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The best litter for cats, according to Consumer Reports

Dusty, smelly litter turns a simple chore into a daily annoyance. Consumer Reports tested litters for odor control and clumping

Nadiye Odabaşı / Pexels

Dusty, smelly cat litter turns a simple daily chore into an unpleasant annoyance no matter how good the box itself is. Clay, paper pellet and tofu litters each handle odor, dust and clumping differently, and price doesn't always predict which one performs best.

Consumer Reports tested cat litter using an onion-juice odor simulation and faux waste to measure smell masking, dust production, clumping and scatter.

Arm & Hammer Clump & Seal Slide Platinum Clumping Litter

Arm & Hammer Clump & Seal Slide Platinum Clumping Litter costs $17.99 and earned Consumer Reports' top pick overall. CR found it masked onion-juice odor immediately and kept the litter box smelling clean for a full 24 hours, with a scent testers compared to freshly laundered sheets instead of an overpowering fragrance. Testers found the granules smaller than other litters evaluated but notably harder, staying intact when rubbed together,........

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