1. PetSafe ScoopFree Premium Crystal Non-Clumping Cat Litter
Key Features
Quickly dries solid waste and absorbs urine
Low-tracking to help keep litter box space tidy
Can last up to 30 days in a single-cat household
Best suited for use in the PetSafe ScoopFree Reusable Cat Litter Tray
A light, fresh scent to help control tough kitty litter odors
The ScoopFree non-clumping cat litter comes in two handy -pre-portioned bags to save you having to keep an open bag of kitty litter between uses, simply tip a bag of kitty litter into the tray, and voilà! The individual bags are also perfect for use with the PetSafe ScoopFree Reusable Cat Litter Tray, though that’s not the be-all and end-all. However you chose to use this litter, it provides 30 days of odor control for single-cat households, with rapidly absorbing crystals that quickly dry out solid waste until you can scoop it out.
Pros
No overwhelming odors or tracking
Works really well with sifting litter boxes
Easily outlasts other competing brands of cat litter
Colored crystals help to indicate urine density
Cons
Not good for cats that have a habit of chewing their litter
Quite dusty so not suitable for cats with respiratory weakness
Not the most cost-effective for multi-cat households
2. Ultra Micro Crystals Cat Litter
Key Features
Silica gel cat litter supplies maximum odor control.
Reusability offers 70% less landfill waste than clay litter
Thousands of mini-channels allow for excellent liquid absorption
One bag lasts for up to a month with one cat
Absorbs urine and dries solid waste instantaneously
The UltraPet crystal litter is economical, efficient, and effective. The dyed blue crystal act as n indicator for you to know when the litter has become oversaturated and needs to be cleaned out. Additionally, the clear crystal is the ideal blank canvas to show any color variations in your cat’s urine, helping you to recognize any potential problems early. The only downside seems to be that if the litter is still wet, it can be tracked out of the tray after use.
Pros
Finer crystal are comfortable with picky cats
Moisture evaporates away meaning crystals don’t get wet or gummy
Doesn’t stick to a long cat’s fur
Slight clumping is a good indicator for when it is ready to be changed
Cons
Blue dye can leech out and stain the box
Wet litter can get stuck in cats paws and get tracked
Not suitable for kittens likely to digest it as it can cause a blockage
3. Dr. Elsey’s Cat Crystal
Key Features
Infused with hydrolyzed herbs to draw kitties to the litter box
Non-toxic and hypo-allergenic
Particles won’t stain or adhere to your cat’s coat
Low tracking, easy to scoop formula
Capable of trapping odor and urine upon contact
Dr. Elsey’s silica litter is a carefully formulated non-clumping formula that is capable of absorbing a significant amount of fluid and mask ammonia smells effectively. The cat litter crystals are also infused with hydrolyzed herbs which can help your cat to adjust to their new litter more easily, something we all know can be difficult as cats highly sensitive to change. Just keep in mind that the dust from this litter can gather at the bottom of the tray and be a little tricky to cleanout.
Pros
Crystals don’t get stuck on the fur of long-haired cats
Hypoallergenic formula good for cats with respiratory problems
Works for multiple cats, absorbing and masking odor effectively
Hydrolyzed herbal attractant helps cats adjust quickly
Cons
Dyed crystal can leak dye once fully saturated
Dust can gather at the bottom and be tricky to clean
Crystals can be difficult to see if tracked outside of the box
4. Vibrant Life Mini Crystal Unscented Cat Litter
Key Features
Environmentally-friendly silica crystal litter
20-30 days long-lasting formula (with a single cat)
Absorbs and traps odors and liquids in seconds
Silica is gentle on your kitty’s paws
Low dust cat litter formula
Vibrant Life’s crystal cat litter (formerly known as a brand named Mimi) is the ideal litter choice for a single cat, as it can last up to 30 days thanks to the super-absorbency of silica-gel crystals. It is an unscented litter, which is ideal for cats that are hypersensitive to new smells. Additionally, this litter can be used with self-cleaning kitty litter boxes, and customers have commented that the crystal size helps auto-cleaning boxes to run more smoothly.
Pros
Can be used alongside other standard kitty litter
Works with automatic self-cleaning cat litter trays
Only needs changing out once every 10-12 days (with one cat)
Two bags make for easy storage and less chance of spilling
Cons
Oversaturation can cause color leakage
Lasts closer to 20 days with larger cat breeds
Odor can leak out if it becomes oversaturated
5. Ultra Unscented Clumping Crystal Cat Litter
Key Features
Silica crystal litter provides maximum odor control
Ultra-fine crystals much lighter than other cat litters
Super-absorbent micro crystals control moisture quickly
Sand-like consistency to be gentle on your cat’s paws
Required scooping twice a week
Ultra Pet’s crystal cat litters are highly effective with a range of crystal sizes to suit a variety of kitties and their waste. Your feline friend should find this silica litter a comfortable, neutral change from their previous litter. Especially seeing as it is light and easy for them to move once they’re done. However, keep in mind that the clumping feature may cause the crystals to stick to your kitty’s feet, leading to slight tracking.
Pros
Made to imitate sand so it won’t irritate your cat’s paws
Much lighter than clay litter making it easier to clean and store
Silica litters are more reliable than other litters
Dries out cat feces quickly to prevent bad odor
Cons
Clumping can cause it to stick to the cat litter box
Not suitable for a multi-cat household
Fewer colored indicators can be more difficult to spot
6. Fresh Step Premium Crystals Easy Care Litter
Key Features
Crystals lock in odor better than typical clay clumping litter
Lightweight crystal litter is easy to carry and clean up
Leaves a fresh scent while absorbing moisture on contact
Low dust formula helps keep surfaces and air clean
Crystals can last up to 30 days in the litter box
The Fresh Step is the ideal fresh litter, lightly scented to draw cats towards their new litter and help them to adapt more easily. The fresh Step crystals premium odor control is highly effectively, especially considering the addition of the fresh scent. Though like other non-clumping cat litters, the only downside is that the size of the crystals means needing a larger scoop, which can let small amounts of cat feces fall through.
Pros
Works well in a self cleaning litter box
Fresh step crystals have gentle and appealing scent
Very little tracking after use
Some of the best crystal litter for axious cats
Cons
Blue dye in the crystals can seap color with a lot of use
Not ideal for a multi cat household unless they have separate boxes
Can kick up quite a bit of dust whilst cleaning out the tray
7. Ultra Pet Little Pearls Micro Crystals
Key Features
Superior odor control effectively masks the waste odor
Dries solid waste rapidly for better odor control
Cat litter crystals are fine and soft on your kitty’s paws
Very low dust formula to prevent tracking
1000’s of mini-channels in the absorptive surface for liquid absorption
If you have pale carpets and want to avoid staining, these may be the best cat litter crystals for you, due to the fact that there are fewer indicator crystals. As the indicator crystal are dyed, fewer crystals means less dye likely to transfer onto your cat’s feet. This is a highly absorbant crystal, that effectively dried out solid waste and masks the unpleasant amonia smell. Though be warey that the unscented crystals can struggle to mask the smell of excessive or particularly pungent urine.
Pros
Very few dyed indicator pellets meaning less chance of staining
One bag can last a single cat for two months
Hypoallergenic litter is ideal for cats with respiratory issues
More effective odor control than othan clumping clay litters
Cons
Less colored indicator crystal than other crystal litters
Larger crystals can be slightly uncomfortable for cats with sensitive paws
Odor control factor can struggle with particularly pungent cat waste
8. So Phresh Odor-Lock Crystals
Key Features
Odor-locking crystals provide excellent odor control
Capable of trapping odors and liquids for up to 30-days
Carefully designed to reduce mess and tracking
Non-toxic crystal formula has superior moisture absorption
Less dusty than the majority of clay litters
Petco is a well establish pet supply chain, meaning you know exactly what to expect with this product. Keep your litter box filled around 4-inches deep with Petco’s So Phresh crystal litter in order to make the most of the odor control and high absorption capabilities. Additionally, the crystals are non-toxic, making them suitable for kittens as young as 12 weeks old. Though the one note we have see regarding this litter is that these crystals are not ideal for burying poop due to their size.
Pros
Available in two bag sizes to suit single and multi-cat households
The slightly larger crystals are extremely absorbant
Works better than traditional clay litter in scoopfree litter tray system
Developed by an establish pet supply brand
Cons
Not the best litter for burying poop
Heavy amounts of dust can fall to the bottom with a lot of use
Not all cats prefer crystal over clay meaning they can struggle to adjust
9. Clear Choice Silica Crystals
Key Features
Micro pores in each silica granules provide excellent absorption
The first clumping cat litter to contain a pH indicator
Low tracking formula to keep the cat litter box area clean
Each bag contains a two month supply
Low dust formula keeps litter box tidy and air clean
A low tracking formula to stop the crystals from sticking to your cat’s paws and litter tracking around the house. Additionally this crystal litter has clumping capabilities to prevent urine from seeping to the bottom. The Clear Choice’s silica cat litter helps pet owners to clearly monitor their cat’s unriation habits with the blue indicator crystals, as well as containing a PH indicator to keep track of acidity levels that could indicate a potential health problem.
Pros
Indicator crystals fade to let you know when it’s time to replace the litter
The low-tracking does a great job os stopping crystals from sticking
Just the crystals are environmentally friendly
The extra large bag contains a 2 months supply
Cons
If dust is kicked up it can cause your cat to sneeze
Do not pour down the toilet as crystal will expand and block the pipe
Not compatible with the scoop free litter box
10. Zen Kitty Cat Litter Crystals
Key Features
Fantastic odor control keeps the house smelling fresh
Soft crystals are comfortable on your cat’s paws
Low dust formula helps to keep your home clean
Non-clumping formula is long-lasting and hygienic
Light-weight design for easy use and cleaning
Zenkitty’s cat litter is the only crystal litter on our list to contain pink and purple crystals, and while this may bee irrelevant, it’s perfect for owners looking to match their litter box to the kitty. It’s a small detail appreciated by many cat owners. The lightweight crystal are easy to move and clean out, as well as containing a gentle scent that can help to sooth your feline friend at toilet time. Though it is not an entirely dust-free formula, meaning it can get a little messy when kicked around.
Pros
Odor locking litter crystals massively reduce bad odor
Pink and purple crystals make cute litter for female cats
Light weight crystals are easy to work with
The gentle scent helps to keep kitty calm
Cons
Not entirely dust free, so can be messy to clean
Just like the blue crystals, the dye can seep cause staining
Small crystal can be picked up and tracked out of the tray
Crystal Cat Litter Buying Guide
Features To Consider Before Buying Crystal Cat Litter
There are a few things you may want to consider before deciding whether or not to purchase crystal cat litter. The best crystal cat litter for you will be something that can cater to the various requirements you may have for your kitty.
How Many Cats do You Have?
This is both for cost, as well as for odor control and longevity. Cat owners with multiple cats will need to take into account how much silica crystal cat litter it may take to get an effective result. If you have two cats that like to pee a lot, try to aim for a silica gel litter that will be the most absorbent so as to save you the time and effort of more regular cleanouts. The longer your litter lasts, the less likely it is to become oversaturated, and the less frequently you will need to empty the tray. Thus saving you money in the long run.
Dyed or Not Dyed?
You'll notice a lot of the silica crystal cat litter products out there are dyed, or partially dyed. This can be extremely helpful in clearly indicating when the litter is becoming oversaturated. This makes cleaning your cat's tray out a much simpler affair - simply watch for the color indicator to tell you when the litter needs changing.
However, If you have a house with cream or white carpet and don't want to risk getting it stained, dyed litter might not be right for you. As it becomes saturated with urine the dye can leach out of the litter - staining your cat litter tray and potentially getting picked up by your cat's paws. This will be minimal, but perhaps not worth the risk? Though some would say this is better than the alternative of traditional clumping litter which can track cement-like clay into the carpet.
Scented or Unscented?
Scented cat litters are known for being a little bit overwhelming at times. However, as good as the odor control in silica gel is, it's not 100% reliable. Your cat could have a particularly pungent pee from lack of hydration, a scent that may leach out from the litter box. However, some people can also find that scented litter can be a bit too overwhelming, and sensitive cats can be put off by strong smells, as it can feel like an assault on their senses. The difference is that you can keep on top of any urine odor by more frequent cleanouts. However, you can't adjust the scented litter smell.
Clumping or Non-Clumping?
Silica crystal litter can be found in both clumping and non-clumping forms. Clumping litter has a tendency to stick in your cat's fur whilst it is wet. However, non-clumping cat litter tends to require thoroughly cleaning more often due to urine being able to seep to the bottom more easily. Clumping can certainly be more convenient than loose litter, however, each has its pros and cons that you should consider before deciding.
Benefits of Using a Crystal Cat Litter
Crystal cat litter products provide cat owners with highly absorbent, and effective odor masking technology. Silica gel is known for its absorbent properties, hence its use in keeping items dry in their boxes during storage (the small silica gel packets found with shoes and other similar items). However, this is not the only reason silica gel is with having.
Above all else, silica gel is a brilliant indicator to can owners to let them know if something is not quite right with their kitty. Some crystal cat litters have inbuilt indicators that will change color according to acidity or alkaline levels. Additionally, the neutral coloration of silica gel (unless it has been dyed), means you are able to spot any other worrying signs in your cat's urine. This can include the presence of blood, which would otherwise go amiss in standard cat litters, including clumping clay litter.
The best crystal cat litter will combine all of these elements to provide you with a highly absorbent litter with effective odor masking properties, and helpful indicators to assist you in monitoring your cat's health from afar.
How Does Crystal Cat Litter Work?
Crystal cat litter works but utilizing the ultra-absorbent properties of silica gel. In fact, each crystal can hold approximately 40 times its weight in fluid. Micro crystal cat litter is able to rapidly dry out solid waste and mask the strong ammonia odor of cat urine. The environment of crystal cat litter also reduces the potential of bacteria buildup, making your cat's litter tray a much more hygienic place for them to relieve themselves.
