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5 Best Paper Pellet Cat Litters of 2022 – Reviews & Top Picks

cat playing with HARTZ Multi-Cat Clumping Paper Litter

With the never-ending new ideas cat professionals come up with, searching for new litter might make you dizzy. But if you see litter with tons of chemicals or harsh additives, you might wonder what options you have that are totally natural.

Paper pellet cat litters are environmentally conscious choices that have significant upsides—and some downfalls, too. We want to explain the positives and negatives of each so you can make an informed decision. Let’s delve into our reviews, exploring the top five best cat litters on the market today.

A Glance at Our Winners (2022 Update)

Rating Image Product Details
Winner
Purina Yesterday's News Unscented Purina Yesterday's News Unscented
  • Over 99% dust-free
  • Low tracking
  • Highly absorbent
  • Second place
    Fresh News Recycled Paper Litter Fresh News Recycled Paper Litter
  • Affordable
  • Baking soda odor control
  • Hypoallergenic
  • Third place
    Small Pet Select Recycled Pelleted Paper Litter Small Pet Select Recycled Pelleted Paper Litter
  • 100% recycled material
  • Satisfaction guarantee
  • Toxin-free
  • Okocat Natural Paper Cat Litter Okocat Natural Paper Cat Litter
  • 100% dust-free
  • Plant-based odor control
  • White litter to spot soiled areas
  • HARTZ Multi-Cat Clumping Paper Litter HARTZ Multi-Cat Clumping Paper Litter
  • Turns blue when soiled
  • Multi-cat
  • First clumping paper pellet litter
  • The 5 Best Paper Pellet Cat Litters

    1. Purina Yesterday’s News Unscented

    Yesterday's News Original Unscented Non-Clumping Paper Cat Litter

    Odor Control: Moderate
    Absorbency: High
    Dust: Low
    Tracking:  Low
    Disposal Method: Non-flushable

    From the products we checked out, we personally liked Purina Yesterday’s News Cat Litter best of all. It’s totally natural, made of recycled paper. The composition provides a very absorbent litter that soaks up all messes—it’s three times more absorbent than clay litters.

    The formula is over 99% dust-free, so it’s suited for sensitive kitties, too. Even if your cat shows no issue with other litters, this choice is just healthier for them all around. Plus, there’s no giant cloud puff when you pour the litter out.

    We love Yesterday’s News because it’s non-clumping with large granules that don’t attach to tiny paws. Tracking should be a minimal concern here.

    We think it has decent odor control, considering it’s all-natural with no odor defeated additives. However, you will likely need to change it more frequently than some more traditional litters. Keep in mind that this is common in many non-clumping litters.

    To conclude, we think this is the overall best paper cat litter available.

    Pros
    • Over 99% dust-free
    • Low tracking
    • Highly absorbent

    Cons

    • Needs cleaned often


    2. Fresh News Recycled Paper Cat Litter

    Fresh News Recycled Paper Litter

    Odor Control: High
    Absorbency: High
    Dust: Low
    Tracking:  Low
    Disposal Method: Non-flushable

    If you’re looking for optimal natural freshness—take a peek at Fresh News Recycled Paper Litter. It’s 100% recycled material, so you can do the environment a favor while providing safe litter for your cat. There are no harsh additives or chemicals—instead, they use natural compounds for effectiveness.

    This litter formula has a built-in ammonia blocker using baking soda for optimal odor control. Since these are pellets, it is considered a non-clumping litter. It retains three times the moisture of traditional litters but is less scoopable than some.

    It is totally hypoallergenic, making it perfect for sensitive cats and humans alike, as the formula is 99% dust-free. Even though it absorbs the urine quickly, it doesn’t turn to mush. Each pellet retains its original shape.

    Pros
    • Affordable
    • Baking soda odor control
    • Hypoallergenic

    Cons

    • Not scoopable


    3. Small Pet Select Recycled Pelleted Paper Cat Litter

    Small Pet Select Recycled Pelleted Paper Litter

    Odor Control: Moderate
    Absorbency: High
    Dust: Low
    Tracking:  Low
    Disposal Method: Non-flushable

    Small Pet Select Recycled Pelleted Paper Litter is a terrific selection that gets the job done. It’s specifically designed for cats and other small animals to soak up urine and prevent odors. The company also promises a 100% money-back guarantee to ease uncertainty during purchase.

    This litter is 100% recycled and toxin-free. It does well with controlling litter odor, but there are no added scent controllers, like baking soda.

    We found that the pellets are a bit smaller than others, which might lead to an increase in tracking—but overall, we still consider it to be a low tracking litter relating to others on the market.

    Pros
    • 100% recycled material
    • Satisfaction guarantee
    • Toxin-free

    Cons

    • Smaller pellets


    4. Okocat Natural Paper Cat Litter

    Okocat Dust-Free Unscented Non-Clumping Paper Pellet Cat Litter

    Odor Control: High
    Absorbency: High
    Dust: Low
    Tracking:  Low
    Disposal Method: Non-flushable

    We think that Okocat Natural Paper Cat Litter is highly efficient for the intended purpose. We loved this litter because the texture is incredibly soft, made of reused white fibers that naturally absorb waste.

    This particular brand has very high odor control with no added dyes, fragrances, or chemicals. The quality is apparent, touting plant-based odor reducers. The formula is 100% dust-free, creating no airborne clouds whatsoever.

    Since it’s non-clumping, it isn’t easy to scoop. The white litter helps you spot urine spots to clean the correct areas without wasting the remaining fresh litter.  However, it smells very strong—even though the brand advertises no additives.

    Pros
    • 100% dust-free
    • White litter to spot soiled areas
    • Plant-based odor control

    Cons

    • Strong smell


    5. HARTZ Multi-Cat Clumping Paper Cat Litter

    HARTZ Multi-Cat Clumping Paper Litter

    Odor Control: High
    Absorbency: High
    Dust: Low
    Tracking:  Moderate
    Disposal Method: Non-flushable

    HARTZ Multi-Cat Clumping Paper Litter is our favorite clumping paper pellet litter—and there are few on the market. In our opinion, it had the best odor control, making it hold up against frequent bathroom use. It’s perfect as advertised—for multi-cat homes.

    This lightweight formula has an additive that causes soiled areas to turn blue. We thought that it was a brilliant idea to make cleanup and conservation easier.

    It’s technically labeled eco-friendly, but it does contain a total of 80% recycled materials. So, if you were looking for a totally environmentally conscious choice, this may not fit the criteria. Also, it tracks much more than other paper pellet options.

    Pros
    • Turns blue when soiled
    • Multi-cat
    • First clumping paper pellet litter

    Cons

    • Only 80% recycled material
    • Higher tracking than competitors


    Buyer’s Guide: How to Choose the Best Paper Cat Litter

    If you’re just discovering paper pellet cat litter, you might wonder if it’s worth it. Sure, it’s environmentally friendly, but will it do the job? When you’re shopping, there are some things you’ll want to consider.

    Let’s take a peek at the positives and negatives so you can make an informed decision before you commit.

    What Is Paper Pellet Cat Litter?

    Paper pellet cat litter is a newer type of litter, branching away from traditional clay-based options. It is environmentally friendly, easy to clean—and some are even flushable. The pellet formation allows each piece to absorb urine and trap odors.

    Perks of Paper Pellet Litter

    Non-Tracking

    A major perk to paper pellet litter is that almost all selections are non or low-tracking. Since the pellets are larger than tiny granules found in many litters, the pieces won’t get caught on tiny paws and strewn throughout your home.

    Biodegradable

    Paper pellets are biodegradable, which means that they will break down over time—no polluting the environment. This is a massive plus for cat owners over messy, heavy selections that are hard to dispose of like clay.

    okocat Natural Paper Cat Litter

    Flushable

    Not all paper pellet litters are flushable, but some are. Make sure to read labels fully before thinking that every litter is flushable—that is not the case.

    Recycled Material

    Many paper pellet litters are made of recycled materials. These paper products are broken down to create an absorbent fiber.

    High Absorbency

    Paper pellets are incredibly powerful at soaking up urine. Even though many of these selections are non-scoopable, the pellets still do a very good job of containing waste.


    Downfalls of Paper Pellet Litter

    Not Scoopable

    Unlike litters that you can easily sift through, the paper pellets are difficult to scoop. Now, you can find clumping paper pellet litters, like number five on our list, but they are few and far between.

    Less Odor Control

    Since paper litters soil so easily, you might have an issue with residual smells. Some other options have built-in odor protection.

    actual photo Small Pet Select Recycled Pelleted Paper Litter

    Switching to Paper Pellet Cat Litter

    If you’ve been using traditional cat litter up to this point, it will be an adjustment to switch. We all know how particular felines can be about their bathroom space. Make sure to transition them slowly, allowing them to acclimate to the changes.

    Some cats won’t prefer the texture or covering ability of paper litters. If they reject the concept, this can lead to using the bathroom outside of their litter box.

    Controlling Odors with Paper Pellet Cat Litter

    Since many paper pellet cat litters have no added fragrances or scents to maintain odor control, you might be curious how to combat smells. Many customers report that even after cleaning, some strong urine odor might still be present.

    To add a little extra odor protection, you can:

    • Add baking soda to neutralize odor
    • Use coffee grounds around the box to reduce smells
    • Buy safe litter box deodorizers

    Best Scoopers for Paper Pellet Cat Litter

    Traditional scoopers might not work for paper pellet cat litter. The pellets are larger than typical granules, causing them to stick without sifting. Buy scoopers with larger, slender holes where the litter can easily fall back through into the pan.

    Conclusion

    If you are still interested in paper pellet litter, hopefully, these reviews led you to a product you’re ready to try out.

    For us, Purina Yesterday’s News Cat Litter was the best choice amongst its competitors. It’s made purely of safe recycled materials and is completely flushable for headache-free cleanup. We think it’s the most beneficial for the majority of felines.

    If you want the power of paper pellet cat litter but not the price tag, Fresh News Recycled Paper Litter might work best for you. It has everything you could want in a cat litter—absorbency, hypoallergenic material, and odor control—for less.