The Best Clumping Cat Litter (Dust Free)

Clumping cat litter makes a big difference in how you clean your cat’s litter box. The problem comes when you have to choose between a cat litter that clumps well, or one that doesn’t put off clouds of dust.

Dust free cat litter on the other hand, doesn’t usually clump as well. Beyond that, there are other concerns: is clumping cat litter bad for cats? Are there eco friendly cat litters? Can my kitten use clumping kitty litter?

I’ve been there, and that’s why I made this guide to help you find the best kitty litter for your cat. If you want to skip to our top five picks go ahead and scroll below the factors to consider or read them to make the most informed buying decision.

Important Factors to Consider About Clumping Litter

Is it Safe?

How important are the ingredients in your cat litter? It can depend on your cat, and your own preferences. Organic or natural cat litter is a rising trend, especially among cat owners that don’t want to risk chemicals getting kicked up every time their cat uses the box.

The other reason the make-up of your litter is important is because cats inevitably ingest some of the litter (often when cleaning their paws). Adult cats rarely have an issue because of this.

With kittens, it’s more of a concern, since clumping cat litter often contains quartz silica or sodium bentonite clay.

If you have a young kitten, beware of litters that list these ingredients, and consider holding off on clumping litter altogether. Kittens are naturally curious, and this is where clumping cat litters can be an issue. You also want to make sure you have a quality litter box like these one's mentioned by All About Cats.

Kittens often try to eat some bit of litter, especially if it clumps. For this reason, kittens shouldn’t be introduced to clumping cat litter until they’re 4 months or older.

Clumping Ability

Who likes buying clumping kitty litter just to find that it’s impossible to get up, or barely clumps at all? Nobody! Some clumping litters are designed to make larger clumps, while others make small, stone like clumps.

You’re probably thinking, as long as it clumps, who really cares, right? Here’s why you should care about whether your cat litter makes small or large clumps:

Large clumps can be a little easier to clean up, but you also may end up dumping out about half your litter. Smaller clumps can be more time consuming to scoop up, but you also have more usable litter left.

Dust Output

Some cat litters get dust everywhere, and if you’re like me, you know what a huge pain it is when it comes time for clean up.

Cleaning your cat’s litter box is easier if the litter clumps but if that litter is dusty, that’s extra work you end up doing anyway.

It’s not just a major letdown for you if the litter produces its own dust storm; your cat can suffer too, especially if yours has allergies or respiratory issues.

Cats with breathing problems benefit greatly from dust free kitty litter, and you’ll be glad to be cleaning the litter box, and not the whole room around it.

Price vs. Quality

I know we’ve all tried that store brand cat litter to save a couple bucks, and that’s fine, but how many of us have also been sorely disappointed? Here’s the thing: You don’t always have to sacrifice quality for a budget friendly price. If price and quality are weighing in equally for your cat litter concerns, you need to find a balance. ‍

Scent and Odor Control

The debate between scented and unscented cat litter often comes down to personal preference. Across scented brands the particular fragrance, and strength thereof varies.

Unscented litters might be easier for a picky cat to use, although you may prefer a lightly scented litter to help with the smell between cleanings. On the other hand, some scented cat litter brands contain a fragrance that masks and mixes with the litter box odor, which creates an unpleasant experience.

Best Overall: Precious Cat Ultra Premium Clumping Cat Litter

This litter sounds expensive, but I was thrilled to find that it’s a budget friendly option, and it outperforms other kitty litter brands.

I found the right amount of clumping, without a lot of dust with the Precious Cat litter. First, this combination is great because cats don’t track the litter around with them.

It’s also almost entirely dust free (99.99%), and hypoallergenic, making it an ideal cat litter for cats with allergies and respiratory problems. This helps for homes that have family members with allergies too, since there won’t be clouds of dust when you change the litter.

It’s unscented, which some pet owners love and others despise, but still, it does a good job of keeping odors contained, even with multiple cats.

All in all, this kitty litter is a dust free, clumping litter that leaves you with very little clean up.

Pros:

• Affordable and available in bulk.
• Special formula prevents cat litter from being tracked out of the litter box.
• Hypoallergenic and dust free.
• Good for homes with multiple cats.
• Makes hard clumps that are easy to scoop up.
• Entirely natural ingredients.

Cons:

• Unscented (which depends on preference).
• Litter clumps strongly, so scooping can be more difficult if it sticks to the box.
• Wet litter tends to accumulate at the bottom of the litter box.
  

This cat litter does have an audacious name, but it performs well enough that it’s a fair description.

If you’re looking for ultra convenience, how about a biodegradable cat litter that won’t clog your toilets? That’s right, you can actually flush this cat litter.

If that doesn’t impress you (and we’re cat owners here, so let’s be honest), the small clumps it forms save a ton of money in the long run.

Where large clumps make most of the remaining litter unusable, this makes compact clumps that spare most of your litter.

Smaller clumps also mean that you don’t have to use as much elbow grease if a clump of cat litter gets stuck to the box.

Pros:

• Biodegradable and eco friendly
• Can be flushed, which makes cleanup quick and easy
• Forms small, compact clumps
• Contains odors well, and comes in scented and unscented options
• Dust free
• Lasts longer than other cat litter brands
• Fast clumping
• Natural formula from corn based granules

Cons:

• Does get stuck to the bottom of the box, which can be difficult to remove
• You will need to add slightly more litter to prevent clumps on the bottom
• Some people say the unscented option has a slight corn smell
  

Arm & Hammer is a well known household brand, especially when it comes to odor control (you know you have a box in your fridge somewhere)

It’s surprising to find such a high caliber cat litter coming from this brand, but it’s a product you’ll use once and never look back at your old cat litter again.

The odor control is what this cat litter really makes its name on, which is a good starting point, considering that it can banish odors for a full 7 days (yes, that’s a guarantee).

It isn’t technically dust free, but it does have a low dust formula. This kitty litter has a different texture compared to other clay based, clumping cat litter, but it clumps on contact and seals in odors before they escape the litter box.

This is definitely a cat litter to consider if you have more than one cat, and want an easier way to contain litter box odors.

Pros:

• Contains odors for a week
• Compact clumps are easy to scoop up
• Budget friendly
• Low dust formula helps keep messes contained
• Works well for multiple cats

Cons:

• Different texture, picky cats may need to adjust
  

This is a great example of a cat litter that finds a solid middle ground with clumping ability and dust free formulation.

At a value price. It’s not the top tier selection for either clumping or dust free cat litters, but it does a good job of meeting both demands.

The clumps are hard enough that don’t crumble when you’re scooping them; although the clumps could be smaller, they’re not huge clumps that are going to waste a bunch of kitty litter.

Like some of the other best clumping, dust free cat litters, this formula is 99.9% dust free, and it’s an all natural cat litter at that.

If you often find yourself scraping coins to get a good cat litter, this is a quality cat litter, that’s worth trying out.

Pros:

• Very inexpensive and long lasting
• All natural formula 99.9% dust free
• Forms hard clumps that are easy to clean
• Can last a month or more with 2 cats
• Contains scent very well

Cons:

• Clumps aren’t as small as other brands

Fresh Step is really advertised primarily as an odor controlling cat litter (you probably got that from the name), but it performs well in the most important areas to cat owners too..

This litter is a standout for how fast it clumps, and eliminates odors. The clumps are hard and easy to scoop, and because it clumps on contact, there’s a lot less opportunity for clumps to get stuck on the sides and bottom of the litter box.

It has a low dust formula, so while it isn’t ‘dust free’ per se, it leaves less mess and minimizes tracking.

Cat owners that struggle to keep up with litter box odor from multiple cats would be well advised to check this cat litter out.

Pros:

• Eliminates odors and produces a fresh scent
• Uses Febreeze to keep the litter box area odor free
• Well suited for multiple cats
• Clumps on contact
• Less clumps sticking to the litter box
• Low dust formula

Cons:

• Formula isn’t entirely dust free
• Some cats may get irritated by scent
• Owners that prefer unscented litter may not like the fragrance

Conclusion

Wondering which clumping cat litter wins the title of ‘Best Clumping Cat Litter’? Precious Cat Ultra Clumping Cat Litter rises above the competition in all the important categories. The experts at All About Cats also recommend this cat litter and rank it extremely high.

First, it’s affordable and long lasting, so it’s a bargain. It clumps well, and does it quickly (with hardly any dust too), making cleanup easier.

Next, while it is unscented, it does well containing odors, and doesn’t contain harmful chemicals. If you have a kitten, but can’t bring yourself to use a non-clumping cat litter, this is the best clumping cat litter to use for kittens.

Thanks to the all natural formula, it’s the safest litter, and the least likely to harm your cats if ingested. If you’re looking for a new litter, Precious Cat is worth giving a try.