So, you want a cat litter that clumps like clay and absorbs odor like silica, but is more eco-friendly and better accepted by your cat? This may sound like a tall order, but Catalyst Cat Litter says they’ve got you covered.

This new cat litter brand uses Earth-friendly, upcycled wood residuals that are naturally absorbent, clump-forming, and cat-approved. In other words, this litter is designed to be everything the OG litters are, but, because it’s biodegradable, natural, and upcycled, it’s far better for the planet.

My cat, Makoa, and I had a chance to test two of Catalyst’s litter products: their scented softwood litter and their unscented variety. Makoa formed his opinions very quickly, while I took my time to test the performance and claims of this new litter option. Keep reading to find out if Catalyst Cat Litter really will meet your goals of an environmentally friendly yet highly functional cat litter.

Why Finding a Functional Eco-Friendly Litter Can Be Tricky

I remember the first time I set out to find a cat litter that was easier on the planet than clay, but just as effective at trapping odors and forming solid clumps. The grain-based options I found were good with odors, but didn’t clump well and weren’t as eco-friendly as I thought. The tofu litter clumped better, but smelled terrible even before soiling, and was even worse for the environment.

It took a while, but I thought I’d finally found the perfect litter when I came across a corn-byproduct-based option. That is, until my dogs found it. I had to build a fortress around the litterbox to keep them from eating it—even when there weren’t any “tasty cat treats” inside!

Why is it so hard to find a reliable litter option that is actually good for the planet, does what it’s supposed to, and is readily accepted by cats (and not pined after by hungry pups)?

Well, for one, most “eco-friendly” options aren’t as good for the Earth as they claim. Tofu and grain-based litters are often grown just for litter production, requiring water, fertilizer, and land that could be used for growing food or sustaining wildlife. Even those that are actually more Earth-friendly than clay rarely perform well enough for long-term use—and don’t even get me started about trying to use them in automatic litter boxes.

About Catalyst Cat Litter

Catalyst Cat Litter is different from those disappointing eco-friendly brands in many ways.

For one, this litter is made with 100% upcycled wood residuals. This means it not only requires no extra land or resources to grow, but also prevents untold amounts of wood scrap from being sent to landfills. The base of every bag of Catalyst is made from wood residuals (basically sawdust) leftover from the lumber industry.

This product is also biodegradable. While it probably won’t break down well in the anaerobic environment of the landfill (spoiler alert: nothing does), it can be tossed into municipal compost bins (where allowed), and unsoiled litter can be composted at home.

Wood is a natural superstar when it comes to absorbing liquid and odors, but it doesn’t clump well, at least, not on its own. That’s why Catalyst adds sustainable guar gum to their litter. This natural fiber comes from guar beans and is used in everything from food to makeup as a thickener and binder. And this is precisely what it is meant to do in your litter.

I had a chance to test all these performance claims in my litterbox. Keep reading to find out if this wood litter lived up to the hype.

Who Makes Catalyst and Where Is It Produced?

Catalyst Cat Litter is owned by Lignetics, Inc., a company dedicated to turning lumber waste into sustainable products. The wood waste used in Catalyst comes from trees harvested in the USA, and the product itself is made right up the road from me in Louisville, Colorado.

Which Type of Cat Is Catalyst Best Suited For?

Catalyst currently makes four litter products: a multi-cat option, a scented option, an unscented option, and non-clumping wood pellets. This means there is something for just about every cat (and every owner).

Cats tend to take to soft wood litter quite naturally, even more so than crystals and clay. (My cat was digging around in it the second I poured out the bag.) This makes it an excellent option for sensitive and picky felines.

Catalyst Product Specs

Ingredients

There’s not much to Catalyst litter beyond what you see. Each bag contains only three or four ingredients, with some differences between the scented and unscented options. These ingredients include:

Options

There are four different types of Catalyst litters to choose from, all made from upcycled wood but each with distinct functional benefits.

Value

At first glance, Catalyst may seem a little expensive compared to traditional litter types. But because of wood’s natural absorbency, one bag actually goes a long way.

In fact, compared to clay litter, a pan full of Catalyst will remain fuller after each cleaning, meaning you’ll need to buy fewer bags every year, saving you money in the long run. And don’t even get me started on the pound-for-pound savings! This is one cat litter you can carry with ease, which will save you extra money on trips to the chiropractor.

To help with cost-effectiveness, Catalyst has teamed up with Walmart and will be launching in stores and online on February 9, 2026. Pricing will vary depending on retailer and/or whether it’s direct from Catalyst’s website. But, at Walmart, you can expect a price of $18.24 for the 15-pound bag (lasting up to two months for one cat!), which equates to less than $10/month in litter costs!

And if bulk-buying is your thing and you want to save even more, you can get a 34-pound bag of Catalyst from Walmart for only $29.64!

With so many households watching their budgets right now, Catalyst shared with us how important it was for them to offer a high-performance litter that truly goes further. Many sustainable litters trade performance and price for eco-friendliness, but we can see that Catalyst is different—it’s not just eco-friendly, it’s simply more efficient than clay. It lasts longer, so pet parents aren’t buying litter as often, and that real-world savings adds up fast.

Comparison

Our Experience With Catalyst Cat Litter

Makoa and I had the chance to try both the unscented litter and the Healthy Cat scented litter. Both types have the same soft, sawdust-like texture, odor absorbency, and clumping ability.

I tested the litters in a standard open-pan setup and in my automatic litter box for over a week to see how Catalyst performed in terms of clumping, odor control, and overall use.

Makoa, as usual, took to this new litter right away. As soon as I poured it into the pan, he stuck his paws in and dug around. In fact, he spent the first ten minutes working himself up so he could give it a “proper” test.

Right off the bat, I was surprised by how well this litter clumps. My sample package came with a metal Catalyst litter scoop—which is better-made and more beautiful than most of my kitchen utensils, for the record—which I promptly used to test clumpability.

Of course, I knew the true test of this litter’s clumping prowess would be the automatic litter box. I have a cylinder-style box that I usually put clay litter in. For this test, I dumped the clay and used 100% Catalyst litter.

I checked the automatic box for residual waste every morning, but never found any. In fact, this litter worked even better in the automatic box than the clay, as it was less prone to sticking to the tray bottom. However, I had to change the box’s settings to “litter-saver mode” because a decent amount of unsoiled litter was getting into the waste bin during each cleaning. I think this is probably due to the lighter weight of the litter.

Regarding odor absorption, both litters worked very well. The scented variety maintained its pleasant pine smell, while the unscented variety kept foul odors under wraps while remaining unnoticed.

I love that this litter has no dust, is easy to carry around, and is so Earth-friendly. And of course, I am a big fan of the fact that my dogs have no interest in eating this litter.

The only downside I noted? Because the pieces are so small and so lightweight, this litter does track a bit, especially if your kitty enters the box with wet paws. However, the Catalyst sisal litter mat that I got with my samples does a wonderful job of keeping the litter contained to the area around the litter box.

Final verdict? I’ve finally found an eco-friendly cat litter that is both genuinely better for the planet and functionally on par with clay litter. It’s safe to say, I will be using Catalyst for my cat from now on.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Can I use this litter in a sifting or automatic litter box?

I found that this litter works very well in my automatic litter box when the “litter saver” mode is active, which helps prevent lightweight, clean litter from being swept into the waste bin. If your box does not have this mode, Catalyst recommends mixing its litter with about 20% clay to help weigh it down and prevent unnecessary litter loss.

Do I need a subscription to get Catalyst Litter?

You can subscribe at catalystpet.com to receive 18% or more off your order each month. You can also one-time buy from their website and from other online and local pet retailers.

Why is Catalyst better for the planet than clay litter? 

Most clay cat litter is made from sodium bentonite, a product that must be strip-mined and has a high carbon footprint during production and transportation. Catalyst, on the other hand, is made from all-natural lumber-industry byproducts that would otherwise be thrown away. It also has a much lower carbon footprint and is biodegradable.

Conclusion 

If you’ve been searching for a natural, eco-friendly cat litter with all the benefits of clay litter and none of the drawbacks, you’ve found it! Catalyst litter uses upcycled wood to create a functional litter that traps odors, clumps, and lasts longer than leading litters. Plus, cats love it, the planet adores it, and it will save you money and backaches.

Catalyst is easily my new go-to cat litter! I hope you’ll give it a try.