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4 Best Cat Litter Attractants in 2024 – Reviews & Top Picks

Written by: Christian Adams

Last Updated on February 29, 2024 by Catster Editorial Team

person changing cat litter

4 Best Cat Litter Attractants in 2024 – Reviews & Top Picks

person changing cat litter

Training your cat to use a litter box can be a difficult task, and the fact that cats can be such picky pets at the best of times doesn’t help either. There’s nothing more frustrating than having your cat relieve themselves everywhere around the home other than their litter box, despite the fact that you’ve done your best to train them and purchased them the best litter box and litter that you can find!

This is where litter box attractants can come in handy. These products are designed with an attractive odor that is made to entice your feline into using their litter box, and you simply add it to your existing litter of choice. During the training process, these products can be useful and will hopefully help solve any litter box usage issues that your cat may have.

There are several cat litter attractants on the market and a handful of DIY options that you can use, but certain ones don’t work at all, and some work better than others. We put together this list of four cat litter attractant reviews to help you find the best option for you and your cat. Let’s get started!

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A Quick Comparison of Our Favorites

Image Product Details
Best Overall
Winner
Dr. Elsey’s Precious Cat Ultra Litter Dr. Elsey’s Precious Cat Ultra Litter
  • 100% biodegradable
  • Ideal for both cats and kittens
  • Enough to treat 100 pounds of litter
  • Best Value
    Second place
    Fresh Step Litter Box Attractant Fresh Step Litter Box Attractant
  • Inexpensive
  • Compatible with any litter type
  • Convenient no-mess container
  • Premium Choice
    Third place
    Litter Magnet Cat Attract Litter Magnet Cat Attract
  • Helps mask odors
  • Enticing earthy, catnip smell
  • Made from a blend of 100% cat-safe herbs
  • Simple Solution Cat Litter Attractant Simple Solution Cat Litter Attractant
  • Cat-safe herbal blend
  • Suitable for any litter type
  • Vet recommended
  • 4 Best Cat Litter Attractants in 2024 — Reviews & Top Picks 2024

    1. Dr. Elsey’s Precious Cat Ultra Litter Attractant — Best Overall

    Dr. Elsey

    Size: 20 ounces, treats 100 pounds of litter
    Litter Compatibility: Clay and clumping litter
    Lifestage: Adults and kittens

    Dr. Elsey’s is one of the most popular cat litter attractants, and the company’s Precious Cat Ultra litter attractant is our top choice overall. We love that this litter attractant is 100% biodegradable and contains no perfumed deodorants or artificial chemicals that can cause allergic reactions in sensitive felines. The attractant can be used for adults and for training young kittens. It contains an enticing blend of natural herbs that are perfectly cat-safe. The package is enough to treat 100 pounds of litter or for use with one cat’s litter for 3 months. Simply mix a ¼ cup of attractant into 20–25 pounds of clay or clumping litter.

    Unfortunately, this attractant is not suitable for non-clumping, paper, wheat, corn, or pine litter or any deodorized litters because the additional odors may mask the smell of the attractant.

    Pros
    • 100% biodegradable
    • Free from perfumed deodorants and artificial chemicals
    • Made with all-natural, cat-safe herbs
    • Enough to treat 100 pounds of litter
    • Ideal for both cats and kittens
    Cons
    • Only suitable for clay and clumping litter

    2. Fresh Step Litter Box Attractant — Best Value

    Size: 9 ounces
    Litter Compatibility: Any litter type
    Lifestage: Adults

    The Fresh Step litter box attractant is the best cat litter attractant for the money. One of the great features of this attractant is that it can be used with any type of litter, although it will likely be less effective when used with scented litter. It contains safe, cat-friendly herbal ingredients like yucca extract, rosemary extract, and alfalfa, and is free from perfumes, deodorants, or harmful chemicals. The attractant comes in a convenient powder form in a no-mess container that makes it simple to sprinkle over your cat’s litter.

    While this attractant comes in a convenient powder form, it is quite fine and can cause irritation for sensitive cats. Also, you’ll need to use a “generous” amount per litter box, according to Fresh Step, so even though this attractant is inexpensive, it will get used up fairly quickly.

    Pros
    • Inexpensive
    • Compatible with any litter type
    • Contains safe, herbal ingredients
    • Free from perfumes, deodorants, and harmful chemicals
    • Convenient no-mess container
    Cons
    • Fine powder may cause irritation in some cats
    • Doesn’t go very far

    3. Litter Magnet Cat Attract

    Litter Magnet Cat Attract

    Size: 20 ounces, treats 100 pounds of litter
    Litter Compatibility: Clay and unscented clumping litter
    Lifestage: Adults and kittens

    Litter Magnet Cat Attract from JorVet is made from a blend of natural herbs that are 100% kitty-safe. This attractant is enough to treat up to 100 pounds of litter and has an earthy, musky fragrance that cats love and that helps mask the unpleasant odors emanating from your cat’s litter box. Simply add 1 cup of this attractant to roughly 20 pounds of litter, and add another ¼ cup or so after scooping. Many customers report that the attractant has a catnip-like smell that their cats love, and the product works well to entice cats into using the litter box.

    Unfortunately, this attractant is suitable for use in clay and unscented clumping litter only and is not suitable for paper, corn, wheat, or scented litters. Also, the exact herbs used in this product are not listed on the bottle, so be careful if you have a sensitive cat or a cat with allergy issues.

    Pros
    • Made from a blend of 100% cat-safe herbs
    • Enough to treat 100 pounds of cat litter
    • Helps mask odors
    • Enticing earthy, catnip smell
    Cons
    • Only suitable for clay and unscented clumping litters
    • No listed ingredients

    4. Simple Solution Cat Litter Attractant

    Size: 9 ounces
    Litter Compatibility: Any litter type
    Lifestage: Adults and kittens

    The Simple Solution Cat Litter Attractant uses a blend of natural herbs that will entice your cat to use their litter box by evoking their feline curiosity. The attractant is suitable to add to any litter type, is vet recommended for litter box training in cats, and is perfectly kitty-safe. Simply add 1–2 ounces of the powder to your cat’s litter, and add a sprinkle more whenever you scoop. The attractant has an earthy, soil-like odor that your cat will love and that will hopefully make litter box training a breeze.

    Some customers reported that this attractant prevented clumping litter from clumping when added, which is frustrating. Also, it’s a small bag that’s only good for roughly three or four litter changes.

    Pros
    • Ideal for adults and kittens
    • Suitable for any litter type
    • Cat-safe herbal blend
    • Enticing earthy odor
    • Vet recommended
    Cons
    • May prevent clumping litter from clumping
    • One bag doesn’t go very far

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    Buyer’s Guide: Choosing the Best Cat Litter Attractant

    It can be extremely frustrating when your cat stops using their litter box out of nowhere, or despite all your efforts, a kitten or young cat will simply not use their litter box. Cat urine is one of the most difficult smells to get out of a carpet, especially when it happens repeatedly. This leaves many cat owners tearing their hair out in frustration, but there is a potential solution: cat litter attractant.

    cat in a small litter tray
    Image Credit: Africa Studio, Shutterstock

    What is cat litter attractant and how does it work?

    As the name suggests, cat litter attractants are just that: a powdered form of an enticing smell made from a blend of herbs that helps entice your cat into using their litter box. The secret to the success of these products is the scent, and this scent is supposed to help make your cat feel comfortable, relaxed, and hopefully, more inclined to use their litter box. This is similar to the way that catnip works to entice cats, and in fact, many attractants use catnip as a part of their ingredients.

    While these attractants are not necessary for all cats, if your cat has any issues with using their litter box, these products can certainly help. Cat litter attractants can be a useful training aid if:

    • You have a new kitten learning to use a litter box.
    • Your cat is having trouble adjusting to a new litter box or location.
    • You have a senior cat that is having trouble using a litter box.
    • You have adopted a cat that is not accustomed to using litter boxes.

    What to look for when choosing litter box attractant

    While cat litter attractants are simple products, there are still a few things to consider before purchasing one. Luckily, there are not many cat litter attractants on the market, and this makes choosing one easier. Still, there are important factors, including:

    • Litter compatibility. This is arguably the most important factor to consider, as some attractants are compatible only with certain types of litter, while others can be used for any litter type. If you use clay or clumping litter, you can typically use any attractant type, but you’ll have less choice if you use other litter types, like paper or cornlitter. No matter the attractant that you choose, any type of scented litter will mask the smell of the attractant, so they are generally unsuitable for using litter attractants.
    • There is not much variation in the price of litter attractants, but check the amount needed per litter box. The more that you need to use per litter box, the less economical the attractant is and the more it will cost. Some attractants are good for only three or four litter changes, while others can last for up to 3 months for a single cat.
    • The last factor to look for is your cat’s general health. Since most of these attractants use a blend of natural, cat-safe herbs, they are perfectly fine for most cats. However, if your cat has any allergies or is particularly sensitive, you’ll need to be a bit more cautious and keep a close eye on your cat after using the product. Still, most cats should be perfectly fine, and you can contact the manufacturer if you want a full breakdown of the ingredients used.

    Even the best cat litter can quickly start smelling bad. To avoid the expense and inconvenience of constantly replacing your litter, you can try a great litter additive like Hepper's Advanced Bio-Enzyme Cat Litter Deodorizer, a natural product that uses bio-enzymes to neutralize odors.

    Hepper Advanced Bio-Enzyme Cat Litter Deodorizer Powder
    • Bio Enzymatic Cat Litter Freshener - Smart formulation uses natural ingredients eliminating cat...
    • Save Money - Stuff for cats isn’t the cheapest. With this litter box odor eliminator, you’ll...
    • Every Litter, Every Surface - Are you afraid this additive won’t work on your litter? Fear not!...

    This deodorizer works on all types of litter and won't disrupt your cat's litter box habits.

    At Catster, we’ve admired Hepper for many years and decided to take a controlling ownership interest so that we could benefit from the outstanding designs of this cool cat company!

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    Conclusion

    All these cat litter attractants are great choices for your feline, but Dr. Elsey’s Precious Cat Ultra litter attractant is our favorite choice overall. It is 100% biodegradable with no perfumed deodorants or artificial chemicals and is suitable for one cat’s litter for up to 3 months. If you’re on a bit of a budget, the Fresh Step litter box attractant is an affordable choice that can be used with any type of litter and is free from perfumes, deodorants, or harmful chemicals.

    It can be extremely frustrating when your cat will not use their litter box, and using an attractant can help. Hopefully, our in-depth reviews have helped shed a bit of light on these products and helped you find the best option for your needs.


    Featured Image Credit: Africa-Studio, Shutterstock

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