Genius Litter is a key player in the new generation of health-monitoring crystal cat litters, but is it worth the price? In this article, we’ll give you our complete, unbiased review of Genius Litter, explore its benefits and drawbacks, and help you determine whether it’s a good fit for you and your cat.
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. Our criteria are based on consultation with a cat behaviorist, veterinarian, and hundreds of cat parents.
Tip: See our in-depth review of Pretty Litter for comparison.
Genius Litter Cheat Sheet
| Pros | health-monitoring, highly absorbent, good odor control, fairly low dust, easy to clean, lightweight, non-toxic, available as subscription or one-time purchase |
| Cons | expensive, not eco-friendly, tracks easily, non-clumping |
| Ingredients | silica gel, color-changing compounds |
| Price | $29.99 for 6 lbs ($5/lb) |
What Is Genius Litter?
Genius Litter is a crystal cat litter designed with a unique twist – it changes color based on the pH of your cat's urine. The goal with this feature is to allow cat parents to catch urinary issues early and prevent further complications. The brand was founded by Ramon Van Meer in 2020 after his cat Quinsel had a medical emergency with a severe UTI. According to the brand’s website, “that close call put Ramon on a path to finding a better solution for catching illnesses earlier.”
Genius Litter is fairly similar to the better known Pretty Litter. Both are non-clumping crystal cat litters which position themselves as proactive tools for urinary health monitoring. Both are premium litters with a premium price tag, and offer a subscription service for their customers.
On Feb 2, 2024 Genius Litter appeared on an episode of the hit TV show Shark Tank.
Credit: Amazon
How does Genius Litter work?
Genius Litter changes color depending on the pH of your cat’s urine. If you see any of the abnormal colors in the litter box, you should make a vet appointment. Here’s what the different colors mean:
- Dark yellow to olive green — urine is in the normal pH range.
- Blue-green to blue — urine is more alkaline than normal, could indicate a UTI.
- Orange — urine is more acidic than normal, could indicate conditions such as metabolic acidosis or kidney tubular acidosis.
- Red — urine contains noticeable amounts of blood, could indicate conditions such as bladder crystals or feline lower urinary tract disease (FLUTD).
How do you use Genius Litter?
Using Genius Litter is quite simple. Here's a step-by-step guide:
- Pour the whole 6-lbs bag of Genius Litter into a clean litter box. It should have a depth of 2-3 inches.
- Let your cat use the litter box as usual.
- Scoop out any solid waste and stir the remaining litter to evenly distribute urine among the crystals.
- Repeat steps 3 and 4 as necessary, until it's time to replace the litter entirely (approx. 1 month, or when the litter stops absorbing liquid).
- Throw out the remaining Genius Litter, clean the litter box, and refill.
Tip: When using Genius Litter, we recommend keeping the litter box in a relatively dry and cool room to preserve its absorption and odor controlling capabilities. Silica gel will absorb moisture from the air, so keeping the litter box in a humid room will saturate the silica gel more quickly and worsen Genius Litter’s performance.
What is Crystal (Silica) Cat Litter?
If you’re not familiar, here are the main facts you need to know about crystal cat litter. For more detailed information, you can see our article on the pros and cons of crystal cat litter.
- Crystal cat litter is made from amorphous silica gel. Despite its name, it does NOT contain the harmful crystalline silica found in clay litters (confusing, we know).
- Silica gel/crystal cat litter is totally safe for cats and humans.
- Silica is a naturally occurring mineral harvested in open pit mines.
- Crystal litter is not considered a “natural litter” because 1) it’s not biodegradable and 2) open pit mining is environmentally damaging.
- Crystal cat litter is naturally non-clumping. Instead of scooping clumps, cat parents should stir it to ensure all the urine is absorbed by the crystals.
Genius Litter Pros
Monitors Urinary Health
Genius Litter's standout feature is its ability to change color depending on your cat's urinary pH. This early warning system can potentially detect urinary issues before they escalate.
Highly Absorbent
Genius Litter boasts the exceptional absorbency of silica gel, which efficiently locks in moisture and helps prevent unpleasant odors. The silica gel's porous structure allows it to absorb urine, let the water evaporate, and seal in the smelly compounds.
Controls Odor
Genius Litter effectively controls odors because of the aforementioned absorbency of silica gel. After a couple weeks this odor control starts to diminish, because the silica gel becomes saturated and can no longer absorb urine.
Tip: Check out our list of the best cat litters for odor control.
Cove Litter Box by tuft + paw
Low Dust (vs Clay)
Compared to traditional clay litters, Genius Litter (and most crystal litters) are much less dusty. This is great for cat parents concerned about respiratory health and creates a cleaner and healthier environment in your home. However, Genius Litter is slightly dustier than some natural litters like tofu pellets and cassava litter.
Easy to Clean
Genius Litter is very easy to maintain. Instead of scooping clumps, a simple stir ensures all urine is absorbed by the crystals. Solid waste should be scooped and disposed of.
Lightweight
Genius Litter comes in small 6-lb bags which are easy to handle. The silica gel particles are very lightweight and the subscription service ships the bags straight to your door, so you don’t have to lug it home from the pet store.
Non-Toxic
Safety is paramount, and Genius Litter delivers on this front. Genius Litter is made from amorphous silica gel, which is safe and non-toxic for both cats and humans. It’s also non-clumping and doesn’t expand when wet, so it is less dangerous than clay litter if ingested.
Available as Subscription or One-Time Purchase
Genius Litter offers both subscription and one-time purchase options, allowing cat parents to choose the most convenient arrangement for them.
Genius Litter Cons
Expensive
While Genius Litter packs a punch in features, it comes at a cost. Priced at $29.99 for 6 lbs ($5/lb), it sits on the higher end of the cat litter price spectrum. Each bag is supposed to last a full month, but this factor may still be a point of consideration for cat parents on a budget.
Not Eco-Friendly
For environmentally conscious pet owners, Genius Litter falls short. The use of open pit mining to extract the silica gel raises concerns about sustainability, making it a less eco-friendly option. It is also not biodegradable. This is a common reason for some cat parents to opt for plant-based litters like tofu cat litter and wood pellets.
Tracks Easily
Genius Litter, like many crystal litters, is prone to scattering because of the tiny lightweight particles. This can be especially pronounced if your cat is long-haired or an energetic digger.
Non-Clumping
For those accustomed to clumping litters, the non-clumping nature of Genius Litter might be an adjustment. While it simplifies cleaning in some ways, many cat parents prefer the convenience of scooping clumps and removing all waste from their cat’s litter box.
How Does Genius Litter Compare to Other Cat Litters?
Genius Litter
Pros health-monitoring, highly absorbent, good odor control, fairly low dust, easy to clean, lightweight, non-toxic, cat-friendly texture, available as subscription or one-time purchase
Cons expensive, not eco-friendly, tracks easily, non-clumping
Ingredients silica gel, color-changing compounds
Price $29.99 for 6 lbs = $5.00/lb
Pretty Litter
Pros: monitors cat health, highly absorbent, good odor control, lightweight, easy to clean, fairly low dust, non-toxic, unscented, cat-friendly texture, available via subscription or one-time purchase
Cons: expensive, not eco-friendly, tracks easily, non-clumping
Ingredients: silica gel, colour-changing compounds
Price: $24 for 6 lbs = $4.00/lb
tuft + paw Really Great Cat Litter
See our article on Genius Litter vs Really Great Cat Litter.
Pros: very low tracking, very low dust, good clumping, unscented, lightweight, flushable, biodegradable, eco-friendly, activated charcoal for odor control, paw-friendly texture vs other pellet litters
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)
World’s Best Cat Litter
Pros: solid clumping, flushable, unscented, paw-friendly texture, affordable, widely available, eco-friendly, biodegradable
Cons: some tracking, slightly dusty, some users dislike earthy smell
Ingredients: corn
Price: $38 for 32 lbs = $1.19/lb
Conclusion: Is Genius Litter Worth It?
The decision to invest in Genius Litter depends on your priorities – whether you value early health detection, are willing to accommodate the higher cost, and are comfortable with the non-clumping aspect. Overall, Genius Litter is a solid product but it might not be the perfect choice for every household. Personally, we prefer natural litters like Really Great Cat Litter (especially low tracking options), or even Pretty Litter which is very similar and slightly cheaper.
Here are our recommendations for who could benefit from using Genius Litter:
Genius Litter is worth it if…
- Your cat is elderly or has a history of health issues, especially urinary-related ones.
- You want a low maintenance cat litter. Genius Litter is easy to clean, has good odor control, and ships to your door.
Genius Litter is not worth it if…
- Litter tracking is a deal breaker for you. The small silica gel particles are easily scattered.
- You have a small budget for cat litter. Genius Litter is quite expensive at $5/lb.
- You have several cats. With more than two cats, Genius Litter could become very expensive.
- You want an environmentally friendly cat litter. As already mentioned, crystal cat litter is not biodegradable and is sourced via open pit mining. If you want a more eco-friendly product, look for a natural cat litter.
Genius Litter FAQs
What is Genius Litter made of? Is it safe for cats?
Yes, Genius Litter is safe for cats to use and is made from non-toxic silica gel.
How often do you need to replace Genius Litter?
The frequency of litter replacement will depend on how many cats you have and how frequently they use the litter box. In general, it's recommended to replace Genius Litter completely every 3-4 weeks.
Is Genius Litter biodegradable?
No. Genius Litter is made from silica gel, which is not biodegradable or flushable and should be disposed of in the trash.
How does Genius Litter compare to traditional clay litter?
Genius Litter is lighter in weight, less dusty, and more expensive than traditional clay litter. It doesn’t clump and is completely non-toxic, whereas clay litter is usually clumping and contains harmful crystalline silica dust.
How does Genius Litter compare to Pretty Litter?
Genius Litter is very similar to Pretty Litter, but is slightly more expensive. In our opinion, they perform fairly equally.
Can you use Genius Litter with automatic litter boxes?
Yes, Genius Litter is compatible with most automatic litter boxes. However, it's important to check the manufacturer's recommendations before using it with your specific litter box model.
