In this article, I’m comparing the absolute cheapest cat litter available. We’ll look at other factors such as pack size, odor control, litter type, and more.
Overall, the cheapest cat litter I could find is Dr. Elsey’s Ultra. This is a big 40 Lb bag at a low price, so it will last a long time and save you money.
Other things this article will cover:
- The quality you get for the price
- How long it should last
- The type of litter and material (eg. clumping, clay)
- And a guide to save money on cat litter
Let’s dive in.
Table of Contents
The Best Cheapest Litter – Dr. Elsey’s Ultra Clumping Cat Litter
The cheapest overall and cheapest clumping cat litter is Dr. Elsey’s Ultra Premium Clumping Cat Litter. This bulk buy comes in a 40 Lb bag and costs as low as $0.51 per pound.
This litter also made the top of the list for best clumping cat litter, because it’s an excellent all rounder and made by a well respected company.
Dr. Elsey’s Ultra is a hard clumping clay litter that does a great job at eliminating odors. There is very little dust, but one downside is that tracking isn’t the best.
When you buy cheap cat litter in bulk, it tends to work out less per pound, saving you money in the long run.
A bag this size for this type of litter will last a very long time. It depends on how many cats you have and how often you clean the litter box.
If you would prefer the scented version, Dr. Elsey’s Ultra Scented also works out as one of the cheapest clumping cat litters.
Cheap Clumping Litter Runner Up – Purina Tidy Cats Unscented Clay Clumping Cat Litter
If you’re looking for something similar to the first option, Purina Tidy Cats have an excellent clumping litter that is also very affordable. The price is as low as $0.59 per pound and comes in a pack of 3 bags, weighing a total of 40 Lbs.
This litter is a scoopable clumping type and made of clay granules. It clumps very well, and has no dyes or fragrance, which is best for sensitive cats or cats that don’t like strong scents.
Odor control is exceptional and will last up to 10 days odor free. It’s also has minimal dust, but tracking can be a problem. Tracking is common with many types of cat litter. I highly recommend using a litter trapping mat.
This clumping litter is made for a multi-cat household and as this litter is a bulk buy, it will last a long time.
Cheapest Non-Clumping Litter – Naturally Fresh Walnut Shell Non-Clumping Cat Litter
The cheapest non-clumping cat litter I could find was Naturally Fresh Walnut Shell Cat Litter. This bag is smaller, but it still works out quite well, at $0.77 per pound.
The pack size is 26 Lbs, so there’s still enough to last one cat around 4-6 weeks.
This litter is made from walnut shell and comes in the form of pellets. It’s unscented, biodegradable, and made from natural materials.
It’s also a good litter for kittens, because it’s non-clumping and produces very minimal dust.
Naturally Fresh does well at controlling odors and absorbs urine quickly. It’s very soft and quite a light litter, so it won’t stick to the side of the box.
It also doesn’t track much. Because of the material and it’s non-clumping, tracking isn’t a big problem like others.
If you prefer a natural clumping litter, Naturally Fresh also do a walnut clumping version at around the same price for th same sized bag.
Cheapest Crystal Cat Litter – PetSafe ScoopFree Premium Crystal Litter
The cheapest silica cat litter is PetSafe ScoopFree Premium. This crystal cat litter comes in two bags, weighing a total of 8.6 Lbs and costs as a low as $2.94 per pound.
Even though this litter is the most expensive on the list, it can last longer than other types of litter. One bag can last up to 30 days for one kitty.
Crystal cat litter is also excellent at odor control, very low dust, and doesn’t track as much as others.
PetSafe ScoopFree litter comes in two different scents and there’s an unscented version. However, Lavender is currently the cheapest.
It is non-clumping, as the silica crystals absorbs urine and dries out, saving you from scooping and refilling. You’ll just need to completely replace after the crystals stop drying out.
PetSafe is also on my list of the best silica gel cat litter. Check out that article to learn more.
How to Calculate the Cost of Cat Litter
Cat litter is sold by weight and usually advertised in pounds or ounces. For example, an average 40 pound bag of cat litter might cost around $30, which works out at $0.75 cents per pound.
The best way to calculate cheap cat litter is to work out the price per pound, and that will give you the lowest price.
One thing to note is the larger the quantity you buy (in bulk), it will often work out the cheapest.
How to Save Money on Cat Litter?
Finding the best cheap cat litter to help you save money is just the first step.
There are other things to consider to make your cat litter last longer to cut costs.
It’s also a good idea to know how much cat litter cost per month, to that you can plan in advanced.
Here are some extra tips to help you get the most out of your cat litter.
1. Clean as Regular as You Can
Cat litters really only start to get smelly if they are left for a week or more. regular scooping will do two things. It will greatly reduce odors, but will also reduce the amount of litter that you get through.
Cats dig more if they can’t find a suitable spot to cover up their poop.
2. Don’t Over Fill the Litter Box
2 to 3″ is more than enough litter yo place into your litter box. However, you should always watch your cat or cats, and figure out just how much they dig. Some cats barely scrape the surface when digging. If you have a cat like that, then you can get away with less depth of litter.
3. Use a Cat Litter Mat
A cat litter mat does two things. It prevents tracking and it also collects any litter that is carried out of the box. You can then capture that litter in the mat, and pour it back into the cat litter box.
4. Buy in Bulk
If you can initially afford to buy larger amounts, then do that, as it is always going to be a cheaper option. Almost every manufacturer will offer 80 lbs bags and this can be a cheaper option.
5. Buy Online with Free Delivery
If you want to avoid carrying heavy cat litter home, then order it online and have it delivered to your door. Many online companies will offer free delivery, and it is a hassle free way of getting the delivery man to do the heavy lifting.
6. Consider a More Expensive Litter
Sometimes, buying cheap cat litter does’t always work out the cheapest. Sometimes, better quality litter can go a bit further and last a bit longer as it may absorb more urine, more quickly meaning less litter will be used each time your cat does it’s business.
7. Use an Alternative
If you are in desparate need for cat litter, then these cat litter alternatives might help.
They might not be the most effective, but they will certainly do the job if you’re saving the pennies.
Conclusion
The cheapest cat litter I found was Dr. Elsey’s Premium Clumping Cat Litter selling for as low as 51 cents per pound.
There are other types of cheap cat litter in this list and all of them range between $0.59 to $2.94 per pound. It all depends on the size bag you buy and the type of litter. Another factor is if the litter is on offer or not.
