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Cats don’t like messy litter boxes, and you probably don’t like dealing with them either. To make cleaning up after your cat easier, the best non-tracking cat litters will prevent them from spreading dirty messes all over your home. Non-tracking litters are available in clumping and crystal styles, with and without scents, so you can find the one that works best for your cat.
A lot of brands claim their litter won't track when your cat hops out of their box, but there are a few key specifics you should look for on the label. For one, a clumping litter will stick together tightly so it’s less likely to break loose and make a mess. It also helps if the litter is composed of larger particles or crystals that won't get stuck to your kitty's paws on the way out.
You also have to consider your personal preferences (and let's be honest — your cat's, too). Cat litter tends to have a pretty strong scent overall, but luckily there are some excellent unscented non-tracking cat litters out there. Or if your cat has allergies or sensitive skin, be on the lookout for hypoallergenic litter that won't irritate their paws.
At the end of the day, it's important to keep cleanup stress-free while making your cat happy. Here are some great non-tracking cat litters to keep your home mess-free.
1
Best Overall: Dr. Elsey's Premium Clumping Cat Litter
Over 28,000 Amazon shoppers have given this premium cat litter five stars, and for good reason: It keeps almost every litter grain in the box. For one, it's 99% dust-free and hard-clumping so the clay sticks together and not to your cat's paws. On top of that, it's completely hypoallergenic for you and your kitty, and the medium-sized grains are small enough that you can use this litter in mechanical litter boxes, yet big enough that they won't track out of the box.
According to one reviewer: "Using this [...] for the first time tonight was such a refreshing experience, as there was no odor, no dust, no tracking, and the litter even formed a more solid sustainable block that my huge stainless steel scoop could easily run through and scoop up!!”
2
Best For Sensitive Skin Or Allergies: Purina Yesterday's News Unscented Paper Cat Litter
This highly absorbent litter is excellent for cats that may have allergies or sensitive skin. It's chemical-free, nontoxic, and doesn't have any additives or scents that might irritate your cat's skin. It's made from recycled paper and features larger pellets that won't cling to your cat's paws the way finer, sand-like litters do. The paper pellets also allow for triple the absorption to keep their litter box totally dry and clean.
According to one reviewer: "I hate most litter options out there because my cat instantly makes a mess as soon as they use it. This litter is the cleanest and easiest to clean out there. As the litter [absorbs] liquid, it breaks apart and falls to the bottom of the litter box so there is always clean litter at the top and my cats don't track litter clumps around the house.”
3
Editor’s Pick: Arm & Hammer Clump & Seal Platinum Cat Litter
For easy cleanup and odor control, Bustle editor Cristina Sanza recommends this odor-busting cat litter. The gentle, fresh-scent formula and moisture-locking technology work together to create small, hard clumps that are easy to clean up. They also create a tight seal around the clumps to trap in any odors, keeping your litter box smelling fresh for up to seven days, even with multiple cats. Plus, this formula is completely dust-free, making it a great pick for both you and your cats.
According to one reviewer: "I need a clumping litter that isn't super dusty or smelly due to my horrible allergies and 2 of my cats with asthma. This has been the litter that no matter how many other ones I try I always come back to. It tracks the least, clumps well and eliminates the odors pretty well.”
4
Best Scented Cat Litter: Fresh Step Clean Paws Multi-Cat Litter
The low-tracking formula of this clumping cat litter is made with larger clay particles that won’t stick to cat’s paws after using the litter box. It’s also 99.9% dust-free. The cat litter is infused with Febreeze in a fresh scent and has odor-blocking technology that keeps smells at bay for up to 10 days — a plus if you have more than one pet using the litter box. Another bonus if you have multiple cats: The litter forms tight clumps that are easy to scoop up, making clean up a breeze.
According to one reviewer: "Best litter I’ve ever purchased, no more litter tracked all over my house, scoops easy, clumps well, and keeps litter box odors in a multi-cat household in check!”
5
Best Crystal Cat Litter: Ultrapet Ultra Micro Crystals Cat Litter
Lots of cat owners prefer to use crystal litter like this one because it’s made from nontoxic silica gel that naturally absorbs odors and moisture, and it’s gentle on your cat’s paws, too. The crystal particles are low-tracking, fragrance-free, and 99.9% dust-free. While this litter is more expensive per pound than other options on this list, one bag can last up to a month for one cat, so you may be able to change the litter less often.
According to one reviewer: “I get four weeks of use from this brand in a one cat household. Works very well for four weeks, low dust, small amount of tracking. No urine smells, no poo smells. I scoop and stir twice a week.”
6
Best Flushable Cat Litter: World’s Best Cat Litter
If you prefer a flushable, natural option, but love the ease of clumping litter, this septic-safe corn-based litter has the best of both worlds. The lightweight, 99% dust-free, unscented formula traps odors naturally and makes easy-to-scoop clumps from kitty’s waste. It’s a popular choice on Amazon and has a 4.7-star overall rating with more than 2,000 reviews.
According to one reviewer: "I've tried a few different brands of litter and this one works best for us. Our older diabetic cat urinates quite a bit, and was getting litter stuck to her paws and coat. I got the original Worlds Best and the absorption and clumping works fantastic. Much cleaner paws, less floor tracking.”
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