Paper litter is a newer type but is much better for the environment. Plus, it’s excellent for felines with sensitive paws and skin. Unfortunately, there are few options available for this type of litter—which should make for an easier choice, right?
Not exactly. There’s plenty to contemplate when it comes to choosing the best paper cat litter, so we’ve reviewed what’s out there so you can find the best fit.
In this article
A Quick Comparison of Our Favorites in 2026
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Best Overall
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ökocat Dust-Free Natural Paper Non-Clumping Cat Litter |
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Best Value
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Fresh News Paper Cat Litter |
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Premium Choice
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HARTZ Multi-Cat Lightweight |
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Petco Brand - So Phresh Multi-Cat |
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Small Pet Select-Recycled Pelleted Paper Cat Litter |
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The 6 Best Paper Cat Litters
1. ökocat Dust-Free Natural Paper Non-Clumping Cat Litter
| Weight | 12.3 lbs |
| Scent | Unscented |
| Dust-free | 99.9% |
| Recycled | No |
This next-generation biodegradable paper litter is made from sustainably sourced white paper fiber designed for extra absorbency and less weight. It uses a plant-based odor blocker formulated specifically to counteract the smell of ammonia.
It is extra absorbent and absorbs moisture quickly, and it won’t stick to your pet’s feet. Because ökocat litter is dust-free, it will be better for your cat’s lungs and your own. It also claims that it will last up to a week with regular scooping.
This product is free of GMOs, chemicals, inks and dyes, and artificial fragrances.
- Biodegradable
- Long-lasting
- Plant-based odor control formulated for ammonia
- Non-clumping
- Some cats had difficulty adjusting to the litter
2. Fresh News Paper Cat Litter – Best Value
| Weight | 25 lbs |
| Scent | Unscented |
| Dust-free | 99% |
| Recycled | Yes |
Fresh News Paper Cat Litter is our choice for the best litter for the money. It’s cheaper than others on this list but has everything you love about paper litter. Its paper pellets have baking soda to help neutralize litter box odors.
They are made from 100% recycled paper and are biodegradable and compostable so that you won’t contribute to landfills. The paper is sourced from the Fresh News program, which gives money to non-profits collecting recycled paper.
It’s dust-free but also non-allergenic, which means you’ll have a healthier home. Plus, it’s non-toxic, so your kitties will be safe from chemicals.
- Good price
- Contains baking soda to help neutralize odors
- Recycled and biodegradable
- Can be difficult to scoop
- Few reports of people finding plastic mixed in with litter
3. HARTZ Multi-Cat Lightweight – Premium Choice
| Weight | 9 lbs |
| Scent | Unscented |
| Dust-free | 99% |
| Recycled | Yes |
When it comes to premium paper cat litter, this Hartz product is the way to go. It claims to be the first paper litter designed for homes with multiple cats, plus it says 9 pounds of its paper litter is comparable to 33 pounds of regular cat litter!
Not only does this litter clump and trap odors, but it also turns blue after being used, so you know when it’s time to clean out your litter box. It also won’t stick to the pan. This product is made from 80% recycled paper, making it good for the environment, and is almost entirely free of dust.
- Made for multiple cats
- Turns blue after use
- Lightweight
- Can stick to cats’ paws
- Can be difficult to scoop
4. Petco Brand – So Phresh Multi-Cat
| Weight | 14 lbs |
| Scent | Fresh Scent |
| Dust-free | 99.9% |
| Recycled | Yes |
As another paper litter designed for homes with several cats, So Phresh is incredibly soft and suitable for kitties with sensitive paws. Baking soda and zeolite help trap nasty odors, while the fresh scent helps to cover them.
Pet owners who have used it claim it’s excellent at odor control. It’s a low-tracking litter, so there shouldn’t be issues with your pets getting it all over your home. Plus, it’s absorbent and locks in moisture. So Phresh is made from post-consumer recycled paper, so it’s good for the environment (although it does come in a plastic bag).
- Made for multiple cat homes
- Good at odor control
- Suitable for cats with sensitive paws
- Can be difficult to scoop
- Some cats wouldn’t touch it
5. Small Pet Select-Recycled Pelleted Paper Cat Litter
| Weight | 20 lbs |
| Scent | Unscented |
| Dust-free | 99.9% |
| Recycled | Yes |
This paper litter is made from recycled paper and is non-toxic, so it’s environmentally friendly and safe for your pet. It uses a natural, pet-safe odor blocker instead of baking soda (though it doesn’t say what that blocker is made of) that pet parents seem to approve of.
Small Pet also promises it won’t stick to your cat’s feet, so there’s no tracking, plus it is soft on kitty’s feet. It also absorbs three times the moisture as clay-based litter. Other perks of Small Pet are that it’s lightweight and dust-free.
- Pet-safe odor blocker
- No tracking
- Lightweight
- Complaints of pellets being too large to sift
- Some cats hated it
6. Frisco Unscented Non-Clumping Recycled Paper Cat Litter
| Weight | 25 lbs |
| Scent | Unscented |
| Dust-free | 99.9% |
| Recycled | Yes |
Made from 95% post-consumer recycled paper, this paper litter absorbs nearly three times as much moisture as clay-based litter and contains baking soda to help neutralize odors. It absorbs liquid quickly so that smells won’t linger. Plus, it’s free of dust, chemicals, and fragrances, making it easier on the lungs.
You can use Frisco’s litter for a single cat or multiple cats, but they recommend daily scooping for the best results. It also comes in a bag that reseals for easy storage.
- Absorbs quickly
- Free of dust, fragrances, and chemicals
- Can be used for multiple cats
- Complaints of recent bags containing shredded paper along with pellets
- Complaints of it smelling bad
Buyer’s Guide: Picking the Best Gift Ideas for Cats
Like all types of cat litter, paper cat litter has pros and cons. Before you make the switch, you should know exactly what to expect. Below, we’ll tell you the benefits and downsides, what to look for when purchasing, and answer cat owners’ most frequently asked questions about paper cat litter.
Benefits Of Using Paper Cat Litter
You’ll find that using paper cat litter has plenty of benefits!
- Absorbency: When you’re looking for a litter that absorbs urine quickly and efficiently, paper cat litter is much better than regular cat litter. Most offer three times the absorption rate of clay-based litter, so you know it gets the job done.
- Dust-free: If you or a member of your home has asthma or allergies, you’ll appreciate paper cat litter for its lack of dust. Because it uses paper instead of clay, there won’t be any clouds to deal with when pouring a new batch into the litter box.
- Non-tracking: Since clay-based litters are composed of tiny granules, they tend to get stuck in your cat’s paws, which means you’ll find the stuff all over the house. With paper pellets, that problem is resolved.
- No scraping: Sometimes, when you clean your cat’s litter box, you have to scrape around the corners and on the bottom because the litter has clumped and gotten stuck. That’s another issue you won’t have with paper litter, so cleaning your cat’s litter box will be an easier job (though this type of litter works better if you clean every day).
- Good for long-haired cats: Clay-based litter can get stuck and matted in their fur if your feline has long hair. Using paper litter will alleviate the risk of your cat getting dirty each time they step inside the litter box.
- Kitty’s health: Paper cat litter can be better for your kitty’s health. You won’t have to breathe in any dust with this litter, and neither will your pet. Plus, paper litter is supposed to be more suitable for cats with sensitive skin and paws because it’s soft and doesn’t contain small pieces that can get stuck everywhere.
- Environmentally friendly: If you’re concerned about the environment, this is the litter for you. Paper litter is usually made from recycled materials. It is also biodegradable, so it breaks down and won’t contribute to landfill waste.
- Multi-purpose: Do you have other pets besides cats, like gerbils or rabbits? You can use paper litter in their enclosures, too!
Downsides Of Using Paper Cat Litter
There are only a few cons to using paper cat litter (but the benefits outweigh them!).
- Harder to scoop: Most paper cat litter doesn’t clump, which will make it a bit harder to scoop out of the litter box. Sometimes, the pellets are too large, making them more difficult to sift with the scoop.
- Odors: Many paper cat litters have baking soda or something similar to help counteract odors, but some do not. Since paper litter soaks up urine and easily soils, it may have lingering smells, especially if you don’t scoop daily.
What To Look For
When deciding upon a paper cat litter, you should consider the following.
- Material: Some paper pellets are made from recycled paper, but others are made from lumber. Some may be sustainably sourced, while others are not.
- Ingredients: Does the brand you’re eyeing have ingredients other than paper? Some add an odor blocker, while others may contain a polymer or starch.
- Absorbency: Always check how absorbent a litter is before buying. It will show you how often you’ll need to scoop.
- Dust factor: Is the litter 100% dust-free or just nearly there? Being dust-free is one of the top reasons people make the switch.
- Odor control: Most paper cat litter is unscented, so there won’t be anything to cover up the dreaded litter box odor, but a few have scented versions. You’ll also want to check and see if baking soda or another odor blocker has been added to make litter less smelly.
- Clumping: Clumping paper litters are rare, so you’ll have a harder time finding one, but it will make scooping easier.
- Size of pellets: If you have something other than a standard litter box, like a self-cleaning one, you may have difficulty using paper litter since some of the pellets are too large. However, others have smaller pellets, so check the size and view pictures (if available) to see if they fit.
FAQs
You probably have a few questions about using paper cat litter, so we’ve answered the most frequently asked ones below.
- Can’t I just use shredded paper? Well, technically, yes. But the shredded paper will be thinner than paper pellets, meaning it will become wet when it absorbs moisture, which your cat will likely hate. Shredded paper will also be stinkier than pellets, so you’ll have to scoop more often.
- How often does paper litter need to be changed? Unless you’re using a clumping paper litter, you should be scooping out your box once a day and changing the litter entirely once a week. If you have a clumping version, you can go a little longer without changing it out completely.
- Is paper litter easy to dispose of? You can get rid of paper cat litter in a few ways. Since it’s biodegradable, you can throw it into a compost pile if you have one. Some brands are flushable, but you need to read the bag carefully before attempting this, as some brands will have pellets too large to flush. You can also throw it in the garbage.
- Can I add something to control odor? Since many paper cat litter brands are unscented or have nothing added to help neutralize odors, you might want to add something to help. The easiest solution is to add baking soda, which is non-toxic and safe for cats, or a litter box deodorizer.
- How do I scoop paper litter? Because it typically doesn’t clump and comes with large pieces, you’ll likely have some difficulty the first couple of times you scoop out the litter box. However, you can buy a different scooper with larger holes. Other than that, you should first collect the feces in the box while letting the fresh pellets go through or roll off of the scooper. Then, dig around the bottom of the box to find any pellets that have collected urine. Finally, add new pellets if needed.
How We Selected Our List of Paper Cat Litters
Catster has an experienced, expert team of writers, editors, and veterinarians who carefully consider a wide range of parameters when choosing the cat litters. This includes but is not limited to customer reviews, brand reputation, veterinary experience, hands-on testing, and of course, our cats have a say in the process too! We aim to select and review only the best products available, to help you make the best possible choice and most informed decision for your and your cat’s needs.
Why Trust Catster?
A trusted online brand since 2001, Catster has a lot of experience with cat litters. Our team of cat-loving writers, editors, and veterinarians is dedicated to helping you make the best decision for your precious cats. Our aim is to provide the best information available for cat owners to help cats live their best life possible. To do this, we scour reviews from the most trusted sources available and this, combined with our veterinary team’s experience and expertise, helps us gather the best options available to readers. Our team is deeply invested in the health and welfare of cats the world over, and believes that expert knowledge and veterinary guidance will help you make the right choices—for you and your cats!
Conclusion
There are several advantages to switching to a paper cat litter. Our reviews of the best products on the market lead us to believe PURINA Yesterday’s News Odor Control is the best overall. Not only is it vet-recommended, but it’s also entirely recyclable down to the packaging. The best value litter is Fresh News due to its lower price but great qualities. If you’re looking for a premium choice, we recommend Hartz Multi-Cat Lightweight litter. It’s useful for multi-cat households and turns blue, so you know when to scoop.
Featured Photo Credit: Tiplyashina Evgeniya, Shutterstock
