Paper Cat Litter

Greetings fellow litter detectives! Skye Blake here, Cat Info Detective, tracking info about paper cat litter that you might find interesting.

The information here is for general knowledge… always see your vet with questions about your cat’s individual needs. 

Who Is Skye Blake?

Skye Blake, Cat Info Detective, is a curious cat researcher (not a veterinarian) who sniffs out expert, reliable sources about cats, studies their information, then passes it on to you! 

Sometimes there’s not enough evidence for easy answers, so Skye gives you all sides, explains the situation as thoroughly and clearly as possible, and links you to experts on each page.

Sources are given at the bottom of each page so you can do more snooping.

What Is Paper Cat Litter?

Paper cat litter is pellets or granules (“crumble” form) from recycled paper.

It’s claimed to be three times more absorbent than clay.

Paper’s not great at odor control, but many people mix in baking soda, which helps a lot.

Paper litter isn’t the best for long haired cats since wet bits can stick to fur easily, but it does better than clumping litters.

The pellets are non-clumping and absorb liquid well.

Vets often recommend paper litter for post-surgeries because it’s not dusty and helps protect incisions from infection.

The granules clump and are extra soft but can track easily. Both pellets and granules are usually unscented and low dust.

If your cat likes to chew on cardboard or paper, this is not the litter for you!

Paper Litter Brands & Reviews

Here are some brands, along with manufacturer descriptions and some user reviews.

I make a small commission on some of the links below… and I get to share profits with qualified cat rescues!

Check descriptions and reviews carefully for any products you wish to buy… quality, sizes, colors, etc., can’t be guaranteed by anyone but the manufacturer.

ExquisiCat® Naturals Paper Litter

ExquisiCat® – recycled paper, baking soda, and zeolite

It comes in crumble and pellet form, regular and multi-cat, scented and unscented.

Overall, both pellets and crumble were given good reviews, but some people didn’t like that it doesn’t clump.

ExquisiCat® crumble does track a little but wasn’t bad. Both absorb well.

Some people found it great for allergies both for themselves and their cats.

Others were “allergic” to it (sneezing, etc).

Reviewers disagreed about dustiness. Some people said it wasn’t dusty and others that it was too dusty.

Fresh News Recycled Paper Multi-Cat Litter

Fresh News comes in both Original Pellet and Multi-Cat Crumble forms.

The manufacturer says both are soft, made from 100% recycled post-consumer and is very absorbent, about 3x more than clay.

Both types are non-allergenic, dust-free, with baking soda to help with odors.

Pellets are dust-free and soft, keep their pellet form when wet and don’t fall apart.

Original Pellet

Reviewers disagreed on whether or not the pellets work with the TidyCats® Breeze® system.

Most reviewers liked this product for absorption and softness… easy on paws. One person’s cats didn’t like it.

Some mixed it with other litters, while others used it in their Breeze systems, either mixed or on its own.

It can be a bit difficult to remove from the system.

Multi-Cat Crumble

There weren’t many reviews of the crumble type. Reviewers either liked its absorbency or didn’t like that it doesn’t clump and can be messy.

Frisco Unscented Non-Clumping Recycled Paper Cat Litter

Frisco – 95% post-consumer recycled paper and baking soda

The company claims these non-clumping pellets absorb 3 times faster than other paper litters and control odors.

It’s dust-free and comes in a resealable bag. Works for single or multi-cat households.

Reviewers mostly liked this product, especially because it works well for kittens, doesn’t stick to cat, absorbs well for paper litter, and is priced well.

ökocat® Natural Non-Clumping Paper Cat Litter Pellets

ökocat® is made in the USA from reclaimed, clean white paper fiber, free of inks, dyes and scents.

Pellets are soft ground and absorb 5+ times their weight.

It’s dust-free, clumping, flushable and anti-bacterial. Good for cats or people with respiratory problems.

This has been a popular litter, however, the latest reviews are less than positive.

The reviewers say there’s a weird odor and it gets worse when the litter is soiled.

Some say this version of the litter has been changed.

SoPhresh™ Multi-Cat Crumble Paper Cat Litter

SoPhresh™ (Petco brand) multi-cat odor control crumble litter has a very soft texture.

It absorbs moisture and traps odors. Baking soda and zeolite are also added to help with odors and give a “fresh clean scent”.

The manufacturer claims it’s 99% dust-free and doesn’t track much. Good for declawed or cats with sensitive paws.

Reviewers were split between the cats liking the soft crumble and them not liking it being messier than pellets.

A few people said it didn’t control odor well and was messy.

Vibrant Life™ Natural Paper Pellets

Vibrant Life™ pellets are made with 95% post-consumer recycled paper.

They’re unscented and have baking soda added to help control odor. The company says they’re 99.9% dust free and 3x more absorbent than clay litter.

This product is priced well in comparison to other paper litter products.

Reviewers were primarily positive, liking that it doesn’t stick and isn’t dusty. They said it does a good job with odor.

Some people didn’t like that it doesn’t clump, became heavy, and they had to throw out everything instead of just the soiled parts.

Yesterday’s News® Original Non-Clumping Paper Cat Litter

As of March 2022, Yesterday’s News® is only available in non-clumping pellet form, either unscented or fresh scented.

It’s made from recycled newspaper into non-abrasive pellets that are 3x more absorbent than clay and claims to be 99.9% dust free.

Most reviewers liked this product, especially mentioning the unscented version.

Some felt it was easy to clean while others said it fell apart and became difficult to clean.

Reviews show disagreement on it’s ability to control odor.

Change completely every week (or every couple of days). This method controls odor better.

Videos About Paper Cat Litter

Review… “Top 13 Best Cat Litters (We Tested Them All)”, All About Cats, April 1, 2020

Do-It-Yourself… “DIY Newspaper Cat Litter”, Cacahouette, April 4, 2020

More Litter Options

If you need more info about what’s “best” for your cat, discover more at “What Are the Best Types of Cat Litter?” and “What’s the Best Cat Litter Box?“

Or follow these trails if you’re curious about other litters…

Biodegradable	Clay
Coconut	Coffee
Corn	Grass
Hemp	Paper
Silica	Tofu
Walnut	Wheat
Yuca (Cassava)

Related Pages of Interest

If you’re dealing with inappropriate peeing or pooping outside the litter box, take a look at “Why Is My Cat Peeing Outside the Litter Box?” and “Why Is My Cat Pooping Outside the Box?“

Of course, if you have a cat peeing outside the box, you’re probably frustrated about cleaning it up.

Discover what you need to know at “Cleaning Cat Urine” and “Enzyme Cleaners for Cat Urine“.

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Sources

Sources used on this website are either primary or secondary.

Primary sources are always preferable and have the most reliable information because they’re original and directly referenced.

Scientific abstracts and data are good examples of primary sources.

Secondary sources are weaker because they usually consist of opinions or articles that give no sources of their own.

However, sometimes they refer to primary sources.

When I use secondary sources, most are those with some authority, such as veterinarian or cat behaviorist books and articles.

List of Sources

Please note that some of the sources listed below sell litter products or link to places that do.

Product Information and User Review Sources: Amazon.com, Chewy.com, Petco.com

“5 Best Types of Natural Cat Litter”, by Amy Livingston

“The Benefits of Natural Litter”, by Jackson Galaxy

“The Best Biodegradable Clumping Litter”, by Susan Leisure

“Best Cat Litter for Kittens”, by Mallory Crusta

“Cat Litter”, How Products Are Made

“What Is In Cat Litter? Understanding Clay, Silica and Biodegradable Cat Litters“, by Lorie Huston, DVM, petmd.com

Updated March 12, 2023