As indoor kitties rely solely on their litter boxes inside the house for their toilet needs, selecting the best cat litter for indoor cats in the UK that provides the utmost comfort as well as being as hygienic as possible is vital. There are many different types of cat litter out there for your feline friend to do their business on, which is why we’ve put together this guide to help you decide which one best suits the requirements of your moggy as well as your household.
Just like some humans have a preference for using their bathroom at home rather than out and about, a litter box for an indoor cat has the same sort of feel. It’s the place where they feel comfortable and secure, and unlike humans, it’s the only place they can do their business as they’re limited to the spots you’ve put out for them throughout your home.
Best cat litter for indoor cats UK at a glance:
• Best overall: Catsan Hygiene Cat Litter – view on Amazon UK
• Best highly absorbent cat litter for indoor cats: Pettex Premium Cat Litter – view on Pets at Home
• Best eco-friendly cat litter for indoor cats: Bio-Catolet Light & Hygienic Cat Litter – view on Amazon UK
As indoor cats are doing their business in litter boxes around the house, it’s important you choose a cat litter that provides easy maintenance and cleanliness. The most common problem that comes with your cat emptying their bowels in a litter tray in your home is the smell. Therefore having a cat litter for odour control is important as it will help to absorb your cat’s messes and leave their litter tray smelling fresher for longer. There are a couple of other important factors to consider when choosing the best cat litter for indoor cats in the UK, which we’ve covered in detail in our FAQs.
Whether you’re a first-time kitty owner or a seasoned pro when it comes to taking care of cats, we’ve searched the web to find the best cat litter for indoor cats in the UK that will tick a lot of boxes for both you and your cat's needs.
Best cat litter for indoor cats UK
Best overall
Amazon/CatsanThanks to the active ingredients which prevent the growth of bacteria, this Catsan Hygiene Cat Litter is a great option for keeping the litter tray as fresh as possible for your feline friend. As well as being good at keeping odour to a minimum, it has very low dust when poured out of the bag so it won't make a mess every time you change their litter.
Customer review: "With two indoor cats I need a good cat litter that doesn't smell. This is the best I've found so far."
Pros
- Keeps odours at bay
- Low-dust
Cons
- As it's a big bag, you'll need to make sure you've got somewhere suitable to store it
Best highly absorbent cat litter for indoor cats
Pets at Home/Pettexwww.petsathome.com
The Pettex Premium Cat Litter is a clumping cat litter that helps damp patches in your cat's litter to form together so they can be removed and dispensed with ease for easy cleanup. Not only that, but it has a dust-free formulation, so you don't have to worry about it going everywhere when changing it.
Customer review: "I have three indoor cats so regularly use these large bags of cat litter. Admittedly the bags are very heavy to move, but the soiled clumps are easy to remove in one piece from the litter tray, meaning there is less wastage. It doesn’t break apart when lifted out so it doesn't leave lots of small wet bits behind which the cats hate. The litter also seems to absorb any unpleasant odours very effectively. I would however recommend using a metal scoop as opposed to a plastic one. The wet litter reverts back to a heavy clay texture and it’s unlikely a plastic scoop will cope with this for very long before breaking. This supplier is always very prompt and the delivery usually arrives before the specified date. It may not be the most glamorous product to recommend, but as cat litter goes I think it’s pretty good stuff!"
Pros
- Highly absorbent
- Clump forming
Cons
- Bags heavy to move
Best eco-friendly cat litter for indoor cats
Amazon/Bio-CatoletLooking for a more planet-conscious option to line your kitty's litter tray? The Bio-Catolet Light and Hygienic Cat Litter is made using recycled paper and can be composted (although, it's not recommended for vegetables). It's extremely absorbent as it can absorb around 250 per cent of its own weight so it reliably masks odours left behind by your feline friend. It's dust-free, too!
Customer review: "I’ve tried many cat litters as having an indoor cat he uses the litter tray all the time. This is the best one I’ve used without a doubt. Hardly any mess, my cat likes to flick the litter up when exiting the tray, and absorbs the smell pretty well. Definitely recommend this cat litter"
Pros
- Easy to dispose of
- Masks smells
Cons
- Some reviewers have found it easily gets stuck on their cat's feet
Best cat litter for indoor cats for freshness
Amazon/SanicatThe unique Aloe Vera formula of the Sanicat Classic Cat Litter promises long-lasting freshness in your cat's litter tray for up to seven days so if you're after a low-maintenance litter, this is definitely one to consider. It features oxygen odour control technology to neutralise and break down unpleasant odours so not only does this litter offer less waste, it's hygienic too.
Customer review: "Great product, easy to clean and keeps fresh smelling for several days and doesn’t make a mess everywhere. Indoor cats seem happy."
Pros
- Contains natural Aloe Vera in the formula
- Oxygen odour control technology
Cons
- Very scented
Best scented cat litter for indoor cats
Amazon/LifelongWith over 13,00 reviews, the Lifelong Bentonite Premium Cat Litter is a popular choice with cat owners on Amazon. It has a lush but light baby powder scent that's not too powerful that it's overwhelming but strong enough to cover up any odours. It has high clumping ability and will not stick to your cat's paws so you can keep all messes inside their litter tray.
Customer review: "This premium cat litter has a nice baby powder scent. Has high clumping ability. Long lasting.
Comes in a 10l/7.5kg bag. I use this with my two large ragdoll cats (indoor cats) who seem to like this. Low dust. My cats don't leave a trail of cat litter once around the house. No smells come from the kitten tray with this litter. Very easy to remove solid clumps with a scoop to clean out tray. Great quality. Excellent value. Will continue to use this cat litter. Would recommend."
Pros
- Pleasant scent
- High clumping ability
Cons
- As it has high and quick absorption levels, it does require daily cleaning
Best supermarket cat litter for indoor cats
Sainsbury'swww.sainsburys.co.uk
You can pick up your weekly shop at the same time as purchasing this Sainsbury's Anti-Bac Ultra Clumping Cat Litter for the ultimate in convenience. As any cat owner knows, our feline friends like to feel fresh, so they'll love that this litter has antibacterial properties to make doing their business as clean as possible, and it makes it a more pleasant experience for you to pick up, too.
Customer review: "Really impressed with this cat litter. Best one I have tried and I have got a few cats."
Pros
- Great value
- Long-lasting
Cons
- Only available in one eight-litre sized bag
Best flushable cat litter for indoor cats
Pets at Home/Nature's Callingwww.petsathome.com
Last but by no means least on our list of the UK's best cat litter for indoor cats is this Nature's Calling Walnut Shell Fine Granule Clumping Cat Litter. Made from the reclaimed lining of walnut shells, it's completely natural and biodegradable, but best of all it's flushable so clean up is simple as you can dispose of it in your toilet.
Customer review: "Excellent stuff- I have it on repeat. Initially seems expensive, but due to efficient clumping, no waste. Absorbs all odour- no hint of a cat in the house. Conveniently & ecologically flushable; Product may not look pretty, but it's perfect!"
Pros
- Flushable for easy cleaning
- Natural and biodegradable
Cons
- One reviewer found their cats tracked this litter through the house
Best cat litter for indoor cats UK FAQs
What factors should I consider when choosing cat litter for my indoor cat in the UK?
Here are a couple of things we think you should bear in mind when looking for new cat litter for your indoor cat.
The type of cat litter
From non-clumping and clumping cat litter to biodegradable and scented cat litter, there are many different types of cat litter for your indoor cat. When choosing what option would be best for your cat, consider their needs and your preferences when it comes to cleaning it up.
Odour control
There’s no denying that your cat doing their business inside the house can be a bit smelly so having cat litter that will absorb the smells and provide effective odour control is a must. Consider cat litter with odour-absorbing properties and scented options to keep your home as fresh as can be.
Dust levels and tracking
If you want to keep mess to a minimum, it’s better to opt for a low-dust or dust-free cat litter with low tracking properties. High-dust and high-tracking cat litter can be messier and also scatter more around your house, which can be irritating when you’re trying to keep your home clean.
Ease of cleaning
It’s no cat owner’s favourite thing to do but cleaning up the cat litter has to be done. To make it as straightforward as possible, you’ll want to consider how easy it is to scoop up and clean the litter tray or box when it is time to change it over.
Eco-friendly-ness
In a time when we’re all trying to be a bit more planet-conscious, you may be looking to make some simple swaps to make things a little more eco-friendly. If this is something that is important to you, look for a litter that is biodegradable or a more natural cat litter that is made from sustainable materials as these can often be composted. Use in conjunction with the best eco-cat litter tray.
Texture and comfort
While your preferences are important to consider when choosing a cat litter for your indoor cat, the comfort of your kitty is perhaps the most crucial. Some cats prefer to do their jobs on a litter that has a fine texture whereas coarse-textured litter may be more favourable to others. It may take a little trial and error to find one that gets a purr of approval from your moggy.
You’ll also want to think about whether your cat has any allergies and sensitivities as the ingredients and fragrances of some litters could trigger them. Typically, the more natural options are more hypoallergenic and allergy-friendly.
How can I keep cat litter odours under control in my home?
To keep the odours at bay from the cat litter tray, you’ll want to make sure you choose a litter that has odour-absorbing properties which will help to neutralise some of the smells. You may even want to opt for one with a fragrance to have it smelling a bit fresher from the get-go. Consider adding a litter mat underneath your tray to catch stray litter as well as sprinkling baking soda beneath the litter to help absorb some of the smells coming from their tray.
You should scoop their cat litter box or tray daily to remove waste and change the litter every couple of days as needed to keep your home smelling fresh. The type of litter box you have will also help keep the smells contained, so for this reason, you should consider investing in an enclosed litter box to keep the odours strictly inside.
Rosie Floyd is a Pets, Homes and Garden Product Writer for Take A Break Pets, specialising in all things dogs. She grew up always having at least one dog as part of the family and has experience in owning a variety of breeds, including Labradors, Cockapoos and Yorkshire Terriers.