Litter Reference Guide

A detailed comparison of the most common cat litter types — so you can choose the safest, most practical option for your cat.

CRITICAL: With kittens younger than 4 months you MUST use non-clumping litter. Kittens are prone to eating litter, and will form life-threatening bowel blockages if they ingest clumping litter.

Wood Pellets

Cost: Cheapest
Change: Daily (with a thin layer) or Every 5-7 days (1-2" depth). Longer if sifted daily.
Scooping: None if changed daily
Dust: Very Low
Clumping: No (expands/absorbs)
Notes: Pine scent. Biodegradable. Minimal floor mess, but cats struggle to cover waste. Some cats dislike the texture.

Paper Pellets

Cost: Low
Change: Daily (with a thin layer) or Every 5-7 days (1-2" depth). Longer if sifted daily.
Scooping: None if changed daily
Dust: Dust-free
Clumping: No (expands/absorbs)
Notes: Scent-free so kittens are more likely to chew/play with them. Minimal floor mess, cats struggle to cover waste. Some cats dislike texture.

Non-Clumping Clay

Cost: Low-mid
Change: Every 5-7 days
Scooping: Scoop solids every 1-2 days
Dust: Medium (varies by brand)
Clumping: No
Notes: Cats track litter outside the box. Cats cover waste. Often available completely odor-free.

Clumping Clay

Cost: Mid
Change: Every 3-4 weeks
Scooping: Scoop every 1-2 days
Dust: High (varies by brand)
Clumping: Yes (can crumble and stick to box)
Notes: NOT SAFE FOR CATS UNDER 4 MONTHS. Tracks outside the box. Cats cover waste.

Clumping Organic (Corn/Soy)

Cost: Mid-high
Change: Every 5 days (gnats colonize quickly in humid environments)
Scooping: Scoop every 1-2 days
Dust: Low
Clumping: Yes (strong, non-stick)
Notes: NOT SAFE FOR CATS UNDER 4 MONTHS. Biodegradable. Tracks outside the box. Cats cover waste.

Crystal Litter

Cost: Highest
Change: Every 3-4 weeks (More often for multiple cats)
Scooping: Scoop every 1-2 days
Dust: Low
Clumping: Usually No (Some do, but residue is hard to remove)
Notes: Some brands claim color-changing health indicators. Tracks less than clay. Cats cover waste. Some cats dislike texture.

Type	Cost	Change Frequency	Scoop Frequency	Dust	Clumping	Notes
Wood Pellets	Cheapest	Daily (with a thin layer) or Every 5-7 days (1-2" depth). Longer if sifted daily.	None if changed daily	Very Low	No (expands/absorbs)	Pine scent. Biodegradable. Minimal floor mess, but cats struggle to cover waste. Some cats dislike the texture.
Paper Pellets	Low	Daily (with a thin layer) or Every 5-7 days (1-2" depth). Longer if sifted daily.	None if changed daily	Dust-free	No (expands/absorbs)	Scent-free so kittens are more likely to chew/play with them. Minimal floor mess, cats struggle to cover waste. Some cats dislike texture.
Non-Clumping Clay	Low-mid	Every 5-7 days	Scoop solids every 1-2 days	Medium (varies by brand)	No	Cats track litter outside the box. Cats cover waste. Often available completely odor-free.
Clumping Clay	Mid	Every 3-4 weeks	Scoop every 1-2 days	High (varies by brand)	Yes (can crumble and stick to box)	NOT SAFE FOR CATS UNDER 4 MONTHS. Tracks outside the box. Cats cover waste.
Clumping Organic (Corn/Soy)	Mid-high	Every 5 days (gnats colonize quickly in humid environments)	Scoop every 1-2 days	Low	Yes (strong, non-stick)	NOT SAFE FOR CATS UNDER 4 MONTHS. Biodegradable. Tracks outside the box. Cats cover waste.
Crystal Litter	Highest	Every 3-4 weeks (More often for multiple cats)	Scoop every 1-2 days	Low	Usually No (Some do, but residue is hard to remove)	Some brands claim color-changing health indicators. Tracks less than clay. Cats cover waste. Some cats dislike texture.

Sanctuary Pro-Tips

1Cost and dust levels vary by brand. Always confirm a litter is appropriate for kittens.
2Avoid switching litters suddenly — instead mix in new litter gradually.
3Scooping clumping litter faster and more often will make it last longer.