8 Best Budget Cat Litters – 2024 Reviews & Top Picks
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Cat litter is part of life for cat owners. Yes, it can be messy and troublesome to deal with, but our kitty kings and queens require it. Considering how much cat litter a pet owner must purchase during their cat’s life, choosing a great budget cat litter is the best way to save money and keep your cat happy.
If you’re looking for the best budget cat litter available, this review is for you. We’ve taken a look at the best of the best in hopes of helping you make an informed choice that not only helps your bank account but keeps your cat happy and healthy.
A Quick Comparison of Our Favorites of 2024
| Rating | Image | Product | Details | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Best Overall
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Arm & Hammer Fresh Cat Litter |
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Best Value
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Dr. Elsey's Clay Cat Litter |
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Premium Choice
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Arm & Hammer Litter Slide Clay Cat Litter |
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| Best for Kittens |
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sWheat Scoop Wheat Cat Litter |
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Check Price |
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Ever Clean Clumping Clay Cat Litter |
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The 8 Best Budget Cat Litter
1. Arm & Hammer Super Scoop Fresh Scent – Best Overall
| Material | Clay |
| Weight | 40 pounds |
| Life Stage | Adult |
Our pick for the best overall budget cat litter is Arm & Hammer Super Scoop Fresh Scent. This clay cat litter is ideal for cat owners who are looking for an affordable cat litter that doesn’t break the bank when purchasing. Arm & Hammer gets the job done with this cat litter. There are no bells and whistles. It simply clumps well, absorbs moisture, and keeps clumps hard until you scoop them free of the litter box. If you keep the litter box cleaned daily, this litter should be long-lasting. The 40-pound box is also priced affordably for pet owners who choose to buy in bulk or have multiple cats in the home.
The biggest downside we found with this litter is the smell. If you are sensitive to stout aromas this litter may be a bit much for you. Keep this in mind when purchasing.
- Value size package
- Great odor control
- Clumps well
- Heavy scent
2. Dr. Elsey’s Unscented Clumping Clay Cat Litter – Best Value
| Material | Clay |
| Weight | 40 pounds |
| Life Stage | Adult |
Our choice for best value budget cat litter is Dr. Elsey’s Precious Cat Ultra Unscented Clumping Clay Cat Litter. This cat litter offers cat parents on a budget the best of all worlds. This litter offers great clumping to make scooping your cat’s litter box easier. Dr. Elsey’s also offers great control of feces and urine to keep your cat’s box looking tidier. By using a basic formula, this litter keeps things simple and offers your cat a nice litter box to use when the time arises.
The downside we noticed with this litter is the clay scent associated with it. While it’s good that they don’t use any perfumes or dyes, the smell is somewhat noticeable. This litter can also be dusty. Some bags are low on dust while others are extremely dusty.
- Offers 40 pounds of litter at a great price
- Clumps well for budget litter
- Clay smell
- Some bags exhibit lots of dust
3. Arm & Hammer Litter Slide Clumping Clay Cat Litter – Premium Choice
| Material | Clay |
| Weight | 28 pounds |
| Life Stage | Adult |
Our premium choice best budget cat litter is Arm & Hammer Litter Slide Scented Clumping Clay Cat Litter. With this cat litter controlling dust is a breeze. The 100% dust-free formula helps keep your home cleaner while the slide-away design makes cleaning the litter box simpler. Clumps are solid and take place quickly. This will make life better for your cat as they won’t be dealing with overly messy litter boxes when they need to use the potty.
Unfortunately, this litter isn’t great at controlling odors. It is also slightly more expensive than other litters on this list.
- 100% dust-free
- Clumps well
- Features slide formula for the easy cleanup
- No odor control
- Expensive
4. sWheat Scoop Clumping Wheat Cat Litter – Best for Kittens
| Material | Wheat |
| Weight | 25 pounds |
| Life Stage | All |
The sWheat Scoop Unscented Clumping Wheat Cat Litter is our pick for budget cat litter that is best for kittens. Made from natural wheat, this litter is considered safe in the event of accidental ingestion. This makes it a great choice for a home with kittens or older cats. This litter offers clumping, without the incredibly hard clumps pet owners spend time trying to remove from the litter box. Clean up is also easier with this type of litter making it ideal in homes where multiple cats are involved.
The downside to wheat litter is the lack of odor control and the price. If you choose this environmentally friendly litter you will be paying more money.
- Environmentally safe
- Easier cleanup
- Safe for all life stages
- More expensive than clay
- Offers no odor control
5. Ever Clean Extra Strength Clumping Clay Cat Litter
| Material | Clay |
| Weight | 42 pounds |
| Life Stage | Adult |
The Ever Clean Extra Strength Unscented Clumping Clay Cat Litter is made from natural clays and minerals to give pet owners high-quality clumping at budget prices. The great clumping of this litter keeps urine from soaking to the bottom of the litter box. Instead, it is clumped for an easy clean-up and longer litter life inside the box.
Owners with concerns with dust are also in luck with this litter as it is relatively low in dust and keeps homes cleaner. Unfortunately, the dust that is created is quite sticky and can make more mess than you’d expect.
- Good odor control
- Great clumping
- Makes sticky dust
6. Frisco Fresh Scent Multi-Cat Clumping Cat Litter
| Material | Clay |
| Weight | 40 pounds |
| Life Stage | Adult |
Frisco Fresh Scent Multi-Cat Clumping Litter offers cats and their owners the benefit of a strong odor defense for their home. Great at locking in unwanted odors, this litter also clumps very well. This makes cleaning and scooping easier while helping keep moisture from reaching the bottom of the box where big messes can be made. Frisco is also a very soft litter on your cat’s paws. Your cat will feel more comfortable when relieving themselves and less likely to use the potty in other parts of the home. The fine granules are also ideal for use with automatic litter boxes.
The biggest con associated with this cat litter is the dust. While it advertises itself as low dust, this just isn’t the case. Those who are sensitive to this should be careful when changing the litter box.
- Offers dependable odor control
- Absorbs moisture well
- Relatively high in dust
7. Naturally Fresh Clumping Walnut Cat Litter
| Material | Walnut |
| Weight | 26 pounds |
| Life Stage | Adult |
Naturally Fresh Clumping Walnut Cat Litter is another budget-friendly litter for pet owners who are concerned with the environment. Made from real walnuts, this cat litter counters the odors associated with urine and feces. It is often considered the best natural litter for controlling unwanted odors and unpleasant smells. This cat litter is also considerably low on dust, but not completely dust-free.
Beyond the great odor control, you may find a few faults with this litter. When your cat uses this litter, you must immediately scoop to take advantage of the clumping qualities. If not, the clumps will diminish and make cleaning more difficult. You’ll also find issues with tracking. The walnut shells can attach themselves to your cat’s paws easily and make their way around your entire home.
- Budget-friendly
- Safe for the environment
- Great odor control
- Hard to clean up
- Issues with tracking
8. Fresh Step Febreze Scented Clay Cat Litter
| Material | Clay |
| Weight | 35 pounds |
| Life Stage | Adult |
Fresh Step Febreze Scented Clay Cat Litter is a great choice for families who want extra odor control while sticking to their budget. By combining Febreze with cat litter, freshness can be activated each time your cat scratches in its box. This litter also used activated carbon to help control urine and feces odors to offer a double layer of protection.
This litter is quite dusty. This is due to the powderiness of the litter. When your cat scratches, sensitive owners may have issues. The same can be said for cats with allergies. Messes around the litter box are all too common and will leave you constantly cleaning up after your feline. You’ll also notice the granules in this litter are a bit large. Your kitty may get them stuck in their paws and accidentally carry them throughout the house after visiting the box.
- Low-cost litter
- Odor control formula
- Very dusty
- Creates a mess on floors
Buyer’s Guide: Buying the Best Budget Cat Litters
When choosing a budget cat litter, a great price is a must. When debating on whether you’re getting a good deal for the money, it’s important to look at all the variables. This will help you make the best decision for not only your bank account but your cat as well.
Is the Litter Safe?
Ensuring that any litter you put into your cat’s litter box is safe should be the most important consideration before making a purchase. As you saw in our reviews, several budget cat litters are dusty or made from different materials. If your cat has allergies, you should try to choose a litter that is safe and will not make their medical issues worse. If you’re unsure, ask your veterinarian for suggestions.
Size Does Matter
While you may see an affordable price on a cat litter, keep the size of the package in mind before making a purchase. Budget litters can often be bought in large quantities for the same price as a small package of the more popular brands. Buying larger boxes or bags of litter can often save you even more money in the long run. Especially if you choose one of the budget litter options above.
Look for Performance
Yes, you’re looking to buy a cheaper-priced cat litter, but that doesn’t mean it shouldn’t do its job. If you use a budget cat litter and find yourself replacing the litter every other day, are you saving money? When trying out different litters, choose the one with the performance you like and feel comfortable using in your home.
Final Thoughts
If you’re in the market for the best budget cat litter on the market, this review will help. Our overall best litter, Arm & Hammer Super Scoop offers all the qualities you’d expect in a budget litter without the fancy extra. Our choice for best value litter, Dr. Elsey’s is perfect for combining performance and price in one. If you want the best your budget can afford, our premium choice, Arm & Hammer Litter Slide Clumping Litter may be right up your alley. Whichever litter you choose, make sure your cat is comfortable with it, and both of you will be happy in the end.
Featured Image Credit: Natasha Zakharova, Shutterstock
