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 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 in 2025
Image | Product | Details | ||
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Best Overall | Dr. Elsey’s Precious Cat Ultra Litter |
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Best Value | Fresh Step Litter Box Attractant |
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Premium Choice | Litter Magnet Cat Attract |
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Frisco Attractant Multi-Cat Clumping Clay Litter |
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The 4 Best Cat Litter Attractants
1. Dr. Elsey’s Precious Cat Ultra Litter Attractant — Best Overall
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.
- 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
- 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.
- Inexpensive
- Compatible with any litter type
- Contains safe, herbal ingredients
- Free from perfumes, deodorants, and harmful chemicals
- Convenient no-mess container
- Fine powder may cause irritation in some cats
- Doesn’t go very far
3. 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.
- Made from a blend of 100% cat-safe herbs
- Enough to treat 100 pounds of cat litter
- Helps mask odors
- Enticing earthy, catnip smell
- Only suitable for clay and unscented clumping litters
- No listed ingredients
4. Frisco Attractant Multi-Cat Clumping Clay Litter
Size: | 20-pound or 40-pound bag |
Litter Compatibility: | Standalone litter |
Lifestage: | Adults and kittens |
Let us introduce you to the Frisco Attractant Multi-Cat Clumping Clay Litter. This is an all-in-one for your cat—not merely a product you sprinkle on regular litter. It has a unique and delightful herbal scent that attracts your cat with curiosity and intention.
This litter comes in both 20- and 40-pound bags so you can choose the quantity of your liking. You can use this litter to neutralize waste and the clumping capabilities make it very easy to clean up.
We think that for a natural option, this litter is super effective at attracting feline bathroom guests. Plus, the clumping quality really makes scooping much easier! What more could you want?
- Great for multi-cat households
- Multiple size options
- Natural attractant
- Clumping
- Not a standalone attractant
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.
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.
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!
How We Selected Our List of Cat Litter Attractants
Catster has an experienced, expert team of writers, editors, and veterinarians who carefully consider a wide range of parameters when choosing the cat litter attractants. This includes but is not limited to customer reviews, brand reputation, veterinary experience, hands-on testing, and of course, our cats have a say in the process too! We aim to select and review only the best products available, to help you make the best possible choice and most informed decision for your and your cat’s needs.
Why Trust Catster?
A trusted online brand since 2001, Catster has a lot of experience with cat litter attractants. Our team of cat-loving writers, editors, and veterinarians is dedicated to helping you make the best decision for your precious cats. Our aim is to provide the best information available for cat owners to help cats live their best life possible. To do this, we scour reviews from the most trusted sources available and this, combined with our veterinary team’s experience and expertise, helps us gather the best options available to readers. Our team is deeply invested in the health and welfare of cats the world over, and believes that expert knowledge and veterinary guidance will help you make the right choices—for you and your cats!
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