How to Choose the Right Cat Litter for Your Pusa

With so many cat litter options available in the Philippines, choosing the best one for your feline friend can get confusing. From clumping clay to tofu pellets, each type offers different pros and cons. But what's right for your pusa depends on more than just price; think health, hygiene, odor, and even our tropical climate.

Here’s a practical guide to help Filipino cat owners choose the best cat litter for their lifestyle and their beloved furbaby.

1. Odor Control

According to scientists, heat and humidity can make the bad odors from your cat’s litter box worse. This is due to several factors:

1. Humidity slows evaporation. When pee or poop sits in a litter box, you want it to dry out quickly. But in humid air, moisture lingers, preventing waste from drying and allowing bacteria to thrive longer. Thus, the more potent smell.
2. Humidity slows bacterial growth. Bacteria love warm, moist environments. In a humid house, bacteria in soiled litter multiply faster, producing foul-smelling gases like ammonia. That’s why your litter box can smell worse after just a few hours in hot, sticky weather. 

“The air becomes a smelly soup that we all breathe in,” researcher Victoria Henshaw told CNBC in an article on how odors rise with temperature.

So, while there’s nothing us Filipinos can do about the weather, we can do something to minimize the bad odor from Muning’s litter box. We suggest litters made from tofu, bentonite, or even some natural wood pellet options that offer excellent odor-locking properties.

Tip: If you live in a condo or a small house with limited ventilation, look for litters labeled “high odor control” or “ammonia-blocking.” You could also place a dehumidifier near your litter box to remove excess moisture from the air.

2. Chemical Ingredients

Some commercial litters contain chemicals, strong fragrances, or fine dust that can harm your cat's lungs or digestive system. This is especially important if you have a kitten or a cat who likes to taste or dig aggressively.

Look for: Litters that are food-grade, fragrance-free, or labeled non-toxic, especially if your cat is still a kuting or has sensitive skin. 

Use with care: Bentonite and silica litters are widely available in the Philippines and effective for clumping and odor control. However, if your cat frequently licks their paws or has respiratory sensitivities, consider monitoring for any signs of irritation and opt for low-dust or unscented versions when possible.

3. Clumping vs Non-Clumping

Clumping litter forms tight, scoopable clumps when it comes into contact with urine, making daily cleaning easier and helping extend the life of the litter. For busy households or homes with multiple cats, clumping options like tofu or bentonite offer real convenience and odor control.

In addition, a study published in the Journal of Veterinary Behavior found that “cats have preference for clumping substrates when cleaned properly.”

Non-clumping litter, on the other hand, absorbs moisture and odor but doesn’t form clumps. This means you don’t need to scoop daily, just wait until the litter becomes saturated or starts to smell, then replace the entire batch.

This can be a cleanliness problem, according to Pango Vet. “Most cats who use a litter box will fling and throw the litter around after they’ve done their business. What this means is that they will fling particles of litter onto your floor and around the room. 

“With non-clumping cat litter, you don’t remove the soiled particles regularly, so they’re all mixed. You can’t differentiate between clean and soiled particles of litter. Therefore, some soiled particles will end up out of the litter box.”

The biggest advantage of non-clumping litter is its lower cost. However, its other disadvantages include: having weaker odor control and may track more, making it less ideal for high-traffic litter boxes or homes sensitive to smell.

In the end, choosing between clumping and non-clumping litter depends on your budget, lifestyle, and your cat’s needs. Pick the option that fits you both best.

4. Dust and Tracking

Dust from cat litter can cling to your feline’s paws, furniture, and floors, creating a mess that’s hard to clean—especially in smaller Filipino homes where space and cleaning time are limited.

Tofu litter and pellet-based litters generally produce less dust and tracking compared to traditional clay or sand-based options. This means fewer dust clouds when your cat digs and less litter scattered around your sala.

Watch out for: Cheaper bentonite or clay litters that often leave a white powdery film on surfaces like floors and furniture, which is harder to clean and can cause more dust buildup over time.

5. Allergies

Here’s a fun fact: A cat’s nose is on average about eight inches from the ground. Here’s a not-so-fun-fact: The proximity of their noses to the ground makes them more susceptible to allergies, that’s why it’s important for pet owners to choose a cat litter that lessens their feline’s exposure to dust.

Signs of litter allergies may include:

• Sneezing, coughing, wheezing, watery eyes or nose.
• Frequent ear scratching or infections.
• Increased scratching, chewing, or biting.
• Excessive licking or grooming, causing bald patches.
• Avoiding the litter box or soiling outside it.
• Vomiting or diarrhea.
• Sudden facial swelling from anaphylaxis (rare but serious; seek immediate veterinary care).

If you think your Muning is suffering from these symptoms, then it might be time to switch to a hypoallergenic, dust-free litter to reduce the risk of allergic reactions. 

In addition, also check the labels of fragranced litters for synthetic scents or low-grade essential oils, which can also trigger allergies in kittens, immune-compromised, and senior cats.

Our suggestion: Choose natural litters like tofu, green pea, and wood pellet, and these contain little-to-no dust.

6. Ease of Cleaning

One of the most important factors when choosing a cat litter is how easy it is to keep clean. A good litter should clump well (if clumping), minimize tracking, and control odor—making daily scooping and weekly box changes quick and hassle-free. Some litters form firm, scoopable clumps that don’t break apart, while others may crumble or stick to the box, making cleaning more tedious.

“Cats are notoriously clean animals and have been known to refuse using a litter box that they don’t deem to be ‘clean enough.’  The way cats detect cleanliness is by smell. Even a litter box that doesn’t smell like cat urine to you will smell like urine to your cat if it’s not removed,” explained Pango Vet.

Also, look for litters that don’t produce much dust, as dust can settle on surfaces and make cleaning the surrounding area harder. Tofu and silica gel litters are often praised for their easy maintenance.

7. Scents

Did you know that a cat’s sense of smell is 14 times stronger than a human’s? That’s why it’s important for us pusa owners to be careful in choosing scented litters. There are some scents that smell “fresh,” but can overwhelm your cat, discourage litter box use, or even cause irritation.

“Cats prefer litter that does not have a lot of additives, is not scented, and doesn't have perfume-y or air freshener type smells,” says Rachel Geller, EdD, a Humane Society of the United States-certified cat behavior and retention specialist, told PetMD.

A good rule of thumb: If it smells too strong for you, it’s probably way too strong for your cat.

That’s why unscented or mildly scented litters (using natural odor-control ingredients) are often safer and more widely recommended. If you have the budget for it, go for tofu, activated charcoal, or wood pellet litters, all of which have gentler scents.

8. Price vs. Quality

Yes, price matters (in this economy!) especially when you're balancing pet expenses like food, grooming, and vet care. But choosing the cheapest cat litter isn't always the most economical choice. Low-cost options often clump poorly, track more, or fail to control odor, leading to more frequent replacements and a smellier home. Over time, that adds up in both money and effort.

Tipid Tip: While premium options like tofu and wood pellets litter may seem expensive upfront, they tend to last longer thanks to excellent clumping, low dust, and strong odor control. A single bag can stretch over weeks, making it a cost-effective and hassle-free option in the long run.

9. Eco-Friendliness

A 2023 survey by Pulse Asia found that 8 in 10 Filipinos value eco-friendly products. If you’re one of them, you’ll want to consider buying biodegradable cat litter from natural, renewable materials like tofu, green peas, wood, and coconut. These sustainable alternatives are better for the environment and are often low in dust, chemical-free, and even flushable in small amounts.

Here’s a quick look at how each cat litter is good for the environment:

Tofu Litter

How it’s made: Made from okara, which is the soy pulp leftover from making tofu or soy milk. This food-grade byproduct is dried and shaped into absorbent granules or pellets.

Why it’s eco-friendly: It upcycles a food industry waste material that would otherwise be discarded.

Green Pea Litter

How it’s made: Crafted from the starch and fibers of green peas, often combined with natural binders and then formed into pellets or granules.

Why it’s eco-friendly: Green peas are a renewable crop, and the litter is biodegradable and compostable. It’s typically free from synthetic additives.

Wood Pellet Litter

How it’s made: Produced by compressing sawdust and wood shavings—often from pine—into small pellets. When wet, they break down into soft, sawdust-like material.

Why it’s eco-friendly: Wood pellets use lumber industry byproducts that would otherwise go to waste. They’re naturally deodorizing, biodegradable, and many are compostable. 

Coconut (Coco) Litter

How it’s made: Made from the fibrous husks of coconuts, a byproduct of the coconut industry. The husks are cleaned, dried, and processed into granules or chips.

Why it’s eco-friendly: Coconuts are abundant in the Philippines, making this a local and sustainable choice. Using husk waste reduces agricultural byproduct pollution too.

10. End User

The best cat litter isn’t just about what’s cheapest or most popular—it’s about what works best for your pusa’s age, health, and lifestyle. Here’s how to choose litter with your cat’s specific needs in mind:

Kittens

Curious baby cats love to explore the world with their mouths—and yes, that includes tasting their litter. This can be dangerous if they ingest clumping clay or silica. Use non-clumping, unscented litter until your kitten is at least 3 months old. We recommend tofu litter, as these are safer if accidentally swallowed and gentle on tiny paws.

Senior Cats

As cats age, they may develop arthritis or joint pain, making it uncomfortable to stand on hard litter. 

To make it easier for them, opt for medium-grain tofu litter (yes, we have our favorites when it comes to litter), as it is soft, low-dust, and easy on aging paws. Avoid sharp or hard litter types like silica crystals or heavily scented clay litters, which may irritate sensitive noses and joints.

Disabled or Mobility-Challenged Cats

Cats with injuries, amputations, arthritis, or neurological conditions need a little more support when using the litter box. Choose a low-sided litter box for easy access, and use soft, lightweight litter. Avoid clumping or sticky litters, which can get stuck on limbs or fur.

Multiple Cats

Many cat parents rescue more than one puspin. In multi-cat homes, litter boxes get used more often, which means faster odor buildup and higher chances of mess. Follow the golden rule: one litter box per cat, plus one extra.

If you live in a small space like a studio unit, scoop at least twice daily and opt for a high-performance litter that clumps tightly and controls odor well without taking up too much space.

Still unable to decide on a cat litter? Here’s our guide on the different types of cat litter in the Philippines.