What is the most unpleasant aspect of cat care? We know your mind went directly to the litter box. Unless you have trained your kitty to do a Meet the Fockers style squat and shimmy on the toilet, you are probably a slave to your pet’s lavatory.
That being said, the only thing worse than looking after a litter box is cleaning up after one that is used by multiple cats. The difference between one and two (and we don’t mean what is going into the box) can be significant. If you have three or four furballs using the box, we see strong room sprays and industrial gloves in your future.
So, what makes a difference? The litter! If you are not using a good litter, you might as well be using sand.
Easy, right? Not so fast. Finding a good litter can be more difficult than you think. Not to worry though, we have reviewed the 10 best cat litters for multiple cats. We will give you the skinny on the effectiveness, clumping ability, odor, and dust accumulation. Plus, we added a buyer’s guide. So, what are you waiting for?
Our overall favorite choice if you have multiple cats is the Purina Tidy Cats 4-in-1 Clumping Cat Litter. Made of natural, unscented, lightweight clay, it comes in an easy to pour recyclable 17-pound box.
This litter has great clumping action and is easy to clean. It will also eliminate odors on three levels, so you no longer have to deal with the smell of ammonia, urine, or fecal matter. Not only that, but there is very little dust when you pour, scoop, or when your kitty does their customary kick flush.
The Purina litter will control odors for up to two weeks. The highly absorbent clay makes it easy to clean the box out completely, plus you can say goodbye to litter tracks throughout your home. To put it bluntly, this is the best multi cat litter available if you have two or more furry felines.
Pros
Controls odors for two weeks
Highly absorbent
Easy to scoop
Very little dust
Does not track
Lightweight
Cons
None we can think of
2. Fresh Step Multi-Cat Clumping Litter – Best Value
The cost of caring for more than one cat can be high, so an affordable option that works is key. The Fresh Step Multi-Cat Clumping Litter is the best cat litter for multiple cats for the money.
The Fresh Step comes in either a 14-, 18.5-, 20-, 34-, or 37-pound bag. You can also choose between three Febreze scents that help trap and eliminate odors from ammonia, urine, and poop smells. When your kitty uses the box, the scent is activated when they dig.
Beyond that, this clay litter uses activated charcoal to neutralize smells. The clay produces hard and easy to scoop clumps, and it is very absorbent. What’s more, there is also little to no dust, so you and your pet will breathe easy.
Like our top option, the Fresh Step is lightweight, but the odor control only lasts for ten days. Other than that, this is a great choice for best litter for multiple cats if you are on a budget.
The World’s Best Cat Litter is a natural product made of whole kernel corn. It is available in five sizes ranging up to a 28-pound bag. You also have the option of a lavender scent; plus, it’s pet, people, and planet-friendly.
The corn kernels and lavender scent provide excellent odor control with all three unpleasant smells that come from your litter box. The smell protection will also last up to 45 days with three cats using the same facility. It is even longer with two or one pets.
One thing to note about the World’s Best is that it is more expensive. On the other hand, it is septic and sewer safe, so you can flush the clumps right down the toilet. What’s more, the litter won’t get stuck to your feline’s paws, and it makes hard and fast clumps that are easy to scoop.
This formula is lightweight, and 99% dust-free. Also, as it is made with corn instead of clay, there is no silica dust, whatsoever. The only drawback to this option is it is not quite as absorbent as our top litter. Otherwise, this is a great litter especially if you keep your cat box next to the toilet.
If you prefer to go with a product that is manufactured responsibly, you will like the ARM & HAMMER Clump & Seal Platinum Cat Litter. The outer carton is recyclable, plus it is made with 100% renewable energy. The clay formula is also made with plant-derived particles.
The ARM & HAMMER uses baking soda to eliminate cat box odors in your home, although it only lasts for seven days. It has moisture activated micro granules that provide rock hard and easy to scoop clumps. The litter is very absorbent, plus it’s lightweight. You won’t have to break your back to empty the box any longer.
Available in a 27.5- or 40-pound bag, this is a good option for low tracking, but it is not 100 percent dust-free as it claims. In fact, the clay produces more dust than our top three options, however, it is not as bad as some others.
The Dr. Elsey’s Premium Clumping Cat Litter is a good brand to pick up if you have a mechanically sifting cat box. Not only can you use this option in a regular kitty litter box, but it can also be used in any other box, as well.
Right off the bat, you want to note that this litter has some additional dust, so it may not be a great choice if you or your kitty has allergies. Besides that, though, it is a natural clay formula with no perfumes (although it does come in a paw activated fresh scent).
You can pick the Dr. Elsey’s up in an 18- or 40-pound bag that is made in the USA. The absorbent formula creates hard clumps, and it is easy to scoop. What’s more, the litter will eliminate odors due to ammonia, urine, and fecal matter, but you will need to change the box every few days.
As a final note, this brand is heavier than others. Be aware that emptying the entire box will create a very heavy bag that you will need to lug out to the trash.
In this next review, the Naturally Fresh Multi-Cat Quick-Clumping Cat Litter, you have four varieties to choose from, but we prefer the Ultra Odor Control for multiple cats. It is unscented, but it prevents the smell of the kitty box from invading your home. It also comes in either a 6-, 14-, or 26-pound bag.
Made in the USA, this formula uses all-natural and 100 percent biodegradable ground, organic walnut shells. There are no GMO-ingredients, as well as, no clay, corn, or grains. That being said, even though there is no silica dust, there is still some that is brown, and it can stain if it gets on light fabrics. What’s worse, it does tend to stick on your cat’s paws, so it will track.
The Naturally Fresh litter is absorbent, although, it does not clump as well as some other options. Plus, it can take more than 15 minutes for the junks to form. It has a natural woodsy, walnut smell and provides up to ten days of odor control. The only other drawback to this litter is the packaging is not recyclable.
The Cat’s Pride Fresh & Light Multi-Cat Litter is available in a 10-pound jug. This is a clay litter that is advertised to be 99 percent dust-free. Unfortunately, the dust from this product is quite strong and will get everywhere when you pour it or with digging movements from your pet.
That being said, the litter has a fresh scent that is powered by baking soda to keep the ammonia and poo odors to a minimum. Though it does a credible job of keeping the cat box fresh, it will need to be changed every few days. On a brighter note, it is not a product that gets tracked through the home.
The Cat’s Pride is only available in the 10-pound bag, as it is meant to be equivalent to a 20-pound bag. As we mentioned, however, this is not the case, and you will find yourself going through a lot of litter.
Nevertheless, this clay formula provides good clumping action. In case you are keeping count, you are able to get 140 scoops out of one bag, but we feel that might be a bit high. Finally, you should also note that this litter is heavy compared to others.
Made in the USA, the Boxiecat Premium Clumping Cat Litter is designed to be used in all types of cat boxes. It is unscented and comes in either a 16- or 28-pound bag that is resealable. This brand is unique as it creates a hard layer of clumps on the surface of the box.
What is unfortunate is, although the clumps are easy to scoop, the clay is not absorbent, so anything that makes its way to the bottom of the box will create a muddy mess. Also due to this, the odor control is not as strong and does not last longer than two to three days.
To give credit where credit is due, the Boxiecat is lightweight. What’s more, if your feline stays on the top of the litter, it will not get stuck on their paws, but if they prefer to dig (as most cats do), you will find the unabsorbed litter throughout your home.
You also want to note that there is a decent amount of silica dust with this formula, though it is said to be 99.9 percent dust-free and hypoallergenic. If you have allergies, or your pet has respiratory issues, this is not a good product for you.
In the second to last position is Nature’s Miracle Multi-Cat Clumping Clay Litter. You can pick this product up in a 20- or 40-pound bag. This is a clay litter with a fresh linen scent that says it is 99 percent dust-free. Unfortunately, this is not the case as there is a considerable amount of dust.
Nature’s Miracle is a good one for sticking to your puss’s paws. Not only does it track through the house, but it is also grainy and sharper than other options. It can be uncomfortable for your cat, as well. To shine a little light on the product, though, you are able to recycle the packaging.
The other issue with this litter is it does not clump as it should. The clay itself does not absorb liquid, so you end up with a wet sand-like material that is hard to clean. It is lightweight, however. Also, although this formula has a fresh linen scent, it does not eliminate odors for long. The initial mess will be covered with the fragrances, but it does not neutralize the smells.
Our final pick is the sWheat Scoop Multi-Cat Formula Cat Litter. This is an interesting product because on the surface it has many things going for it. For example, it is a wheat-based litter that is a 100 percent renewable resource. There are no harmful ingredients, and it’s biodegradable with no dyes or fragrance. Plus, you can flush it down the toilet.
Unfortunately, the sWheat Scoop does not measure up in any other way except being eco-friendly. The wheat is not conducive to creating clumps. Although it will stick together, it does not harden. What’s worse, it sticks to everything especially if there is any moisture.
As far as odor control, it will mask the smell of urine, but it replaces the smell with a terrible wheat/ammonia fragrance that is worse. As mentioned, the litter turns into a dough-like consistency that we do not recommend flushing, although the brand says that it is safe for septic systems.
In general, the sWheat tends to make a bigger mess than any other option. It has quite a bit of dust for its eco-friendliness, yet the package is not recyclable. Plus, it is heavy. Overall, this is our least favorite choice for a cat litter for multiple cats.
Pros
All-natural
100% renewable resource
Cons
High dust
Does not clump
Does not eliminate odors
Easy to track
Heavy
Cannot flush
Buyer’s Guide: How to Pick the Best Cat Litter for Multiple Cats
Important Things to Know About Cat Litter
When it comes to our tabby’s, we want to make sure that we are providing the best care; and that includes their bathroom facilities. That being said, we also want to make sure that we are safe, as well.
One of the most dangerous things about your litter box is the fecal matter. Though we know it is gross, it can also have serious side effects. Toxoplasmosis is a parasitic disease that can be transmitted to humans through cat poop. Some people do not see any signs of the infection, but for those with immune deficiencies and women who are pregnant, it can be serious.
Besides that, silica dust (which is found in many litters) can be harmful. In concentrated forms, it can cause lung cancer. Thankfully, many litters have a low dust rating or are made of other ingredients, such as:
Corn: Ground corn is a common ingredient for cat litter. It is naturally absorbent and will help neutralize odors.
Clay: As we talked about, clay can let off a lot of dust if it is not formulated correctly. That being said, clay is natural, very absorbent, and does a great job at clumping and reducing odors.
Grains: Grains, such as wheat, can also be used. If it is not done correctly, though, it can be a bigger mess than what you started with. On the other hand, finely milled grains have the natural ability to harden but are typically not as good as removing odors.
Pine: Pine pellets are a great option if you need an odor-reducing litter. Unfortunately, it does not clump as well as other kinds, and it has a harder time absorbing liquid.
Shells: Shells such as walnuts are also used to create litter. Again, this formula tends to be lacking in some ways. For example, it can be harder and rougher on your kitty’s feet. Not to mention, if you have peanut allergies, it is a no-go.
Even with a clean and tidy litter box, you may still find yourself with kitty smells and stains around the house – but with the Hepper Advanced Bio-Enzyme Pet Stain & Odor Eliminator Spray, you can take care of it all. It permanently removes even the very worst stains and smells!Click here to learn more and get yourself a bottle.
At Excited Cats, we’ve admired Hepper for many years, and decided to take a controlling ownership interest so that we could benefit from the outstanding products of this cool cat company!
All of the different formulas have their pros and cons, but overall you want a product that is going to have the full package, which we will take a look at now…
What Makes a Good Product in This Category?
When it comes to your litter box, certain requirements need to be filled. You want a formula that will keep your home smelling fresh, and you want to avoid cleaning the cat box with a paint scraper and face mask.
Let’s take a look at some of the factors you should be looking for:
Clumping: A litter that creates nice, hard clumps is key. It makes cleaning the box so much easier and stops the moisture from mixing with the formula and creating a mess.
Odor Control: Odors are another important issue you want to control. The three scents you need to neutralize are ammonia, urine, and feces. Now here is the tricky part: although many litters have fragrance such as Febreze, you want to make sure the formula of the litter itself is going to neutralize and trap odors, otherwise, you are just masking the smell.
Tracking: If you have followed your tom’s paw prints throughout your house with a vacuum, you no the importance of a non-tracking formula. Not only does it cause a nasty mess, but the litter can have urine and poo on it.
Dust: Anyone with respiratory illnesses or allergies will definitely need a low dust formula. Even if you are in great health, the dust is not good to breathe in, plus it causes a mess. Be advised, though, there are very few REALLY dust-free litters. The ones that are (such as pine pellets) typically are lacking in other ways.
Conclusion
We hope you have enjoyed the reviews above on the best cat litter for multiple cats. We know that the number one thing cat owners try to achieve (besides a happy and healthy tabby) is the illusion that there is no litter box in the home. If this info has helped you take a step closer to that glorious state, we call it a job well done.
Christian is the Editor-in-Chief of Excited Cats and one of its original and primary contributors. A lifelong cat lover, now based in South East Asia, Christian and his wife are the proud parents of an 11-year-old son and four rescue cats: Trixie, Chloe, Sparky, and Chopper.
