Catster is reader-supported. When you buy via links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission at no cost to you. Learn more.

10 Best Pellet & Pine Cat Litters in 2024 – Reviews & Top Picks

Written by: Christian Adams

Last Updated on March 14, 2024 by Catster Editorial Team

ginger cat litter close-up

10 Best Pellet & Pine Cat Litters in 2024 – Reviews & Top Picks

ginger cat litter close-up_Yuliya Alekseeva_shutterstock Being a cat owner can be one of the most rewarding experiences for us humans, but one of the distinct disadvantages is dealing with the litter box. Part of the unpleasantness of litter boxes is the rather pungent odor of cat urine. Did you know that our domesticated cats’ ancestors lived in the desert, and their urine is very concentrated because it helped keep them hydrated? Well, if you’re like most people, you want a litter that can cover that smell, is easy to clean, and is not harmful to either your cat or the environment.

Perhaps you are already using pellet litter and want to know the best brand, or maybe you’re considering switching to pellet litter and aren’t sure where to begin. You have come to the right place as we’ve done the work for you and have reviewed 10 of the best pellet litters on the market. Hopefully, these reviews will help you discover the best pellet litter for you and your cat.

Cat ball divider 1A Quick Comparison of Our Favorites of 2024

Image Product Details
Best Overall
Winner
Feline Pine Non-Clumping Cat Litter Feline Pine Non-Clumping Cat Litter
  • Dust-free
  • Absorbent
  • Environmentally friendly
  • Best Value
    Second place
    Okocat Mini Pellets Clumping Cat Litter Okocat Mini Pellets Clumping Cat Litter
  • Flushable
  • 99% dust-free
  • Environmentally friendly
  • Premium Choice
    Third place
    Next Gen Pet Clumping Wood Cat Litter Next Gen Pet Clumping Wood Cat Litter
  • All natural
  • Environmentally friendly
  • Flushable and compostable
  • Purina Tidy Cats Breeze Cat Litter Pellets Purina Tidy Cats Breeze Cat Litter Pellets
  • 9% dust-free
  • Excellent odor control
  • Won’t track around your house
  • Simply Pine Natural Pellet Cat Litter Simply Pine Natural Pellet Cat Litter
  • Dust-free
  • Biodegradable
  • No tracking
  • The 10 Best Pellet & Pine Cat Litters

    1. Feline Pine Non-Clumping Wood Cat Litter – Best Overall 1FelinePine

    Feline Pine Non-Clumping Wood Cat Litter makes the top of our list for best cat pellet litter. It absorbs your cat’s urine quickly and does an excellent job of covering the odor. The pellets are made of pine that act like tiny sponges. The pungent ammonia scent of cat urine is absorbed, eliminating the odor and keeping the litter dry. Creating these pellets includes dehydrating pine fibers, which allows them to absorb any liquid, which will turn to sawdust.

    Feline Pine is completely natural as it does not contain any additives, chemicals, or perfumes; it just leaves a pleasant mild pine scent. It is also dust-free (unlike clay litters) when poured and less likely to stick to your cat’s paws and leave little presents throughout your house and is one of the least expensive brands out there.

    Pros
    • Less expensive than most other brands
    • Absorbent
    • Contains no perfumes or chemicals
    • Environmentally friendly
    • Dust-free
    Cons
    • Non-clumping

    2. Okocat Mini Pellets Clumping Wood Cat Litter – Best Value 2Okocat Mini Pellets

    Okocat Mini Pellets Unscented Wood Pellets is one of the best pellet cat litters out there for the money. This litter is an excellent alternative for those who want an environmentally friendly litter that can clump (for those who prefer to scoop their litter). It is made from reclaimed wood that is 100% sustainable and is environmentally friendly without any perfumes, chemicals, dyes, or additives.

    Okocat is soft and, therefore, easy on your cat’s paws and will absorb the urine and its strong ammonia scent. It is 99% dust-free and biodegradable, which means it can be flushed down your toilet and won’t track around your house. Okocat is a little more expensive than Feline Pine, but perhaps its clumping and their use of wood fiber that has been rescued is worth it.

    Pros
    • Made from sustainable products
    • Environmentally friendly
    • 99% dust-free
    • Absorbs liquid and strong odors
    • No chemicals, additives, dyes, or perfumes
    • Flushable
    Cons
    • A little pricier than Feline Pine

    3. Next Gen Pet Clumping Wood Cat Litter – Premium Choice 3Next Gen Pet Products

    Next Gen Gen Pet Clumping Wood Cat Litter may be the more expensive option, but it uses a unique formula that makes it worth the extra funds. Green Tea Unscented Fresh Cat Litter Pellets are made out of wood and combined with green tea leaves, which provides a naturally pleasing scent and prevents bacterial growth, which usually contributes to a nasty litter box odor.

    While the litter bag is smaller and more expensive than the top two brands, it lasts a long time. The 5-pound bag should last for 4 to 6 weeks and is environmentally friendly and a natural product. It is clumping flushable litter, and any leftover litter can be used as compost. While it claims to be low in dust, it is not dust-free.

    Pros
    • Green tea leaves smell good and are anti-bacterial
    • Environmentally friendly
    • Flushable and compostable
    • All natural
    Cons
    • Low in dust but not dust-free
    • More expensive than most other brands

    4. Purina Tidy Cats Breeze Cat Litter Pellets 4Tidy Cats Breeze

    Purina Tidy Cats Pellets will work for you if you have the Tidy Cats Breeze system or would like to switch to it. The Tidy Cat pellets are recommended only for the Breeze system as they are designed to allow liquid to flow to the bottom, where the Breeze pads will trap the liquid for easy removal. These pellets are different from the others in that they are made from a mineral rather than wood fibers.

    The Breeze Litter Pellets are 99.9% dust-free and dehydrate your cat’s feces, which helps control any odor issues. This system is also designed for households with multiple cats, and it makes cleaning your cat’s litter box an easy chore.

    Pros
    • Excellent odor control
    • Works for homes with multiple cats
    • 99.9% dust-free
    • Won’t track around your house
    • One 7-pound bag should last 1 month
    Cons
    • Can only be used with the Breeze litter box
    • Not necessarily environmentally friendly (can’t be flushed or used for compost)

    5. Simply Pine Unscented All-Natural Pine Pellet Cat Litter 5Simply Pine

    Simply Pine Pellet Cat Litter is 100% natural Northeastern White pine that is environmentally friendly with no scents, additives, or chemicals. It is dust-free, doesn’t track, and helps to keep your litter box odor-free. Simply Pine is also biodegradable and absorbs urine quickly.

    However, these cat litter pellets are larger than some of the other brands, which might make it more difficult when you’re sifting, and your cat may not take to it. The larger and harder the pellets, the more difficult it will be for your cat to walk on. Simply Pine is also non-clumping, and if that’s a system you prefer, then this litter might not be for you.

    Pros
    • Dust-free
    • Biodegradable
    • All natural with no additives or chemicals
    • No tracking
    • Environmentally friendly
    Cons
    • Non-clumping
    • Large pellets, making sifting more difficult
    • More expensive than our top choice

    6. Purina Yesterday’s News Paper Cat Litter 6Yesterday's News Softer Texture Fresh

    Purina Yesterday’s News Paper Cat Litter is made out of recycled paper, making for a more sustainable product that is environmentally friendly. It is made with a combination of wood shavings, cardboard, and recycled paper. The pellets are softer than some of the other brands and feel closer to walking on clay for your cat, and won’t track too much outside the litter box. These pellets are absorbent and help to prevent strong odors, and are 99.7% dust-free.

    If you prefer your litter to remain unscented, Yesterday’s News won’t work for your household as it has a light scent added. It is also of the non-clumping variety, and again, if that’s your preference, you should avoid this particular product.

    Pros
    • 99.7% dust-free
    • Made from recycled paper
    • No tracking
    • Soft on your cat’s paws
    • Absorbs liquid and strong scents
    Cons
    • More expensive than top brands
    • Fragrance added
    • Non-clumping

    7. Fresh News Unscented Non-Clumping Paper Cat Litter 7Fresh News

    Fresh News Unscented Non-Clumping Paper Cat Litter is another pellet litter made from recycled paper that is biodegradable and therefore reduces landfill waste. It is 99% dust-free, hypoallergenic, and will hold at least 3 times the liquid and is, therefore, effective at providing absorption. Just like the other pellets in this list, it doesn’t stick to your cat’s paws and track around your house, and you won’t need to worry about your cat licking litter off of her feet.

    These pellets are non-clumping and unscented but are large. They contain baking soda that helps control the odor. However, at times, the odor control isn’t effective and, therefore, expect the possibility of an unpleasant smell from this litter. Also, compared to the top brands, it’s expensive.

    Pros
    • Biodegradable
    • Made from 100% recycled paper
    • No tracking
    • 99% dust-free
    • Provides excellent absorption
    Cons
    • More expensive than other brands
    • Might not control odor
    • Non-clumping
    • Larger pellets

    8. Frisco Pine Pellet Unscented Non-Clumping Wood Cat Litter 8Frisco Pine Pellet

    Frisco Pine Pellet Unscented Non-Clumping Wood Cat Litter is made with natural 100% pine and no additives, chemicals, or fragrances. These pellets can hold urine up to 3 times their own weight, which helps with odor control. Frisco pellets are low in dust and are appropriate for either single or multiple cat homes. This particular brand is cheaper than most of the others.

    Frisco Pine Pellets are dried in a kiln, but again, the pellets are too large to be sifted when cleaning out the litter box and is not recommended for flushing. There is also an issue with the pellets crumbling too easily, and this makes cleaning the litter box more of a challenge.

    Pros
    • Low in dust
    • 100% pine
    • Good absorption
    • All natural without any chemicals or added scents
    • No tracking and good odor control
    • Less expensive
    Cons
    • Large pellets
    • Not flushable
    • Crumbles too easily

    9. Nature’s Logic All Natural Pine Wood Cat Litter 9Nature's Logic

    Nature’s Logic All Natural Pine Wood Cat Litter is completely natural as it is made only from Ponderosa pine wood (the most common pine in North America). It is biodegradable and may be flushed as long as it’s done in small amounts. It claims to be dust-free, but there were issues with the pellets turning into sawdust too easily, making cleanup difficult.

    Nature’s Logic also claims to cover up any odor issues, but the odor control of this brand of pellets wasn’t as good as with the top brands. The pellets are also very hard, and therefore, there’s the possibility that your cat may not want to use them if it’s uncomfortable for her to walk on.

    Pros
    • All-natural pine wood
    • No tracking
    • Biodegradable and flushable
    Cons
    • Dissolves into sawdust easily
    • Hard pellets
    • Odor control lacking
    • More expensive than top brands

    10. Hartz Multi-Cat Unscented Clumping Recycled Paper Cat Litter 10Hartz Multi-Cat

    Hartz Multi-Cat Unscented Clumping Recycled Paper Cat Litter is made from 80% recycled paper. However, the other 20% is made up of polymer and starch. This means if you’re looking for a biodegradable litter that is good for the environment, you should avoid this brand. This litter is also the only one on this list that does not claim to prevent tracking around the house, and it fails in this category. It sticks to cat paws and even fur, and you might find bits of it all over your home.

    The Clumping Paper Litter is 99% dust free and not only clumps but turns blue where your cat urinates, making it easier to find the spots to clean. It claims to be odor-trapping, but the jury is out on this as the scent of cat urine combined with this paper pellet litter does not prove to be a pleasant experience.

    Pros
    • Dust free
    • Turns blue and clumps
    • Made of 80% recycled paper
    Cons
    • Not biodegradable and not completely environmentally friendly
    • Sticks to paws and tracks around the house
    • Unpleasant odor when urinated on
    • Expensive
    • Difficult to clean

    cat paw divider

    Buyer’s Guide: Selecting the Best Pellet & Pine Cat Litters

    So, you’ve had a look at the top cat litter pellets choices out there, but how do you know what kind of litter is best for you and your cat? There are several factors to take into consideration, so please read on, and hopefully, we can help you make the best choice.

    Cat Litter Expense

    The price for most pellet litters is a little higher than your traditional clumping and clay litters. However, keep in mind that this kind of litter can actually last longer, which might just save you money in the end. Overall, the cost of the litter won’t mean as much if you’re helping the environment and it’s healthier for your cat.

    Cat Litter Odor

    Many traditional litters tend to add fragrance to their product, but what might smell pleasant to us humans is actually very potent and unpleasant for most cats. The last thing you want is your cat avoiding her litter box, so choosing a scented vs. unscented litter is something you need to think about. Some pellet litters are better than others at controlling odor, so you might need to try a few before you find the one that works.

    Combating tough cat litter smells is an ongoing battle for pet parents but luckily, there are products out there designed to help! Two products that significantly reduce odors are the Hepper Litter Additive and the Hepper Enzyme Spray. Find out which is better suit to your needs with our breakdown of each product below. 

    Hepper Enzyme Spray - New Label Hepper Litter additive
    Hepper Advanced Bio-Enzyme Pet Stain & Odor Eliminator Spray Hepper Advanced Bio-Enzyme Cat Litter Deodorizer Powder
    Eliminates odors
    Eliminates odors:
    Eliminates odors:
    Removes stains
    Removes stains:
    Removes stains:
    Unscented
    Unscented:
    Unscented:
    Light fresh scent
    Light fresh scent:
    Light fresh scent:
    Works on multiple surfaces
    Works on multiple surfaces:
    Works on multiple surfaces:
    Combats odor inside your cat's litter
    Combats odor inside your cat's litter:
    Combats odor inside your cat's litter:

    At Catster, we’ve admired Hepper for many years and decided to take a controlling ownership interest so that we could benefit from the outstanding designs of this cool cat company!

    Cat Litter Dust

    Clay litter is notorious for creating a dust cloud when it’s poured and even when your cat walks around her box. Almost all pellet litters are completely dust-free, which is super important if you have an asthmatic cat or if she has any kind of breathing condition.

    Cat Litter Tracking

    Finding those annoying bits of litter scattered around the house and getting stuck to your bare feet can be frustrating. Particularly when you need to be constantly sweeping or vacuuming them up. As a general rule, the pellet litters do not track around your house, except for the occasional few that your cat will probably kick out of the litter box when she’s enthusiastically scratching around in there. This also means your cat will not be ingesting bits of litter when she’s licking her paws, which could end up causing an upset stomach or health problems.

    Cat Litter Material

    If you’re very environmentally conscious, what type of litter you choose will be an essential factor. Most pellet litters are made from natural and recycled products and are usually biodegradable and sometimes compostable. They also tend to be much more absorbent than the other kinds of litter, which means they will last longer. Keep in mind that some of the pellet litters might be a bit big for sifting, and most don’t clump if that’s what you prefer. Your cat might also not like walking on these large and hard pellets, so a little trial and error might be in order.cat paw divider

    Conclusion

    The winner of the best overall pellet cat litter goes to Feline Pine’s Original Non-Clumping Litter for ease of use. It is an environmentally friendly litter that is one of the least expensive yet one of the highest-quality pellet litters. Our second-place winner goes to Okocat Mini Pellets, which might appear costly, but it is designed to last a long time and is one of the few clumping pellet litters that actually work.

    Finding the right pellet litter that works for both you and your cat might take a bit of experimenting and exploring. Hopefully, we’ve made your job of finding the best cat litter a little easier, and our reviews of some of the various pellet litters out there will help you in your quest to make the unpleasant chore of cleaning the litter box a little more pleasant.

    See also:


    Featured Image Credit: Yuliya Alekseeva, Shutterstock

    Get Catster in your inbox!

    Stay informed! Get tips and exclusive deals.
    Catster Editors Choice Badge
    Shopping Cart

    Pangolia

    © Pangolia Pte. Ltd. All rights reserved.