Choosing the right cat litter can be the difference between a smelly litter tray and a fresh and clean one. As cat owners, we prefer to use a high quality clumping cat litter that masks the odours of the mess and ensures a quick and easy cleaning process.
In this guide we have reviewed the best clumping cat litters available in the UK and explore what you should look for when choosing one.
What type of cat litter should I use?
There are numerous types of cat litter on the market, but the main types are non clumping clay, clumping clay, biodegradable or silica crystals.
Non clumping cat litter is highly absorbent but does not form clumps when faeces and urine are present. This type of cat litter is generally slightly less sticky than clumping cat litter, but often requires significantly more cat litter to be removed from the tray during cleaning. The main downside of non clumping cat litter is that it often creates a smell significantly quicker than its clumping alternative.
At BestCatProducts.co.uk, our cats all use clumping cat litter that we combine with an efficient cat litter box and cat litter freshener to reduce odours.
What is clumping cat litter?
Clumping cat litter is a form of cat litter that clumps when faeces and urine are present. Most litters are typically made with bentonite, although we have mostly reviewed natural options in this guide. Once a cat uses the litter box, the litter clumps around the waste so it’s easy to scoop out. This makes it easy to find the waste and remove it quickly without having to dig around with the scoop.
We find that clumping cat litter is far slower at causing stinky smells, but it can get slightly sticky during removal if you only have a thin covering in your cat litter tray. To help prevent the spread of cat litter from your litter tray, you may want to consider a cat litter mat.
Clumping Cat Litter Reviews
Choosing a clumping cat litter can be difficult because there are so many options to choose from. We have picked out our favourite clumping cat litters that are available in the UK.
1) World’s Best Cat Litter Extra Strength
This cat litter lives up to its name! World’s best extra strength cat litter is made from sustainable corn kernel and contains an added natural plant ingredient for enhanced odour control. This product is 100% natural, and this extra strength formula is great if you have 2 or more cats (we have switched from their ‘original’ product reviewed below).
This litter is excellent at clumping, and its high efficiency means we end up removing less from the tray during cleaning. The litter is 99 percent dust free as it is made from corn making it sustainable and environmentally friendly.
We love this cat litter for its added performance vs the original recipe, and find it excellent at masking bad smells quickly after use. In our opinion it is also the best dust free cat litter on the market.
- Extra strength recipe to better mask odours
- Flushable and septic tank safe
- Excellent for reducing tracking from your litter tray
- Excellent for 2+ cat households
- Made from whole-kernel corn it has a naturally microporous structure that keeps nasty odours inside the litter.
- Quick clumping – almost instant
- Easy to scoop – with its patented formula and quick-clumping abilities
2) Cats Best Original Clumping Cat Litter
Cats Best OkoPlus is the only wood-based clump-forming, biodegradable eco cat litter on the market. It is made from 100% pure organic fibre, it binds liquid and odour effectively inside the fibre and boasts up to 3 times higher yield than mineral-based cat litters. It is compostable and 100% biodegradable, and, depending on local disposal laws, can be disposed of safely via your toilet.
It is a lightweight litter that clumps well, making it easy to remove from the litter tray when it gets soiled. It has a very good odour control and an astonishing clumping power (it’s very quick). It was specially designed to absorb urine really well. Among many cat owners, this clump cat litter is highly preferred.
- 100% biodegradable
- Excellent odour control
- Compostable and flushable
- Environmentally friendly and sustainable
3) World’s Best Cat Litter Original
Similar to the Extra Strength version reviewed earlier, this original recipe was the first version of the World’s Best cat litter collection. This clumping cat litter is widely chosen because it is great for controlling your pet’s odour and for the quick way it clumps. It is made from all-natural whole-kernel corn, which makes it easier in limiting odours. It clumps fast, 99% dust free, scoops easily and is pet, people and planet friendly.
We prefer the extra strength cat litter to this version as it is best for multiple cat households, but this is a great alternative if you only have one cat at home.
- Excellent odour control
- Brilliant for single cat households
- Quick clumping
- Easy to scoop – with its patented formula and quick-clumping abilities
- Pet and people friendly because there’s no silica dust for you or your cat to breathe
4) Catsan Clumping Litter Ultra
Since cats generally love the idea of cleanliness and a good hygiene, the Catsan Clumping Litter prides itself on providing your cat with a litter box that’s always clean and hygienic. The litter works by absorbing the odour even before it starts to smell. It is very economical as it consists only of those finest granules of natural, high-performance clay. They can be easily removed every day so the remaining litter in the box stays pleasantly clean and dry for a long time and does not need to be completely changed so often.
- Clumping Litter made from clay granules
- Absorbs before odour can develop 100% clump guarantee.
- Catsan litter is low-dust and unscented.
5) Tigerino Canada Double Pack Cat Litter Sensitive 2 x 12kg
Although the packs look a little heavy and may be quite expensive too, it lasts longer than other clumping cat litters and it clumps very fast. The wee clumps into balls and are easily sifted with a scoop. The poo gets covered well and it’s quicker at eliminating odours than some other litters. It is also very easy to clean up.
- Perfume-free
- Clumping
- Ultra-strong
- Low amount of dust
What to consider before buying a clumping cat litter
Buying a clumping cat litter can be more difficult than you think, especially if you have never used one before. We have compiled our top tips to ensure you are considering the right things:
- How many cats do you have in your home? The more you have, the more litter you will use. Some recipes are designed for multiple cat households to help mask smells.
- Odour eliminating qualities! We hate it when our house smells of our cats mess, and no doubt you do too. The advanced formulas included in this guide are all excellent at masking smells. You can further improve this by combining them with a high quality cat litter box to help prevent the spread.
- Is it biodegradable? We always gravitate towards 100% natural products that can be composted or flushed to save it ending up in landfill. Disposing of litter can make your bins smelly and increase your rubbish waste – if you have a garden, a compostable litter is excellent.
- Tracking from the litter tray Look for a litter that helps to reduce tracking from the litter tray. There is nothing worse than paw prints all over your freshly cleaned floor. You can use a cat litter mat to help reduce tracking, but a high quality cat litter will help too.
- Dust free Some cats suffer from breathing difficulties, and to help prevent your cat suffering from them in the future you should look for a dust free litter. Most included in this guide are dust free, but a natural environmentally friendly option will be far better for your cat than clay.
It’s over to you
The clumping cat litter you choose is really a personal decision. Many cats appear to prefer clumping litter because it is easier for them to push aside, and as a cat owner, your best choice will also be a clumping cat litter because of the advantages it offers.
Choosing the litter that your cat prefers makes it less likely that litter box avoidance issues and inappropriate elimination will become a problem for you. So consider the features of each, and also some other external factors like price, dust, clumping ability, and ease of use.
