World's Best Cat Litter Review: Is Corn-Based Litter Worth It?

Quick verdict: World’s Best Cat Litter earns its bold name more often than not. After 60 days of hands-on testing in a two-cat household, the corn-based formula delivered excellent odor control, minimal dust, and the genuine convenience of being flushable. It costs more per bag than clay, and some cats need an adjustment period with the corn texture, but the overall performance justifies the price for owners who prioritize health and convenience. We rate it 4.6 out of 5 and recommend it for health-conscious cat owners who want to move away from clay without compromising on clumping quality. For a direct head-to-head breakdown, see our World’s Best vs. Dr. Elsey’s comparison.

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Why We Tested World’s Best Cat Litter

The natural cat litter market has exploded in the past decade. You can now find litters made from corn, walnut shells, wheat, grass seed, recycled paper, and pine. The promise is always the same: better for your cat, better for the environment, performance equal to clay. The reality is that most natural litters fall short on at least one of those claims.

World’s Best Cat Litter is one of the oldest and best-selling corn-based litters, available since the early 2000s. It has a devoted following and consistently high ratings, but it also has vocal detractors who argue the price premium is not justified. We wanted to settle the debate with an extended 60-day test — twice the length of our standard protocol — to see how the litter performs not just in the first week when everything is fresh, but over the long haul when odor control and clumping are truly put to the test.

Our testing household included two adult indoor cats: one 11-pound domestic shorthair and one 9-pound Siamese mix. We used two standard open-top litter boxes, scooped twice daily, and performed a full litter change every three weeks. Before the test, both boxes used Dr. Elsey’s Ultra Premium Clumping Clay, giving us a reliable baseline for direct comparison.

Odor Control

Odor control is the single most important metric in any cat litter evaluation, and it is where World’s Best most clearly earns its name. The corn-based formula uses a proprietary enzyme process that neutralizes ammonia — the pungent compound in cat urine — at a molecular level rather than simply masking it with fragrance.

In practical terms, this means the litter box area smelled noticeably cleaner than it did with clay litter, even during weeks when we were pushing the litter toward the end of its effective cycle. With Dr. Elsey’s clay, we would typically detect a faint ammonia smell near the boxes starting around day 10-12 between full changes. With World’s Best, that threshold extended to roughly day 16-18.

The difference is especially noticeable during scooping. Clay litter tends to release a burst of trapped odor when you disturb the clumps with a scoop. World’s Best does not exhibit this behavior because the enzymes have already broken down the ammonia molecules rather than merely trapping them inside the clump. This is not a subtle difference — it is one you notice immediately when switching from clay.

By weeks seven and eight of our extended test, odor control remained strong provided we maintained our twice-daily scooping routine and three-week full-change cycle. We did not observe any meaningful degradation in odor performance over the 60-day period, which gave us confidence that the corn enzyme formula is genuinely effective for long-term use.

The Cornell Feline Health Center notes that strong odors around the litter box are a leading cause of house soiling behavior. A litter that controls odor effectively is not just a quality-of-life improvement for you — it may help prevent litter box avoidance in your cat.

Clumping Performance

World’s Best forms clumps within two to three minutes of contact with liquid, and the clumps are firm enough to scoop cleanly in the majority of cases. The corn granules bind together tightly, and most clumps hold their shape during transfer from box to waste bag without crumbling.

That said, there is a noticeable difference between World’s Best clumps and the rock-hard clumps produced by premium clay litters like Dr. Elsey’s. World’s Best clumps are lighter, slightly softer, and have a more granular texture. If a clump sits at the bottom of the box and gets compressed by the weight of litter above it, it can break apart during scooping. In our testing, roughly one in eight to ten clumps experienced some degree of breakage.

This is not a deal-breaker for most owners, but it is a legitimate trade-off that clay loyalists will feel. If your top priority is clumps so hard you could throw them at a wall without breaking them, Dr. Elsey’s Ultra remains the benchmark. If you can tolerate slightly softer clumps in exchange for natural ingredients, low dust, and flushability, World’s Best performs well enough to satisfy most cat owners.

We also found that maintaining a litter depth of at least three inches significantly improved clumping performance. When the litter was shallower, urine reached the bottom of the box before the corn granules could fully absorb it, resulting in flat, crumbly clumps that were harder to scoop. Keeping the depth consistent solved this problem.

Dust Level

This is where World’s Best truly separates itself from clay. When you pour a bag of traditional bentonite clay litter into a box, you get a visible cloud of fine particulate that hangs in the air for several minutes. That dust settles on surfaces around the litter box, and both you and your cat are breathing it in during every scooping session and litter box visit.

World’s Best produces almost no dust. During our 60-day test, pouring fresh litter into the box generated no visible dust cloud. Scooping released no noticeable particulate. The area around the litter boxes remained significantly cleaner than it had been with clay.

For cats with asthma, upper respiratory sensitivity, or chronic nasal congestion, this alone may justify the price premium. The American Association of Feline Practitioners recommends low-dust or dust-free litter for cats with respiratory conditions, and World’s Best is one of the best options in this category.

For owners who are personally sensitive to dust, the improvement is equally meaningful. If you have ever finished scooping a clay litter box and felt a tickle in your throat or noticed a fine gray coating on surfaces near the box, World’s Best eliminates that experience entirely.

Value Assessment

World’s Best Cat Litter costs approximately $1.40-1.70 per pound at current retail pricing, compared to $0.50-0.80 per pound for Dr. Elsey’s Ultra. On a straight per-pound basis, World’s Best costs roughly twice as much as premium clay.

However, the per-pound comparison does not tell the full story for two reasons:

1. Lower density means more volume per pound. Corn granules are significantly less dense than bentonite clay. A 14-pound bag of World’s Best provides roughly the same fill volume as 18-20 pounds of clay. The effective cost per box fill is closer than the per-pound price suggests.

2. Efficient clumping reduces waste. Because the corn formula clumps tightly around liquid without absorbing excessive surrounding litter, you remove less clean material with each scoop compared to some clay formulas that form oversized clumps.

In our 60-day test with two cats, we used four 14-pound bags of World’s Best at a total cost of approximately $100. Our historical baseline with Dr. Elsey’s for the same two-month period was five 18-pound bags at approximately $60. The corn litter cost roughly $20 more per month — about $0.67 per day.

Whether that premium is justified depends on what you value. If dust-free, flushable, lightweight, and biodegradable are important to you, the extra $0.67 per day is a reasonable trade. If cost is the primary driver and you do not have dust or respiratory concerns, Dr. Elsey’s remains the stronger value.

Comparison Table: World’s Best vs. Dr. Elsey’s vs. Arm and Hammer

For a deeper dive into the World’s Best vs. Dr. Elsey’s matchup, see our full comparison review.

Who It Is For

Buy World’s Best Cat Litter if:

• You want natural odor control without artificial fragrances
• Your cat or household members have respiratory sensitivities that make dust-free litter a priority
• You live in an apartment and want the convenience of flushable litter
• You prefer lightweight litter that is easier to carry and pour than clay
• Environmental impact matters to you — corn is renewable, biodegradable, and not strip-mined
• You have kittens and want a non-toxic litter in case of accidental ingestion (for kittens 8 weeks and older)
• You are tired of the gray dust film that clay litter leaves on surfaces near the litter box

Skip World’s Best if:

• Cost is the top priority and you need the cheapest effective clumping litter
• You want the absolute hardest, most unbreakable clumps possible
• You live in a very humid climate and cannot store litter in a sealed, dry location (due to potential insect attraction)
• Your cat has refused corn-based litter in the past

For additional guidance on setting up your litter box environment, the ASPCA’s litter box guide provides excellent recommendations on box placement, number of boxes per household, and transition strategies. If you are training a kitten, our kitten litter training guide walks through the process step by step.

Final Verdict

World’s Best Cat Litter earns a strong 4.6 out of 5 from Meowing Goods after 60 days of hands-on testing. It delivers on the promises that matter most: corn-enzyme odor control that neutralizes ammonia rather than masking it, near-zero dust output, lightweight bags that are easier to manage than clay, and the genuine convenience of being flushable where local codes permit.

The trade-offs are real but manageable. You will pay more per month than you would for clay. Clumps are softer than what Dr. Elsey’s produces. Tracking is moderate and a litter mat is recommended on hard floors. And in humid climates, proper sealed storage is essential to avoid attracting pantry moths.

For health-conscious cat owners who want to move away from dusty, heavy clay without sacrificing performance, World’s Best is the strongest option in the natural litter category. It has the longest track record, the widest retail availability, and performance that is genuinely competitive with the best clay litters on the market. It is not perfect — no litter is — but it earns its name more often than it does not.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is World’s Best Cat Litter safe to flush?

World’s Best Cat Litter is made from whole-kernel corn that breaks down in water, making it compatible with most septic systems and municipal sewage lines. That said, always check your local ordinances before flushing any cat litter. Certain municipalities prohibit flushing cat waste because standard water treatment does not eliminate the Toxoplasma gondii parasite that cats can shed. If flushing is permitted in your area, flush small amounts at a time and wait between flushes to avoid overwhelming your plumbing.

Does corn-based cat litter attract bugs?

It can, particularly in warm and humid climates. Corn is an organic material, and pantry moths or small grain beetles may be drawn to it if the bag is stored in a damp, warm location. To prevent this, seal the bag tightly after each use and store it in a cool, dry area — a closet or pantry shelf works well. The lavender-scented version of World’s Best may also help deter insects. If bugs remain a recurring issue in your region, a clay-based litter like Dr. Elsey’s Ultra eliminates the problem entirely since it contains no organic matter.

How does World’s Best compare to Dr. Elsey’s Ultra?

Both are excellent litters, but they serve different priorities. World’s Best uses corn enzymes for odor control, produces virtually no dust, is flushable, and is significantly lighter to carry. Dr. Elsey’s Ultra forms harder, denser clumps, tracks less due to heavier granules, costs less per pound, and does not attract insects. If you prioritize natural ingredients, respiratory health, and flushability, World’s Best wins. If you want the hardest clumps and lowest cost, Dr. Elsey’s is the better option. See our full World’s Best vs. Dr. Elsey’s comparison for a detailed breakdown.

Can kittens use World’s Best Cat Litter?

Yes, with an age caveat. World’s Best is made from non-toxic whole corn, so accidental ingestion in small amounts is not harmful — a significant safety advantage over clay litters for curious kittens who may taste their litter. However, veterinarians generally recommend non-clumping litter for kittens under 8 weeks old because very young kittens can ingest enough clumping material to cause an intestinal blockage. Once your kitten is consistently using the litter box without eating the litter, World’s Best is a safe and effective choice. For detailed guidance, see our kitten litter training guide.

Sources

1. Cornell Feline Health Center — Feline Behavior: House Soiling
2. ASPCA — Litter Box Problems
3. American Association of Feline Practitioners — Cat Friendly Homes: Litter Boxes