5 Best Natural Cat Litters of 2023 (Biodegradable, Eco-Friendly, and S

Clay has dominated the cat litter market for nearly a century, but as cat parents learn about the health and environmental risks of clay cat litter, they've turned to biodegradable, eco-friendly, and sustainable options. Natural cat litters have burst on to the scene in recent years, offering many of the perks of clay—clumping, odor control—without the serious drawbacks. In this article, we’ll give you our picks for the best natural cat litters on the market today and explain why so many cat parents are choosing these safer and more eco-friendly options.

Here at tuft + paw, we are cat experts. Over the last couple years, we've spent countless hours determining which litter features are most important to cats and cat parents alike. To compile this list, we consulted cat behaviorist Nicole Van Andel, veterinarian Megan Teiber, and hundreds of customer reviews to figure out which natural litters provide the best all-around experience.

Tip: If you want a big picture view on selecting a cat litter before you dive into the details, our article on how to choose the right litter or our ultimate guide to different types of cat litter could be helpful.

Our Top 5 Natural Cat Litters Cheat Sheet

1. tuft + paw Really Great Cat Litter

Pros	low tracking, very low dust, activated charcoal for odor control, unscented, lightweight, flushable
Cons	pricey, subscription only
Ingredients	soybean fiber, corn starch, corn flour, guar gum, charcoal
Price	$29 for 9.5 lbs = $3.05/lb (shipping included)

2. World’s Best Original Clumping Cat Litter

Pros	solid clumping, good odor control, unscented, paw-friendly texture, flushable
Cons	slight tracking, slightly dusty, some users dislike earthy smell
Ingredients	corn
Price	$36.74 for 32 lbs = $1.15/lb

3. CatSpot Coconut Non-Clumping Cat Litter

Pros	super absorbent, lightweight, unscented, good odor control, paw-friendly texture, available via subscription or one-time purchase
Cons	expensive, easily tracked, slightly dusty, small bag, not flushable
Ingredients	coconut shells
Price	$17.99 for 5 lbs = $3.60/lb

4. Petfive Sustainably Yours Natural Cat Litter

Pros	excellent clumping, unscented, low dust, solid odor control, paw-friendly texture, lightweight, donate to Rainforest Trust, helps monitor urinary health
Cons	tracks a lot, pricey, mediocre flushability
Ingredients	corn, cassava
Price	$22.99 for 13 lbs = $1.77/lb

5. Pidan Tofu Cat Litter with Blood Test Particles

Pros	great clumping, low dust, good odor control, low tracking, health monitoring, flushable
Cons	scented, small bag, pricey, cats may eat it
Ingredients	bean dregs, starch, guar gum, occult blood test particles
Price	$15.99 for 5.3 lbs = $3.02/lb

What Is Natural Cat Litter?

Natural cat litter generally refers to any non-mineral litter that is made from a renewable plant-based resource, such as corn, soy, or wood. This excludes clay and silica litters. Technically clay and silica are naturally occurring materials, but due to the environmental damage required to harvest them and, in the case of clay, the health concerns associated with their use, they are not categorized as “natural” litters.

The term “natural” does not have a strict definition in the cat litter industry and is often used simply to market a product. For this article, we created our own definition which we think matches the way most people use the term—as a synonym for “safe and eco-friendly”. To be considered “natural” on this list, a litter must be:

made almost entirely from a renewable resource
free of clay or silica
non-toxic
biodegradable

Bonus points for being made from recycled/repurposed materials (e.g. post-consumer waste, industrial waste).

Types of Natural Cat Litter

As the natural cat litter industry has expanded, an impressive variety of natural materials have been utilized as cat litter. Here are the main types:

Grain — Most often corn, sometimes wheat, sometimes a mix of both.

Soy — Often called “tofu litter”, this litter is made from the soybean fiber that is left after making soy milk.

Wood — Often pine. Can take the form of fine grains or pellets and be clumping or non-clumping. If purchasing pine litter, make sure it is kiln-dried. This evaporates the pine oils that are toxic to cats. If you're curious about wood litter, check out our list of the best wood pellet litters.

Paper — Usually made from post-consumer recycled paper. Can take the form of pellets or grains, and is typically non-clumping.

Grass — Made from the seeds of grass, often sorghum. It makes a fine grain litter that is very soft.

Coconut — Made from ground coconut husks. This type of litter is very soft, absorbent, and fibrous.

Walnut — Made from ground walnut shells, but may include traces of walnut meat. For this reason people with nut allergies should avoid walnut litter. It can take granular or pellet forms, and can be clumping or non-clumping.

Cassava — Made from cassava starch, the same ingredient used to make tapioca. It clumps very well and is quite absorbent. Cassava starch is sometimes mixed with other natural materials to improve clumping.

diagram showing the different materials that cat litter can be made from

Why Choose Natural Cat Litter?

Beyond a vague feeling that anything “natural” is better for humans, cats, and the planet, there are some very convincing reasons why natural cat litter is better than clay.

Health Reasons

The main health concern with clay litter is the presence of crystalline silica dust. According to the CDC, silica dust is a known carcinogen when inhaled and can cause respiratory issues in cats and humans. In industrial settings, workers that encounter silica dust usually wear respirators and take extensive precautions to avoid these problems.

Note: The crystalline silica dust found in clay litter is different from the amorphous silica crystals used in crystal cat litter. Silica crystal cat litter is not dangerous for cats or humans.

Clumping clay litter has its own specific health concerns beyond silica dust. Sodium bentonite is the clumping agent used is clumping clay litter and it can be very dangerous if ingested. When sodium bentonite absorbs moisture, it swells and forms hard clumps that do not break down in water. If a cat ingests sodium bentonite, either by directly eating it or by cleaning their paws over time, it can cause blockages in their GI tract. Veterinarian Megan Teiber notes that little academic research exists on this topic, but it’s a theoretical concern that should not be ignored.

Most clumping cat litters made from plant-based materials break down when wet, so they don't pose the same health risk if ingested. For example, the best tofu cat litters won't block up the GI tract because they dissolve in water.

Environmental Reasons — Sourcing

Clay is acquired through strip mining, a practice which can be extremely environmentally damaging. Strip mining removes the top layer of earth to access the mineral deposits underneath, thereby destroying any habitat and vegetation that previously existed. Once strip mining has begun, the underlying ground is vulnerable to erosion and water pollution from the leaching of exposed heavy metals, as well as extensive air and noise pollution.

Silica crystals are also mined, but are typically extracted through open pit mining. This method sometimes has a smaller surface area than strip mining, but it can cause many of the same environmental consequences (e.g. water pollution, erosion, habitat destruction).

On the other hand, natural litters are made using plant-based renewable resources, often through repurposing industrial waste (e.g. pine shavings, walnut shells) or preexisting crops (e.g. corn, wheat). The method of sourcing differs between brands, but you can rest assured that none are strip mined.

A diagram showing the cons of clay cat litter

Environmental Reasons — Disposal

All of the natural litters on our list are biodegradable, and some are even flushable! Clay and silica litters do not degrade quickly and take up lots of space in landfills without breaking down.

Lighter Than Clay

Clay litter is notoriously heavy and difficult to carry. Virtually every type of natural cat litter is lighter in weight than clay and much less dense, so even light bags of litter can last a surprisingly long time.

Less Dust

In general, clay is one of the dustiest litter materials. Cat behaviourist Nicole Van Andel emphasized the importance of having minimal dust in a cat's litter box, as dusty litters can "irritate a cat’s respiratory system and sometimes cause feline asthma." Most natural cat litters are far less dusty than clay, and what dust they do produce is not carcinogenic. In particular, natural pellet litters are some of the least dusty litters on the market.

Brand Specific Reasons

Every natural cat litter is different, and each one has its own distinct advantages over clay litter. For example, tofu pellet litters are much lower tracking than clay and coconut litter is effortless to clean out of the litter box. As mentioned above, some natural cat litters are also flushable, which makes for a streamlined cleaning process.

Our video below shows some of the thought process that went into developing our own tofu litter. Repurposing waste is a common feature among natural cat litters.

Drawbacks of Natural Cat Litter

Pricier Than Clay

As with any new eco-friendly product, the costs of manufacturing natural litters are generally higher than clay litters. There are exceptions, such as pine pellets, but even the more affordable natural litters are more expensive than clay.

Odor Control

In the process of developing our own litter, our product team has found that the best odor control is usually found in clumping clay litters. The extremely tight clumping of sodium bentonite locks in odors and some brands also include natural or synthetic deodorizers in their litters. Many natural litters also offer great odor control, but not quite as good as clumping clay litter and at a higher price.

Natural Spoilage

Natural litter is made from…well, natural materials, so spoilage is possible. If stored in moist conditions, natural litter can be susceptible to mold. Some users have mentioned that natural litters made from food products (e.g. corn, tofu, wheat) can attract bugs in the litter box and in the bag, though this is a rare occurrence. Be sure to store natural litter in a dry, cool, well-ventilated area and keep the bag securely closed to avoid these problems.

Allergy Concerns

Some natural cat litters are made from common allergens, such as wheat, grass, and walnut. This might narrow your household’s natural litter options.

Our Criteria for Finding the Best Natural Cat Litter

The following criteria were developed in consultation with veterinarian Megan Teiber and cat behaviorist Nicole Van Andel.

Health and safety — All litters on this list are made with safe non-toxic materials. The fewer additives the better (e.g. scents, preservatives)
Eco-friendly — Every litter on this list is made from sustainably harvested and biodegradable materials.
Tracking — How much litter ends up outside the litter box, and how far from the litter box it can get.
Dust — How dusty the litter is. This factor is very important for cats and people with respiratory issues and allergies.
Scent — Unscented is always preferable. Cats rely heavily on their sense of smell to interact with their surroundings, so strongly scented litter can be overwhelming.
Ease of cleaning — How well the litter clumps/absorbs, coats solid waste, whether it’s flushable, and how much it sticks to the litter box.
Odor control — How well the litter neutralizes smells. Controlling urine smell is the key here, because no litter can truly neutralize the smell of solid waste. Keep in mind that odor control partially depends on individual cats and the strength of their urine odor.
Ease of handling — How easy the litter is to transport, pour, and handle.
Price point