Owning a cat enriches our lives and allows us to put aside the chaos of life and focus on a remarkable creature that brings us joy every day. Cats are generally clean animals that spend a large portion of their waking hours cleaning their fur and claws, but when they enter the litterbox, cleanliness seems less of a priority. Cleaning up after your messy kitty is a lofty task that you dread every time you hear scratching from the litter box.
Cat owners have several options for selecting litter, and we’ve found ten of the best wood pellet cat litters to help you narrow your choices. Whether you’re unfamiliar with pellet litter or you’re anxious to change your current pellets, we’ve included helpful reviews and a buyer’s guide to make the process less challenging.
A Quick Comparison of Our Favorites of 2023
Image Product Details
Best Overall
Okocat Mini Pellets Cat Litter
Biodegradable
Made from rescued wood
Dust-free formula
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Best Value
Feline Pine Non-Clumping Cat Litter
Chemical and perfume-free
Dust-free formula
Super-absorbent
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Premium Choice
Simply Pine Natural Cat Litter
Absorbent
100% Northeastern white pine
Biodegradable
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Best for Kittens
Naturally Fresh Walnut Cat Litter
Ideal for Kittens
100% walnut shells
Super-absorbent
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Small Pet Select Premium Pine Pelleted Cat Litter
Dust-free
Triple-screened
No chemicals or fragrances
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The 9 Best Wood Pellet Cat Litters
Okocat Mini Pellets Unscented Clumping Wood Cat Litter impressed us more than any other brand, and it’s our pick for the best overall wood pellet cat litter. Unlike some of its competitors and practically every brand of clay litter, Okocat is a dust-free formula. The manufacturer screens the litter before packaging and ensures only solid pellets are placed in the bag. This keeps your cat and family from inhaling a cloud of dust every time the box is changed. Okocat’s uses sustainably sourced wood for its pellets that naturally absorbs the potent urine odors.
Litter Type: Wood fiber
Size: 22.2 pounds, 14.8 pounds, 10.6 pounds
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The pellets are free of perfumes and artificial deodorizers, and they’re incredibly soft on a feline’s paws. The smaller pellets are less likely to stick in the cat’s paws or become tracked around your home. Okocat’s litter is biodegradable, and you can flush it down the toilet and forget about it taking up space in a landfill. Compared to the other brands, Okocat is more environmentally friendly and easier to use. If you’re used to purchasing clay litter, Okocat may seem a bit expensive.
Pros
Biodegradable
Made from rescued wood
Dust-free formula
Unscented
Cons
Expensive
Pellet litter is usually more expensive than other types, but the Feline Pine Original Non-Clumping Wood Cat Litter is unique in that regard. It scored our best wood pellet litter for the money award, and although it’s available for a low price, it doesn’t sacrifice quality or performance. Feline Pine improved on its original formula by making the pine fibers twice as absorbent. This super absorbency helps eliminate the foul urine odor and makes clean-up make easier.
Biodegradable
Made from rescued wood
Dust-free formula
Unscented
- Biodegradable
- Made from rescued wood
- Dust-free formula
- Unscented
Expensive
- Expensive
Litter Type: Pine
Size: 40 pounds, 20 pounds, 7 pounds
The 100% pine pellets do not contain toxic chemicals, dyes, or overpowering perfumes. After your cat uses the litter box, all that’s left with is a pleasant, natural pine scent. When you fill up the box with Feline Pine, you will not need to shield your eyes or don a facemask; the pellets are dust-free. We do not have any complaints about the pellets, but customers who prefer clumping litter may opt for our top pick.
Pros
Chemical and perfume-free
Affordable
Dust-free formula
Super-absorbent
Cons
Non-clumping
Our premium pick is the Simply Pine Unscented All-Natural Pine Pellet Cat Litter. It only uses 100% Northeastern white pine for its pellets, and it doesn’t add chemicals or perfumes to its product. It’s biodegradable and leaves the litter box dust-free after it’s poured. The pine pellets are made to reduce tracking, and they quickly absorb urine. If you’re used to dealing with clay litter, you’ll be pleasantly surprised how effective pine pellets are at eliminating the fierce ammonia smell from urine.
Chemical and perfume-free
Affordable
Dust-free formula
Super-absorbent
- Chemical and perfume-free
- Affordable
- Dust-free formula
- Super-absorbent
Non-clumping
- Non-clumping
Litter Type: Northeastern white pine
Size: 20 pounds
Although Simply Pine is slightly cheaper than our top pick, we couldn’t rank it first due to the pellet’s texture. Unlike the previous brands, Simply Pine’s pellets are not as soft. Softer pellets are easier on cats’ feet, and if you have a feline with joint problems, you’re better off choosing a softer pellet. However, a healthy adult cat that doesn’t mind a harder product can benefit from the highly absorbent pellets.
Pros
Absorbent
100% Northeastern white pine
Biodegradable
Cons
Large pellets
Non-clumping
With the Naturally Fresh Pellet Unscented Non-Clumping Walnut Litter, you can train your kitten to get used to the feel of pellet litter. Older cats sometimes have trouble transitioning to natural pellets, but kittens adapt quickly to Naturally Fresh even when they were raised by a breeder using clay litter.
Absorbent
100% Northeastern white pine
Biodegradable
- Absorbent
- 100% Northeastern white pine
- Biodegradable
Large pellets
Non-clumping
- Large pellets
- Non-clumping
Litter Type: Walnut
Size: 26 pounds, 10 pounds
Naturally Fresh uses 100% walnut shells in its pellets, and the litter does not include toxic chemicals, clay dust, or corn products. It absorbs liquid quickly and reduces the odors from urine and feces. Your kitten will not drag small pieces of litter around the house because the pellets are designed to minimize tracking. The manufacturer claims that the walnut is superior to clay, corn, wheat, and pine in reducing strong odors. We picked Naturally Fresh as our best for kittens’ pick, but some cat owners with older cats did not like the feel of the pellets. Older cats and felines with joint problems may prefer a softer wood pellet if they’re transitioning from clay litter.
Pros
Ideal for Kittens
100% walnut shells
Super-absorbent
Cons
Expensive
Older cats may not like it
- Small Pet Select Premium Pine Pelleted Cat Litter
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Litter Type: Pine
Size: 25 pounds, 50 pounds
Small Pet Select Premium Pine Pelleted Cat Litter is made with 100% pine, and it doesn’t contain extra fragrances or chemicals. The pellets are triple screened by hand to reduce dust, and it makes your cat’s litter box smell like fresh pine. If you have a sifting litter box system, the Small Pet Select is an ideal product. If not, you’ll need to purchase a sifting pan, four wooden blocks, and urine pads. When a cat uses the litter, the pellets disintegrate into sawdust and fall through the grate to the pad. Without the sifting system, the spent litter can create a huge mess.
Ideal for Kittens
100% walnut shells
Super-absorbent
- Ideal for Kittens
- 100% walnut shells
- Super-absorbent
Expensive
Older cats may not like it
- Expensive
- Older cats may not like it
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Litter Type: Pine
Size: 25 pounds, 50 pounds
The pellets are effective with the correct litter box arrangement, but they’re not as absorbent as some of the competitors. The biggest problem with the product is the packaging it’s shipped in. Unlike the photograph on the website, the litter comes in a cardboard box. Although most consumers seemed happy with the litter, several complained that the pellets spilled out when they opened the box.
Pros
All-natural pine
Triple-screened
No chemicals or fragrances
Cons
Can only be used with a sifting tray
Flimsy packaging
Expensive
If you have a breeze cat litter system, the Tidy Cats Breeze Cat Litter Pellets can minimize odors and keep your litter area clean. Unlike many of its competitors, Breeze pellets are made from the natural mineral mordenite zeolite. When a cat urinates, the liquid drains through the pellets onto a pad. Feces must be removed daily to reduce odors, and the pellets do not clump around the waste. The pellets reduce tracking, and they’re 99.9% dust-free.
All-natural pine
Triple-screened
No chemicals or fragrances
- All-natural pine
- Triple-screened
- No chemicals or fragrances
Can only be used with a sifting tray
Flimsy packaging
Expensive
- Can only be used with a sifting tray
- Flimsy packaging
- Expensive
Litter Type: Mordenite zeolite pellets
Size: 3.5 pounds
Like our number six pick, this product only works if you have the correct litter box setup. Breeze pellets effectively control odors and excess dust, but you have to spend much more on the pellets and the Breeze system than other brands. When you add up the cost of buying pads and pellets every month, you may opt for a more affordable product. Another common complaint with Breeze is the packaging. Several customers complained that the bag was ripped, and it spilled into the box on delivery.
Pros
99.9% dust-free
Controls odors
Cons
Very expensive
Requires Breeze litter system
Not biodegradable
Defective packaging
Fresh Fresh News Recycled Paper Original Pellet Multi-Cat Litter is made from 100% post-consumer paper, and it’s biodegradable and compostable. The paper pellets are non-allergenic and dust-free. It has baking soda added to improve odor control, and the naturally occurring carbon present in the paper also absorbs odors. Fresh News is more environmentally friendly than some of its competitors, but your cat may have problems with baking soda if it has allergies. It’s only designed for cats, but some rabbit owners cautioned against using the pellets since baking powder can harm the animals.
99.9% dust-free
Controls odors
- 99.9% dust-free
- Controls odors
Very expensive
Requires Breeze litter system
Not biodegradable
Defective packaging
- Very expensive
- Requires Breeze litter system
- Not biodegradable
- Defective packaging
Litter Type: Recycled paper
Size: 25 pounds
The pellets absorb liquid well, but they’re not as effective as wood for eliminating odors. Although tracking and dust are not an issue with this litter, it’s much more expensive than cheaper pellets that are more effective at reducing odors.
Pros
Super absorbent
Biodegradable
Cons
Very expensive
Non-clumping
Less effective odor control
Baking soda may irritate sensitive cats
- Frisco Pine Pellet Unscented Non-Clumping Wood Cat Litter
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Litter Type: Pine
Size: 40 pounds, 20 pounds
Frisco Pine Pellet Unscented Non-Clumping Wood Cat Litter is made from 100% pine, and it does not include chemical fragrances or additives. The non-clumping pellets are designed to reduce odors and minimize tracking. The Frisco brand is less expensive than other brands, but it doesn’t appear to work like the promotional text claims. It’s supposed to be a low dust formula, but several cat owners complained that half of the bag was filled with sawdust. When it’s transported for delivery, the product shifts around and breaks down. Another problem is with the tracking.
Super absorbent
Biodegradable
- Super absorbent
- Biodegradable
Very expensive
Non-clumping
Less effective odor control
Baking soda may irritate sensitive cats
- Very expensive
- Non-clumping
- Less effective odor control
- Baking soda may irritate sensitive cats
Litter Type: Pine
Size: 40 pounds, 20 pounds
The pellets are larger than other pine products, and sifting is more challenging when the litter box is cleaned. Also, the pellets turn to mush after a cat visits the litter box, and the clean-up process can be frustrating and messy. You’ll save a few dollars by purchasing Frisco, but you’ll spend more time cleaning the litter area.
Pros
100% pine
Inexpensive
Cons
Too much dust
Breaks down quickly
Issues with tracking
Large pellets
Nature’s Logic All-Natural Pine Unscented Non-Clumping Wood Cat Litter is made from Ponderosa Pine, and it’s biodegradable. The pellets have a natural pine scent, and they do not contain chemicals or added fragrances. Tracking isn’t a problem with Nature’s Logic, but the pellets are less effective at eliminating odors than other pine brands. Like our previous pick, the product turns to mush too easily, and it takes more effort to clean the box since the pellets are non-clumping.
100% pine
Inexpensive
- 100% pine
- Inexpensive
Too much dust
Breaks down quickly
Issues with tracking
Large pellets
- Too much dust
- Breaks down quickly
- Issues with tracking
- Large pellets
Litter Type: Pine
Size: 24 pounds, 12 pounds
Unlike the Frisco Pine pellets that have similar problems, Nature’s Logic is more expensive. However, the pellets are better for the environment because you can flush them down the toilet instead of throwing them in the trash can.
Pros
100% Ponderosa pine
Biodegradable
Cons
Expensive
Breaks down quickly
Poor odor control
100% Ponderosa pine
Biodegradable
- 100% Ponderosa pine
- Biodegradable
Expensive
Breaks down quickly
Poor odor control
- Expensive
- Breaks down quickly
- Poor odor control
Buyer’s Guide: Selecting The Best Wood Pellet Cat Litter
After reading the reviews, we hope you have an idea of which litter pellets are suitable for you and your feline. If you’re switching from clay litter to pellets, the new litter may take a while for your cat to adjust to the change. Kittens seem to adapt because they haven’t used litter for very long, but an adult cat can take a week or two to accept the new material. Before making a decision on a litter brand, there are a few characteristics of pellet litters to study.
Pellet Material
If your cat is transitioning from clay litter, the pellet brand you choose can affect how long it takes the animal to adapt to the new material. Finer pellets are usually easy for cats to get used to than the larger pieces. Pine is one of the most common materials used in pellets, but some cats are turned off by the pine scent. Recycled paper may be better for picky cats, but it’s not as absorbent as pine. Walnut shells and the mordenite zeolite are only used in two of the products we reviewed, but most cats seem to like the materials. Although mordenite zeolite sounds unfamiliar and possibly artificial, it’s a naturally occurring mineral that’s processed into pellets.
Bag Size
You can purchase pellet litter in several sizes, including small three-pound bags or massive 50-pound packages. We suggest ordering a 12 to 20-pound bag to try out before committing to a bulk order. If your cat dislikes the litter and begins urinating on the floor instead, you will not waste as much money trying another brand. From our reviews, you probably noticed that some companies have issues with their packaging. Since ripped bags and faulty packaging are not uncommon problems, you’re likely to encounter the issue if you use the brands we mentioned. However, you can return the product for a refund or replacement or search for the brand at a discount pet supply store. Our sixth and seventh picks had packaging issues, but the remaining brands did not have shipping or packaging problems.
Price
If you’re accustomed to buying clay litter, you’ll pay a little more for pellet products. Pellets last longer than most clay brands and reduce odors more effectively, but some brands require you to buy additional accessories. If you use a non-clumping litter that requires a straining box, you’ll also need urine pads and blocks to elevate the base. That will cost an additional $20 to $40, and you’ll have to reorder urine pads if you use the non-clumping litter. Our top pick, Okocat Mini Pellets, outperformed the competition in odor control, clumping, and environmental friendliness, and it’s ideal if you have a standard litter box.
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Dust
Most pellet litters claim to have limited dust. Compared to clay litter, all our reviewed products produced less dust. However, some of the more fragile pellets tended to break down into sawdust during delivery. For cats with allergies and ones recovering from surgery, we suggest using one of our top picks that are virtually dust-free.
Tracking
Replacing your clay litter with pellets will solve your cat’s tracking problems, and with natural pellets, you do not have to worry about your cat ingesting a fragrance pebble while it cleans its paws. Softer pellets are easier on a cat’s feet, but if they’re too soft, they can become lodged between the claws and end up on your carpet. Larger pellets are less likely to track on your floor, but they’re harder to sift when you’re cleaning the litter box.
Odor Control
If you’re searching for eco-friendly litter, an unscented brand is probably best. Artificial fragrances can hide odors temporarily, but they’re unnecessary if you buy a premium litter that naturally reduces odors. Apart from our eighth pick that included baking soda, every brand we reviewed used natural scents rather than chemical additives. If you clean the litter box daily, you will not have an odor problem with the pellets. Unlike clay litter, you can flush some of the pellet litters and prevent your garbage can from smelling like feline waste.
Conclusion
We hope our reviews and guide have helped you on your quest to find the ideal pellet cat litter. Our top pick is the Okocat Mini Pellets Unscented Clumping Wood Cat Litter. Its super-absorbent pellets control odors effectively, and it was much easier to clean than other clumping and non-clumping litters. It’s more expensive than some of the competitors, but it beats them in odor control and tracking. Our best value pick is the Feline Pine Original Non-Clumping Wood Cat Litter. It’s priced more like a clay litter, and it outperforms some of its more expensive competitors.
Featured Image Credit: Image Credit: Alla_vector, Shutterstock
