7 Best Non-Tracking Cat Litter with 5 Tips to Prevent Tracking


The only thing worse than scooping cat litter is finding it tracked all over your home.

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Scooping the litter box is a necessary evil if you’re a cat owner, but you shouldn’t have to worry about sweeping the area around your litter box every day due to tracking.

You may not realize it, but certain types of cat litter tend to track more than others. But which types of cat litter are low-tracking, and how do you pick the best one?

Keep reading to learn more about low- and non-tracking cat litter and to see our reviews of the top 7 best low-to- non-tracking cat litters.

Which Types of Cat Litter are Less Messy?

As a cat owner, you should expect to do a little bit of cleanup around your cat’s litter box – it only makes sense that some of the litter will stick to your cat’s paws while he digs around.

What you may not realize, however, is that certain types of cat litter track more than others.

But why is it important to find a non-tracking cat litter? Here are some of the reasons:

  • Easier scooping. A cat litter that forms hard, tight clumps is easier to scoop which means that you spill less litter when cleaning the box. Harder clumps also mean less soggy litter that could stick to your cat’s paws after he’s done his business.
  • Better odor control. The key to containing litter box odors is to keep the litter in the litter box – it’s really that simple. If your cat tracks litter all over the house, the smell will go with it.
  • Improved cleanliness. A non-tracking litter will not only keep your cat’s paws clean, but your home as well. There’s nothing worse than finding dirty litter ground into your carpet.
  • Cost-effective. Your cat litter can’t do its job if it isn’t in the litter box – tracking it all over the house not only means more cleanup, but more waste as well.

In addition to these benefits, non-tracking cat litter is important for litter training a kitten – it’s also important for older cats. Cats can be finicky and if you want your cat to develop and maintain good litter box hygiene, you need to keep the litter box clean and the litter where it belongs.

Do Low- or Non-Tracking Cat Litters Really Work?

Now that you understand the importance of choosing a non-tracking cat litter, how do you find one?

There are many different types of cat litter and all of them have their own unique benefits. Some cat litters are good for forming hard, easy-to-scoop clumps while others are best for multi-cat odor control. Certain types of cat litter are highly absorbent while others are biodegradable and safe to flush.

But what qualities should you look for in a non-tracking cat litter? Here are a few:

  • Granule Size and Shape – When it comes to tracking, larger granules are less likely to stick to your cat’s paws than smaller granules. The shape of the granule matters as well, with smoother textures being less likely to stick.
  • Clumping vs. Non-Clumping – Both clumping and non-clumping cat litters can track, but some sources say that clumping litters tend to track more. It really depends on the brand, however, since tight clumps are less likely to track than clumps that fall apart.
  • Dust-Free/Hypoallergenic – Not only is it important for your cat’s respiratory system to find a dust-free formula, but it will help with tracking as well. Many hypoallergenic formulas are dust-free and therefore low-tracking as well.
  • Moisture Control – Wet cat litter can become very sticky, so controlling moisture in the litter box is important to reduce tracking – clumping cat litters are generally best for this benefit.

In addition to considering these features when shopping for non-tracking cat litter, you should also think about things like odor control, price, and sustainability.

Clumping cat litters tend to control odor better and there are many affordable brands on the market. When shopping for an economical cat litter, compare the price to the quantity to find the best deal – cat litter comes in all sizes of packages. For sustainability, look for non-tracking cat litters made from natural and biodegradable materials like pine, walnut, and paper.

The Best Overall Non-Tracking Cat Litter

Dr. Elsey’s Precious Cat Ultra-Premium Clumping Litter

This cat litter features a unique formulation that combines an ultra-absorbent medium-grain clay with heavy non-tracking granules. Dr. Elsey’s Precious Cat Ultra-Premium Clumping Litter rapidly absorbs liquid to form tight clumps and prevents it from sinking to the bottom of the litter box. It is ideal for multi-cat households because it forms hard clumps that trap odor and are easy to scoop. It is a 99.9% dust-free formula which helps control tracking and it is hypoallergenic as well. Simply put, if you’re looking for a non-tracking litter that controls odor and dust, look no further.

  • Pros: Unique formulation to prevent tracking, ultra-absorbent, forms hard tight clumps, great for multi-cat households, 99.9% dust-free, hypoallergenic formula
  • Cons: Clumps may break down if not scooped often, some cats dislike the larger granules

6 More Top-Rated Low- to Non-Tracking Cat Litters

Every cat has his own unique preferences for cat litter. If your cat doesn’t like X litter, there are still other low- to non-tracking options available. Here are six more top-rated low- to non-tracking cat litter brands worth trying:

Arm & Hammer Clump & Seal Multi-Cat Litter

For multi-cat households, you need a hard-clumping cat litter that traps odors and locks them away. This Arm & Hammer Clump & Seal Multi-Cat Litter is the perfect solution because it offers a 7-day odor-free guarantee powered by Arm & Hammer baking soda. This formula features a proprietary blend of moisture-activated micro-granules that seal odors on contact, forming hard clumps and keeping your home blissfully odor-free. Plus, it is an ultra-low-dust and low-tracking formula.

  • Pros: Traps odors for up to 7 days, forms hard clumps, great for multi-cat households, seals odors away on contact, low-dust and low-tracking
  • Cons: Some cats dislike the scent, used litter can be very heavy

Blue Buffalo Naturally Fresh Multi-Cat Litter

If you’re looking for an all-natural cat litter that is also low-tracking, try this Blue Buffalo Naturally Fresh Multi-Cat Litter. This cat litter is made from ultra-absorbent walnut shells which also makes it eco-friendly and safe to flush. This all-natural cat litter features a proprietary blend of fibrous materials to absorb liquid and neutralize odors on contact. It forms hard, easy-to-scoop clumps better than many natural litters and it is so absorbent that one bag does the work of three bags of the typical clay cat litter. Plus, it is virtually dust-free and very low-tracking.

  • Pros: All-natural biodegradable materials, quickly forms hard clumps, absorbs liquid and odor quickly, dust-free formula, very low-tracking
  • Cons: Dark color may disguise clumps, wet litter may track more than dry

Fresh Step Extreme Clumping Cat Litter

When odor control is your priority, this Fresh Step Extreme Clumping Cat Litter is the way to go. This clumping cat litter combines the hard-clumping action of Fresh Step clay litter with the odor-fighting protection of Febreeze to keep your home smelling fresh and clean. With the power of Fresh Step ClumpLock Technology, liquid and odors are locked away on contact so all you get is that fresh Febreeze scent. This cat litter is very low dust and low-tracking as well, plus it is a great choice for multi-cat households. There is also an unscented version for cats who are sensitive to fragrances.

  • Pros: Locks away liquid and odors on contact, fresh scent from Febreeze, forms hard clumps, low-dust and low-tracking formula, great for multi-cat households
  • Cons: Some cats dislike the scent, can be very heavy in larger sizes

Tidy Cats Instant Action Non-Clumping Cat Litter

If your cat prefers non-clumping cat litter but you still want to control odors and tracking, this Tidy Cats Instant Action Non-Clumping Cat Litter is a good option. This cat litter features a moisture-activated odor control system which means that it starts working to neutralize ammonia odors on contact. It may not form clumps, but it absorbs liquid quickly and effectively, preventing odors for up to a week. This cat litter is formulated specifically for multi-cat households and it is low-dust and low-tracking.

  • Pros: Absorbs liquid and odors on contact, prevents odors for up to a week, great for multi-cat households, low-dust and low-tracking
  • Cons: Doesn’t form clumps, wet litter can be heavy, should be replaced weekly

Cat’s Pride Fresh & Light Ultimate Care Cat Litter

Some cat litters are too heavy to lift when they are dry, and they only get heavier when wet. If you’re looking for a lightweight cat litter that offers excellent performance, consider this Cat’s Pride Fresh & Light Ultimate Care Cat Litter. This cat litter features an unscented hypoallergenic formula that destroys litterbox odors for days at a time. Even in multi-cat households, this litter controls odor and forms hard clumps so you don’t have to scoop every day. In fact, this highly porous clay cat litter lasts for roughly 35 days per jug. It is 50% lighter than the average clay litter in addition to being low-dust and low-tracking.

  • Pros: 50% lighter than average clay litter, unscented hypoallergenic formula, great for multi-cat households, controls odor well, forms hard clumps, low-dust and low-tracking
  • Cons: Clumps may break up over time

Yesterday’s News Unscented Cat Litter

If you’re in the market for an all-natural cat litter made from recycled materials, this Yesterday’s News Unscented Cat Litter is the way to go. Made from recycled newspaper, this cat litter is ultra-absorbent and completely eco-friendly. This litter comes in pellets so, while it may not work as well with sifting litter scoops, it is gentle on sensitive cat paws. This paper cat litter contains no added fragrances or dyes, and it is almost entirely dust-free. It is very low-tracking and it can even be used in composting. Simply put, if you’re looking for a low-tracking natural cat litter, this is a great option.

  • Pros: Made from recycled materials, very eco-friendly, ultra-absorbent pellets, gentle on sensitive paws, no fragrances or dyes, almost entirely dust-free, low-tracking, compost safe
  • Cons: Wet litter may stick to the box, doesn’t form clumps, hard to scoop with sifting scoops

5 Simple Tips to Help Prevent Cat Litter from Tracking

Choosing a low- to non-tracking cat litter is the first step in keeping your cat litter in the box where it belongs. From there, however, there are a few other things you can do to prevent tracking.

Here are a few simple ideas to try at home:

  1. Place a cat litter mat outside the box. A litter box mat placed outside the litter box can be very helpful in catching any litter still sticking to your cat’s paws. Plastic or silicone mats work to contain spilled litter while textured mats may do more to grab the litter off your cat’s paws.
  2. Choose a litter box with a built-in track pad. There’s something to be said for a good old-fashioned litter tray, but some of the newer litter boxes are designed with anti-tracking features such as built-in track pads. This could be an easy way to solve your tracking problem.
  3. Try a top-entry or high-sided cat litter box. There’s no way to completely prevent litter from getting into your cat’s paws, but you can change up his litter box to make sure most of it falls off on his way out. A litter box with high sides or a top-entry enclosed litter box is better for containing litter and excess litter is more likely to fall off your cat’s paws as he climbs out.
  4. Trim the fur between your cat’s toes. If you have a long-haired cat, he is more likely to get litter caught between his toes. The simple act of trimming his toe fur may be all you need to successfully reduce tracking.
  5. Scoop the litter box daily. Keeping your litter box clean is the best way to ensure that your cat keeps using it, but it can also be beneficial to reduce tracking. If your litter box is full of clumps, your cat will dig deeper to find clean litter and that could result in dirty litter getting stuck between her toes. All that digging can also cause clumps to break up, resulting in more tracking.

For the most part, cats are a much more low-maintenance pet than dogs. You don’t need to walk them, they can be left alone for a few days at a time, and they do all their business in a box instead of outside. At least, that’s the hope.

Unfortunately, most litter boxes don’t clean themselves and, as hard as you may try, the litter itself doesn’t always stay in the box where it belongs.

If you’re tired of finding cat litter all over your house, it may be time to switch to a low- or non-tracking cat litter. There are many options to choose from, so why don’t you try out one of the top-rated brands reviewed above and let us know how you like it!

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