Last updated Apr 8, 2025
Kirsten McCarthy / Cats.com
Tidy Cat was created over 50 years ago and was one of the first cat litter brands on the market. Before Tidy Cat, people kept their cats outside, or used ashes, dirt or sand as cat litter when it was necessary to keep them inside.
Tidy Cat litters are mostly limited to clay litters, they do offer many variations of types of clay and features depending on you and your cats preferences. If clay litter is not your thing, they do offer litters made with recycled paper, cedar, corn, and pine.
Now Tidy Cats offers Tidy Max formulas which they call the “latest online-only cat litter innovation”. This new litter has ammonia blockers and absorbent power pieces to provide maximum odor and moisture control. They come in regular and light weight formulas.
Ratings
- Variety of Products – 5/5
- Price Per Pound – 4/5
- Multi-Cat Formulas – 5/5
- Clumping Ability – 5/5
- Long-Lasting Odor Control – 4/5
- Natural/Alternative Options – 1/5
Overall Score: 4/5
How We Tested the Litter:
- We were sent 4 of the new Tidy Max cat litters for testing
- We spent a few weeks testing the cat litters on several cats
- We did not receive these products in exchange for a favorable review
Brand Overview
In January 1947, Edward Lowe’s neighbor asked him for some sand to use as cat litter because her sand pile was frozen. Instead of sand, Lowe gave her some clay called Fuller’s Earth, a set of clay minerals capable of absorbing their weight in water. It worked far better than sand or ashes.
The highly-absorbent clay was a far more adequate solution over sand, sawdust, ashes, and soil. Edward Lowe packaged the clay into 5 pound bags marked “Kitty Litter” and began marketing the product to stores and cat shows.
By 1964, Edward Lowe Industries introduced the first nationally produced and marketed cat litter known today as Tidy Cat.
Today Tidy Cat is owned by Purina, one of the largest and most reputable pet supply brands in the world. Not only do they manufacture cat litter, but dog food, cat food, and pet treats as well. Purina’s Tidy Cats line offers over a dozen different cat litters and litter products.
What Kinds of Litter Does the Brand Offer?
Tidy Cats litter offers a wide range of products, most of which are clumping clay litter, including the Tidy Max formula. For those who prefer non-clumping litter, Tidy Cats has five different non-clumping clay litter products.
Tidy Cats also has a small selection of alternative biodegradable litter. Purina has more than a dozen litters on the market, but in this review we will cover the new Tidy Max cat litter products.
The four formulas we will cover are Tidy Max lightweight formulas, and clumping formulas.
#1 Tidy Max 24/7 Performance Cat Litter
Amy Brown-Towry / Cats.com
This Tidy Max 24/7 performance litter clumps very hard and controls odor well. The moisture activated power pieces are designed to absorb liquids and smells from both feces and urine. This means your litter can go longer and is easy to clean up.
The litter granule size is average, so most cats should be fine with it. It’s also an unscented litter, and that will help cut down on over powering smells to hide ammonia odors.
We found this litter to control odor very well, in a multi cat litter box. While it claims to be 99% dust free it did still produce a small amount of dust as well as some tracking around the litter box.
The clumping was firm and easy to clean up and the litter held up for almost 2 weeks before a full change was needed.
Pros:
- Great clumping action
- Unscented and controlled odor well
- Absorbs well
Cons:
- There is still a small amount of dust
- Some tracking around litter box
#2 Tidy Max LightWeight 24/7 Performance Cat Litter
Amy Brown-Towry / Cats.com
This Tidy Max 24/7 Lightweight litter has all the benefits mentioned above in the Tidy Max 24/7, except this formula is lightweight. This box weighs 17 pounds but covers the same amount of space as the 35 pound box.
Again the litter granule size is average, and its also an unscented litter. It clumps very well and controls ammonia odors. This formula is also 99% dust free
We found this litter to control odor as well as the regular formula did, when used on multiple cats. While it claims to be 99% dust free it did still produce a small amount of dust as well as some tracking around the litter box.
The clumping was firm and easy to clean up. The really nice thing about this formula is how light the box is and easy it is to refill the bucket of litter. The price is a bit higher on this one compared to the regular Tidy Max 24/7 formula.
Pros:
- Tight clumping
- Controls odor well
- Long lasting
Cons:
- Small amount of dust is produced when using this litter
- Litter does track a bit around the litter box
- Costs more than original formula
#3 Tidy Max Instant Action Cat Litter
Amy Brown-Towry / Cats.com
Tidy Max Instant Action litter is a natural clay formula and is advertised as 99.9% dust free. It features moisture-activated power pieces for maximum odor and moisture control and is formulated to help stop ammonia odor right away and last for up to two weeks.
This is a clumping formula with medium size granules and made for multiple cat homes.
We found this litter to clump well and absorb urine. There is no off putting fragrance but there was a slight odor after a week of use.
It wasn’t horrible but it didn’t keep the box as fresh as the aforementioned formulas. This formula did clump well and hold up when cleaning. Again, there was slight dust and tracking around the litter box.
Pros:
- Clumps well
- Absorbs well
- 99% dust free
Cons:
- Some tracking around litter box
- Did not control odors for 2 weeks
#4 Tidy Max Lightweight Instant Action Cat Litter
Amy Brown-Towry / Cats.com
Tidy Max Lightweight Instant Action litter is the light weight version of the Tidy Max Instant Action litter mentioned above. It also features moisture-activated power pieces for maximum odor and moisture control, and is formulated to help stop ammonia odor right away.
This is a clumping formula with medium size granules and made for multiple cat homes. It is also 99% dust free and controls odor up to two weeks.
We found this litter clumps well and did okay with controlling odor. We did notice urine pooling in the box, but maybe it was moved around by the cats.
This litter did need to be changed after a little over a week because there was a slight ammonia odor. It was very easy to pour being light weight, but there was a little dust and tracking.
Pros:
- Clumps well
- 99% dust free
- Light weight
Cons:
- There was tracking around the litter box
- Odor control did not last for 2 weeks
- Pricier compared to the regular formula
What Do Customers Think of Tidy Cat Litter?
Tidy Cats is one of the most reputable and well known brands in cat litter. But like everything, it has had its share of controversy, with cat owners claiming it causes respiratory issues.
Because every customer’s experience is different, here are some positive and negative reviews for the cat litter formulas featured in this review.
Positive Reviews
Excellent litter especially for multiple cat homes. Chewy is always quick and efficient with products and delivery. -by Dawn, reviewing Tidy Max 24/7 Performance Continuous Odor Control on Jan 26, 2025
This is the only cat litter we use. We have 4 cats and two litter boxes and this will go a week without needing scooped (when pressed. We usually scoop every other day). -Steve, by reviewing Tidy Max Instant Action Clumping Cat Litter on Mar 31, 2025
My cat LOVES the Two by Two cat scratching post – the balls in the base keep her busy for a long time & she really has fun with it. -by N, reviewing Tidy Max’s LightWeight 24/7 Performance Clumping Cat Litter on Oct 28, 2024
Negative Reviews
This product is lightweight, but it is just not worth the cons. My cats track it abslloutley everywhere, it sticks to their paws, the scooper, the box. I find little clay paw prints where they track it. It is just gross. The smell isn’t great, either. My cats even come out smelling like the litter, which is weird. I’m going back to the arm & Hammer clump and seal. Heavy or not, it didn’t smell, didn’t track, and didn’t stick. For reference, I have five cats and four boxes in enclosures throughout the house. -by Ethel, reviewing Tidy Max’s Instant Action Light Weight Cat Litter on Jan 3, 2025
I’m sad to say that unfortunately this did not hold up to the quality of the regular 24/7 Performance Litter from Tidy Cats. For our multi-cat household, the odor was noticeable after just an hour or two of the litterbox being used after it was cleaned. We do not have this issue with the other litter. Also, the litter would break into tiny pieces instead of clumping correctly making it needing to be replaced more frequently. Additionally, it was a very high tracking litter that drover our cats and myself a bit bonkers. I would absolutely recommend to stick with the original 24/7 Performance and not the Max Online Only Version. However, it does look like it works well for a lot of people which is great and why I initally decided to try it. We switched to the Performance type after seeing how well it works at the cat rescue I volunteer at and I won’t stray agaim for sure! -by Cayla, reviewing Tidy Max’s Instant Action Clumping Cat Litter on Aug 15, 2024
Most of the litter was inside the box,the boxes were slightly crushed. -by Sierra, reviewing Tidy Max’s 24/7 Performance Clumping Cat Litter on Sept 9, 2024
How Much Does Tidy Max Cat Litter Cost?
Tidy Cats litters offer an excellent value for your money, including Tidy Max. The large, 38 pound box of Tidy Max Cats is around $24. The lightweight Max formulas will cost you around $25 for a 17 pound box.
Overall, Is Tidy Max Cat Litter a Good Choice?
If you want a tried and true cat litter brand that will not drain your bank account, Tidy Cats is a great choice. The Tidy Max formulas are quality litters for an affordable price, and the various products all offer superior odor control.
Tidy Max Cat litter not only provides strong clumping action, making clean up easier, it is also great for multiple cat homes.
The light weight formulas are convenient and work just as well as the regular formulas, but will cost a bit more.
Overall this is a convenient way to get your litter since these large sizes are only available online and shipped directly to you.
Where Is Tidy Max Cat Litter Sold?
Tidy Max Cat litter is sold online only and designed to ship. It’s made to refill an old pail or Tidy Max package. You can find it at online retailers like Chewy and Amazon.
