Have you been searching for a cat litter that doesn't track? You're not alone! Cat litter is a notoriously messy substance, but it doesn’t have to be. Using a great non-tracking cat litter can prevent dust and litter granules from covering every inch of your living space. A clean home and litter box can keep you and your cat happy, and ultimately improve your all-important cat-human bond. On this list, we will show you our expert picks for the five best non-tracking cat litters on the market today.
Here at tuft + paw, we are cat experts. Over the last couple years, we've spent countless hours determining which litter features are most important to cats and cat parents alike. To compile this list, we drew on our own experience as cat experts and gathered further information from:
- Nicole Van Andel, cat behaviorist
- Megan Tieber, small animal veterinarian
- Kate Benjamin, founder of Hauspanther and New York Times bestselling author
- Adelle Dubblestyne, tuft + paw Senior Product Manager
- Dozens of cat parents
- Hundreds of first hand online reviews
Tip: For our complete list of tips for controlling litter tracking, check out our ultimate guide to stop litter tracking.
Cheat Sheet: The Best Non-Tracking Cat Litters
1) tuft + paw Really Great Cat Litter
| Pros | low tracking, very low dust, unscented, lightweight, flushable, biodegradable, eco-friendly, activated charcoal for odor control, paw-friendly texture vs other pellet litters |
| Cons | pricey, subscription only |
| Ingredients | soybean fiber, corn starch, corn flour, guar gum, charcoal |
| Price |
$29 for 9.5 lbs = $3.05/lb (shipping included)
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2) Feline Pine Original Non-Clumping Cat Litter
| Pros | low tracking, low dust, affordable, good odor control, lightweight, biodegradable, eco-friendly |
| Cons | uncomfortable texture, pine scent, can become dusty, hard to clean |
| Ingredients | pine sawdust |
| Price |
$21.50 for 40 lbs = $0.54/lb
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3) Fresh News Cat Litter
| Pros | low tracking, low dust, unscented, affordable, lightweight, biodegradable, eco-friendly |
| Cons | hard to clean, non-clumping, average odor control, uncomfortable texture |
| Ingredients | recycled paper, baking soda |
| Price |
$21.99 for 25 lbs = $0.88/lb
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4) ökocat Less Mess Clumping Wood Litter
| Pros | low tracking, low dust, affordable, lightweight, good odor control, biodegradable, eco-friendly, clumping |
| Cons | recent dust and crumbling issues, uncomfortable texture, soft clumping, pine scent |
| Ingredients | recycled spruce, fir, and pine fiber |
| Price | $24.99 for 21.5 lbs = $1.14/lb |
5) Purina Tidy Cats Original Breeze Litter System
| Pros | low tracking, virtually no dust, unscented, lightweight, comes with complete litter box setup, good odor control |
| Cons | uncomfortable texture, not eco-friendly, pellets are pricey |
| Ingredients | zeolite |
| Price | $42.98 |
What is Non-Tracking Cat Litter?
First, we should clarify that no cat litter is 100% non-tracking. The litters on this list are very low-tracking compared to others on the market. A low-tracking litter is one that is not easily carried out of the litter box by your cat, and therefore does not track all over your home.
Our Criteria for Choosing the Best Non-Tracking Cat Litters
The following criteria were developed in consultation with veterinarian Megan Teiber and cat behaviorist Nicole Van Andel.
- Tracking and dust — How much litter and dust ends up outside the litter box, and how far from the litter box it can get. Our most important category for this list.
- Scent — No artificially scented litters were included on this list. Unscented is always preferable. Scents natural to the litter material (ex. pine) are better than artificial scents, but still not ideal. Cats rely heavily on their sense of smell to interact with their surroundings, so strongly scented litter can be overwhelming to their sensitive snouts.
- Cat-friendly texture — The softer the better. Cats generally prefer litter that is soft and fine over litter that is made of large, firm pellets.
- Ease of cleaning — Clumping litter is usually easier to clean than non-clumping. Flushable litter is especially convenient, but always check if flushing cat litter is legal in your city.
- Odor control — Controlling urine smell is the key here, because no litter can truly neutralize the smell of solid waste.
- Non-toxic — No litters with harmful ingredients were included on this list.
- Eco-friendly material — Biodegradable and sustainably harvested materials were preferred.
- Price point — Along with the retail price, we also considered how quickly the litter is used up. Clumping litters usually last longer than non-clumping litters.
- Weight/ease of handling — How easy the litter is to transport, pour, and handle. Lightweight litters and litters available in smaller containers are generally easier to handle.
Our Expert Picks for the Best Non-Tracking Cat Litter
1) tuft + paw Really Great Cat Litter
Price: $29 for 9.5 lbs = $3.05/lb (shipping included)
Rating: 4.6/5 with 2200 reviews on tuft + paw
Ingredients: soybean fiber, corn starch, corn flour, guar gum, charcoal
Disclaimer: Yes, we included our own cat litter here. This is only because we think it performs excellently as a non-tracking litter. We subjected it to the same scrutiny as every other litter on this list and asked for honest opinions from experts.
The tuft + paw Really Great Cat Litter is a pellet litter made from soybean fiber. We find this litter to be very low tracking and very low dust. The pellets are thinner, lighter, and softer than most other pellet litters. This gives it a cat-friendly texture without sacrificing the low-tracking benefit of pellets.
Really Great Cat Litter is unscented and its activated charcoal makes it one of the best litters for odor control, especially among natural litters. It clumps quickly and dissolves in water, making it flushable and very easy to clean. The bag’s built-in handle helps with pouring and carrying the litter.
The main downside of Really Great Cat Litter is the price. At $29 for a 9.5lb bag, it is the most expensive litter on this list and may not be affordable for some cat parents. Households with multiple cats may want to opt for a cheaper alternative like pine pellet litter.
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2) Feline Pine Original Non-Clumping Cat Litter
Price: $21.49 for 40 lbs = $0.54/lb on Chewy
Rating: 4.2/5 with 2,700 Chewy reviews
Ingredients: pine sawdust
Feline Pine is a non-clumping wood pellet litter made from compressed pine sawdust. The pellets themselves track very little and are not dusty. However, when they absorb liquid waste they dissolve back into sawdust. Over time, this can lead to sawdust buildup in the litter box, which is more easily tracked than the unused pellets. We recommend pairing Feline Pine litter with a sifting litter box so that sawdust falls to the bottom and cannot be tracked around the house.
Feline Pine has a natural pine scent that controls odors well, but sensitive cats may not like the woody smell. Some cats might not like the paw feel of the large pellets, especially if transitioning from a finer litter.
Feline Pine’s biggest strength is its price. At only $0.59 per pound, it is the most affordable litter on this list. Thrifty cat parents can save even more money by buying generic equine bedding or pellets for wood burning stoves. Just make sure the pellets are kiln-dried—this process removes pine oils that are toxic to cats.
Side note: If you're on the fence between some of these low tracking litter options, we did a detailed comparison of tofu litter vs wood pellet litter.
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3) Fresh News Cat Litter
Price: $21.99 for 25 lbs = $0.88/lb on Chewy
Rating: 4.1/5 with 500 Chewy reviews
Ingredients: recycled paper, baking soda
Fresh News is a pellet litter made from 100% post-consumer recycled paper. We think it performs very well in the tracking and dust department. The pellets are fairly large and have a smooth texture that prevents clinging to fur and paws. The dust content is so low that Fresh News is often used for cats with allergies or respiratory problems.
As a non-clumping litter, Fresh News is not as easy to clean as some others on this list. The baking-soda-infused pellets absorb liquid waste and have decent odor control, but will turn to mush if not scooped quickly. The pellets do not significantly dehydrate or coat solid waste. Picky cats may not like the texture of the larger pellets. A noteworthy benefit of this litter is that curious kittens and cats with eating disorders are unlikely to eat it.
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4) ökocat Less Mess Clumping Wood Litter
Price $24.99 for 21.5 lbs = $1.14/lb on Chewy
Rating 3.8/5 with 700 Chewy reviews
Ingredients recycled spruce, fir, and pine fiber
For cat parents who like the idea of wood pellets but don’t like the non-clumping aspect, ökocat’s Less Mess Clumping Wood Litter is a possible option. The pellets are made from recycled spruce, fir, and pine fiber, hence the brand name “ökocat” (German for “eco-cat”). True to their name, these pellets are much less prone to tracking than the brand’s other litters, which are made from finer grain wood particles. The odor control is quite good and the soft wood scent certainly helps with that. To top it off, the price point is affordable for a natural clumping litter at $1.14/lb.
Unfortunately, many recent reviews have complained about broken pellets and dust content since the brand changed their packaging from a cardboard box to a bag. This makes the litter a bit dustier and messier than in the past. Hopefully, this issue is rectified soon. The clumps are not very sturdy either, and the large pellets may require a pellet-specific scoop to properly clean the litter box. There’s also the usual considerations with wood pellet litters: rough texture and pine scent. These things can be off-putting to sensitive cats.
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5) Purina Tidy Cats Original Breeze Litter System
Price: $42.98
Rating: 4.1/5 with 2,200 reviews on Chewy
Ingredients: zeolite pellets
The Tidy Cats Breeze System is an alternative to conventional cat litter that offers minimal tracking and virtually no dust. The smooth zeolite pellets are the least clingy of the litters on this list. The high walls and lipped edge of the Breeze litter box prevents scatter from all but the most enthusiastic diggers. If tracking and dust is your main concern, this system is a good option.
The Tidy Cats Breeze Litter System comes with a multi-piece sifting litter box, a bag of zeolite pellets, and four disposable pads. Liquid waste travels through the pellets and is absorbed underneath by the cat pad. This system provides great urine odor control, though the large pellets may make scooping solid waste more difficult. The pellets and pads are not biodegradable.
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6) Sustainably Yours Large Grain Cat Litter
Rating: 4.0/5 with 128 Chewy reviews
Ingredients: cassava, corn
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What To Look For In a Non-Tracking Cat Litter
How much a litter tracks depends on:
Large Particle Size
Larger particles are less likely to cling to your cat’s paws or get tangled in their fur. Large pellets (like tofu litter and wood pellet litter) tend to track less than sand-like litters.
Smooth Particle Texture
Smooth particles tend to track less than rough particles because they don’t cling to fur or paws.
Low Dust Content
Less dust = less tracking. Dust can coat your cat’s paws when it uses the litter box and be tracked around the house. It can also be kicked up when your cat digs or when you add or remove litter from the box, resulting in a thin coating of dust on surrounding surfaces. There's definitely some overlap between best non-tracking cat litters and the best dust-free litters.
Particle Weight
Particle weight is less important than the three previous factors, but it's still something to keep in mind. Think of it as a secondary factor that can amplify the primary factors. For example, a litter with large smooth pellets can be lightweight and still not track, but a fine grain litter with light particles would track a lot. Conversely, clay litters are heavy but still track because of their small particles and high dust content.
Other Factors That Affect Litter Tracking
Individual Cat Behavior & Anatomy
Litter tracking also depends on your individual cat. If your cat is a vigorous digger, then litter might end up everywhere no matter which brand of litter you purchase. Long-haired cats tend to track more than short-haired cats, and even the size and shape of a cat’s paws can play a role.
Litter Box Design
A large high-sided litter box is an indispensable tool in the fight against litter tracking. A great litter box should be as long as your cat (from nose to tail) and have high sides to contain scatter when your cat digs or jumps out.
Litter Box Location
Your cat's litter box location can have a big impact on tracking. Try placing the litter box in a separate room from the main living areas to reduce tracking in the places you’ll see it most. Rooms downstairs or with a lip at the doorway provide an extra barrier to stray litter.
Using a Litter Mat
A textured litter mat under your cat’s litter box is the final barrier to litter tracking. It acts as a moat that catches particles as they leave the litter box and stops them from being tracked further.
See our article on how to stop litter tracking to explore these tips in more depth.
Which Kinds of Cat Litter to Avoid
Now we've gone over what to look for, it's worth mentioning what to avoid in a cat litter if tracking is top priority for you. Most cat litters advertise themselves as low tracking and 99% dust-free, but these terms are not regulated at all. Any litter brand can put these statements on their packaging.
Avoid Clay Litter
Clay litter is generally the worst type of cat litter for tracking and dust. Some brands are worse than others, but all of them have some level of dust and tracking. No clay litters were low tracking enough to make our list.
Clay litter also has certain health and environmental concerns, such as:
- containing silica dust, which is a known carcinogen when inhaled.
- being harvested by strip mining, which destroys habitat and pollutes waterways.
- Being non-biodegradable. Clay litter must be sent to the landfill.
Of course, using clay litter is a matter of preference. Clay litter is affordable, widely available, and many cats prefer its earthy texture over other biodegradable or pellet litters. Litter type is a personal choice for each cat and cat parent.
Avoid Crystal Litter
Crystal litter is made from silica gel particles which are very lightweight and porous, which makes crystal litters notoriously high tracking. For example, tracking was the biggest drawback we experienced when reviewing Pretty Litter. Some brands use larger silica gel particles to reduce tracking, but they still tend to track more than pellet litters.
Avoid Fine Grain Litters
The worst thing for tracking is using a litter with fine grains. This is part of the reason that clay and crystal litters perform poorly in the tracking department. This also applies to natural litters with a fine sand-like consistency, as we found when reviewing Sustainably Yours original formula.
Non-Tracking Cat Litter FAQs
What is non-tracking cat litter, and how does it differ from regular cat litter?
Non-tracking cat litter is designed to minimize the spread of litter particles outside the litter box. It typically has larger, heavier granules that adhere less to your cat's paws, reducing the likelihood of tracking around the house compared to traditional litters.
Which types of cat litter are known for being non-tracking?
Some non-tracking cat litters include larger pellet options such as tofu litters and wood pellet litters. These varieties are formulated to stay in the litter box and not stick to your cat's fur or paws.
How can I further reduce tracking with non-tracking cat litter?
Placing a litter mat outside the litter box can help capture any loose particles before your cat leaves the area. Additionally, keeping the litter at an appropriate depth (not too shallow) and choosing a high-sided litter box can further minimize tracking.
Is non-tracking cat litter suitable for all cat breeds and sizes?
Non-tracking cat litter is generally suitable for all cat breeds and sizes. However, individual preferences may vary, so observing your cat's behavior and comfort level with the chosen litter is essential.
Are there any downsides to using non-tracking cat litter?
While non-tracking cat litter is effective in reducing mess, it may be pricier than traditional litters. Additionally, some cats may have specific texture or scent preferences, so it's advisable to monitor your cat's reaction when transitioning to a non-tracking option.
Conclusion: Your Cat Knows Best
All of the non-tracking litters we’ve listed here are great options that should satisfy both feline needs and human requirements for a clean home. However, it’s important to remember that your cat’s needs should always outweigh human convenience. If your cat doesn’t seem comfortable using a particular litter, it’s best to try a different one.
Overall, we think the tuft + paw Really Great Cat Litter provides the best all-around experience, but may not be ideal for every household. If your cat has allergies, then Fresh News is probably the way to go. If you can’t afford more expensive litters, Feline Pine is suitable for most cats and most budgets. There's also okocat Less Mess Pellet Litter if you like wood pellets but want clumping too. We prefer the aforementioned litters over the Tidy Cats Breeze System because we think the Breeze System caters more to human wants than feline needs. Then again, if your cat likes it, it can be a great litter system! We’ll echo veterinarian Megan Tieber one last time: “the best litter is the one your cat will use.”
