low-tracking formula, but it’s simple to scoop because it contains chemical-free clumping agents. This litter quickly absorbs liquid and, though the clumps may take longer to harden than clay, they’re easy to scoop. Choose from an unscented formula with activated charcoal for odor control or a lightly scented option fragranced with dried lavender petals.
What We Liked:
- Clay-free litter made with soybean byproducts (tofu)
- Lightweight pellets with paw-friendly texture
- Forms easy-to-scoop clumps
- Contains activated charcoal for odor control
What We Didn’t Like:
- Costs about $3 per pound
- Clumps may not harden as quickly as clay
#5 Best Lightweight: Nature’s Miracle Corn-Cob Clumping Cat Litter
- Brand: Nature’s Miracle
- Type: Corn cob
- Clumping: Yes
- Scented: Yes
- Price: $1.25 per lb
Made from the waste product of corn processing, Nature’s Miracle Corn Cob Litter is a lightweight, plant-based litter. It’s soft on your kitten’s paws and doesn’t contain any crystalline silica dust. As a clumping cat litter, this formula is recommended for kittens over 6 months of age.
Kate Barrington / Cats.com
Kate Barrington / Cats.com
Kate Barrington / Cats.com
This litter from Nature’s Miracle is highly absorbent and it forms hard clumps to make scooping the litter box quick and easy. While this formula does clump, some customers found that it takes the clumps a little longer to harden than clay. Check the clumps before scooping to avoid accidentally breaking them apart.
It’s also worth noting that this formula contains added fragrance. Some customers found the strength of the smell unpleasant while others say it helps mask litter box odor.
What We Liked:
- Plant-based litter made from corn cobs
- Lightweight and soft on your kitten’s paws
- Suitable for kittens over 6 months
What We Didn’t Like:
- Clumps may take longer to harden than clay
- Contains added fragrance
#6 Budget Pick: Feline Pine Original Non-Clumping Wood Cat Litter
- Brand: Feline Pine
- Type: Pine
- Clumping: No
- Scented: No
- Features: Low-tracking, sustainably sourced ingredients
- Price Per Pound: $0.54 per lb
Another popular alternative to clay cat litter for kittens, Feline Pine is made from sustainably sourced pine. It’s a clean and simple formula free from added fragrance, and it’s a non-clumping litter which makes it suitable for litter training kittens.
Kirsten McCarthy / Cats.com
Kirsten McCarthy / Cats.com
Kirsten McCarthy / Cats.com
Feline Pine is incredibly popular among cat owners. Many cat owners find it absorbs liquid quickly and controls odors well, especially with its naturally fresh pine scent. If you want a product with even stronger odor control, Feline Pine Platinum contains added baking soda.
Another benefit Feline Pine has to offer is its low-tracking pellets. Just keep in mind that, as a non-clumping cat litter, you should refresh the contents of the litter box on a weekly basis to keep odors at bay. Shaking the litter box daily can also help the broken-down pellets settle to the bottom of the litter box, leaving fresh pellets on top.
What We Liked:
- Made from sustainably sourced pine
- Low-tracking pellet-style cat litter
- Natural pine scent with no added fragrance
What We Didn’t Like:
- Non-clumping litter should be replaced weekly
#7 Best Clumping: Okocat Super Soft Clumping Wood Unscented Cat Litter
- Brand: Okocat
- Type: Wood fiber
- Clumping: Yes
- Scented: No
- Price: $1.50 per lb
If you’re looking for a kitten-friendly formula that makes scooping the litter box a breeze, this clumping formula from Okocat might be a good option. It’s made from sustainably sourced wood fibers, not clay, so it doesn’t contain any crystalline silica dust. It’s also free from synthetic dyes, fragrances, and other harsh chemicals.
Kate Barrington / Cats.com
Kate Barrington / Cats.com
Kate Barrington / Cats.com
What makes this Okocat formula particularly well suited for kittens is its ultra-soft texture. The litter comes in lightweight flakes rather than rough granules that won’t irritate sensitive paws as your kitten digs around in the litter box. This cat litter is highly absorbent and the wood materials have natural odor-neutralizing properties.
One thing to keep in mind with this litter is that the clumps may take a little longer to harden than clay. Be gentle when scooping to keep the clumps from breaking up and leaving pieces behind in the litter box.
What We Liked:
- Made from sustainably sourced wood fibers
- Ultra-soft texture is gentle on kitten paws
- Highly absorbent and forms easy-to-scoop clumps
What We Didn’t Like:
- Clumps may harden more slowly than clay
- Lightweight litters can track more than heavy pellets
#8 Best Sustainable: Sustainably Yours Cat Litter
- Brand: Sustainably Yours
- Type: Corn and cassava
- Clumping: Yes
- Scented: No
- Price: $2.20 per lb
For kittens who don’t like the feel of pellets or the scent of pine, something like Sustainably Yours could be worth trying. It’s made from a combination of corn and cassava, so it’s all-natural and completely free from crystalline silica dust.
Kate Barrington / Cats.com
Kate Barrington / Cats.com
Kate Barrington / Cats.com
Sustainably Yours comes in three formulas differentiated by grain size. The small-grain formula may be suitable for kittens with sensitive paws while the large-grain formula tends to be a little better for tracking. All three formulas are lightweight, soft on the paws, and free from chemical additives.
As a clumping cat litter, Sustainably Yours is best for kittens over 6 months of age. The litter is very absorbent and clumps pretty quickly, and the clumps are very firm and easy to scoop. Plus, the light-colored litter makes it easy to spot waste, so you can tell at a glance whether it’s time for scooping.
What We Liked:
- All-natural litter made from corn and cassava
- Lightweight with a soft texture
- Forms firm, easy-to-scoop clumps
- Made from sustainably sourced ingredients
What We Didn’t Like:
- Lightweight litters can contribute to tracking
#9 Best for Older Kittens: Dr. Elsey’s Kitten Attract Clumping Clay Litter
- Brand: Dr. Elsey’s
- Type: Clay
- Clumping: Yes
- Scented: Yes
- Price: $0.85 per lb
Infused with an herbal attractant to encourage regular litter box usage, this clumping clay litter from Dr. Elsey’s is recommended for older kittens. Though the product is marketed for kittens over 8 weeks of age, experts typically recommend waiting until at least 4 months to begin using clumping clay due to the risks associated with accidental ingestion.
Kate Barrington / Cats.com
Kate Barrington / Cats.com
Kate Barrington / Cats.com
This Kitten Attract formula could be a good choice if your kitten is avoiding the litter box due to temporary stressors, like transitioning to a new style of litter box or changes to their daily routine. It contains a natural herbal attractant that helps draw your kitten to the litter box, so they’ll be more likely to use it. This litter also has a soft, fine-grained texture that’s gentle on sensitive kitten paws.
Dr. Elsey’s Kitten Attract is a fast-absorbing formula that forms hard, easy to scoop clumps. Though it has a slight herbal scent, it doesn’t contain synthetic fragrances or other chemical additives.
What We Liked:
- Herbal attractant encourages litter box usage
- Fine-grained litter is gentle on kitten paws
- Forms hard, easy-to-scoop clumps
What We Didn’t Like:
- Not appropriate for kittens who might ingest litter
How to Choose the Best Cat Litter for Kittens
Kittens are curious little creatures, so it’s important to prioritize their safety during litter box training. It’s common for kittens to play in the litter box, for example, or even try to eat the litter. It’s crucial for cat parents to keep in mind that certain materials can be harmful if accidentally ingested, and some textures can be uncomfortable for sensitive kitten paws.
Here are some factors to consider when shopping for kitten litter:
Clumping vs. Non-Clumping
Ingesting clumping cat litter (particularly clumping clay litter) can be harmful or even fatal for kittens. This kind of litter can swell in the stomach or lead to dangerous intestinal blockages, so it’s not recommended for kittens who lick litter off their paws or eat out of the litter box. Experts often recommend non-clumping cat litter for kittens under 6 months of age.
Kitten-Safe Ingredients
Check the list of ingredients before purchasing litter for kittens. All-natural cat litter made from things like grass, soybean byproduct (tofu), or wood fiber may be safer than clay, especially for young kittens whose respiratory systems are still developing. Some low-quality cat litters contain harsh chemicals that can be harmful when breathed or ingested. Silica litter is best for kittens over four months of age.
Dust and Fragrance
Look for a low-dust formula and opt for fragrance-free litter if your kitten is sensitive to synthetic scents. Most cat litter has a little dust, but frequently breathing in crystalline silica dust (from low-quality clay litter) can trigger asthma, allergies, or other respiratory problems. A low-dust formula is also less likely to make a mess around the litter box for your kitten to track throughout the house.
Paw-Friendly Textures
As your kitten learns to use the litter box, litter texture can play a significant role. If the litter feels too sharp or uncomfortable under their paws, your kitten might be more hesitant to use the litter box. Lightweight litters with fine grains or soft textures tend to be the most comfortable option for kittens.
As your kitten matures and learns to use the litter box consistently, you can reevaluate your choice of litter. Some kittens may be ready for clumping cat litter sooner than others, and you may find your kitten develops a preference for a certain texture or material early on. Take cues from your kitten but keep their safety a top priority.