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Most cat parents agree that the best cat litter is the one your cat is happy to use. But if you have more than one kitty, that may be a little more complicated. Finding a cat litter that can also stand up to frequent visits from one, two, three—or more—kitties is essential.
To better understand the needs of multi-cat households (and narrow down the vast cat litter options), we recently spoke with Dr. Sabrina Kong, DVM, a veterinarian, dog trainer, and expert contributor at We Love Doodles who also regularly cares for feline patients. With Dr. Kong’s advice in mind, we’ve gathered a list of litters developed especially for your situation.
Not sure where to start? Hop down to our explainer on how multi-cat litters work.
Best Clumping Multi-Cat Litter: World’s Best Unscented Clumping Corn Litter
This biodegradable corn-based litter hits both of Dr. Kong’s recommendations, with rave reviews for its excellent clumping and odor control. Made of all-natural ingredients, it’s flushable as long as your plumber and local sewer authority approve. You’ll need to watch out for excessive humidity around the litter box and storage, as aflatoxin mold can form on warm, moist corn. However, as long as your litter is stored and used in a cool dry place, this is a great choice for cats of all ages.
What we like about it:
- Made of biodegradable corn
- Low-dust clumping formula to trap moisture
- Effective odor control
- Unscented, but also available in Lavender and Lotus Blossom scents
- Package sizes start under 10-pounds to try out affordably
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Best Unscented: Dr. Elsey’s Ultra Premium Clumping Clay Litter
Many cat owners don’t want to smell anything at all—good or bad—from their cat’s litter. An unscented litter like this all-natural, clumping clay option is key to a scent-free litter box. It gets top ratings for keeping things smelling fresh around the house. Plus, it’s 99% dust-free, and the granules are heavy, which means less tracking on your carpet. The litter works well with a variety of litter boxes, including sifting and mechanical boxes. Please note, however, that clay litter is not safe for kittens.
What to know about this litter:
- Unscented, with no perfumes or deodorants
- Almost completely dust-free
- Clumping ingredients prevent moisture from reaching the bottom of the litter box
- Clay formula made of natural materials
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Best Scented: PrettyLitter Scented Health Monitoring Crystal Cat Litter
Pretty Litter is known for their innovative health monitoring litters, which change color in response to certain compounds in your cat’s waste. This version is rated for multiple cats and features a pleasant lotus flower scent. It’s made of silica gel crystals (a top choice for reducing dust) and well-reviewed for its odor-absorbing qualities. Per-pound, the price is a little higher than most, but don’t let that deter you. Silica gel is lightweight, and many reviewers say it stays fresh longer than other litters they’ve tried. The only drawback? Some cats just don’t like it, which, as Dr. Kong noted, is a risk with perfumed litters. It also doesn’t clump—silica litters require daily stirring to distribute any liquid waste, making it best for dedicated litter box cleaners.
What to know about this litter:
- Features a light lotus flower scent
- Lightweight silica gel crystal formula
- Non-clumping formula requires daily stirring
- Available in an 8-pound bag
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Best for Odor Control: Arm & Hammer Clump & Seal Multi-Cat Litter
As noted above, when you have several cats (or even one that’s extra stinky), a powerful odor-fighting litter is key to a clean-smelling home. This heavy-duty litter is designed for multi-cat homes by Arm & Hammer, a brand that’s nearly synonymous with odor control. Its moisture-activated “microgranules” create a tight seal around waste, while baking soda crystals absorb odor.
One reviewer described the texture as sandy, while several noted that the clumps are softer than with other litters. The litter’s own scent is somewhat divisive among pet parents (and their cats), but the odor-busting properties get top marks.
What to know about this litter:
- Seven-day “no-odor” guarantee
- Firm clumps make cleanup easy
- Made with scented, plant-based microgranules and baking soda crystals
- Fully dust-free
- Available in a 14-pound, 19-pound, 28-pound, and 38-pound box
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Best Biodegradable: Naturally Fresh Clumping Walnut Litter
This surprising alternative litter is great for eco-conscious pet parents who don’t want to sacrifice the effectiveness of traditional options for their crew. It’s made of naturally-absorbent walnut shells, which soak up as much as three times what clay litters can handle.
The litter is made with USA-grown walnuts and packaged in recycled paper. More importantly, it’s clumping and includes a natural probiotic that neutralizes odor from your cats’ waste. It’s not scented, but many reviewers describe the litter’s smell as “earthy.” They also report that the litter creates minimal dust, though the pellets can get messy as they start to break down.
What to know about this litter:
- Forms tight, strong clumps that are easy to scoop
- Highly absorbent for long-lasting freshness
- All-natural, eco-friendly, and dust-free formula
- Made of biodegradable walnut shells can be flushed if local regulations allow
- Available in a 14-pound or 26-pound bag
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Best Lightweight: Ökocat Natural Wood Cat Litter
Here’s another innovative clumping litter that checks all the boxes. This one made from 100% wood fibers. It’s biodegradable, unscented, and 99% dust free, which means that it will appeal to households with allergies and fragrance sensitivities. When you’re cleaning up after multiple cats, the weight of it can really add up, but the wood fibers make this litter lightweight.
Some reviewers did note that the large size of the wood pieces can make scooping more challenging, and the jury is still out on whether this litter tracks badly or not at all. Even so, pet parents say it lives up to its dust-free and odor-free claims, even in homes with multiple cats.
What to know about this litter:
- Made of lightweight wood for natural odor control and absorbency
- Unscented nad free of chemicals, dyes, and fragrances
- Biodegradable clumping formula can be flushed if local regulations allow
- 99% dust free
- Available in a variety of package sizes, starting under 10-pounds
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Best Budget: Tidy Cats 24/7 Performance Clumping Litter
Calculating the overall cost of your cat’s litter isn’t quite as straightforward as weighing price-per-pound, but it’s a helpful starting point. This scented clay clumping litter is on the lower end of that calculation. It gets the job done—and does it well—without emptying your wallet.
It hits both of Dr. Kong’s recommendations for clumping and odor control, with a good reputation among reviewers for masking unpleasant litter box smells. While some reviewers found that the clumps weren’t quite as firm as they’d prefer, most were impressed by its overall effectiveness, especially at a low price.
What to know about this litter:
- Eliminates ammonia, urine, and fecal smells
- Clumping clay-based formula for easy scooping
- Lightly scented
- Low-dust
- Wide range of packaging options: jugs, bags, or a 35-pound bucket
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The Nitty Gritty of Cat Litter for Multiple Cats
Many cat litters say “multi-cat” right on the box, but what does that actually mean? Dr. Kong explains: “Multi-cat litters are specially formulated to handle the increased waste volume and odor from multiple feline residents. They often have stronger clumping abilities and enhanced odor control. The multi-cat label typically indicates that the litter is designed to tackle the heightened demands of a busier litter box.”
How many litter boxes are needed for multiple cats?
Veterinary experts, including Dr. Kong, generally recommend that your household have at least one litter box per cat—ideally in separate areas of the house. That gives your cats privacy, increases litter access, and prevents a territorial kitty from dominating access to the box. Dr. Kong says that some families even employ what she calls the “n+1 rule,” explaining that the “n” stands for the number of cats in your home: “So if you have two cats, you’d have three litter boxes.”
What to look for in multi-cat litter
Often, at least one of your cats will decide they want to shop around. This can put a heavy burden on the most popular gathering spot. Smell is a huge concern in multi-cat households, whether your cats are all using one box or more. Therefore, Dr. Kong says that an odor-controlling litter is critical. Some litters are even scented to counteract the unpleasant smell of ammonia with something nicer, though she warns that some fragrances may be off-putting to cats.
For more efficient clean-up, Dr. Kong also recommends a clumping litter. Clumping cat litter solidifies liquid waste into hard, scoopable clumps, which makes it easier to remove from the litter box. Solid waste should be scooped from a litter box on a daily basis, especially with more than cat in the house. Regular scooping will keep your fussiest kitties happy, and it will reduce litter box odors, especially if you have one of those cats that refuses to bury anything.
Still, we all know that there are times we just can’t keep up with the litter box. With more than one cat, it can add up quickly, so we all need a litter that can stand up to a day without attention—without stinking up the whole house. That’s where a good multi-cat litter comes in.
Tips for Testing Out a New Litter
Ultimately, the best cat litter for multiple cats depends on what they respond well to—and what they’ll use. “Monitoring your cats’ reactions when introducing a new litter is very very important!” says Dr. Kong.
When introducing a new cat litter, always take things slow. A multi-cat, multi-litter-box household is a huge advantage in litter transitions, as you can try some of the new litter in one box while leaving the other (or others) alone. Mix a little of the new litter in with your current brand and see how your cats do. If they give you the paws up—and the litter meets your expectations—you can continue to refresh that box with the new product. Then repeat the process with the rest of the litter boxes.
How We Chose
The products featured here were selected based on a combination of our own hands-on testing, a comprehensive look at customer reviews across a wide variety of retail platforms, and our interview with expert Dr. Sabrina Kong DVM. We prioritized powerful odor control and clumping abilities, while also considering the dust levels, tracking, and availability. Our selections are also always guided by the experience of living and playing alongside our own much-loved and strongly opinionated pets, who are never stingy with their feedback.