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Cat’s Pride Cat Litter Review

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When it comes to shopping for pet products, you can expect to pay a pretty penny for premium materials.

You may be surprised, then, to learn that not only is Cat’s Pride a highly affordable brand, but they use high-quality materials as well.

This brand offers a wide variety of scented, unscented, clumping, and non-clumping formulas for both single- and multi-cat households, so you can find the perfect formula to suit your needs.

Simply put, if you’re looking for an affordable brand of clay cat litter made from premium materials that has an impressively long history of innovation and community involvement, consider Cat’s Pride.

Ratings

  • Variety of Products – 5/5
  • Price Per Pound – 4/5
  • Multi-Cat Formulas – 5/5
  • Clumping Ability – 4/5
  • Long-Lasting Odor Control – 4/5
  • Natural/Alternative Options – 1/5

Overall Score: 3.8/5

How We Tested:

  • We purchased 3 of the best cat litters Cat’s Pride cat litter has to offer
  • We spent a few weeks testing the cat litters on several cats
  • We did not receive these product in exchange for a favorable review, they were purchased with our own money

Brand Overview

The Cat’s Pride cat litter brand began over 75 years ago. In 1941, the Oil-Dri Corporation of America (maker of Cat’s Pride) sold its first bag of Fuller’s Earth, a clay product designed to absorb oil and grease from factory floors. Several years later, the company recognized a new opportunity to repackage and sell the same materials as cat litter.

By 1960, the Cat’s Pride brand was on the market, and it has continued to grow ever since. Today, the company is headed by third-generation president, Dan Jaffee, who considers it his personal mission to improve the company’s products as well as the lives of cats and their owners.

Over the years, Cat’s Pride has grown and developed, but they have always remained committed to creating innovative, high-quality products. Today, Cat’s Pride litter is sourced, processed, and produced in North American and the company even has its own research and development center outside Chicago. This is where groundbreaking new products like Cat’s Pride Fresh & Light are developed.

Products Included in This Review
Name Materials Clumping? Life Stage Additional Features
Cat’s Pride Unscented Total Odor Control Multi-Cat Clumping Clay Cat Litter Clay Yes All Clumping, Unscented, Odor Control, Multi-Cat, Lightweight
Cat’s Pride Total Odor Control Scented Clumping Clay Cat Litter Clay Yes All Clumping, Scented, Multi-Cat, Odor Control, Lightweight
Cat’s Pride Premium Fresh & Clean Clay Cat Litter Clay No All Non-Clumping, Scented, Odor Control

What Kinds Of Litter Does The Brand Offer?

After hitting the pet product market in 1960, the Cat’s Pride brand has developed and sold a wide variety of products. Today, Cat’s Pride offers just over a dozen cat litter products in addition to various accessories like litter box liners and disposable trays. Each of the brand’s products is made from premium-quality materials sourced right here in the USA.

Cat’s Pride offers both clumping and non-clumping formulas, all of which are made from natural clay materials. There are currently three non-clumping formulas – Fresh & Clean, Complete Multi-Cat, and Natural. The remaining clumping cat litters are sold in jugs and come in regular, lightweight, scented, and unscented formulas. Several formulas include baking soda for additional odor control, and some recipes are flushable.

The three formulas we’re reviewing here include two clumping formulas from the green jug Litter for Good line and one original non-clumping formula.

Top 3 Cat Litters Reviewed

Product Name Type Price Overall Rating
Cat’s Pride Unscented Total Odor Control Multi-Cat Clumping Clay Cat Litter Clumping $0.66 per lb 4.5/5
Cat’s Pride Total Odor Control Scented Clumping Clay Cat Litter Clumping $0.73 per lb 4.25/5
Cat’s Pride Premium Fresh & Clean Clay Cat Litter Non-Clumping $0.21 per lb 3.5/5

#1 Cat’s Pride Unscented Total Odor Control Multi-Cat Clumping Clay Cat Litter

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Multi-cat households go through litter very quickly, and it can be difficult to control litter box odor. This Cat’s Pride Unscented Total Odor Control Multi-Cat Clumping Clay Cat Litter is designed to tackle both of these problems. It is highly affordable to start, and it is 25% lighter than the average clay litter. It also forms tight, hard clumps that are easy to scoop, and it locks away odors on contact.

This cat litter is uniquely designed to trap odor immediately on contact. It absorbs liquid quickly and forms tight, hard clumps that keep odors locked away until you are ready to scoop. This is an unscented litter, so the fact that it does so well in odor-control is impressive. It is completely free from perfumes and dyes, making it an allergy-friendly formula for your cats and your family.

Though this formula did well in producing hard clumps and controlling odor, it was fairly messy. The litter produced some dust when it was first poured into the tray, and it tracked to a significant degree.

This could have something to do with the lightweight formula or simply the fact that the granules are very fine. Speaking of the lightweight formula, we didn’t find that it felt significantly lighter than other clay litters Overall, however, we were pleased with this cat litter.

Category Rating
Price 4/5
Clumping Action 5/5
Odor Control 4/5
Dust/Mess 4/5
Scent 5/5
Easy to Scoop 5/5
Overall Rating 4.5/5

Pros

  • Multi-cat formula traps odors on contact
  • Forms hard, tight clumps that are easy to scoop
  • Unscented formula free from perfumes and dyes

Cons

  • Produces some dust, tracks fairly easily
  • Doesn’t feel significantly lighter than other formulas

This litter comes in a 15-pound jug and 21-pound and 28-pound boxes. This cat litter is made from clay materials which are usually fairly heavy, but it is a lightweight formula.

#2 Cat’s Pride Total Odor Control Scented Clumping Clay Cat Litter

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Sometimes a multi-cat household needs a little boost for odor control, and this Cat’s Pride Total Odor Control Scented Clumping Clay Cat Litter is a great option. Made with porous, highly absorbent clay, this litter sucks up moisture and locks away odor on contact. A single jug can last for 140 clumps or about 35 days with regular scooping – that’s impressive for a multi-cat household.

Another positive quality this litter has to offer is solid clumping action. The clumps were very tight and hard, making them easy to scoop and cutting down on litter waste.

We found the fresh scent to be very light and pleasant, though some users disliked the fragrance. Overall, we found it to be a good product that lived up to its promises, for the most part.

Similar to the previous formula, this cat litter is marketed as being 25% lighter than traditional cat litter. We found the 15-pound jug to be a manageable size and weight, but the litter itself didn’t seem to be significantly lighter than other clay litters. Though it performed well, we didn’t think the lightweight quality was a marketable point.

Category Rating
Price 4/5
Clumping Action 5/5
Odor Control 4/5
Dust/Mess 4/5
Scent 4/5
Easy to Scoop 5/5
Overall Rating 4.25/5

Pros

  • Forms tight, hard clumps to control odor
  • Fresh scent helps with long-lasting odor control
  • Single jug can last for 35 days or 140 clumps

Cons

  • Fairly dusty and tracks outside the litter box
  • Noticeable scent, may be too much for some cats

This litter comes in a 15-pound jug and a 28-pound box. This cat litter is made from clay materials which are usually fairly heavy, but it is a lightweight formula.

#3 Cat’s Pride Premium Fresh & Clean Clay Cat Litter

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The first thing you’ll notice about this Cat’s Pride Premium Fresh & Clean Clay Cat Litter is the price – a 20-pound bag costs under $5. Upon opening the bag, you’ll notice that the granules are much larger than most clumping cat litters and the formula does have a fair bit of dust to it.

Because this formula is non-clumping, however, the materials must be highly absorbent to control waste and odor. We found that the litter absorbed liquid fairly well, though the larger granules were tricky to scoop.

Another potential issue with non-clumping cat litters is odor control. When testing this litter, we found its odor-absorbing properties to be hit or miss. Urine soaked into the litter quickly before the smell became a problem, but solid waste tended to put off a bit of odor when not fully covered by fresh litter. The litter itself had a fairly strong scent, though not unpleasant.

There were times when the fragrance and the litter box odors blended in an unpleasant way, but we scooped often enough that it didn’t cause much of a problem. It definitely didn’t control odors as well as the clumping formulas we tried, however.

The biggest problem we had with this litter was the dust. When pouring the litter into the pan for the first time, it produced a giant cloud of dust.

In testing the litter with liquid, we found that it kicked up dust even then. We didn’t feel comfortable using this litter in a covered litter box because we were worried about the dust being inhaled.

We can see this litter being a good option for people who are concerned about price and who plan to change the litter frequently, but it didn’t control mess or odor as well as other formulas we tried.

Category Rating
Price 5/5
Clumping Action 0/5
Odor Control 3/5
Dust/Mess 1/5
Scent 3/5
Easy to Scoop 3/5
Overall Rating 3.5/5

Pros

  • Extremely affordable, one of the lowest prices out there
  • Absorbs liquid fairly quickly to reduce odor
  • Fresh scent helps mask litter box odor between scooping

Cons

  • Non-clumping formula, large granules can be tricky to scoop
  • Didn’t control odors as well as clumping formulas

This litter comes in a 20-pound bag. This cat litter is made from clay materials which can be somewhat heavy, but the 20-pound size is fairly manageable.

What Do Customers Think of Cat’s Pride Cat Litter?

Because Cat’s Pride has been around for so long, there are a significant number of reviews out there. For the most part, these cat litters receive positive ratings, and customers absolutely love the price.

Every brand has its shortcomings, however, and there are both good and bad reviews for the Cat’s Pride brand online. Keep reading to see a positive and negative customer review for each of the three cat litter formulas featured above:

Positive Customer Reviews for Cat’s Pride Cat Litter

“We have four cats but only room for two litter boxes. Our litter boxes require a lot of maintenance, and even with daily scooping they can get very stinky. Most multicat litters use heavy perfumes, but the humans and cats in our household are allergic to the scent. I tried Cat’s Pride because it is unscented, and I was amazed at how well it controls odor.

It’s absolutely far and away the best litter for odor control that we’ve ever used. It also clumps well and is easy to scoop. The reason I’m giving it four stars instead of five is that the litter spills out of the boxes easily, so we need to sweep our floors several times a day, but that is a tradeoff we are more than willing to make to keep the house odor-free.”– Lilili, reviewing Cat’s Pride Unscented Total Odor Control Multi-Cat Clumping Clay Cat Litter

“This stuff is fabulous! I have five indoor cats and have four litter pans. That’s a mountain of kitty litter each month. Cat’s Pride clay litter is just as effective as the high dollar fancy litter but is gentler on my budget. It clumps, it has very little dust and absorbs odors all without the high price. Which means I’m able to afford to buy my cats goodies with the money I saved. I’m telling everyone about this litter!”– Tejas, reviewing Cat’s Pride Total Odor Control Scented Clumping Clay Cat Litter

“This is the best non-clumping litter I have found. I have tried many, and this one is a weight I can handle, easy open bag, less dust, and eliminates the urine odor very well. I have a lot of cats, and clumping litter just doesn’t work well. This brand has a multi-cat variety, but the bag is very hard to open unless you have scissors. It is dustier too. I prefer this one. The cats and I are happier now.”– Cyn3, reviewing Cat’s Pride Premium Fresh & Clean Clay Cat Litter

Negative Customer Reviews for Cat’s Pride Cat Litter

“I purchased cats’ pride Premium fresh and light fragrance-free cat litter. After I put litter in litter box. My kitty jumped in box smelled litter started digging litter out of his box. I noticed the litter was also being tracked throughout the rooms after he would get out of litter box. I’m upset that this litter had so many good reviews. When my kitty used the litter box, you could smell it all through the house. Kitty wouldn’t cover when he used it. Kitty started using the floor for a litter box by his litter box I knew I had a kitty that didn’t like this litter.”– Smoochycat, reviewing Cat’s Pride Unscented Total Odor Control Multi-Cat Clumping Clay Cat Litter

“This cat litter is by far the worst cat litter I have tried, way too much tracking and dust and the clumps stick to the side of the litter box and bottom of box making it difficult to scoop I had to scrape so hard to get it off the sides of the box it was like cement, washing and scrubbing out the litter box was even harder, I cannot understand all the good reviews…never again.”– CatladyNJ, reviewing Cat’s Pride Total Odor Control Scented Clumping Clay Cat Litter

“I purchased 2 bags of this because we change our box frequently, and I was pleased with the price. Unfortunately, this litter didn’t meet expectations. We were changing litter even MORE frequently because this has NO Odor control – at all. Even worse, it is so extremely dusty. 20 minutes later, the room still had a dust cloud. We will finish our bags but will definitely not re-purchase. 1 star given for pricing.”– Kris, reviewing Cat’s Pride Premium Fresh & Clean Clay Cat Litter

How Much Does Cat’s Pride Cat Litter Cost?

As a brand, Cat’s Pride litter is highly affordable and always has been. All three of the formulas reviewed here are priced under $0.75/pound, one of which is under $0.25/pound. Not only does Cat’s Pride keep their products affordable, but they donate a pound of cat litter to shelters around the country for each green jug of cat litter they sell.

Overall, Is Cat’s Pride Cat Litter A Good Choice?

We are happy to report that Cat’s Pride is a good choice in cat litter if you’re looking for an affordable option for multi-cat households.

This brand offers a wide variety of products, both scented and unscented, that promise long-lasting odor control. Their litter also forms tight, hard clumps which makes scooping the box easy and reduces litter box waste.

All of Cat’s Pride litter is made from premium-quality, USA-sourced materials. Clay litter offers excellent absorbency and forms tight, hard clumps, but it can be a little dusty.

Though Cat’s Pride markets its formulas as 99% dust-free, we did notice some dust when pouring the litter – particularly with the non-clumping formula, so be mindful of that.

Where Is Cat’s Pride Cat Litter Sold?

Cat’s Pride Cat Litter is sold online and in pet stores. You can find it for sale from online retailers like Chewy and Amazon as well as big box stores like Walmart and Target as well as local and national pet stores such as PetSmart and Petco.

kate

About Kate Barrington

Kate Barrington is a writer with over twelve years of experience in the pet industry. She is an NAVC-certified Pet Nutrition Coach and has completed coursework in therapeutic nutrition, raw feeding, and the formulation of homemade diets for pets at an accredited university. Kate enjoys cooking, reading, and doing DIY projects around the house. She has three cats, Bagel, Munchkin, and Biscuit.

5 thoughts on “Cat’s Pride Cat Litter Review”

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    1. Kate Barrington

      Cat’s Pride litter was developed by Oil-Dri Corporation of America. They own several plants throughout the United States including the new Blue Mountain plant in Mississippi. Their products are sourced, processed, and produced in North America.

      Reply
  1. Dolly Enos

    This cat litter made my cat very sick! It started with a sneeze here and there. By the end of a week she was sneezing 10-15 consecutive sneezes. Her nose was beat red and she seemed a little lethargic. I thought she was catching a cold or something. When I realized it started around the time I had purchased this particular brand. So I dumped and scrubbed her box out and replaced the litter with a brand I had previously used. Within 24 hours she was almost completely recovered. I even had the unscented kind because I worry about this sort of thing Happening. And it did anyway!
    I will never purchase Cats Pride again!

    Reply
  2. NalaTheKoala

    I don’t know what these negative reviews are about besides the one about their cat being allergic however they offer a hypoallergenic version of the one I use so a quick switch to that would even solve that “problem” that I guess didn’t really have to be a problem now that I’m thinking about it, but okay that I can understand cause they may not know about the hypoallergenic version and your cat being uncomfy in the slightest is a very good reason to not like this litter however unless the other bought the none clumping bagged version and not the green jug of clumping litter, that may be where their problem lies. There’s no way that anyone could possibly think this is a bad litter (the green jug is the only one I use and can speak for). I have a very sensitive nose and I smell absolutely nothing coming from the litter box or litter box area at all for (at the very least) the first 5-7 days but usually I can go just about two weeks without any stinky issues, granted I am a diligent scooper and I scoop as soon as I know my cat has used the litter box and I tend to think that helps with smell which is why if I can catch it quickly I will. Not only does it do very well for odor but it is such a nice scooping experience compared to the traditional clumping liters at your local grocery store (eg. Fresh step, tidy cats, arm and hammer etc.. tried em all). This is such a breeze to scoop, sure it is a little dusty but I do not feel its worse than the other litters I mentioned previously, if anything it’s better in that sense as well. Overall you can not beat it and I love how they have such a great product with many raving reviews but their litter is still such a reasonable price and they give away free litter to shelters in need for every green jug they sell. I like what this company stands for and frankly for making my life smell better and my litter scooping so much easier I would pay just as much as some of these expensive litters go for because the quality is good enough for a more expensive price point which makes me love this brand even more. And I know I probably sound like I own the company myself at this point but I promise you I do not work for or have any affiliation with them nor did anyone ask me to write anything in favor of this company or their products. Im just a really happy customer who seriously can’t fathom how anyone with a cat isn’t in favor of this litter. The people that have commented about this litter on this site can’t possibly be using the same litter that I use.

    Reply