We Tested More Than Two Dozen Cat Litters And These 5 Are Our Favorites for Kittens (2024)

Feline Pine Original Cat Litter from Arm & Hammer is made from sustainably sourced pine giving it a very faint natural woodsy scent. It’s completely free of chemicals with no added fragrance, and the soft, non-clumping pine shavings won’t irritate a kitten’s delicate paws.

The naturally absorbent wood fibers quickly soak up urine and its odor. While testing with two foster kittens, the smell of urine was quickly neutralized by the wood shavings and their poop was easy to scoop out. The smell of kitten waste was only apparent after two to three weeks of use when it was time to fully clean out the litter box–which will vary depending on how many kittens you have sharing a litter box. The only other downside our tester noted was that the wood pellets sometimes broke down into sawdust, which was easily kicked out of the box, requiring a little sweeping up.

Feline Pine Original Cat Litter is manufactured by Arm & Hammer, but this formula within the Feline Pine line of cat litter does not contain baking soda. It’s also an affordable litter that comes in three size options—7, 20, and 40 pounds—all packaged in a plastic bag. The bag itself is sturdy for storage, but does not have a resealable top and can be challenging to maneuver, especially the 40-pound version.

_{Litter Type: Wood pellets | Fragrance-Free: Yes | Container: Bag | Sizes: 7, 20, 40 pounds}

This gentle, dust-free cat litter is suitable for use in a kitten’s litter box and within households where respiratory ailments are a concern. Made from reclaimed paper fiber, Ökocat Dust Free Non-Clumping Paper Pellet Cat Litter has slightly larger pellets that won’t stick to or irritate baby kitty paws.

When poured directly out of the recyclable cardboard box, the fragrance-free litter has a very mild woodsy aroma. As a kitten goes about their business in their box, the pellets naturally absorb liquids and minimize odors. The white paper litter is completely free of inks and dyes, so it is easy to spot which areas of the litter have been used for maintenance scooping.

While testing with cats that kick to cover their mess, the litter caused a slight mess directly around the litter box area, but it was easy to sweep up.

_{Litter Type: Paper pellets | Fragrance-Free: Yes | Container: Cardboard box | Sizes: 8.2, 12.3 pounds}

Dr. Elsey’s Cat Attract, our tested choice for Best Attracting, has a kitten-specific formula suitable for cats as young as eight weeks. Like Dr. Elsey’s Cat Attract, Kitten Attract is a clay-based formula with a natural herbal attractant felines find highly appealing. The kitten formula also features a granule size and texture designed to be extra gentle on delicate paw pads.

This hard-clumping litter is easy to scoop and fragrance-free while providing effective odor control from plant-derived chlorophyll. It produces very little dust–even

_{Litter Type: Clay | Fragrance-Free: Yes | Container: Resealable bag | Sizes: 20 pounds}

If you like the convenience of a monthly subscription, Tuft and Paw Really Great Cat Litter is sustainably sourced, fragrance-free, and suitable for use with cats of all ages, including kittens. It is currently only available through the Tuft and Paw website, and depending on how many kitties are in your home, a monthly supply will consist of one to three resealable bags.

The pellet litter is made from a soybean byproduct that is unlikely to stick to or irritate your kitten’s paws. The non-traditional formula clumps together with urine but does not stick to poop, so daily maintenance scooping is straightforward. If desired, the pee clumps can be broken down into smaller pieces and placed in your toilet where they start to break down, but you should always refer to your local ordinance for flushing pet waste.

_{Litter Type: Soybean by product pellets | Fragrance-Free: Yes | Container: Resealable bag | Size: 9.5 pounds}

Frisco Natural Unscented Clumping Cat Litter neutralizes odors and forms sturdy clumps when it comes in contact with urine, helping you keep the litter box more appealing for the next time your kitten feels the urge.

This fragrance-free litter is made from grass and has a very faint smell that reminded us of recycled paper. The naturally-sourced formula is gentle enough for kittens to use and is typically a more environmentally friendly cat litter choice than clay.

The Natural Unscented Clumping Cat Litter is made by Frisco which is only available at Chewy, and it only comes in one size–a 20-pound resealable bag.But it’s easy to pour and produces minimal dust.

_{Litter Type: Grasspellets | Fragrance-Free: Yes | Container: Resealable bag | Size: 20 pounds}

Final Verdict

Our best overall choice Arm & Hammer Feline Pine Original Cat Litter is made from reclaimed pine, so it’s naturally odor-absorbent with a gentle texture that won’t irritate a kitten’s paws. It’s also affordable and easy to come by from multiple retailers. If you prefer a clumping litter, Frisco Natural Unscented Clumping Cat Litter will provide the non-toxic, non-irritating potty experience your kitten needs with the convenience of firm pee clumps for daily scooping.

FAQ

• How do you train a kitten to use a litter box?

  Kittens will instinctively look for a place to pee and poop that allows them to cover their waste. Placing their litter box in a corner can also help them feel secluded and protected. When your kitten does use their litter box as intended, give them a treat or a toy to reinforce the behavior, and some experts recommend you avoid scooping out the waste right away so it can serve as a reminder of where poop and pee belong. But daily maintenance should always be practiced to avoid accidents outside the litter box and a build-up of bacteria.

• What type of litter box should you use for a kitten?

  A shallow litter box that’s easy to access. We recommend the KittyGoHere Senior Cat Litter Box or Frisco High-Sided Cat Litter Box, both tested and reviewed.

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