Wood-based cat litter
Wood-based cat litter is made from compressed sawdust or wood fibre rather than clay, and it comes in two main forms: a non-clumping pellet that breaks down into fine sawdust when wet, like Catsan's Wood Comfort, and clumping wood litters that behave more like clay litter but with a lighter, more compostable base material.
How wood litter behaves differently from clay
Non-clumping wood pellets work on an absorb-and-sink principle: urine breaks the pellet down into sawdust that filters to the bottom of the tray, so you scoop out solids daily and do a fuller change less often, rather than scooping a urine clump every time. This suits owners who want a lighter litter to carry and a naturally low-dust option.
Clumping wood litters are formulated to form a solid clump the way clay does, so they can be scooped daily in the same way, but from a wood or plant fibre base rather than mined clay — generally lighter to carry and, for many brands, flushable or compostable in a way clay litter is not.
Why owners switch to it
Wood litter is usually significantly lighter than clay, which matters if you are carrying bags regularly or emptying a tray often, and it tends to produce far less dust, which can matter for cats or owners with respiratory sensitivities. Many wood litters also have a naturally pleasant, woody smell rather than relying on added fragrance to mask odour.
The switch is not right for every cat — some prefer the finer texture of clay or a fine clumping litter, so if you are changing an established cat over, keep the old litter available alongside the new one for a week or two rather than swapping the tray overnight.
In this section
Everything below is in stock with us, priced with delivery worked out, and packed and posted by hand in the UK.
CJ's Kitten Wood Litter
A 10 litre wood pellet litter milled small enough for kittens to dig in, with no additives
£6.99
Pampuss Wood Pellet Cat Litter
A 5L biodegradable wood pellet cat litter, made from 100% recycled wood residue
£3.75
CJ's Ultra Wood Pellet Cat Litter
FSC-certified virgin softwood cat litter pellets, sold in 15L and 30L bags
From£9.49
Catsan Wood Comfort Non Clumping Cat Litter
Biodegradable wood-granule litter for cats and kittens
£18.75
Pettex Pampuss Wood Cat Litter
Recycled wood pellet litter for cats and kittens, sold in 15 and 30 litre bags
From£10.00
Fresh Paws Wood Cat Litter
British softwood cat litter with no added glues, fragrances or chemicals
£13.99
Catit Pea Husk Unscented Clumping Cat Litter
Unscented clumping cat litter made from upcycled pea husks, 99% dust-free
£17.99
Catsan Hygiene Cat Litter
A 20LTR unscented mineral cat litter that works on odour before it develops
£20.45
Catsan Hygiene Non-Clumping Odour Control Cat Litter
Natural non-clumping litter that locks liquid into white mineral granules
£5.45
Catit Go Natural Pea Husk Clumping Litter Vanilla
Pea husk clumping litter, 99.9% dust-free and biodegradable, lightly vanilla-scented
£17.99
Breeder Celect Recycled Paper Cat Litter
A 25 litre sack of UK-made recycled paper cat litter, biodegradable and low dust
£18.25
Common questions
- Is wood cat litter as good at controlling odour as clay?
- Many wood litters control odour very well, in some cases better than basic clay, because the wood itself has a natural absorbent quality, but performance varies by product and how often the tray is cleaned. Daily scooping matters more than the litter type for keeping smell under control.
- Can wood cat litter be flushed down the toilet?
- Some wood litters are labelled as flushable in small amounts, but always check the specific product's packaging rather than assuming, and never flush a clumping litter that is not explicitly labelled safe to do so, since it can cause blockages.
- Why is my cat avoiding the new wood litter?
- Cats can be particular about texture underfoot, and a switch from a fine clay litter to a coarser wood pellet is sometimes rejected simply on feel rather than smell. Introducing the new litter gradually, mixed with the old, usually gets a better result than a sudden full switch.
- Is wood litter suitable for kittens?
- Yes, wood-based litter is generally fine for kittens, and its lower dust levels can be an advantage for a young cat's developing respiratory system. As with any litter, supervise a kitten's early use of a tray to check they are taking to it comfortably.
Related
Written by Matt Garnett, who runs Giddy Pets and is a lifelong pet owner — not a vet. This is general information, not veterinary advice, and it cannot replace an examination by the vet who knows your animal. How we write these guides.