What is the Best Clumping Cat Litter?
Updated by Brandon F. on June 10, 2020
This question is asked quite often, and for good reason. Clumping ability is one of the biggest selling points a cat litter can advertise. Just browse over to one of the many cat litter websites and you’ll see exclamations of having “rock hard clumps” or “the original clumping cat litter” and many others.
While nearly every cat litter company will state that their clumping cat litters perform well, unfortunately, that isn’t always the case. If it was then they would all be getting 5-star ratings for the “clumping ability” category but if you head over to our many reviews you’ll see that is rarely the case!
Below are a couple of examples of clumps. Can you tell which one is better? What makes it better?


While there isn’t always a right or wrong answer, most people would prefer the clumps on the left. They are more solid which means that they are easier to identify and remove and they likely also do a better job of locking in cat waste odors since it has essentially formed a seal around the odor-causing solids and urine.
First, let’s define what a “good” clump actually entails. There are multiple aspects that can measure the clumping ability of a cat litter.
What defines good clumping?
How hard the clumps get
How long the clumps stay hard
How well the clumps stay together when moved around by cat movement or during litter box maintenance
How much litter is actually used up in forming a clump
The size of the clumps
How well the litter handles both feces and urine while clumping
How easily identifiable the clumps are and their ability to stay at the top of the box
That is a lot to think about! And honestly, most people aren’t going to have a mental checklist of all of these criteria when they are shopping for their next cat litter purchase (and for good reason). So the big question is what IS the best clumping cat litter?
Unfortunately, there isn’t a definite answer to this question. There are so many variables and the results are somewhat subjective. If you ask 100 people which their opinion of the best clumping litter is you very may well get 100 different answers! However, we have come up with a top clumping litter from all three of our price tiers (budget, mid, and premium) that we feel make the best argument for being dubbed the best clumping cat litter.
All three of these litters exhibit what we look for in good clumping. While some of their specific pros and cons might vary in regards to other aspects such as odor control and cost, they share a common them in being able to great rock-hard clumps for both feces and urine quickly, staying hard, using marginal amounts of litter in doing so, and being an overall low-maintenance litter in regards to cleanup.
Best Budget-Priced Clumping Cat Litter
Precious Cat Ultra
Nothing but positives to say about this product. It has some of the best clumping you will experience and the scent control is good enough for most applications. And that price! Definitely, a good choice especially if you are budget-conscious. It is available in 18, 40, and 80-pound bags and 40-pound boxes, is comprised of clay, and is available in the budget-price tier.
Pros: Some of the best clumping out there, handles both feces and urine odors for several days, mostly dust-free, fantastic price
Cons: Can be overwhelmed by moisture, caking can be an issue
Best Mid-Priced Clumping Cat Litter
Cat’s Pride Fresh & Light Quick Action
This has fantastic performance across the board and a great price to go with it. It really has no major qualms and we consider this one of our top choices. The clumping ability is particularly great. It is available in 9 and 15-pound jugs and 21, 28, and 30-pound boxes, is comprised of clay, and is available in the budget to mid-price tier.
Pros: Extremely effective clumping, fights odors with ease, mess-free, affordable
Cons: Minor tracking with multiple cats
Best Premium-Priced Clumping Cat Litter
Tidy Cats 24/7 Performance
This really is a fantastic product. The clumps are some of the hardest that we have seen and that stay so for multiple days. There is essentially no odor issues in both urine and feces. Minor tracking and a somewhat high price are the only minor complaints but the rest of the positives easily trump them. It is available in 14 and 20-pound jugs, 27 and 35-pound pails, and 23, 27, and 40-pound boxes, is comprised of clay, and is available in the mid to premium-price tiers.
Pros: Clumps harden quickly and effectively, tackles both feces and urine smells with ease, easy cleanup
Cons: Minor tracking