Mid-Priced Cat Litters
Last Updated by Brandon F. on May 27, 2020
This is a list of all of the mid-priced cat litters that we have reviewed and ranked. Our definition of “mid-priced” are for those litters that are a step up from a typical budget litter but still more affordable than the premium offerings. Many of these products could be found for around a dollar per pound mark, with variations above and below.
Despite being a bit more expensive than our budget offerings, a majority of these products still primarily consist of clay. However, you will start to see some of the clay-hybrid options as well as a handful of the more eco-friendly materials being used. Also, a vast majority of these are clumping litters (typically most of the non-clumping litters fall under the budget category).
Despite being a bit more pricey, there are still some excellent values to be had among these. You will oftentimes get better performance than what some of the budget lines can offer, which might be important if you have a busy multi-cat household or live in a small apartment complex where odor-blocking is extremely important. Feel free to browse our huge list of reviews and hopefully you can find a product that aligns with what you are looking for!
Cat’s Pride Fresh & Light Quick Action
Our Rating:
This has fantastic performance across the board and a great price to go with it. It really has no major qualms and we consider this one of our top choices. It is available in 9 and 15 pound jugs and 21, 28, and 30 pound boxes and is comprised of clay.
Pros: Extremely effective clumping, fights odors with ease, mess-free, affordable
Cons: Minor tracking with multiple cats
Tidy Cats 24/7 Performance
Our Rating:
This really is a fantastic product. The clumps are some of the hardest that we have seen and that stay so for multiple days. There is essentially no odor issues in both urine and feces. Minor tracking and a somewhat high price are the only minor complaints but the rest of the positives easily trump them. It is available in 14 and 20 pound jugs, 27 and 35 pound pails, and 23, 27, and 40 pound boxes and is comprised of clay.
Pros: Clumps harden quickly and effectively, tackles both feces and urine smells with ease, easy cleanup
Cons: Minor tracking
America Litter
Our Rating:
A great all-around product that combines activated carbon, crystal-like clay, and a subtle scent. The clumps here are among the best and dust levels and tracking are kept in check. It is a bit more expensive than some clays and may be hard to find in brick and mortar stores but it is worth trying out if you can get it.
Pros: Handles urine extremely well, pleasant scent, low dust
Cons: Odd Bag Design
Arm & Hammer Clump & Seal Naturals
Our Rating: 
This product does great in all aspects and has an impressive price point to match. Any issues that we have with it are minor easily overlooked. It is available in 8-pound bags, is comprised of wood, minerals, plants, and baking soda, and is available in the mid-price range
Pros: Great clumping, locks in odors, easy cleanup
Cons: Somewhat poor tracking, time-sensitive performance
Cat’s Pride Fresh & Light Ultimate Premium Scented Multi-Cat
Our Rating:
Great clumping, decent scent, and acceptable mess levels make this a buy. The price is more than acceptable for what you are getting with this product. It is available in 12 pound jugs and is comprised of clay.
Pros: Fantastic clumping, good at capturing odors
Cons: Pretty dusty, somewhat artificial scent
Read Review of Cat's Pride Fresh & Light Ultimate Premium Scented Multi-Cat
Garfield Flushable Tiny Grains
Our Rating:
A great performing product that delivers rock-hard clumps and no powerful odors. The added flushing ability is also a nice touch. Does struggle somewhat with busy litter boxes in regards to feces, and tracking can be an issue due to how lightweight it is.
Pros: Excellent clumping, no chemical fumes, flushable, gentle on paws
Cons: Doesn’t fully lock in odors, tracks easily
Fresh Step Clean Paws
Our Rating:
Both the Multi-Cat and the Triple Action formulas are some of our favorite Fresh Step products that we have tested. They offer solid clumping and good odor control while minimizing the amount of tracking and dust (which are common complaints of Fresh Step products). The asking price, while not on par with ultra budget clay litters, is fair enough to warrant these being a good buy.
Pros: Good clumping, Solid odor control, Very little tracking
Cons: Clumps are quite large, Price isn’t the cheapest
America Litter
Our Rating:
Another great product from Tailmate, this litter tries to focus more on scooping ability rather than fighting odors. That being said, it is still quite good at handling cat waste smells and has the added benefit of creating creat, hard clumps. We do wish that the tracking would be better kept in check, however.
Pros: Good with bot cat urine and feces, Subtle litter smell, Better clumping
Cons: Tracks a bit too much, Somewhat pricey for clay litter
Fresh Step Extreme Mountain Spring Scent
Our Rating:
If you are after a refreshing mountain spring scent but also value good clumping and odor control, then this is a cat litter that you should be considering. The only minor negatives are the occasional messy clump. But other than that, the performance and price are good.
Pros: Great clumping, Lovely scent, Good odor fighting
Cons: Perfume scent may not be for everybody, Occasionally sticks to scoop
Read Review of Fresh Step Extreme Mountain Spring Scent Cat Litter
Scoop Away Super Clump Scented
Our Rating:
A solid option with minimal issues. The specific scenarios that clumping might struggle are for the most part trumped by the great scent and easy cleanup. The price is also in an area that is agreeable with most people’s wallets. It is available in 20 and 25 pound boxes and is comprised of clay.
Pros: Creates clumps easily, great at masking odors, little dust
Cons: Gets gooey around a lot of urine, minor sticking to surface
Fresh Step Extreme Odor Control Unscented
Our Rating:
Good clumping ability and odor fighting from the CarbonPLUS feature make this a buy. It is a bit on the pricey side but if you should not be disappointed with how it performs and neither should your cat. It is available in 20 and 25 pound boxes and is comprised of clay, carbon, and antimicrobial agents.
Pros: Great small clumps, excellent at sealing in cat odors
Cons: Somewhat dusty, a little pricey
Cat’s Pride Lightweight Scoopable Unscented
Our Rating:
An acceptable cat litter that trades off increased dust levels and lower-quality clumps for lightweight attributes and no strong litter perfumes. It is a soft recommendation depending on your specific needs but there are better performers out there. It is available in 10-pound jugs.
Pros: No powerful litter smells
Cons: Cat smells easily kicked up, dusty, on the expensive side for non-clumping litters
Blue Buffalo Naturally Fresh Ultra Odor Control
Our Rating:
This cat litter combines the odor-fighting power of enzymes with the unique traits of walnut granules. The results are acceptable but there are a couple of minor issues that are worth noting.
Pros: All-natural, No harsh scent, Tracking isn’t bad
Cons: Dust is hard to clean, Doesn’t clump as well as clay
Read Review of Blue Buffalo Naturally Fresh Ultra Odor Control
Cat’s Pride Complete Multi-Cat Scoopable
Our Rating:
While this product has great clumping attributes, the smell and relative messiness knock it down a couple of notches. If you are looking to be somewhat frugal and are primarily concerned with clumping ability at the cost of smell and cleanup then this might work for you. It is available in 14 and 20 pound jugs and is comprised of clay.
Pros: Fantastic clumping, only marginal tracking issues
Cons: Quite dusty, intense litter smell, feces smells tends to come out
Ever Clean Multiple Cat
Our Rating:
This litter is average to perhaps slightly above average across the board. The clumps, as expected, are great and the odor control is serviceable but it is a bit dustier than what we would like to see. However, at its good price point, it is an alright choice if your options are somewhat limited. It is available in 25-pound boxes, is comprised of clay, and is available in the mid-priced tier.
Pros: Pretty affordable, small hard clumps that hold up
Cons: A little too dusty, overwhelming perfume smell
Fresh Step Multi-Cat Unscented Scoopable
Our Rating:
A decent option from the clumping ability alone. The dust levels and the fact that for an unscented litter it does have a pretty powerful smell bump it down some but it will still be serviceable in this price range. It is available in 20 and 25 pound boxes and is comprised of clay and plant extracts.
Pros: Very effective at clumping, holds in cat smells for several days without concern
Cons: Clumps can sometime cake, quite dusty
Scoop Away Multi-Cat Plus Crystals
Our Rating:
This is one of the few budget (or near budget) litters on the market that are able to incorporate crystals. Generally the crystal-based litters cost substantially higher so this is one of the few opportunities to experience the benefits of crystals without opening up your pocket books deeply. It does an average to slightly above average job in clumping and odor blocking and is about average messiness. Not the best thing in the world but worth a try. It is available in 25 pound boxes and is comprised of clay and crystals.
Pros: Great price for a litter with crystals, great job of knocking out cat waste odors
Cons: Clumps could be harder, strong perfume scent, need to be timely in clump removal
So Phresh Odor Control Paper Pellet
Our Rating:
Generally the specialty litter materials have a bit of baggage, either via their odor absorption, clumping specifics, or price tag. In this case none of these are major concerns although the price is a bit high. For being an eco-friendly option it does everything well enough to warrant a soft recommendation from us. It is available in 25 pound bags and is comprised of paper pellets.
Pros: Overwhelming litter scent, paper absorbs most cat odors, no dust
Cons: Requires a bit more maintenance, somewhat pricey
Precious Cat Classic
Our Rating:
A popular offering from Precious Cat, it does the trick for the most part without any major complaints. It is a safe choice that should appease most single-cat boxes, although we do wish the price was under a dollar per pound to help make it more convincing. It is available in 18, 40, and 54 pound bags and is comprised of clay.
Pros: Extremely hard clumps, little smell comes out from either litter or cat waste, pretty easy to clean
Cons: Moisture can sometimes overwhelm box, very large clumps
Fresh Step Multi-Cat Scented Scoopable
Our Rating:
Honestly for the price we were hoping for a bit more. It is decent in most regards and clumps do stay hard for a while but when you are paying this much for a litter you should expect more. It is available in 14, 20, 25, 34, and 38 pound boxes and 42 pound bags and is comprised of clay, activated carbon, and plant extracts.
Pros: Pretty good odor blocking, above average clumping
Cons: Very dusty, strong chemical smell, pretty expensive for what you are getting
Cat’s Pride Natural
Our Rating:
There is nothing amazing about this product. It is serviceable but some struggles with odor control and some tracking and dust issues keep it from being a definite recommendation. For what you are getting the price could also be a bit lower. It is available in 10 20 pound bags and is comprised of clay.
Pros: No powerful litter smells
Cons: Cat smells easily kicked up, dusty, on the expensive side for non-clumping litters
Fresh Step Extreme Clay
Our Rating:
Generally non –clumping litters’ selling point is their ease of maintenance and low prices. Because of this, we aren’t really sure why this product is so expensive, especially considering that the rest of its aspects are nothing amazing. If the price was maybe half of what it is then we would say it is an acceptable purchase but honestly we aren’t real excited with it at the current online price. It is available in 7, 14, 21, 40 and 45 pound bags and is comprised of clay and antimicrobial agents.
Pros: Low maintenance
Cons: Struggles with cat urine smells, quite a bit of tracking, rather expensive for a non-clumping litter
Cat’s Pride Fresh & Light All Day Odor Control
Our Rating:
A pretty average showing on all fronts, and a pretty average price to go with it. If you are in a pinch and there aren’t many other options this will do but if you are buying online then there are better choices, even at the relatively low price point. It is available in 12 pound jugs and is comprised of clay.
Pros: Good job of masking cat odors, pretty affordable
Cons: Questionable clumping, rather strong scent, extremely dusty
Read Review of Cat’s Pride Fresh & Light All Day Odor Control
Arm & Hammer Multi-Cat Extra Strength
Our Rating:
This product is the textbook definition of average. It does nothing particularly well but also doesn’t fail miserably at anything either. If it didn’t struggle with clumping we might bump it up to a soft buy given the good price. But even for the near budget price, we would still like to see better and there is better to choose from. It is available in 20, 26.3, and 40-pound boxes, is comprised of clay and baking soda, and is available in the budget to mid-priced range.
Pros: Decent at masking odors
Cons: Clumps tend to fall apart, tracking can be an issue
Healthy Pet ökocat Natural Paper Dust Free
Our Rating:
Like many of the other eco-friendly litter options on the market by going with abnormal materials it sometimes comes at the cost of performance. While this product doesn’t do anything inherently bad, there are lots of small issues that add up and take away from it being a recommended choice. It is available in 5.1, 8.2, and 12.3 pound boxes and is comprised of paper.
Pros: Handles liquids very well, essentially scentless litter smell, does good job of capturing odors short-term
Cons: Can struggle clumping solids, light weight so it tracks easily
So Phresh Dual Odor Guard
Our Rating:
For being a dual odor guard, we were a bit disappointed in the struggles that it when clumps fall apart, which they can sometimes do with this litter. If this wasn’t an issue we would have rated it much higher. There is also some tracking issues but this is quite common with the litters that have crystals mixed in with them. It is available in 16 and 20 pound tubs and is comprised of mineral crystals.
Pros: Good moisture absorption, good at capturing urine smells
Cons: Clumps could be a bit better, tracks easily, can struggle with combating feces odors
Scoop Away Super Clump Unscented
Our Rating:
A pretty typical budget litter that has some issues but hopes you will overlook them with the decent price. If there is nothing else available it will work but even for the relatively ok deal there are better choices that clump better and clean up much easier. It is available in 14 and 25 pound boxes, and is comprised of clay.
Pros: Clumps harden relatively quickly, formula does good job of masking cat odors
Cons: Urine has tendency to get to bottom, very dusty
Arm & Hammer Clump & Seal Lightweight Multi-Cat
Our Rating:
Subpar clumping, off-putting scents, extreme dust and stickiness, and a somewhat high sticker price make this a litter to avoid in our opinion. There are many other options in this price range that will suit you much better. It is available in 9 and 15 pound boxes and is comprised of clay and baking soda.
Pros: Lightweight
Cons: Poor Clumping, Struggles with Odor Control, Overwhelming Scent, Messy
Read Review of Arm & Hammer Clump & Seal Lightweight Multi-Cat
Precious Cat Touch of Outdoors
Our Rating:
The litter is very messy, and on top of that, it really struggles with making hard clumps and controlling cat waste odors in general. We appreciate the attempt to go with something more natural such as prairie grasses but unfortunately, they just don’t hold up to the rigors of a litter box. It is available in 20-pound boxes and 40-pound bags, is comprised of grass, and is available in the mid-priced area.
Pros: Enjoyable natural litter smell, handles feces odors quite well
Cons: Struggles with clumping, urine can easily overwhelm it, grass is easily tracked
So Phresh Advanced Odor Control Scented
Our Rating:
There are too many small issues with this example to consider it a buy. It is extremely messy and the smell can be a bit much. At least the clumping is alright, but unless it was half the price that it is we wouldn’t recommend it. It is available in 16 and 30 pound tubs and is comprised of clay.
Pros: Clumps are serviceable in short-term, good at moisture absorption
Cons: Can struggle with locking in odor long-term, on the dustier side, clumps can fall apart and become a gooey mess
Swheat Scoop Original
Our Rating:
The wheat aspect really struggles here. The clumps are simply too soft, cat odors are released very quickly and easily, and the dust levels are higher than we would like to see. Thankfully it is pretty affordable but even then we can’t recommend it unless you are dead set on trying out a wheat-based cat litter. It is available in 7, 14, 25, and 40-pound bags, is comprised of wheat, and is available in the budget to mid-priced tiers.
Pros: Enjoyable subtle litter smell, not much dust, acceptable price
Cons: Clumps take a long time to harden and fall apart, becomes very stinky when exposed to moisture, tracks easily
World’s Best Cat Litter Advanced Natural Scented Pine Blend Multi Cat
Our Rating:
Too many issues make this a struggling multi-cat option. The clumping, while not awful, has some underlying issues directly related to fluids. The cat waste scents can rear the ugly head way too quickly and the cleanup could become too burdensome for those large multi-cat households. There are better options out there at this price. It is available in 6, 12, and 24 pound bags and is comprised of pine composition.
Pros: Small tight clumps, enjoyable pine litter smell, easy clump removal
Cons: Can struggle with large amounts of fluid, rather dusty
Read Review of World's Best Cat Litter Advanced Natural Scented Pine Blend Multi Cat
World’s Best Cat Litter Advanced Natural Original
Our Rating:
We are really disappointed with this litter, especially considering how well its sister products are. The decision to go “all natural” comes at a hefty price here, and that price is lackluster clumping ability, difficulty masking scents, and an overall huge mess. It is available in 6, 12, and 24 pound bags and is comprised of wood/plant fibers and corn kernels.
Pros: Holds in odors alright when clumps stay together, environmentally friendly
Cons: Very soft clumps, quite dusty, on the expensive side for what you are getting
Read Review of World's Best Cat Litter Advanced Natural Original
Cat’s Pride Fresh & Light Ultimate Care Premium Unscented Hypoallergenic Multi-Cat
Our Rating:
This product does everything well. It has some of the best clumping we have experienced and is extremely easy to maintain. This sort of performance would be more than enough even in the top price tier and the fact that it is still technically a mid-level litter makes it even better. We definitely recommend this. It is available in 12 pound jugs and is comprised of clay.
Pros: Amazing clumps, locks in odors, basically no tracking
Cons: Somewhat time-sensitive clump removal
Read Review of Cat's Pride Fresh & Light Ultimate Premium Scented Multi-Cat
Boxiecat
Our Rating:
This is one of the top-performing clay cat litter that you will find anywhere. It is available in both scented and scent-free forms and can even combat bacteria growth. The clumps that form are rock-hard and easy to clean up. A solid choice for all cat owners. The only minor complaint is that asking prices will be a bit higher than most typical clay cat litters. But it is more than worth it.
Pros: Fantastic clumps, Very low Dust Levels, Locks in Odors
Cons: More expensive than most clay litters
Arm & Hammer Clump and Seal with MicroGuard
Our Rating:
This is a fantastic cat litter that truly does what it says it does. The strong clumping and odor control of clay is combined with baking soda and the new MicroGuard technology to create an awesome 1-2-3 punch that will stop cat litter odors in its tracks for several days. There is also no overwhelming cat litter scent and prices are reasonable. Other than a bit of tracking we have nothing negative to say about this product.
Pros: Very good clumping, long-lasting odor control, no overwhelming scent
Cons: Minor tracking
Nature’s Miracle Intense Defense Fragrance Free Clumping
Our Rating:
We are really impressed with this litter. It has rock hard clumps that last for days and the smell isn’t too overbearing. It is powerful enough to do the job for multiple days so constant maintenance isn’t necessary. And on top of this, it comes it a great price. We definitely recommend this Intense Defense offering. It is available in 20 and 28 pound bags and is comprised of clay.
Pros: Very good at clumping, easily masks cat waste odors, easy cleanup
Cons: Actually has a litter smell despite being “fragrance free”
Read Review of Nature's Miracle Intense Defense Fragrance Free Clumping
World’s Best Cat Litter Lavender Scented Multiple Cat Clumping
Our Rating:
The inclusion of lavender oil here really gives off a nice scent and doesn’t affect the great clumping and odor control that we have seen when you combine corn and wood together. Cleanup is not a major issue due to the strong clumps and good moisture absorption and the price is reasonable enough to warrant a buy. It is available in 7, 8, 14, 15, and 28-pound bags, is comprised of wood fiber, corn kernels, and lavender oil composition, and is available in the mid-priced tier.
Pros: Some of the best clumping out there, great litter scent, easily masks cat odors, easy cleanup
Cons: Corn has some tracking issues
Read Review of World's Best Cat Litter Lavender Scented Multiple Cat Clumping
World’s Best Cat Litter Multiple Cat Clumping
Our Rating:
A solid option for those looking for a well-performing litter at a respectable price. Clumping is great and the odor control is serviceable enough for those who monitor the box somewhat frequently. Obviously the busier the litter box the more often you’ll need to clean it but overall it will tackle a busy cat household’s waste challenges with ease and without causing a huge mess or headache. It is available in 7, 8, 14, 15, and 28 pound bags and is comprised of wood fiber and corn kernels.
Pros: Fantastic clumping, natural litter scent, easy clump removal and only marginal dust
Cons: Can give off foul smells when exposed to a lot of fluid, minor tracking
Read Review of World's Best Cat Litter Multiple Cat Clumping
Garfield Flushable Grand
Our Rating:
Another cat litter that takes advantage of its unique plant-based material to deliver great clumping. Being slightly larger than its sister product the tracking is kept in check a bit better but at the cost of slightly worse odor control as well as going through a bag quicker. However, the pros easily outweigh the cons.
Pros: Good clumping, odor-free, less tracking than fine grain product, gentle on paws
Cons: Can struggle with feces odors, goes through bag quicker
Ever Clean Extra Strength Scented
Our Rating:
This product is pretty decent all around. Similar to many Ever Clean products, probably its strongest point is its great clumping. The perfume that was added is a bit too intense for our liking, however, and we really don’t see the need in making it so pungent. However, for the asking price, this is a minor complaint. It is available i25-pound 25-pound boxes, is comprised of clay, and is available in the budget to mid-priced tiers.
Pros: Hard clumps, low dust levels
Cons: Clumps can take a little while to harden, strong artificial perfume smell
Precious Cat Ultra Scented
Our Rating:
The definite strong point of this product comes with the great clumping. However, the litter smell is a bit too intense and the online price for this litter is a good bit higher than some of the other Precious Cat products, so we had to bump the rating down a bit. Still a solid choice for most applications. It is available in 20 and 40-pound bags and boxes, is comprised of clay, and is available in the mid to premium-priced areas.
Pros: Awesome clumping, better than average at stopping cat smells, little dust
Cons: Litter scent can be a bit much, somewhat expensive for a clay litter
Cat’s Pride Scoopable Unscented
Our Rating:
This litter has great clumping and it can handle cat waste odors without relying on powerful perfumes. However, the dust levels are quite high and it is more expensive than quite a few other clay litters on the market. It is available in 12-pound jugs and is in the mid-price tier.
Pros: Solid clumping, Flush-friendly, No strong litter odor
Cons: Noticeable tracking and dust levels, Somewhat expensive for clay litter
Arm & Hammer Ultra Last
Our Rating:
This product has pretty good clumping and while it has a bit of caking, cleanup is, for the most part, a breeze. However, the litter smell is simply way too much. If you can handle the scent or decide to wear a gas mask around the litter (might need one for your cat as well) then it isn’t a terrible deal. It is available in 20, 26.3, 31, 37, 40, and 50-pound boxes, is comprised of clay and baking soda, and is in the mid to premium-price range.
Pros: Good clumping, little to no caking on box
Cons: Very off-putting litter smell, somewhat pricey for a clay litter
Cat’s Pride Scoopable Scented
Our Rating:
This product does a good job of clumping and containing odor, but it does have some noticeable flaws as well. It is quite messy both from dust as well as clumps falling apart after several days. It is not a terrible choice but there are better out there in this crowded price range. It is available in 10 and 14 pound jugs, 10 and 20 pound boxes, and 22 pound canisters and is comprised of clay.
Pros: Quite good at clumping, good job at controlling odors for a couple of days
Cons: Extremely dusty, easily tracked out of box
Fresh Step Odor Shield Scented
Our Rating:
Another example of a Fresh Step product that really nails it with clumping. But, like other products, it does have a powerful artificial smell and the dust levels aren’t very well controlled. It is a decent price, however, so if you can deal with these issues it is a soft buy. It is available in 7, 12, 14, 20, 25, and 38-pound boxes and 42-pound bags, is comprised of clay and is available in the mid-priced area.
Pros: Super effective clumping
Cons: Pungent artificial litter smell, way too dusty
So Phresh Advanced Odor Control Unscented
Our Rating:
A pretty standard offering, this example doesn’t have any unique selling points other than that it doesn’t screw anything up too bad. The price it is currently at is a good level for defending this description, and we wouldn’t fault someone who decided to give this litter a go. It is available in 40 pound bags and 16 and 30 pound tubs and is comprised of clay.
Pros: Very good hard clumps, above average odor control
Cons: Very dusty, litter can break down into messy “sand” if exhausted
World’s Best Cat Litter Clumping
Our Rating:
Both the clumping and absorbency really shine in this product, thanks to the inclusion of wood fibers and corn kernels. However, this comes at the cost of some issues with smell as well as a bit too much tracking. We wish the price was a bit lower and we would be more inclined to recommend this litter. It is available in 7, 8, 14, 15, and 28 pound bags and is comprised of wood fiber and corn kernels.
Pros: Rock hard clumps, very absorbent towards all moisture, no litter smell
Cons: Can struggle somewhat with masking cat odors, pretty expensive, large clumps
Precious Cat Kitten Attract
Our Rating:
This product does an acceptable job of handling kitten waste. The only major complaint is the price, which can be a bit high If you are willing to pay the occasional premium for it, you shouldn’t be too disappointed. It is available in 20-pound cartons, is comprised of clay, and is available in the mid-price category.
Pros: Product lasts for a while, locks away odor for several days, easy clump removal
Cons: Minor dust issue
Tidy Cats 4 in 1 Strength
Our Rating:
A decent solution with no glaring issues, but isn’t going to knock any features out of the park as well. We like the 4 in 1 strength approach and think with a few small tweaks it could be a great litter rather than simply a good litter. It is available in 14 and 20 pound jugs and 35 pound pails and is comprised of clay.
Pros: Acceptable clumping, locks in odors for several days, decently priced
Cons: Clumps can deteriorate into mushy balls, strong chemical litter smell, rather dusty
Fresh Step Triple Action Scented
Our Rating:
The dust levels of this litter are really what do it in. The clumps are hard enough and timely enough to get a pass and the cat smells are subdued for several days which is a positive, but cleanup and general maintenance can be an absolute nightmare. Because of this we can only give it an average rating. It is available in 25 pound boxes and is comprised of activated carbon, plant extracts, and clay.
Pros: Clumps stay relatively hard, combats cat odors for several days
Cons: Clumps are rather large and use a lot of product, extremely dusty
Jonny Cat Original
Our Rating:
There is nothing really to get excited about with this product. It is a standard-performing clay litter, so why does it cost nearly twice as much as other clay options on the market? It will do what you need for the most part but unless you have no other options (or happen to find a great sale on this stuff) then we recommend shopping around. It is available in 10, 20, and 40 pound bags and is comprised of clay.
Pros: Hides cat odors pretty well, low maintenance
Cons: Somewhat expensive for non-clumping litter, quite dusty
Scoop Away Multi-Cat Scented
Our Rating:
The only thing that really shines out for this product is the clumping ability. It does have some issues with odor control and especially with the dust. The price isn’t too extreme but it would be nice if they came down a bit on it since there are other better options out there that are cheaper. It is available in 14, 25 and 38 pound boxes and is comprised of clay.
Pros: Clumps pretty well, clumps do good job of holding in odors
Cons: Extremely dusty, very strong artificial perfume smell
Tidy Cats Instant Action
Our Rating:
The price can be quite good for this product, but its difficulty in dealing with urine still makes it a hard sale. While it seems to handle feces well, we wish this ability would translate to all waste, at which time it would be a definite recommendation. It is available in 7, 14, and 20 pound jugs, 27 and 35 pound pails, and 27 and 40 pound boxes and is comprised of clay.
Pros: Very good hard clumps for feces, dust isn’t bad, handles feces smells fine
Cons: Has a tough time with urine both in clumping as well as odor control, messy urine balls can form
Swheat Scoop Multi-Cat
Our Rating:
We can definitely notice an improved performance in the odor control and clumping departments when compared to the standard Swheat cat litter. However, the granules are still sized so that the clumps that form at relatively soft and tracking is also a significant issue. In addition, the price seems to be a bit higher than its sister products online. It is available in 7, 14, 25, and 40-pound bags, is comprised of wheat, and is available in the mid-priced tier.
Pros: Litter smell is subtle, does a good job of locking in feces smells
Cons: Strong ammonia smell can come out from urine, clumps are somewhat weak, tracking is a concern
Tidy Cats Yesterday’s News Original
Our Rating:
A rather unique approach in terms of the shape and specifications of the litter but the end result is pretty ordinary. It doesn’t clump per se which we wouldn’t mind seeing here and the price could be a bit lower to make it a more attractive buy. It is available in 5,15, and 30 pound packages and is comprised of recycled paper.
Pros: Environmentally friendly, no litter smell, handles feces well for the most part
Cons: Messy cleanup since no clumps, can be overwhelmed by too much urine
Tidy Cats Lightweight 24/7 Performance
Our Rating:
An average to slightly below average choice. The lightweight aspect hurts it here because the clumps just don’t get very hard and this also affects how well it is able to absorb odors. The fact that it is quite messy and especially the high price add up to make us not real excited about this one. It is available in 8.5 pound jugs and 18 pound boxes and is comprised of clay.
Pros: Pretty good clumping, can handle good levels of both feces and urine
Cons: Clumps tend to stink to bottom, extremely dusty
UltraPet Better Way Fresh
Our Rating:
The bentonite is just too soft here and the spring scent, while surprisingly refreshing, just doesn’t do a good enough job of stopping odor. At least the price is more in line with the type of results. It is available in 14 pound bags and is comprised of clay.
Pros: Gentle on cat paws, refreshing flower litter scent, decent price
Cons: Clumps are too soft, overall struggles with stopping cat odors, quite dusty
Arm & Hammer Clump & Seal Lightweight Fresh Scent
Our Rating:
There really isn’t anything great to say about this product other than the fact it is relatively light which helps in handling it. For the performance we would like to see it being priced at half of what it sells for at best. It is available in 9 and 15 pound boxes and is comprised of clay and baking soda.
Pros: Scent isn’t too overpowering, Good odor control early on
Cons: Clumps tend to fall apart, Easy to track out of box
Read Review of Arm & Hammer Clump & Seal Lightweight Fresh Scent
Fresh Step Odor Shield Unscented
Our Rating:
There are much better options out there. This product is relatively poor in all aspects. If it were an extreme budget litter (as in well under a dollar per pound) we might give it a pass but for the asking price there are simply too many other better options out there. It is available in 14 and 20 pound boxes and is comprised of clay.
Pros: Initially does acceptable job of capturing odors
Cons: Clumps fall apart and are sticky, strong artificial litter odor, difficult to clean up
Scoop Away Complete Performance
Our Rating:
For being “complete performance” this product is missing on several marks. The clumps, albeit large, do alright but the smell is simply too much to bear. That, plus the dust and tracking issues make this one best left avoided, even with the somewhat affordable price. It is available in 42 pound bags and is comprised of clay.
Pros: Clumps feces with ease, holds in feces odors for several days
Cons: Struggles with fluids, heavily perfumed in a bad way, very dusty
Tidy Cats Pure Nature
Our Rating:
The option to go with natural elements such as cedar, corn, and pine might sound good on paper but it really misses the mark here. This concoction struggles with clumping and also holding in moisture. Even the cleanup can be a headache. It is available in 7.5,12, and 14 pound pouches and is comprised of cedar, corn, and pine.
Pros: All natural
Cons: Struggles with clumping, overpowering turpentine smell, does not do a good job of masking odors and can actually amplify them, bad at tracking
UltraPet Better Way Flushable
Our Rating:
We were really disappointed with this litter. The clumps just don’t seem to form as we would like and this in turn makes it struggle with odor control. Furthermore, it is rather dusty and cleanup can be a huge headache. It would be one thing if this was a super affordable example but it can be in the premium category depending on where you buy it! Definitely try another option. It is available in 12 pound bags and is comprised of zeolite.
Pros: Subtle litter smell
Cons: Soft gooey clumps, struggles with odors especially urine, dusty and sticks to litter box easily