7 Best Cat Litter Box Attractants [Expert’s Review]

Last Updated: 12 months ago

Are you looking for a cat litter box attractant to train your cat to use the litter box or correct inappropriate elimination?

Keeping the house urine-free can be a tough challenge when your cat avoids its toilet box and pees all over the furniture.

So, let’s take a look at the best cat litter attractants and how to use them.

Top Picks at a Glance

• Winner: Fresh Step Litter Box Attractant
• Best for Clumping Litter: Dr. Elsey’s Litter Box Attractant
• Best Long-Lasting Cat Attract: Cat Attract
• Best for Clumping Litters: Feline Litter Magnet 
• Best Attractant Litter: Dr. Elsey’s Cat Attract for Multiple Cats

7 best Litter Box Attractants for cats

Do you know why cats use a litter box? Felines have the natural instinct to bury their waste to cover its smell from predators, something they learn from their mothers to survive in the wild.

And as Pam Johnson-Bennett, a behavior consultant, says, “Even our pampered indoor cats have this instinct.”

But some kittens don’t understand how to use the litter box, and some cats even stop using the best cat litter box due to stress, medical issues, or the wrong litter box locations.

Fortunately, you can retrain your cat to use the toilet box with the right litter attractant product and reduce the risk of inappropriate elimination.

#1 Winner: Fresh Step Litter Box Attractant

Fresh Step is one of the most popular litter brands, and it has developed one of the best cat attractants for litter boxes.  

This litter is pet-friendly and can help cats of all ages learn how to use the litter box. It’s really easy to use and has natural ingredients.

Features and Attributes

• A herbal-based formula with natural ingredients
• Suitable for all litter types

Measurements

• Available in a single container of 9 oz or a pack of three 9-oz containers 

Made in the USA with pet-friendly ingredients with no added chemicals, perfumes, or harmful additives

Benefits

• Uses natural herbs to attract cats back to the litter box and stop cats from peeing outside the litter box
• An excellent choice for tiny kittens, senior adult cats, and multi-cat households
• It is suitable for all types of cat litter, so you can use it with wood pellets or non-clumping brands
• Made in the USA with pet-friendly ingredients with no added chemicals, perfumes, or harmful additives
• A convenient-shaped container so that owners can add the attractant without getting their hands dirty 
• A great training tool for kittens and suitable for attracting cats to use automatic litter boxes

Drawbacks

• This litter additive doesn’t work on all cats
• Small package, so you’ll run out of it quickly

How it Compares to Others

• Unlike other litter attractants for cats, you can use Fresh Step with any type of litter, including scented crystal litter 
• The bottle is easier to use than pouches 

Expert Tips

• Add Fresh Step’s cat attractant every time you change the litter, and don’t forget to scoop the toilet box daily. 
• Keep it away from children, and wash your hands well if the attractant comes in contact with your skin. 

Testimonials

Most cat parents are happy with Fresh Step’s cat attractant and highly recommend it for retraining cats to use their litter box. 

And as this cat parent shares, “Fresh Step litter attractant seemed to work for me. My cat didn’t even look at the litter until I used it. Weird, but kind of a miracle for us.”

#2 Best for Clumping Litter: Dr. Elsey’s Litter Box Attractant

Dr. Elsey has a safe litter attractant for cats, making it a suitable option for multi-cat households.

Features&Attributes

• Dr. Elsey’s formula contains only natural herbs that attract cats.

Measurements

• Available in a 20-ounce pouch

Benefits

• All-natural ingredients are safe for cats and kittens
• It is useful for feline behavior modification or cat litter box training since the scent attracts cats and kittens
• One pouch is enough for 100 pounds of cat litter
• It has great odor control, so it reduces the unpleasant litter box odors
• Affordable

Drawbacks

• It doesn’t work with non-clumping litter or natural litters (wheat, corn, paper, pine pellets, etc)
• It doesn’t affect all cats

How It Compares to Others and Why

• Relatively cheap compared to other cat attractant options
• It works only with unscented, clumping litter, unlike Fresh Step

How Does it Evolve

• A new pouch package instead of a bottle  

Expert Tip

• Do not add baking soda or other fragrances to the litter box because they’ll mask the scent of the attractant and reduce its efficiency. 

Testimonials

Most owners praise Dr. Elsey’s cat attractant and say that it solved their cat’s litter box issues quickly and efficiently. 

As this cat owner shares, “I always sprinkle some Dr. Elsey’s Ultra Litter Attractant on the litter. It seems to work like a charm.”

#3 Best Long-Lasting Cat Attract: Leg Avenue Cat Attract

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Cat Attract has another vet-approved cat attractant to encourage your feline friend to use its toilet box and prevent inappropriate urination.

Features & Attributes

• Pet-safe herbal mixture 

Measurements

• Available in a 20-oz pouch 

Benefits

• Made from natural cat-attracting ingredients to encourage proper litter box habits and correct inappropriate urination
• Long-lasting cat attractant – one pouch is enough to treat up to 100 pounds of cat litter 
• Suitable training tool for kittens or adult cats who’ve never used a cat litter box
• Easy to use

Drawbacks

• This cat litter additive works the best with unscented clay litter, so you can’t use it with plant-based litter or other natural alternatives.

How it Compares to Others

• More effective than Dr. Elsey’s regular attractant 

Expert Tips

• Mix with fresh cat litter and add a little bit every time you add new litter to the toilet box. 

Testimonials

Most owners are happy with this cat attractant and highly recommend it for getting cats to pee inside the litter box because of its outstanding results. 

#4 Best for Clumping Litters: JorVet Feline Litter Magnet

JorVet’s Feline Litter Magnet is a great choice for training kittens and encouraging adult cats to pee/poop inside the box.

Features & Attributes

• All-natural, cat-safe herbal ingredients
• Earthly scent 
• A pour lid 

Measurements

• Available in a bottle of 20 oz

Benefits

• All-natural herbal mix without any harsh chemicals
• Easy to use and mess-free, thanks to the shake and pour lid
• It comes with an educational brochure
• One bottle lasts for 100 pounds

Drawbacks

• Feline Magnet works the best with clay-based litter
• The scent is too strong, according to some reviews

How it Compares to Others

• Convenient bottle for mess-free application
• Stronger scent than other cat attractants

Expert Tips

Fill your standard litter box with litter and mix the all-natural Feline Litter Magnet in it. Add 1/8 of the attractant whenever you clean the toilet box.  

Testimonials

Most cat owners say that Feline Magnet works like a charm and is perfect for cat litter box training. 

#5 Best Attractant Litter: Dr. Elsey’s Cat Attract for Multiple Cats

Dr. Elsey has a cat attract litter, perfect for cat owners who have trouble training their felines to use the toilet box. 

Features & Attributes

• Sodium bentonite clay
• Natural herbal attractants 

Measurements

• Available in 20-pound bags

Benefits

• Uses natural herbs to attract cats and keep them in the toilet box with no artificial chemicals
• Extra-strong formula to handle multiple cats
• No need to wonder how much cat attractant to mix since the litter is ready for use 
• The fine-grain texture appeals to most cats 

Drawbacks

• Not the cheapest option, especially for multiple cats

How it Compares to Others

• More expensive than cat additive powders but mess-free and convenient

Expert Tips

You need to fill the cat toilet box with three-four inches of Dr. Elsey’s Herbal Attractant litter for the best results. 

Testimonials

As this owner shares, “I got Dr. Elsey’s Cat Attract Litter, and it worked like a charm instantly.” And most pet parents agree that Dr. Elsey’s cat products are perfect for attracting cats to use their toilet boxes.

#6 Best For All Life Stages: Naturally Fresh Herbal Attraction

Naturally Fresh is an excellent choice when you want an eco-friendly brand to stop peeing outside the toilet box.

Features & Attributes

• Walnut-based litter
• Herbal mix

Measurements

• Available in 14-pound bags

Benefits

• All-natural cat product designed to attract cats of all ages
• Suitable for training a new kitty to use the litter box
• Cats hate the smell of dirty litter boxes, but walnut shells are great for neutralizing odors
• No harmful additives, perfumes, or fragrances

Drawbacks

• Expensive
• Moderate tracking

How it Compares to Others

• Great clumping power and superior odor control compared to cheap clay alternatives
• Minimal dust production

Expert Tips

Do not flush this walnut cat litter. Dispose of it in the trash. 

Testimonials

Pet parents praise Naturally Fresh’s brand and say that it solves their cat’s litter box avoidance problems. But as this video review shows, the litter tracks around the house.

#7 Best for Kittens: Dr. Elsey’s Kitten Attract

Dr. Elsey has you covered if you’re looking for cat litter attractant for kittens with their excellent Kitten Attract Clumping Litter. 

Features & Attributes

• Clumping clay
• Kitten-specific herbs
• Unscented

Measurements

• Available in a 20-pound bag

Benefits

• Specifically designed to attract kittens to the litter box
• Superior odor control for a clean litter box
• Extra-strong formula, suitable for multiple kittens
• Small litter particle size, suitable for sensitive kitten’s paws, and fine texture to appeal to the kitten’s senses
• Suitable for automatic litter boxes

Drawbacks

• Expensive
• It can be dangerous if your kitten eats too much of this clumping clay litter

How it Compares to Others

• Smaller in size and finer in texture to suit kittens’ needs

Expert Tips

Don’t use this brand for kittens younger than 8 weeks, and keep an eye on them to ensure they don’t snack on the litter. 

Testimonials

Most kitten owners are happy with Dr. Elsey and praise its cat attractant formula for being the best for litter training difficult kittens. 

And as this reviewer says, “We recently changed over to using Dr. Elsey’s cat attract litter, and it’s a game changer.” (5)

Do Cat Litter Attractants Work?

Cat litter attractants use natural herbs that attract cats, similar to the catnip in cat toys. However, not all cats are affected in the same way by the scent.

So, do cat litter attractants work?

Studies have concluded that “an attractant may be more effective in eliciting usage for urination, as compared to a litter without the additive.”

So, cat litter attractants are worth trying if your cat urinates or defecates outside the toilet box or has a surface preference. 

What is the Importance of a Litter Box Attractant?

However, young kittens and rescued stray cats don’t always adapt well to a litter box because they’ve never used one. 

As such, using the best cat litter box attractants can bring your cat back to the toilet box and encourage them to use it with minimal stress. 

Why Use Cat Litter Attractants?

Since you already know everything about the best cat litter attractants and cat attract litters, you may be wondering why you should use them: 

• Cat attractants reduce the risk of inappropriate urination by luring your cat to the toilet box.
• They can be a helpful training tool for small kittens that don’t know how to use the litter box.
• Some cats develop surface preferences when you ignore inappropriate elimination, but a cat attractant can encourage your cat to use the litter box again. 
• The best cat attract litters, such as Dr. Elsey, don’t allow urine to pool at the bottom of the box, so you don’t have to wonder how to keep litter from sticking to the box. 

How To Choose the Best Cat Litter Attractant?

Let’s talk a bit about what features to consider when choosing the best cat litter attractant for your feline friend.

#1 Ingredients

Pick a litter attractant with natural ingredients, free of artificial chemicals or additives that can upset your cat’s sensitive nose.

#2 Litter Compatibility

When you purchase cat attractant, check what litter types you can use it with. Some cat attractants work only with clumping brands, while others will work with pellets and crystals.

#3 Your Cat’s Health

Cat litter attractants are safe for use around healthy cats. But you should be careful if your pet has allergies because not all cat attractants list their ingredients on the label.  

FAQs

Conclusion

Cat litter box attractant can be handy when you have a kitten needing litter box training or a stray cat that has never used a litter box.

These attractants can also help you deal with cats that stop using the litter box. But often, cats avoid their toilet because they’re in pain and need medical treatment.

So, if you don’t have any luck using cat attracts to lure your cat back to the litter box, it’s time to speak to your vet and rule out a medical issue.

What do you think about these cat litter box attractants? Have you ever used them? Share your opinion in the comment section.

Last update on 2025-04-25 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API