Published Sep 10, 2025
Katelynn Sobus / Cats.com
Many people look to the ASPCA fresh scented cat pads to line the bottom drawer of a litter box system such as the Tidy Cats Breeze Litter Box System or in a cat carrier to absorb accidents from nervous cats. They’re a cheaper alternative to other cat pee pads, but how well do they work?
I purchased and tested them myself in various scenarios to find out. In this review, we’ll talk about how well the pads absorb urine, retain odors, and more.
Why Trust Cats.com
I’m a lifelong cat owner with seven senior cats of my own. Over the years, I’ve gotten a good feel for what they like and dislike and the products that are best suited to them. I also spend time talking to other cat parents and learning what works in different households.
When reviewing the ASPCA cat pads, I took notes on their absorbency, scent, and ease of use. I also observed whether my cats were willing to use them willingly and how they worked both in a litter box without litter and in the bottom of a sifting litter box.
ASPCA Brand Overview
ASPCA stands for American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. One reason that people prefer buying the ASPCA cat pad replacements over other brands is to support the oldest animal welfare organization in the United States.
The ASPCA was founded in New York in 1866. Since then, it has helped to promote better standards for livestock, breeding facilities, and housepets. For instance, they’ve led spay and neuter initiatives and were the first national animal welfare association to use microchips to help lost pets find their way back home.
The organization also sells merchandise such as bags and t-shirts, as well as various animal products including cat toys, beds, and scratching posts.
ASPCA Fresh Scented Cat Potty Pad Features
Katelynn Sobus / Cats.com
The first thing I noticed about the ASPCA cat potty pads was that they’re scented, with no unscented option available. While these scents can be pleasant for some humans, cats have much stronger noses and will often seek to avoid perfumes. This may even prevent them from using the litter box altogether.
The cat pads come in three scents: fresh scented, lavender, and lemon. Lemon is a flawed choice since, while it smells fresh and clean to humans, citrus smells are often used as a natural cat repellent. They tend to hate it!
Moving onto other features, the potty pads are available in 20 or 40-packs and are mid-priced compared to similarly-sized cat pads on the market. However, they’re fairly expensive compared to most dog pee pads, especially considering how much larger those tend to be.
The pads are made to be used in a litter box system with a drawer or a double-layered box to catch urine from non-absorbent litter. Because of this, they only come in one size, though those looking for a larger size may have luck with the ASPCA’s puppy pee pads, which come in various sizes.
These pads can also be used on their own in cat carriers or to line litter boxes for cats who prefer pee pads to traditional litter.
They’re very absorbent and their disposable nature makes for easy clean-up once the pad is soiled.
Katelynn Sobus / Cats.com
Katelynn Sobus / Cats.com
Katelynn Sobus / Cats.com
What We Like
- Can be used in the drawer of cat litter box systems, the bottom layer of sifting litter boxes, or to line cat carriers
- Plush and absorbent, despite their small size
- Easy to use with fast clean-up
- Purchase supports the ASPCA and their fight for the humane treatment of animals
What We Didn’t Like
- Only available in one small size
- Strong scent may be unpleasant for cats and humans
What Did Our Test Cats Think?
Katelynn Sobus / Cats.com
I tested these pads in a sifting litter box to absorb liquids and odors and also on their own, used as traditional pee pads. I have a litter-avoidant cat, so I already had a few litter-free boxes around the house to test them out on.
The cats seemed mostly happy to use both the sifting boxes and the pee pad-only boxes normally. The pads are thick and were able to absorb urine from multiple trips to the litter box despite their small size.
I wasn’t as happy with their odor retention. The fresh scent of the pads is strong, unpleasant, and does little to mask the urine smell. This was especially apparent when my cats peed on the thin edges of the pad rather than the more absorbent center area.
When it comes to clean-up, it was very easy to remove and replace the pads. Just remember to clean the bottom of the litter box while swapping them out and, if you use them in a carrier, place a waterproof liner beneath the pee pad in case of leakage.
What Do Customers Think of the ASPCA Fresh Scented Cat Potty Pads?
Positive Reviews
“This brand works great. I have two litter boxes and was changing pads every other day in both of them. Switched to these pads and now I’m only switching the pads once or twice a week.” – GreatIndianaMan on Amazon
“I have the tidy cat breeze system. I switched from their pads almost immediately to Amazon basic ones because they were more affordable. Well Amazon basic pads have gotten ridiculously expensive and I needed an affordable alternative. I gave these a try and they are by far the best of the bunch!” – Jessica Ann on Amazon
Positive reviews boast that they have to change the pads less than other brands, as they’re thick and absorbent. Reviewers also appreciate the lower price compared to similar products.
Negative Reviews
“These were supposed to be scented and comparable in quality to the name brand. They are, in fact, thinner, flimsier, and very weakly scented.” –Heusler on Amazon
“Thought we would try these instead of the Tidy Cat ones for our Breeze System because they seemed to be a good value. They did not perform as well as the Tidy Cat pads.” – Michael D. Walberg on Amazon
The main complaints from reviewers was that the ASPCA pads didn’t last as long as other brands or contained less fragrance. Some reviewers said that the pads didn’t fit their litter box.
Similar Brands
Check out our review of the Tidy Cats Breeze litter box system and more.
