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These picks have excellent odor control and minimal tracking.

Let's face it: one of the best parts of raising cats, apart from the endless and unconditional love they bring, is that you don't have to take them out for business. However, litter bins (and even automatic cleaning bins) have their own set of problems, including smell, cleanup, and picky cats (we love you too). Having said that, not all trash is the same, and choosing the wrong person is not easy.

Our home care experts and engineers at the Good Housekeeping Institute Pet Lab tested everything needed to make pets and their owners happy, from the best food to pet cameras. In order to find the best cat litter, we will consider factors such as absorbency, odor control, tracking and clumping ability. Our favorite cat litter is easy to scoop, helps control odors, and does not track small particles everywhere. Here are the best cat litters recommended by the Good Housekeeping Institute from the best performing brands and the favorites of online critics:

This clay-based cat litter uses a unique formula that combines non-tracking particles with medium particles, so the cat litter will stay in the box it belongs to. It also has excellent agglomeration ability to prevent moisture from reaching the bottom of the box for easy cleaning. Critics like the low dust factor and excellent odor control, making it also suitable for multiple cat families. The cat seems to like it too!

It is very suitable for many cats, and critics like the light and fresh scent that helps to control the smell. We found that the tightly clumping formula allows you to scoop the cat's box easily. We also like its easy-to-dump handle-and you can buy 20 pounds of this clay-based cat litter for less than $6! 

Not only do we like that this bedding is composed of alternative ingredients such as pine, corn, and cedar, but it is also highly absorbent and easy to clean. Have we mentioned that this cat litter formula can fight the most unpleasant odors and make your home smell fresh and clean? Our reviewers like bags of various sizes, which are easy to carry and pour.  

As our best choice runner-up, the best cat litter in the world is indeed one of the best. Although a little more expensive than some, our professionals like it to be tasteless and made with corncob pellets instead of clay. This clay replacement option is easy to clump and makes cleaning up a breeze. The manufacturer claims that it is washable and safe for septic tanks, which was confirmed in our laboratory tests.

Soft texture, similar to clay, this cat litter is easy to stick to paws. Cats seem to like a fresh, natural smell, reminiscent of outdoor activities. Made entirely of wood grain and granules, ökocat provides a clay alternative, and critics praise its low tracking, large lumps and super absorbency. Wood fiber is designed to prevent enzymes from combining with liquids to prevent odors. We like that it is light in weight and does not contain artificial fragrances or dyes. It is very suitable for families who like green. 

Made from wheat and plant extracts, it helps to eliminate odors. sWheat scoop high-quality cat litter claims to clump faster and more firmly and is easy to scoop. It is specially designed for cats that are sensitive to dust, perfume and dyes. The manufacturer is made from renewable plant sources and the manufacturer states that it is intended to be flushed, and we found this to be correct in our tests. 

If you have two or more cats in your house, this is your litter. The odor control is long-lasting and can be scooped out and cleaned without generating a lot of dust. We like that the trash has fine sand-like clay particles, which form tight clumps that will not stick to the bottom of the dirty trash bin and are very suitable for easy cleaning.

Abandoning clay and switching to gel silica crystals, the manufacturer claims that it is more absorbent and better odor control than traditional clay sand. This cat litter can lock in odors and absorb moisture when touched, and it has a fragrance and smells fresh and clean. It is suitable for any traditional dustbin and self-cleaning dustbin. Although we haven't tested it in the lab, critics like that it has almost no tracking capabilities.

There are not only different types of litter, but also different materials to make litter. Finding the right litter for you and your cat may require trial and error. According to the American Veterinary Association (AMVA), when analyzing all the different types of cat litter, you should determine what you think is the most important factor (although in the end, your cat may be the ultimate decision maker!):