Kate Barrington / Cats.com
While no cat litter is completely non-tracking, some formulas do a better job of staying in the box where they belong. Lightweight and fine-grained litters can cling to your cat’s fur or get kicked out of the litter box more easily than larger, heavier granules. If you’re tired of sweeping up spilled and scattered litter, consider making the switch to a low-tracking formula.
In this guide, we’ll explore the features of low-tracking cat litter to help you find the perfect fit for your feline family. Whether you have a long-haired cat with tufts between their toes or an exuberant kitten who’s still getting the hang of litter box etiquette, one of our non-tracking cat litter recommendations might be just what you’re looking for.
At a Glance: Best Non-Tracking Cat Litter To Buy in 2026
Want a quick look at the products reviewed in this article? In the comparison table below, we’ve highlighted some of the most important features of each product. You’ll find more detailed information about each product later in the article.
Tuft & Paw Really Great Cat Litter
- All-natural alternative to clay cat litter
- Highly absorbent and forms scoopable clumps
- Contains activated charcoal for odor control
Okocat Mini Pellets Unscented Clumping Wood Cat Litter
- Made from sustainably sourced wood fibers
- Forms easy-to-scoop clumps
- Has a subtle, natural pine scent
Fresh News Unscented Non-Clumping Paper Cat Litter
- Made from 100% recycled paper
- Very low-tracking with virtually no dust
- Suitable for cats with asthma and allergies
Catalyst Pelletized Pine Natural Litter
- Made from renewable resources
- Large pellets are very low-tracking
- Doesn’t contain crystalline silica dust
World’s Best Low Tracking & Dust Control Multiple Cat Litter
- Natural formula made from whole kernel corn
- Larger granule size helps reduce tracking
- Absorbs liquid quickly and forms scoopable clumps
Tidy Cats Instant Action Non-Clumping Clay Cat Litter
- Affordably priced under $0.50 per pound
- Heavy clay granules help reduce tracking
- Absorbs urine quickly to help control odor
Feline Pine Original Non-Clumping Wood Cat Litter
- Made from sustainably sourced pine
- Large pellets are very low-tracking
- Free from fragrance and crystalline silica dust
Tidy Cats Breeze Cat Litter Box System
- Litter box system designed to simplify maintenance
- Reusable zeolite pellets and absorbent pee pads
- Comes with a dedicated litter scoop
PetSafe ScoopFree Premium Crystal Litter
- Large crystals help reduce tracking
- Quickly absorbs liquid and dehydrates solid waste
- Very lightweight and easy to carry
Top Picks Explained
We’ve updated our recommendations since this video was made but it’s still a great resource for choosing a low-tracking cat litter.
Why Trust Cats.com
Outside my personal experience as a cat owner of 16 years, I’ve spent the past several years developing a foundational knowledge of the cat litter industry. From researching brands and reading customer reviews to testing products in my own home, I’ve put countless hours into learning what makes a cat litter product worth buying.
To choose products for this review, I conducted market research and consulted experts to find out what factors affect tracking then narrowed the options based on customer satisfaction scores. I then purchased the products at retail price and put them to the test at home with my two cats, Biscuit and Munchkin.
In testing, I paid attention to how much of each litter ended up outside the litter box. I also assessed common cat litter metrics like dust level, odor control, clumping ability, and ease of scooping. The recommendations below are categorized according to the level of tracking and other stand-out features.
The Best Non-Tracking Cat Litter
Most cat litter tracks to some degree but switching to a low-dust formula or one made with larger, heavier granules can help keep litter from clinging to your cat’s paws or getting scattered outside the litter box. Our top recommendation is a tofu-based, pelletized litter from Tuft & Paw. It’s an ultra low-tracking alternative to clay cat litter that consistently performs well during in-home testing.
While we love Tuft & Paw’s Really Great Cat Litter, it might not be the ideal choice for every day. Your cat might prefer a different material or texture, and you might find that some products simply work better for your litter box setup. To help you find the perfect fit, we’ve broken down our recommendations into categories by product type, price, and other key considerations.
How to Reduce Cat Litter Tracking and Scatter
Litter tracking is an ongoing issue for many cat owners and it’s one you might not be able to eliminate completely. However, by choosing your cat litter more carefully and following a few simple tips, you can significantly reduce the mess around your cat’s litter box. That means fewer dusty paw prints and less dirty litter kicked, scattered, or tracked around the house.
Follow these tips to get tracking under control:
1. Choose a low-dust formula.
Tracking isn’t just a matter of finding litter granules scattered outside the litter box, there’s also dusty paw prints to worry about. Choosing a low-dust cat litter formula takes care of half the equation. It won’t kick up a cloud of dust each time your cat visits the litter box, or settle on their fur to be carried around the house.
2. Give pellet-style cat litter a try.
Large-grained litter is less likely to stick in your cat’s paws than fine-grained litter. It also tends to be heavier, making it harder to kick outside the litter box. When shopping for pelletized cat litter, look for long, narrow pellets with a smooth texture.
3. Switch to a low-tracking litter box.
If your cat tends to kick litter outside the box while they’re digging around, switching to a low-tracking litter box might help. High-sided litter boxes, covered litter boxes, and top-entry models contain tracking more effectively than standard litter pans.
4. Place a litter mat outside the litter box.
A little bit of scatter is inevitable but placing a litter mat outside the box can help keep the mess contained. As your cat climbs out of the box, any litter clinging to their fur will fall into the mat instead of being tracked across the floor.
5. Clean the litter box regularly.
Scoop the litter box at least once a day to remove dirty litter that might cling to your cat’s paws. A cleaner litter bed may also reduce scatter. If your cat has to dig around clumps to find an open spot to squat, they may end up kicking litter out of the box to make room.
6. Give long-haired cats a trim.
Cat litter is more likely to cling to long hair, so trimming the fur between your long-haired cat’s toes could help reduce tracking. While you’re at it, consider giving them a sanitary trim under the tail and anywhere else their fur makes contact with the litter bed when they squat.
A multi-pronged approach is the best way to reduce litter tracking. Start at the source (the litter itself) and try some of the tips listed above to see what works best for your household. You might be surprised at how effective even small changes can be!
Frequently Asked Questions
What makes a litter low-tracking?
The weight of the granules as well as their size, shape, and texture are the primary determining factors in how much a litter tracks. Heavy litter is more likely to fall off your cat’s paws as they step out of the litter box. Large, smooth, pellet-shaped granules are less likely to stick to your cat’s paws in the first place than small, sharp-edged pieces of litter.
How do you keep cat litter from tracking?
Choosing a low-tracking litter is a good start but if you want to keep litter from tracking all over the house, it’s important to catch it before your cat walks away from the litter box. Enclosed, high-sided, and top-entry litter boxes do a better job containing litter than shallow litter pans. Placing a litter mat under or in front of the litter box can also help catch litter as your cat steps out of the box.
Also Read: The 5 Best Top Entry Litter Boxes
Does natural cat litter track less than clay?
Natural litters do not inherently track less than clay but the materials from which they are made tend to lend themselves better to the ideal qualities that make up a low-tracking litter. Recycled materials like soybean byproduct, paper, and pea husk, for example, can be pressed and dried into oblong pellets whereas clay can only be broken into small pieces.
Also Read: The 5 Best Natural Cat Litters

I found that the very best non-tracking litter is Tidy Cat’s TidyFeet. It reduced tracking by 80%! It clumps well and odor hasn’t been an issue. Only problem? As a senior, its 20 lb jugs are too heavy!
Love watching you Kate, u r soo helpful!
I personally have never used clay for mine & my cat’s health.
There is a great Larger litter box for all cat’s I think it’s called Kitty can’t cope litter box.
Very roomy, durable & great for cat’s of all ages & health issues 🙂
Lastly, you look Great! love your nails/polish would u mind sharing brand? Is it Ella & Mila?
Thanks again for all you do to help us help the kitties 🙂
Thank you Cindy, It’s Sarah who is in the video:) I’ll find out if she is using Ella & Mila and will get back to you
The Boxiecat litter was low dust, but tracked everywhere. One of the worst I ever used.
I really have tried every litter on the market. My 4 cats will not utilize all of them, and many I reject due to toxicity. I have found that choosing the healthiest (for cats and planet) is good, then A PROPER MAT outside the litter box is key.
I create a long pathway leading to the box (using furniture or boxes as sides) that force my cats to walk there to and from the box. The floor there is lined with Blackhole Litter Mats by Moonshuttle. and it takes care of 90 percent of stuff on their paws.
What a relief!
I need to save up some money to buy more mats (they are worth it but not cheap!) for the other 3 litter boxes.
Interested in fixing a typo?
Large, **thing** pellets minimize tracking
is written for the
Tuft & Paw Really Great Litter
Thank you for letting us know!
Hello fellow cat people. I have a spoiled (aren’t they all) 3 legged rescue and have his two LARGE stainless steel boxes inside a soft sided pen. Have recently been using Boxie cat ( recommendation from this great site) but do still get litter tracking . It’s somewhat contained, due to being in the rather large pen. This litter clumps pretty well but is VERY heavy. The bag las a built-in handle on its side. If I hadn’t accidentally discovered it I would’ve quit using it as the bag is nearly impossible to handle without the handle to manage it while pouring. This litter does control odor quite well, however, but I’m also in the market for another option. Keep up the great work. Mallory!
My vet encouraged me to try the newspaper pellets litter, so I was mixing it in with the Clean Step clay. However, my cat hated it and tried to tell me by pooping on the bathroom rug x2. I thought she had an accident! Until she peed on my bed at 3:30 am…she’s never done that before! I scooped out most of the pellets and I’m only using the Clean Step now. She’s been using the pan ever since.
I’d been using A&H clump and seal litter for years, but recently my cat had a lot sticking to her back paws, so I switched to clean step, the triple effect one. It’s not sticking to her paws, but there’s no odor control. I never noticed a smell before! She urinates a lot so it’s somewhat diluted. I bought a sprinkle in deodorizer that’s helping a lot. My cat will be 15 this year, and she has medium length hair. I didn’t think switching to a pellet litter would work as she’s used to fine, clay litter.
Forgot to add that with the A&H clump and seal, I was finding it everywhere, including in my sheets! With the Clean step, no tracking. None!
I purchased several different kinds of liter none that I can find is any help with tracking! I have to vacuum every day servals times because it sticks to my cars feet! I have a mat in front of box and a covered box but it still a mess! Right now I am using “Pretty Liter” and I like the liter hate the tracking it gets every where! So what’s a cat mom to do???? Please so tired of cleaning liter up !
Hello Kay, thanks for the comment! If you don’t like tracking, Pretty Litter is one of the absolute worst choices! You already have a covered litter box and a mat, so the liter is really the only thing you can change. A heavy, dense-grained cat litter would work much better in this respect.
I currently am using Arm & Hammer Platinum Slide Easy Clumping Cat Litter, and the fact that my bathroom feels like I am walking in a sandbox and that I can see his litter footprints on my floor are precisely why I looked this problem up. So, in my opinion, I would not switch to this brand if you do not want gritty sand everywhere. I am sweeping and using a hand-held vacuum daily and need to find a better solution.
i was so excited to find this site. When I read the recommendations, I was about to purchase the number one recommended World’s Best Cat Litter…then read comments here. Confused and dismayed as the recommendations said virtually no tracking and then the comment said lots of tracking. UGH. This was unfortunately no help at all.
Hi Kim, I’m sorry about this. Having tested out a lot of cat litter over the last couple of years, I can clearly see that most of these recommendations are actually high-tracking products. I’ve lined this piece up for an update. It needs a lot of work. In the meantime, I can stand behind the following recommendations for non-tracking (or low-tracking, really) cat litter:
Arm & Hammer Platinum Slide Easy Clumping Cat Litter
Dr. Elsey’s Precious Cat Ultra Clumping Cat Litter (or any Dr. Elsey’s clumping clay, really; I haven’t tried it yet, but you may want to consider their Clean Tracks formula)
Litterbox.com’s Premium Cat Litter
Fresh Step Clean Paws (also haven’t tried it yet, but it’s intended to reduce tracking and should work well)
Feline Pine or any other wood pellet litter makes a good “natural” option
Hope this helps.
– Mallory
Thank you Mallory! I am impressed that you took the time to reply and I am going to give Dr. Elsy’s and/or Arm and Hammer Platinum a shot! Thanks Again! KIm
Heya Kim, I just wanted to let you know that we finished testing a variety of products and completely reworking this article. If you’re still looking for a good low-tracking litter, you might find this helpful!
Hi! I love your newsletters and look forward to reading them. I too changed to World’s Best on your advice. Sad to say but I have to agree with everyone else, the tracking is horrible! Now I own 3 vacuums, one is for the bed alone. I do not wish to return to clay or silica due to the amount of dust that comes with them. Is there anything natural that clumps, controls odor, and is natural? I have 6 cats and seven cat boxes, one big fluffy uses her foot to drink from so no icky paws either. I know, this is a big wish.
Hi Ali, glad you enjoy the newsletter! I have fun writing them 🙂 As for natural clumping litter, I really like Catit’s natural litter made from pea husk. It’s low tracking, lightweight, and lightly scented to help with odor.
I switched from clay litter (so much dust everywhere in the room) to Okocat. I really like the odor absorption and the fact that it’s biodegradable but the tracking is terrible! My cat’s paws bring it all over the house, on the couch and beds – ugh! Back to trying to find a suitable litter…
I brought the World’s Best cat litter (in the green bag) on this recommendation and have never experienced litter tracking like this in the two years I’ve had my cat! It’s horrendous, it gets everywhere and I have to vacuum or sweep every time my cat uses her boxes, or else it looks like I have crumbs ALL over my floor. I even have the sort of litter boxes that look like small cabinets to contain stray litter. My cat is not a litter kicker or otherwise messy in the litter box, either. I might have to return to the tofu litter, even though it’s more expensive
Thanks for sharing, Joan. Lightweight litter like this does tend to get everywhere.
Yes that litter does not work for eliminating tracking. This is obviously a sponsored post
Hello..i get AllAboutCats.com emails..and i enjoy them..and learn..everytime..something different..
I have this question: i tried so many cat litter brands…and with no help..some says it will help with tracking..but no..no help
My cat Samy..like to drink her water with her paws..so when she uses the litter box..ishe goes directly to drink water and is a mess!!
Like cement on her paws!!
Also too much tracking i live doing vacuum.
I use Tdy Cat lightweight..but change also different brands..they said at store use Arm/ Hammer..no dust..low tracking..noooo was a nightmare!
Was like sand in all the apartment..veey hard to clean
Any advice you can send me?
I would really appreciate that!
Thank you so much!
Ana
..
Hello Ana, thanks for the comment! You’ll still have the cementy-paws issue with it, but you might try Dr. Elsey’s Ultra. It tracks a lot less than the ones you’ve mentioned. Any other heavier, denser product will scatter and track less.
I had a similar problem with the cement-like paws with my cats. I used different Clump and Seal brands and Dr. Elsey’s but found that they all were cement like (Dr. Elsey’s clumps in the litter box were also cement-like and very hard to clean the box). So far what’s worked best for me is the grass-based litter.
I recently solved all the tracking and odor problems by switching to to the Breeze litter box system. No large bags of litter, no dust, no tracking. Change the litter once per month, change the pad weekly.