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3 Best Cat Litter Attractants of 2022 – Expert Reviews & Top Picks

two cats attractant to litter box

As a cat owner, there’s nothing more frustrating than discovering that your feline friend is peeing and pooping around the house and not in his litter box. Everybody knows that cats are notoriously independent creatures and not the easiest pets to train. It’s understandable if you’re feeling very frustrated with finding cat urine and poop in places it doesn’t belong. While it may seem impossible to solve the problem of litter box non-use, there is help available.

Aware of the problem of litter box non-use, a few cat supply companies now offer litter attractants designed to entice cats to use the litter box. What makes cat litter attractant work is simply an included scent that cats love and which triggers them to want to do their business in the litter that’s been mixed with the attractant. We’ve put together the following cat litter attractant reviews to help you choose the right option for you.

A Quick Look at Our Favorites (2022)

Rating Image Product Details
Winner
Dr. Elsey’s Ultra Litter Attractant Dr. Elsey’s Ultra Litter Attractant
  • All-natural
  • Effective
  • No added chemicals or strong deodorants
  • Second place
    Fresh Step Litter Box Attractant Fresh Step Litter Box Attractant
  • Safe for both kittens and cats
  • Works with all kinds of cat litter
  • All-natural ingredients
  • Third place
    Litter Magnet Litter Magnet
  • Masks cat urine and feces odors well
  • Can be used by both kittens and adult cats
  • All-natural ingredients
  • The 3 Best Cat Litter Attractants

    1. Dr. Elsey’s Ultra Cat Litter Attractant

    Dr. Elsey's Litter attractant_Chewy

    • Package size: 20 ounces
    • Litter Compatibility: Compatible with clay and clumping cat litter
    • Lifestage: Appropriate for kittens and adult cats

    Many cat owners turn to Dr. Elsey’s brand to solve the problem of their cats refusing to use the litter box. This biodegradable and all-natural herbal litter additive contains no perfumed deodorants or chemicals that can trigger allergies in sensitive cats. This scented powder litter attractant can be used for training kittens and for getting adult cats to use the litter box. It has a fresh and natural fragrance like hay and lavender that entices cats and helps eliminate the foul odors associated with cat waste.

    This 20-ounce package can treat up to 100 pounds of cat litter. All you have to do is simply add ¼ cup of Dr. Elsey’s to 20-25 pounds of cat litter and mix it well, then put the mixed litter into the litter box. This product can be used in any clay or clumping cat litter.

    Pros
    • Can be used for both training kittens and adult cats
    • All-natural
    • Effective
    • Contains no added chemicals or strong deodorants
    Cons
    • The product emits a semi-strong outdoorsy smell
    • Questionable ingredients
    • It may not work well with perfumed or deodorizing cat litter

    2. Fresh Step Litter Box Attractant

    Fresh step litter attractant_Chewy

    • Package size: 9 ounces
    • Litter compatibility: Compatible with all types of cat litter
    • Lifestage: Appropriate for kittens and adult cats

    Next on our list is an attractant powder from Fresh Step which is a well-known and respected brand in the world of cat supplies. This attractant is in powder form and it can be used with any type of cat litter including clay litter, silica gel litter, and sand.  It also can be used safely by both kittens and adult cats.

    Fresh Step is made using all-natural ingredients like alfalfa, soya oil, timothy, rosemary extract, and yucca plant extract. It does not contain any perfumes, deodorants, or chemicals that can harm cats so there’s no need to worry your cat will develop any health problems by using this litter box additive.

    A downside to Fresh Step Litter Box Attractant is that it comes in a relatively small package. This means you may end up having to buy several packages throughout the year to ensure your cat continues to use the litter box.

    Pros
    • Safe for both kittens and cats
    • Works with all kinds of cat litter
    • All-natural ingredients
    • No harmful perfumes, deodorants, and chemical additives that can harm cats
    Cons
    • The package is on the small size
    • Non-biodegradable
    • Does not mask offensive cat waste odors

    3. Litter Magnet Cat Attract Litter Additive

    Feline Litter Magnet_Amazon

    • Package size: 20 ounces
    • Litter compatibility: Compatible with unscented, clumping litter
    • Lifestage: Can be used by both kittens and adult cats

    Third on our list of reviews of the best cat litter attractants is Litter Magnet by JorVet. This brand offers many cat and dog products ranging from pet nail clippers to dog muzzles and more. This cat litter attractant is made from natural herbs and it’s best suited for unscented, clumping, scoopable litter. It’s not recommended for paper, scented, corn, cedar, wheat, and baking soda litters. One cup of this litter attractant will treat 20 pounds of litter.

    This cat litter attractant has a mild musky smell that cats like. Many cat owners sing the praises of this product because it works well at enticing cats to use the litter box. It’s also widely liked because it does a good job of masking the unpleasant odors of cat urine and feces.

    One downside to Litter Magnet is that the actual ingredients are not listed on the container. This can be a problem if your cat is sensitive and/or has allergies. The only way to be sure if you can use this litter attractant is to contact the manufacturer and ask for a list of product ingredients.

    Pros
    • Masks cat urine and feces odors well
    • Can be used by both kittens and adult cats
    • All-natural ingredients
    Cons
    • The musky smell can be unpleasant for some people
    • No listed ingredients on the product
    • Not versatile as it works only with certain types of cat litter

    Buyer’s Guide: How to Find the Best Cat Litter Box Attractant

    One of the main reasons why people put their cats up for adoption is litter box non-use. Cat owners depend on their four-legged feline friends to use the litter box. When they don’t, the owners are often at wit’s end trying to figure out what to do. This is why cat litter attractant was developed. As the name suggests, cat litter attractant is designed to attract cats and the secret to doing that lies in the scent.

    How Does Attractant Work?

    A cat litter attractant produces a scent cats find appealing much like how catnip works. In fact, some cat attractants use some of the same ingredients found in some catnip toys and treats. We’ve scoured the internet and have found scores of positive cat litter attractant reviews where consumers have stated how well these products work to get their cats to use the litter box as they should.

    In the reviews we’ve read, some people state they’ve tried changing litter brands numerous times to get their cats back in the litter boxes or have moved the litter boxes to new locations in their homes to see if that helps. Many of these people have gone a step further and tried cat litter attractants with great success.

    clean litter box_Enki Photo, Shutterstock
    Image Credit Enki Photo, Shutterstock

    What to Consider When Trying to Find the Right Cat Litter Attractant

    If you’ve decided to give cat litter attractant a shot to see if it helps get your cat to use the litter box, there are a few things to consider when choosing the right brand for you. As you may have guessed after reading this guide so far, there are very few cat litter attractants out there. This is a good thing from a buyer’s perspective because you won’t have to compare scores of products to decide which is right for you.

    Take these things into consideration when choosing a cat litter attractant:

    Take these things into consideration when choosing a cat litter attractant:
    • Price
    • Litter compatibility
    • The general health of your cat

    Price

    As far as price goes, the cost of cat litter attractants doesn’t vary that much. But if you’re a die-hard bargain hunter, look around online to see if you can find a site offering a sale on cat litter attractants. With any luck, you’ll score a great deal somewhere!

    Compatibility

    Regarding litter compatibility, you must pick a litter attractant that works with the type of litter you use. It’s not a good idea to suddenly change the type of cat litter you use because that could cause your cat to refuse to use the litter box. This means you need to buy a cat litter attractant that’s compatible with the type of litter you use. For instance, if you use clay cat litter, you must use a litter attractant that’s compatible with clay litter. This should be very easy to do because there are very few cat litter attractants on the market, at least for now!

    General Health

    cat litter box_Nadya Buyanowa, Shutterstock
    Image Credit: Nadya Buyanowa, Shutterstock

    If your cat is healthy, you shouldn’t have any problem going with any of the available cat litter attractants. However, if your cat is sensitive or has allergies, you have to be more careful. A couple of the cat litter attractants fail to list all the included ingredients on their packaging. This means you have no way of knowing if your cat will have an adverse health reaction to these attractants. The only way to find out for sure if your cat can safely use one of these litter attractants is to contact the manufacturer directly so you can get a list of ingredients.

    Final Thoughts

    With just three cat litter attractants on the market today, consumers have very few choices when it comes to brands. Based on the information that’s available for the three attractants we’ve covered, we give a big thumbs up to Dr. Elsey’s Ultra Litter Attractant. Why? Because Dr. Elsey’s can be used with all types of cat litter, it’s all-natural, and it comes in a large 20-ounce package. This cat attractant also has received lots of positive reviews from actual users who’ve solved their litter box non-use problem!


    Featured Image Credit: Guajillo studio, Shutterstock