7 Best Natural (Eco-Friendly) Cat Litters that are Biodegradable in 2024

Natural cat litter is not only safe for cats, but also for the environment. It’s hard to beat a cat litter that will be healthy for both the planet and your kitty friends. Luckily there are a plethora of natural cat litter types to choose from, so all you have to determine is which one your cat will like best!

Using a natural cat litter is beneficial to the health of your cat and our planet. Millions of pounds of clay litter end up in landfills each year, and you help decrease that number by using a natural kitty litter. In this article we discuss why natural cat litters could potentially be the best choice for your feline friend. We’ve also composed a list of the seven best natural cat litters to make your search a litter easier!

5 Benefits of Using Natural Litters for Cats

While natural cat litters may not be the most cost-effective option, they are definitely the healthiest for cats. Natural kitty litter is also environmentally-friendly, so you can’t go wrong by choosing to use one for your cat. We’ve outlined some of the benefits of using a eco friendly cat litter.

1. Biodegradable: Natural kitty litters won’t harm the environment like traditional clay litters will. Many biodegradable cat litters can decompose into the Earth in as little as one month!
2. Flushable: Natural cat litters are often flushable, which means they are safe to dispose of via a septic or sewer system. Be sure to check labeling on your cat litter to make sure that it is indeed safe to flush.
3. Dust free: Typically a natural cat litter will be dust free or low dust. Since they won’t contain silica dust or icky residues, your cat won’t kick up a cloud when using their litter box. Dust free litter is fantastic to keep your cat’s respiratory system healthy.
4. Odor control: Materials like pine and walnut are have phenomenal natural odor control properties. No need for scented litters or added fragrances when you use a high-quality compostable litter. Some cat litters even have a light, natural scent if they are made from pine or reclaimed lumber.
5. High absorbency: Cat litter made from natural materials such as walnut, paper and corn are tremendously absorbent materials. No need for added chemicals when you have a renewable resources doing the work sufficiently!

Speaking of materials, below we discuss the different types of natural kitty litter that are available for purchase.

Different Types of Natural Cat Litter

Natural litters can be derived from a variety of materials and blends of ingredients. A good eco friendly cat litter will be made up of one or more of the following materials:

• Wood
• Corn
• Wheat
• Grass
• Pine
• Cedar
• Paper
• Walnut

Sometimes a environmentally friendly cat litter may contain two ingredients, like corn and pine. Even if a litter is made from a blend of multiple natural ingredients, it’s still considered to be natural. If a cat litter has a mixture of wood and crystals, for example, it’s no longer considered to be natural because it’s not completely biodegradable or eco-friendly.

5 Components to Look for in a Natural Cat Litter

You’ve decided you want to try out a natural litter for your feline friends. We know there seems to be an endless list of eco friendly cat litter options. To narrow down your choice, here are some more components to look into when picking out a good natural kitty litter.

1. Pellets: Natural cat litter is widely available in pellet form. Pellets are nice for cats with long hair, and they tend to be highly absorbent. Often times eco friendly pellet litter can also be used for guinea pigs, ferrets and other small animals.
2. Small granules: If you buy a natural cat litter with small grains, you can bet that they will have a soft consistency which will be gentle for any cat’s paws. Small grain litter also works in sifting and mechanical litter boxes.
3. Flushable: A majority of environmentally friendly litters are flushable. If you like this idea, you’ll want to choose a cat litter that specifically states it can be flushed. Be sure to check your litter’s instructions before flushing. Some flushable cat litters are not safe to be disposed of via septic system.
4. Additives: Natural kitty litter will be free of all additives, including fragrances, chemicals, silica dust and dyes.
5. Clumping: If you like a litter that clumps for easy scooping, you will want to choose a eco friendly cat litter that clearly states that it is a clumping formula. If it isn’t labeled as clumping, you can assume it’s non-clumping. Keep in mind that pellet litters will not clump.

Overall Best Natural Cat Litter

Our 2024 Picks: Best Environmentally Friendly Cat Litters
	SWheat Scoop Natural Fast-Clumping Wheat Cat Litter Made from 100% wheat Biodegradable Price: $1.03/lb	CHECK PRICE
	Okocat Super Soft Clumping Wood Cat Litter Lightweight Biodegradable Price:  $1.37/lb	CHECK PRICE
	Garfield Cat Litter Tiny Grains Flushable Cat Litter 100% natural, renewable resources White color to detect changes in urination Price:  $1.23/lb	CHECK PRICE
	Naturally Fresh Walnut-Based Quick-Clumping Cat Litter All-natural walnut based litter Great pick for multi-cat households Price:  $0.73/lb	CHECK PRICE
	Frisco All Natural Grass Clumping Litter Ultra-tiny granules will be soft on any cat’s paws Recommended for multi-cat homes Price:  $1.23/lb	CHECK PRICE
	Okocat Natural Paper Dust Free Cat Litter Great for households with allergy sensitivities Packaging is biodegradable Price:  $2.51/lb	CHECK PRICE
	Zero Mess By World’s Best Advanced Cat Litter 100% natural corn and plant fiber blend Small granules are powerful for odor control Price:  $1.42/lb	CHECK PRICE

sWheat Scoop Natural Fast-Clumping Wheat Cat Litter

Key Benefits:

• Made from 100% wheat
• Biodegradable
• Flushable
• Wheat offers fast clumping action
• Fine texture is gentle on paws

This natural wheat cat litter is 100% natural and biodegradable. The wheat starches cause moisture and liquid to quickly clump, making tidying up your cat’s litter box easy and low-stress. sWheat Scoop is free of chemicals, dyes and perfumes. It doesn’t have any silica dust, so that is a great natural kitty litter for kitties with allergies.

sWheat Scoop natural cat litter is eco-friendly and safe for your sensitive cats. We like that you can easily dispose of the litter by composting it or flushing it down the toilet. This cat litter won’t clog up landfills since it’s biodegradable, and our planet can use all the help it can get. For a high-quality, eco-friendly, natural kitty litter, this is our top pick.

Pros:

• 100% natural wheat
• Flushable
• Eco-friendly
• Effective clumping and odor control
• Works well for kittens or post-surgical cats
• Can be used in a mechanical litter box

Cons:

• Not recommended for cats with long hair, as the tiny grains can become matted in their fur.

Okocat Super Soft Clumping Wood Cat Litter

Key Benefits:

• Lightweight
• Biodegradable
• Made from 100% reclaimed fibers
• Made with Odor Shield Technology
• High absorbency

Runner-Up Best Compostable Litter: Okocat is an environmentally-friendly cat litter which is made from 100% natural materials. It’s free of chemicals and dyes, making it biodegradable. Okocat cat litters are created with Odor Shield Technology to fight and absorb odors for up to seven days. Superior clumping action makes cleanup a breeze, and it’s great for multi-cat households.

Okocat wood cat litter is extra soft for all types of cat paws. Whether you have a kitten or elderly kitty at home, this environmentally friendly cat litter will be gentle on their paws. The soft texture also means that this natural cat litter is super lightweight. Disposing of the litter and replenishing it is easy with the handy, compostable container. If your cat prefers a natural wood cat litter, the Okocat Super Soft Clumping Wood Cat Litter is our favorite.

Pros:

• Lightweight
• Comes in a compostable box
• Biodegradable
• 100% natural
• Soft on your cat’s paws

Cons:

• Not best for mechanical litter boxes
• Not suggested for long hair cats

Garfield Cat Litter Tiny Grains Flushable Cat Litter

Key Benefits:

• 100% natural, renewable resources
• Biodegradable
• High absorbency
• Dust free
• White color to detect changes in urination

Best Budget-Friendly Natural Cat Litter: Garfield Tiny Grains cat litter is made from 100% natural resources, which makes it not only biodegradable but also flushable. Not only are the tiny granules safe to flush, but they are also super soft on your cat’s paws. This Garfield cat litter offers odor control through natural plant-based grains, rather than chemicals or fragrances.

What makes this natural cat litter unique is its white color. The white hue is helpful because you can easily detect changes in your cat’s urination. Garfield Tiny Grains natural cat litter is low dust, and the granules are small enough to use in a mechanical litter box. It also offers solid clumping action for easy scooping.

Pros:

• Biodegradable AND flushable
• Unique white colors
• Dust free
• Tiny grains are soft on paws
• Good for mechanical litter boxes

Cons:

• Not the best choice for cats with long hair

4 More Top Rated Natural Kitty Litters

Naturally Fresh Walnut-Based Quick-Clumping Cat Litter

This cat litter is an all-natural walnut based litter. Materials in walnut shells naturally reduce and eliminate strong odors, making it a great pick for multi-cat households. The fine walnut grains are gentle on kitty paws and purrfect for a sifting or mechanical litter box. This natural cat litter is dust free, so it’s a fitting choice for sensitive cats who have allergies or asthma. Naturally Fresh Walnut-Based cat litter is a clumping litter so it’s easy to maintain.

Frisco All Natural Grass Clumping Litter

Frisco natural grass cat litter is eco-friendly because it’s 100% natural and biodegradable. The ultra-tiny granules will be soft on any cat’s paws while also forming tight clumps for simple cleanup. This natural grass cat litter offers a fresh smell without added fragrances or perfumes. We recommend this Frisco natural litter for homes with multiple cats, as it has high yield and absorbency. If you’re looking for a great natural litter alternative, this Frisco grass option is a great choice!

Okocat Natural Paper Dust Free Cat Litter

Another Okocat litter makes our best natural cat litter list! Paper cat litters are great for households with allergy sensitivities. The large pellets also work nicely for kitties with long hair. Like all Okocat litters, this natural paper cat litter is built with Odor Shield Technology for premium odor control. The natural litter is lightweight yet extremely absorbent. Not only is this Okocat cat litter biodegradable, but so is the packaging!

Zero Mess by World’s Best Advanced Cat Litter

Zero Mess is an excellent natural cat litter. Comprised of a 100% natural corn and plant fiber blend, this litter is dust free and super absorbent. It’s designed for multi-cat households with its lightweight, quick clumping formula. We like that you can flush this litter for easy cleanup, and since it’s 100% natural, it won’t harm the environment. The small granules are powerful for odor control and can be used in a mechanical litter box.

Frequently Asked Questions

• Are natural cat litters the safest? – Natural cat litters are generally the safest for cats because they typically don’t contain any toxins, chemicals, dyes or fragrances. Natural litters for cats tend to be dust free, which is helpful for cats with allergies. They also won’t likely cause harm if a small bit is accidentally ingested by your cat.
• How will I know if my cat litter is natural? – If your cat litter is natural, it will be made from 100% renewable resources such as the ones we listed at the top of this article. The packaging and label on the cat litter will also clearly state if it is natural or biodegradable. If your cat litter’s labeling doesn’t clearly state that the litter is biodegradable, it’s safe to assume that you need to dispose of it like a standard litter.
• Are all environmentally friendly flushable? – Not all environmentally friendly cat litters are flushable. If you buy a natural pellet litter, they cannot be flushed because they will easily clog pipes. You will need to check individual packaging to determine whether or not your litter can be flushed.

Conclusion

While natural cat litters may be the latest craze, we hope that they are here to stay. The eco-friendly benefits make natural cat litters hard to pass up. We love that natural cat litters are biodegradable, and you can even compost them yourself if you do so choose! Some cats are picky when it comes to making a pit stop at their litter box and they all have preferences. Thankfully natural cat litters are available in a wide variety of granule size and textures.

It’s crucial for everyone’s respiratory health that you keep your cat’s litter box in a well ventilated area. You’ll want to completely clean out and hand wash your cat’s litter box every two weeks. Don’t forget to thoroughly wash your hands after scooping, cleaning and replenishing your cat’s litter box. Feline fecal matter can potentially spread harmful bacteria.