Best Non-Clumping Cat Litter
Updated by Brandon F. on May 8, 2020
Despite the recent trend of clumping cat litters, there are still a lot of people that prefer to go with non-clumping varieties. Some of you might be asking yourself why would someone actively choose a litter that doesn’t clump over one that does?
There are quite a few reasons that non-clumping cat litters still have a place in the market, and we want to offer up what we feel is the best non-clumping cat litter. But before we get into those, let’s list our top choices for the best non-clumping cat litters in the table below.
Now, as for the reasons why non-clumping cat litters still fetch a demand in the pet world:
First, there is typically a much wider variety of materials to choose from when you aren’t looking for clumping. This opens up unique materials such as crystals, corns, wood, grass, and clay. These various materials have unique pros that might benefit your cat.
Crystals, for example, might not clump or clump well but can provide excellent liquid absorption and odor control. Some of the natural components such as corn and wood may give off a more pleasant natural smell that works better in a small room or for someone with sensitivities to harsh chemical odors.
Second, many people don’t want to deal with the hassle of manually removing clumps daily or several times a week. This can be a laborious task and can also be quite messy when the clumps fall apart. With non-clumping litters, you simply dump out the entire box when it is exhausted and refill with fresh litter.
Finally, non-clumping cat litters tend to be cheaper than clumping. For those on a tight budget or that have multiple cats, having to purchase pricey clumping cat litter products can be too much on the wallet.
However, that isn’t to say that non-clumping litters don’t have their challenges.
For example, in general, clumping varieties will do a better job of locking in odors for extended periods. This means that a box of clumping cat litter might go many days longer than non-clumping before you need to worry about replacing the entire container.
Also, when clumped the cat waste is much easier to identify which means the likelihood of your cat walking and or accidentally moving the clumps is minimized.
Furthermore, the way you determine if a litter box needs a refresh is simply when it starts to smell “too stinky”. This means that if you want to maximize your litter then there will likely be scenarios where the smells will begin to permeate in a room.
Finally, since the clumps are easily identifiable they are much easier to remove. Sometimes people will try to remove portions of a non-clumping container where they know their cat typically uses the restroom at but it is not as easily detectable.
In determining what the best non-clumping litters are, we consider several important factors. These include:
Scent – this is both the smell of the litter itself as well as its ability to lock in odor and for how long
Messiness – How dusty, trackable, and the level of ability for the litter to contain cat waste
Value – How affordable it is compared to other litters on the market
With these in mind, we came up with our favorite non-clumping cat litters. We feel all of these examples have a good overall combination of positives and whatever negatives they have are small enough to still warrant them being a buy. We encourage you to click on any of the links below to read our more thorough review of each cat litter!
Cat’s Pride Fresh & Clean
Our Rating: 
This is one of our favorite budget-oriented offerings in the non-clumping sector. The odor elimination and cleanup (when applicable) abilities of this product actually aren’t that bad. And the price you can get it for, even online, it superb. We recommend this for those looking to spend that absolutely minimum on cat litter while still getting a functional product. It is available in 10, 20, and 30-pound bags, is comprised of clay, and is available in the budget-priced tier.
Pros: Acceptable perfume smell, not overly dusty, extremely affordable
Cons: Odors aren’t locked in
Jonny Cat Complete
Our Rating:
While this isn’t a clumping litter, it does a good job of sealing in odors without causing too big of a mess. The proprietary system in place is working like a charm and it is available at what we consider a very fair price. It is available in 10 and 20-pound bags, is comprised of clay, and is a budget-price litter.
Pros: Great price, litter smell isn’t overpowering, quickly puts out cat odors
Cons: A little dusty
Healthy Pet ökocat Pine
Our Rating:
This is probably our favorite non-clumping natural litter. One of the few eco-friendly litters we have tested that actually seem to thrive despite not using conventional (and typically better-performing) materials. Great scent, good ease of use, and a great price make this a recommended buy. It is available in 7.8, 12.4, and 18.6-pound boxes, is comprised of pine pellets, and is available in the budget-priced tier.
Pros: Pleasant litter smell, absorbs nearly all cat smells, great price
Cons: Doesn’t clump so have to watch more closely, light tracking
Tidy Cats Instant Action Non-Clumping
Our Rating: 
Another Tidy Cats example that centers its biggest selling point on price. The smell and cleanup are decent enough to warrant a potential buy, even without the clumping feature. It is available in 10-pound paper bags and 20, 35, 30, and 40-pound weave bags, is comprised of clay, and is available in the budget-price tier.
Pros: No overpowering litter smell, keeps odor in check for up to a week, great price
Cons: Can be over saturated quickly in busy litter boxes, quite dusty
UltraPet Crystal Clear Litter Pearls
Our Rating:
This is one of our favorite crystal non-clumping cat litters and will be more expensive than most of the clays. The beads will be gentle on cat paws and attack waste smells like no other, but are you ok spending this much money on a cat litter? It is available in 7-pound bags, is comprised of silica gel, and is available in the premium-price tier.
Pros: Extremely good at locking in odor smells, quite absorbent, no litter smell
Cons: Somewhat dusty, expensive