Cat lovers know their favorite pets can be kind of silly. While they look like regal lions and lionesses while perched in wait, that effect is spoiled as soon as they fall in the toilet or try to eat cardboard.

However, cats are clean animals that can be picky about their litter boxes. A cat who disapproves of how you’ve been keeping her litter box will let you know by choosing a new “litter box,” usually your carpet or furniture.

Nowadays, some cat owners are fans of crystal cat litter, which uses silica gel to trap the odors of cats’ urine and feces. If you’re thinking about trying this space-age hygiene solution, you might be confused by the vast range of crystal cat litter on the market.

Our reviews are here to help. We tested the best crystal cat litter brands and came away with a clear winner. Read on to find out about the best brands for your best pal.

A Quick Comparison of the Winners in 2024

The 10 Best Crystal Cat Litters

1. Fresh Step Crystals Premium Cat Litter – Best Overall

When we test cat litter, we look for a few vitally important traits: it should eat odors, be comfortable for cats and owners, and not track all over the house. Fresh Step swept all those categories. It is incredibly light, lets almost no odor escape, and maintains a pleasant aroma even if not changed for over a month, making it our top choice for the best overall crystal cat litter.

The crystals are larger than the grains of traditional clumping litter. They won’t get stuck on your cat’s fur and wind up all over the house. The only drawback is that the crystals are still sharp, so if your cat has sensitive feet, they might disapprove of Fresh Step’s litter.

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2. PetSafe ScoopFree Crystal Cat Litter – Best Value

We determined ScoopFree Premium to be the best crystal cat litter for the money. It comes in several disposable trays, each containing 4.5 pounds of litter, which is enough to keep the litterbox self-cleaning for over a month. When you’re ready to change it, you can throw away the whole tray without seeing or smelling cat feces.

The reason we didn’t put it at the top is that we’ve noticed ScoopFree declining in quality over time. When we’ve tested it before, it’s self-cleaned for months, but now we wouldn’t use it for that much more than one month.

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3. Litter Pearls Micro Crystal Cat Litter – Premium Choice

Crystal cat litter is more expensive than other types, but Litter Pearls is more of a premium option than most. If you’re willing to pay more, however, you’ll get one of the best-performing long-term crystal cat litters. It stays dry and odor-free for up to 2 months.

The small crystals are designed to feel like sand, which are more comfortable on cat paws than other silica litters. Unfortunately, the size has tradeoffs. Other than the price, Litter Pearls sits at #3 because its sand-like grains are much more likely to track, meaning you’ll have to put in more work to clean outside the box.

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4. Frisco Summer Non-Clumping Crystal Cat Litter

Frisco’s “summer clean” scent has a nice aroma all on its own. Those of us with cats might scent our homes with it even if there wasn’t any ammonia smell to cover up. It’s one of the best odor-eaters we’ve tested and does a great job of keeping that “cat smell” from pervading your home. It’s also effectively self-cleaning and can be left alone for a while.

On the other hand, cats are sometimes reluctant to use this litter. The crystals are larger enough to be uncomfortable than our #1 pick. It can also be painfully dusty and has been known to stain litter boxes occasionally.

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5. Dr. Elsey’s Long Hair Non-Clumping Cat Litter Crystals

Do you have a long-haired cat that drives you mad with tracking fur out of the litterbox on their luxurious coat? Dr. Elsey’s aims to be the solution. It’s full of extra herbs and scents to attract cats, with a grain size that manages not to stick to their fur. With long-haired breeds, especially Norwegian Forest Cats, we’ve discovered it tracks less.

The trade-off is that it doesn’t trap odors nearly as well. If convincing your long-haired cat to use a litter box is your problem, Dr. Elsey’s will solve it, but if you have an exceptionally stinky kitty, you need a more powerful formula.

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6. Ultra Pearls Micro Cat Litter Crystals

Ultra Pearls shines in two areas: clumping power and durability. With their smaller size, these silica grains adhere more closely to the waste, leaving fewer gaps for the odor to escape through. One bag holds up for over a month. Cats definitely like the smaller grains, too.

The big problem with Ultra Pearls cat litter crystals is the quantity. A single bag is expensive, yet it won’t cover the bottom to the recommended depth of 2 inches in all but the smallest litterboxes. The pearls also have a nasty habit of sticking to the pan when they absorb too much urine.

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7. PetSafe ScoopFree Premium Lavender Crystal Cat Litter

PetSafe ScoopFree Premium Lavender Crystal Cat Litter is an excellent alternative to the disposable trays the manufacturer makes if you like the product. It has a pleasant scent, which is subtle and not simply odor-masking.

The litter lasts a relatively long time and is virtually dust-free. We appreciate this trait in these types because it reduces other maintenance in the room where you keep the box.

The bag is pricey. However, there’s less tracking, another thing cat owners will appreciate. It also offers excellent odor control, even in multi-pet households. That makes it stand out from comparable products. The absorbency could be better. However, it makes it less obvious that you have pets.

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8. PrettyLitter Health Monitoring Cat Litter

PrettyLitter Health Monitoring Cat Litter comes in scented and unscented versions to cater to your kitty’s preferences. It is expensive, but the product lasts longer than we expected. It is low-dust, which is a selling point for these types of litters, meaning it truly lives up to the hype. The box is lightweight, which belies how well it works. It’s a significant selling point for some pet owners.

The other advantage is its health monitoring. It’s not going to save you a lot of money for vet costs. However, if your cat has these issues, it’ll give you a heads-up and minimize your kitty’s discomfort. The color changes are evident. That can make it a dealmaker for many pet owners. However, it’s non-clumping and doesn’t eliminate urine odors all that well.

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9. FreshMAGIC Crystal Cat Litter

FreshMAGIC cat litter makes some bold claims. It puts the emphasis on adsorption rather than absorption ­– i.e. neutralizing odor instead of just trapping it. It also states it’s dust-free, non-toxic, and never tracks.

However, the crystals aren’t just large, they’re jagged, making it feel like loose gravel to step on. Most kitties often won’t even go near it. There’s also a large proportion of dust in almost every bag.

To give FreshMAGIC some credit, it is great at eliminating odors and seems to get tracked less than other crystal litters. If you have one of those cats that will pee just about anywhere, we recommend it. If not, try another brand, especially if you have a respiratory condition.

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10. Litter Pearls Micro Crystal Unscented Crystal Cat Litter

Litter Pearls Micro Crystal Unscented Crystal Cat Litter has a fine texture that is relatively track-free and non-clumping. It comes in three size choices. It lasts relatively long, which gives you options for what you can get since it is pricey. That makes it a good value for multi-pet households. You can get what you need whether you have one cat or three.

The litter is unscented, which makes it an excellent choice for pets with sensitive noses. You won’t have to worry about your kitty refusing to use the box. Nevertheless, the odor control is fair, but only if you use it for the recommended time. It’s also dustier than comparable products. It wouldn’t be a dealbreaker if the litter wasn’t so lightweight. The litter isn’t better than clay or other materials.

Buyer’s Guide: Finding the Best Crystal Cat Litter

Is crystal cat litter just the latest trend, or is it the healthiest option out there to keep your cat clean and happy? In this section, we’ll take a clear look at the advantages of crystal cat litter to help you decide if it meets your kitty’s unique needs.

Advantages of Crystal Cat Litter

Silica-based cat litter is an unconventional environment for many cats, so we recommend introducing it slowly. Try setting up a second litter box next to the usual one so you can see which product your kitty prefers!

Conclusion

Fresh Step Crystals came out on top in our reviews without any special gimmicks. All it does is perform better than the competition. Even with multiple cats using one box, it cuts down on odors and keeps it up for over a month.

It does sometimes track out of the litter box, but when it does, it’s easy to clean up. The only problem is that the large crystals might be uncomfortable for cats with sensitive feet. We recommend it for indoor/outdoor cats used to walking on gravel.

For cat parents on a budget, we give PetSafe ScoopFree our highest recommendation. It’s affordable, and it’s an excellent option for people who hate scooping litter.

See also:

• Boxiecat Litter Review: A Detailed Look
• Best Cat Litters & Reviews & Top Picks