The Best Cat Litter Pellets: Our Top Picks Reviewed
Table of Contents
We include products we think are useful for our readers. If you buy through links on this page, we may earn a small commission.
What Are the Best Cat Litter Pellets?
| Image | Product | Features | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
Our Top Pick  | Made only of pine and baking soda, this is an all-natural cat litter that is lightweight, effective, and very affordable. | Get on AmazonGet on Chewy | |
Most Affordable  | Priced at under $1.00 per pound, this litter is very affordable, effective, and eco-friendly. | Get on AmazonGet on Chewy | |
Highest Rated  | With well over 6,000 reviews on Amazon, this cat litter has an average rating of 4.8 stars. | Get on AmazonGet on Chewy | |
Best Recycled  | Price at around $1.25 per pound, this cat litter is not only effective, but it is eco-conscious as well as it is made of recycled paper. | Get on AmazonGet on Chewy | |
Best All-Natural  | This litter is made of recycled paper and has high ratings on Amazon for its odor control and its absorbency. | Get on Amazon | |
Best Eco-Friendly  | Made with recycled paper, this kitty litter is biodegradable and more effective than clay cat litter. | Get on Amazon |
Is Pellet Litter Better for Cats?
Yes, cat litter pellets are better than clay litter.
It is not only better for cats but tends to be better for cat owners and for the environment as well. Cat litter pellets are often made of recycled wood that has been processed into dry pellets, which absorb moisture and odors.
This process prevents tons of waste from reaching landfills every year. Wood pellet cat litter also helps eliminate trash from landfills because it is biodegradable and made of natural ingredients.
Are Paper or Wood Pellets Better for Cat Litter?
Neither paper nor wood pellets are better than the other. They both have pros and cons.
For instance, wood pellets are better at controlling odors but tend to be dusty, and sawdust has become a concern among cat owners.
Paper pellets, on the other hand, are not as good at controlling odors but tend to be less messy and do not produce any significant level of dust.
What Are the Benefits of Cat Litter Pellets?
Cat litter pellets are safe, natural, and biodegradable. Here is a closer look at the benefits of cat litter pellets.
- Biodegradable: Since pellet litters are made of natural things, they are highly biodegradable. This prevents cat litter buildup in landfills. Clay, for example, is not biodegradable and remains in landfills forever, taking up space forever.
- Safe: Since pellet litters are made with natural ingredients, they are completely safe for your cat’s paws and non-toxic in the case of ingestion.
- Natural: Things like natural pine pellets ensure the cat’s safety as well as a minimal impact on the environment during the production process and when cat owners discard the waste.
- Eco-Friendly: A big perk of this type of litter is that most pellets are made of safe and recycled materials like wood or paper.
What Are the Pros and Cons of Cat Litter Pellets?
Cat litter pellets come with several major pros, including:
- Safe and non-toxic
- Biodegradable
- Highly odor absorbent
- Less dust than regular litter
However, there are also some disadvantages to using cat litter pellets:
- Not as absorbent as clay cat litter
- Does not clump, so using sifting litter boxes is likely the best bet for easy cleaning
The Best Litter Pellets Reviewed
There are many different types of cat litter pellets on the market. To help pet owners find the right product, we have reviewed several best-selling cat litter pellets available on Amazon and Chewy.
Price: $15.79
Size: 18 lbs
Material: Pine
Dimension: 19.5” x 14” x 2.5”
Item Weight: 18 lbs
Style: Indoor
Scented: Pine
Color: Brown
Pet: Cat
Lifestage: All life stages
Storage Instructions: Store in a dry place at room temperature
Product Use Instruction: Spread out an even layer of litter about 1 inch thick in the litter box. Clean out clumps daily and replace litter when the pellets have dissolved.
Summary: Arm & Hammer have made a name in the business of reducing odors, and their cat litter is a prime example of their work. This is a lightweight pine pellet cat litter that is low-dust and low-tracking and is made with sustainably sourced reclaimed wood.
These highly absorbent pine fibers create clumps that lock away the smell of ammonia. They weigh 50% less than clay litter but are just as effective at reducing odors.
- Made with all-natural reclaimed wood
- Lightweight
- No added fragrances
- Low-tracking and low-dust
- Absorbent pine fibers lock away smells
- The pine can create an odd smell when it comes into contact with cat urine
- The litter can degrade quickly into a dust-like substance if not cleaned regularly enough
Customer Reviews: Nearly 80% of the 5,000+ reviews on Amazon were 4 and 5 stars. Cat owners were happy with the price and how big the package was as well as how effective it was for them and their cats. They noticed little to no tracking and said there was absolutely no litter box smell.
Critical reviews called the positive reviews into question, but their complaints were largely about how the litter degrades when left in the litter box for too long.
Veterinarians.org Review: Our team at veterinarians.org is giving Feline Pine Platinum Non-Clumping Cat Litter an overall 9.4/10-star rating. The breakdown of our ratings is below:
- Pet Suitability (9/10): Cat owners noticed little to no drawbacks with this cat litter, and neither did our team. Overall, this is a great cat litter.
- Material Quality (10/10): The only two ingredients in this cat litter are pine and baking soda, bother of which are non-toxic to cats and provide great odor control.
- Cost Effectiveness (10/10): Priced at under $1.00/lbs, it is hard to beat the per dollar value of this litter.
- Customer Feedback (8/10): About 80% of the 5,000+ reviews are four and five stars, with the only complaint coming from people who noticed poor degradation of the litter if it was left in the litter box for too long.
- Product Variety (10/10): Arm & Hammer has loads of cat litter options for every scenario.
Price: $13.49
Size: 14.8 lbs
Material: Wood
Dimension: 11” x 7.5” x 11”
Item Weight: 14.8 lbs
Style: Indoor
Scented: Unscented
Color: Brown
Pet: Cat
Lifestage: All life stages
Storage Instructions: Store in a dry place at room temperature
Product Use Instruction: Spread out an even layer of litter about 2 inches thick in the litter box. Clean out clumps daily and replace litter when it is soiled, or there is not much left in the box.
Summary: Okocat makes cat litter from natural ingredients in an effort to provide the community with sustainably sourced litter that is safe and effective. They offer multiple versions for various absorption rates, with the super soft variety being the most absorbent.
There are no artificial fragrances or synthetic chemicals that could cause your cat harm in this plant-based litter, and it is formulated to be 99% dust-free. This cat litter was made to require less to do the same amount of work, thus reducing waste and the out-of-pocket cost to cat owners.
- Dust-free and non-irritating formula
- No artificial fragrances, GMOs, or harmful additives
- Quick clumping for odor control
- Available in a variety of options
- Made from sustainably sourced natural ingredients
- Customers complain about the dust it puts off
- The single natural ingredient formula may attract pests if stored improperly
Customer Reviews: The majority of the nearly 10,000 reviews were positive. Cat owners were happy with the effect this litter had in controlling odors and keeping the area around the litter box clean and sanitary.
The most common complaint, however, was that the litter didn’t work to control the smell or create clumps, and this made it difficult to use.
Veterinarians.org Review: Our team at veterinarians.org is giving ökocat Litter Less Mess Low-Dust Natural Clumping Wood Mini-Pellets an overall 9/10-star rating. The breakdown of our ratings is below:
- Pet Suitability (9/10): This cat litter is effective in odor control and prevents enzymes from bonding with waste. It is dust-free and low-tracking, so it won’t create a mess when they are entering and leaving the litter box.
- Material Quality (10/10): The only ingredient in this cat litter is sustainably sourced wood fiber that is hypoallergenic and sanitary.
- Cost Effectiveness (10/10): With a price tag under $1.00/lb, it will be difficult to find a better deal for the dollar.
- Customer Feedback (7/10): Averaging 4.3 stars with nearly 10,000 reviews, this is clearly a crowd-pleaser, although about 1/10 of customers were unhappy with the performance of the litter.
- Product Variety (10/10): Okocat has multiple cat litter options to choose from, and each is formulated for specific breeds and scenarios.
Price: $29.86
Size: 3.5 lbs per pouch
Material: Plastic
Dimension: 9.29” x 7.87” x 7.76”
Item Weight: 7 lbs
Style: Indoor
Scented: Unscented
Color: Grey
Pet: Cat
Lifestage: All life stages
Storage Instructions: Store in a dry place at room temperature
Product Use Instruction: Spread out an even layer of litter about 2 inches thick in the litter box. Clean out clumps daily and replace litter when it is soiled, or there is not much left in the box.
Summary: Tidy Cats, a Purina pet brand, has been a trusted cat product brand for decades and has been part of Purina since the mid-1950s. The Tidy Cats Breeze Cat Litter Pellets Refill is their pellet product line that is made to be dust-free and last up to one month without needing to be replaced.
The plastic pellets allow urine to flow through to the pad lining the bottom of the cat litter box, while the solid pellets support solid waste to make scooping even easier. It is formulated specifically for multi-cat households and is packaged in individual “serving” sizes for the Tidy Cats Breeze litter system. It is low-tracking, so your floors will remain clean while your cat enjoys litter-free paws.
- Formulated for multi-cat households
- Dust-free
- Lasts up to one month
- Perfectly suited for the Tidy Cats Breeze system
- Cleaner and more hygienic than a traditional litter
- Expensive
- Customers complain about the smell of the pellets being too strong
Customer Reviews: This cat litter averages a fantastic 4.8 stars with over 6,000 reviews on Amazon alone. Cat owners are happy with the easy clean-up, the low maintenance, and the odor control it offers, although even 5-star reviews noted the price on Amazon was far too high.
This seemed to be the only complaint among low reviews as well, with 3% of total reviewers giving it a 1 or 2 star, and most of those reviews state they will not be purchasing this on Amazon.
Veterinarians.org Review: Our team at veterinarians.org is giving Purina Tidy Cats Breeze Litter Pellets an overall /10-star rating. The breakdown of our ratings is below:
- Pet Suitability (10/10): The vast majority of customers had the same experience we had with this litter. It kept odors at bay while also keeping the litter box clean and smell-free.
- Material Quality (8/10): The pellets are plastic, which is great for supporting solid waste for easy cleaning and is sanitary enough for urine to pass to the bottom of the litter box without concern for bacteria growth.
- Cost Effectiveness (1/10): Although the litter is very effective, it is priced at around $4.25/lb, which makes it the most expensive cat litter per pound on this list.
- Customer Feedback (10/10): This litter averages a whopping 4.8 stars with over 6,000 reviews. The only repeated complaint was about the price and not about the quality of the product.
- Product Variety (10/10): Purina is one of the most well-established pet product companies in the world, and they make numerous cat litter varieties for cat owners of all sorts.
Price: $31.13
Size: 25 lbs
Material: Recycled paper
Dimension: 26” x 17” x 5”
Item Weight: 25 lbs
Style: Indoor
Scented: Unscented
Color: Grey
Pet: Cat
Lifestage: All life stages
Storage Instructions: Store in a dry place at room temperature
Product Use Instruction: Spread out an even layer of litter about 2 inches thick in the litter box. Clean out clumps daily and replace litter when it is soiled, or there is not much left in the box.
Summary: Fresh News is an environmentally minded litter and pet bedding company that uses recycled paper to provide pet owners with safe and sanitary options than clay and wood pellet litter and bedding.
This litter pellet is great for cats, rabbits, and gerbils. It is made of recycled post-consumer paper to be eco-friendly and hypoallergenic. The non-toxic, hygienic pellets are more absorbent than clay cat litter and help to lock in absorbed moisture and prevent foul smells.
- Made of recycled paper to be eco-friendly and absorbent
- Controls odors with the help of baking soda
- Hypoallergenic and dust-free
- Fragrance-free
- Low-tracking pellet formula
- The pellets may cause a choking hazard
- The pellets quickly absorb liquid and need to be cleaned frequently
Customer Reviews: With over 5,500 reviews, only around 10% gave it a critical rating. Happy customers said it was great at absorbing and controlling odors, and they liked that it was budget-friendly and made with recycled materials.
Dissatisfied customers had poor experiences with the odor control and absorption of this litter and said they would not purchase it again.
Veterinarians.org Review: Our team at veterinarians.org is giving Fresh News Recycled Paper Pellet Cat Litter an overall 9/10-star rating. The breakdown of our ratings is below:
- Pet Suitability (10/10): We found the paper used in this cat litter to be super absorbent and lock in odors, so your house stays smelling fresh and clean.
- Material Quality (10/10): The recycled paper is excellent at absorbing waste and locking in smells. Fresh News having a zero waste production process is just a perk as the product itself does a great enough job to receive a 10/10 rating in this category.
- Cost Effectiveness (10/10): This cat litter is priced at under $1.00 per pound.
- Customer Feedback (9/10): Over 5,500 reviews averaging 4.3 stars on Amazon have no real repeating complaints. The vast majority of customers were happy with this product and have used it for extended periods of time.
- Product Variety (9/10): Fresh News is a cat litter and pet bedding company which means it only offers one type of product. However, they do a great job at making litters and beddings for various uses like hamsters bedding and ferret litter.
Price: $18.99
Size: 8 lbs
Material: Pine pellets
Dimension: 28” x 18” x 4”
Item Weight: 8 lbs
Style: Indoor
Scented: Unscented
Color: Grey
Pet: Cat
Lifestage: All life stages
Storage Instructions: Store in a dry place at room temperature
Product Use Instruction: Gradually change from old to the new litter. Start by filling the litter box with an 80% Small Pet Select Cat Litter, then spread the old litter over the top. Over time you can spread out an even layer of litter about 2 inches thick in the litter box. Clean out clumps daily and replace litter when it is soiled, or there is not much left in the box.
Summary: Small Pet Select is a pet product company that uses all-natural ingredients for each of its products. Every product of theirs has nutritional value, even their toys and cat litter. This cat litter is made of pine pellets that absorb waste and lock in ammonia smells to prevent unwanted scents in your home.
The cat litter pellets are completely recyclable and compostable, making them an eco-friendly choice for cat litter. The litter is free of harmful wood dust commonly associated with concerns in the cat community about cancer developing from sawdust.
- Non-toxic
- Made with no additives
- Recyclable and compostable
- Unscented
- Completely compostable
- The composition of the litter may degrade if not cleaned frequently
- Customers complain about the litter coming in a box instead of a bag
Customer Reviews: Customers were happy with this litter and said it was perfect for their rodent pets as bedding. Happy customers also said it was great at controlling odors and that it was absorbent enough to make cleaning easy.
Critical reviews complained about the pellets being difficult to handle and were unhappy with the packaging, with the most common point of irritation being that it comes in a box and not in a bag.
Veterinarians.org Review: Our team at veterinarians.org is giving Small Pet Select All Natural Pellet Bedding an overall 8/10-star rating. The breakdown of our ratings is below:
- Pet Suitability (10/10): It is non-toxic and contains no harmful additives, so it is safe for pets to be around. Furthermore, it is dust-free and quickly absorbs waste to prevent contamination.
- Material Quality (10/10): The pine in this litter is fantastic at keeping away odors and keeping the litter box dry. The dust-free wood pellets also eliminate the growing concern over sawdust and its effects on cats.
- Cost Effectiveness (5/10): While not the most expensive option, it is certainly not the cheapest option on this list.
- Customer Feedback (9/10): Over 2,200 reviews averaging 4.5 stars give this a 9/10 rating. Most customers were impressed with the pine pellets, while others had issues with their absorbency and packaging.
- Product Variety (10/10): Small Pet Select has a wide variety of cat litter for cat owners of all kinds.
Price: $34.99
Size: 20 lbs
Material: Recycled paper
Dimension: 24” x 16” x 8”
Item Weight: 20 lbs
Style: Indoor
Scented: Unscented
Color: Grey
Pet: Cat
Lifestage: All life stages
Storage Instructions: Store in a dry place at room temperature
Product Use Instruction: Gradually change from old to a new litter. Start by filling the litter box with an 80% Small Pet Select Cat Litter, then spread the old litter over the top. Over time you can spread out an even layer of litter about 2 inches thick in the litter box. Clean out clumps daily and replace litter when it is soiled, or there is not much left in the box.
Summary: Made of recycled paper, this eco-friendly cat litter is non-toxic and dust-free. It is made to absorb three times more than clay cat litter and contains no baking soda. Instead, the paper pellets trap moisture inside them and lock away aromas that could offend the nose.
These cat litter pellets are made by Small Pet Select, the same as the previous entry, so you know it is made with natural and safe ingredients for small pets everywhere.
- Non-toxic and dust-free
- Made of recycled paper
- Contains no baking soda
- Absorbs bad feces scents
- Budget-friendly price
- The paper pellets can degrade quickly if the litter box is not cleaned frequently
- Since it is a recycled product, it is possible for other debris and trash to be mixed in with the litter
Customer Reviews: Happy customers loved this cat litter for its absorbency and odor control. Cat owners with Tidy Cats Breeze Cat Litter Box System said it worked for them, and owners of small pets, like rabbits and ferrets, mentioned how well it served their purposes too.
However, one in five reviews was more critical of the cat litter, with the chief complaint being about the smell. These pet owners did not like the odor of the recycled paper and complained of things like rubber bands and plastic bits in the litter.
Veterinarians.org Review: Our team at veterinarians.org is giving Small Pet Select-Recycled Pelleted Paper Cat Litter an overall 7/10-star rating. The breakdown of our ratings is below:
- Pet Suitability (7/10): While we experienced good odor control and moisture absorption, this does not seem to be the case for about 20% of buyers. Numerous reviews also stated there was trash in the litter, which is not ideal and lowers the rating.
- Material Quality (7/10): For the same reasons as listed above, although it should be noted that we love the recycled aspect of this cat litter.
- Cost Effectiveness (5/10): While not the most expensive option, it is certainly not the cheapest option on this list.
- Customer Feedback (7/10): Roughly 70% of buyers rated this product highly, yet there were more than a few negative reviews with the same complaint.
- Product Variety (10/10): Small Pet Select has a wide variety of cat litter for cat owners of all kinds.
What Should I Look for in Cat Litter Pellets?
When shopping for cat litter pellets, consider the following features:
- Natural Ingredients: Pellet litter should be made of natural ingredients and biodegradable to ensure the safety of you and your cat as well as presenting a minimal environmental impact.
- Dust Control: Pine pellets can be rather dusty when you scoop them or refill the litter box. Paper is less dusty but has its own downsides.
- High Absorbency: The more absorbent a litter is the better it will control odors and keep bacteria in check. This is important as bacteria can cause cat urinary tract infections.
How Often Should You Change Cat Litter Pellets?
You should change cat litter pellets as often as needed.
The frequency may vary depending on the number of cats in a household and their size. Change the litter when it is soiled or when the manufacturer’s instructions tell you to.
Always follow the instructions if you are unsure when or how to clean and change a cat’s litter box.
- No Harsh Chemicals – just Natural Pine plus the added benefits of Baking Soda!
- Highly Absorbent pine pellets to keep your cat’s litter box fresh and dry
- Low Dust and Lightweight (Less than half the weight of clay litter!
