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It’s a sad fact that thousands of cats are put up for adoption every year due to problems with using the litter box. Cats learn to use a litter box by observing other cats, or by being taught through training. But what if they don’t respond to training, or if you don’t know how to teach them?
If you also find yourself having problems teaching your cat to urinate in the appropriate place, here’s a secret weapon: simply buy a cat litter attractant!
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Product Reviews
So do these products actually work? According to this study, attractants make cats more likely to visit their litter box. Still, we wanted to check this ourselves, so we bought a bunch of them for testing purposes. And to get you an overview of the pros and cons of each product. Let’s take a look, shall we?
1. Dr. Elsey’s Precious Cat Ultra Litter Attractant
What we liked:
- All natural ingredients; no perfumes and other chemicals
- Most effective product in our test
- Works with all litter types
What we didn’t like:
- Earthy smell
if you read reviews around the web, you’ll find that many people have successfully solved their litter problem with Dr. Elsey’s litter attractant. Their product is biodegradable and all-natural, containing no perfumes or chemicals that can trigger allergies in sensitive cats. This herbal litter additive is very effective for training kittens and for getting adult cats to use the litter box.
Dr. Elsey’s litter attractant scores highest in our test because it is an effective product with natural ingredients, and it’s compatible with all clumping litter types. If you can cope with the slightly earthy smell of hay, this is a great purchase!
2. JorVet Litter Magnet
What we liked:
- 100% natural ingredients
- Also works as a deodorizer
What we didn’t like:
- Not the most pleasant smell
- Incompatible with scented litters, only works with clumping clay
Our second product in this list of best cat litter attractants comes from JorVet, an established brand in the cat and dog world. Like Dr. Elsey’s, this attractant is also made from natural ingredients, but the earthy scent is more present here. It may or may not appeal to you, but cats do seem to be drawn to it.
This product also works as a deodorizer to cover up foul smells. One can Litter Magnet has enough attractant to treat as much as 100 pounds of unscented litter.
3. Fresh Step Litter Box Attractant
What we liked:
- Available in a small container
- Works with every type of litter
- All-natural ingredients
What we didn’t like:
- Doesn’t work as a deodorizer
Fresh Step is a respected brand when it comes to cat supplies. Their attractant comes as a powder made from natural ingredients such as timothy, soy, alfalfa, and rosemary extract.
Fresh Step litter attractant does not contain perfumes and other chemicals, so it’s relatively harmless.
A major plus of this product is that it can be used with any type of cat litter including clumping clay, silica, and even tofu litter. The downsides are the small packaging and the fact that you will still need to add your own deodorizer.
Final Thoughts
With only three products, your options are limited. Based on our experiences and those of other people leaving reviews around the web, you can’t go wrong with Dr. Elsey’s Ultra Litter Attractant. It is a natural product (minimizing the risk of potential allergic reactions in your cat) and is compatible with all types of litter.
How do litter attractants work?
If you’re a cat owners, you depend on your feline friends to use the litter box. While the mechanism is different for every product, litter attractants generally work because their secret lies in the fact that they contain certain chemicals that naturally attract cats, just like catnip does. Smell is a very powerful motivator to cats because they have a well-developed nose that easily picks up every little scent in the house.
Related: What to do about a stinky litter box?
Does this thing actually work?
If you read reviews around the internet, you’ll find many people who were at their wits’ end. You’ll see them talk about changing litters and moving litter boxes around countless times, in a desperate attempt to get their cat to pee in the appropriate places. When everything failed, they eventually had great success after buying a litter attractant. This is a testament to the effectiveness of scent.
Buyer’s guide: Things to consider
Once you’ve decided to try this product, the next step is to compare different options. There aren’t a ton of products available in this category, so your task of picking one is pretty simple. Litter attractants all generally fall in the same price range, but there are a few other things to consider when deciding which brand to go with:
- Allergies & perfume
- Is it compatible with your litter?
- Scent of the product
Compatibility
Certain attractants will only work with certain types of litter. It’s not the best idea to suddenly change litters, so you’ll want to buy an attractant that works in conjunction with your litter type. Read the reviews on this page, as they will inform you which product can be used with which litter type.
Allergies
Some cats are extra sensitive or even allergic to certain chemicals, which could become problematic when you’re using products that contain these chemicals, such as deodorizers and attractants. If your kitty is sensitive, it’s a good idea to carefully examine the list of ingredients on your product. Sadly, not every manufacturer is 100% transparent. So it could be a matter of trying out things to see what works and what doesn’t.
Scent
We’ll be honest: attractants don’t smell like roses, especially the unscented kind. You’ll have to decide if the distinct smell in your home is something you can cope with (at least for a while).
Homemade Attractant
Yes, you can also go the DIY route! If you sprinkle certain herbs over litter, it adds a terrific smell that your cat may find hard to resist. We recommend using dried and ground-up herbs for best results. The following herbs are safe to use and can even be ingested accidentally without risk:
- Lavender
- Sage
- Catnip
- Mint
Don’t go overboard here; a tablespoon of the mixture should be plenty.
Other reasons why litterbox isn’t used
if you’re not scooping frequently, your cat may not visit the litter box because the ammonia smell is too overbearing for her sensitive nose. Make sure to scoop frequently and clean the box periodically.
If your cat is urinating outside their litter box, there may also be an underlying medical condition that’s causing this behaviour. Check with your vet if you suspect that something more sinister is going on.
