BEST Cheap Cat Litter in 2023 [Updated February]

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Are you looking for the cheapest cat litter to save money?

Being frugal is a smart move, because if cheaper cat litter it’s good enough, then why spend more.

So, in this article, I’ll share the best cheap cat litter you can find for the right price.

And, I’ll break it down into the different litter types, including:

• The cheapest clumping cat litter
• Cheap non-clumping cat litter
• Affordable silica litters (crystal type)
• And natural or biodegradable cat litters

The cheapest cat litter is typically a clay litter. For example, this 40 Lb bag of Dr. Elsey’s Premium Clumping Cat Litter is around $20. That’s less than 50 cents per pound and it doesn’t get much cheaper than that.

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 that the larger the quantity you can afford to buy, the the lower the price will be.

​The Best Cheap Cat Litter at a Glance

Disclaimer: Prices shown can change at any point. Some of the prices stated were calulated with some products on offer, so these prices are an estimate.

Cheapest Clumping Clay Litter

The cheapest clumping cat litter I found was Dr. Elsey’s Premium Clumping Cat Litter.

This 40 lb bag is currently selling around the $20 price point, which works out at around 50 cents per pound.

This litter is a great choice to prevent moisture from reaching the bottom of litter box or tray.

It is also very good to stop tracking which means less mess.

A good choice for sifting/mechanical litter boxes.

Two other options for cheap clumping litter are Fresh Step Scented Litter with Febreze and Purina Tidy Cats Clumping Cat Litter. These both cost around 67 to 70 cents per pound in weight, depending on how much you buy and if it’s on offer.

Also, make sure you check my article for the best clumping cat litter.

Cheapest Non-Clumping Clay Litter

The cheapest non-clumping cat litter I could find was Purina Tidy Cats Non-Clumping Cat Litter.

These 4 x 10 lb bags cost around $23 when on offer, which works out around less than 60 cents per pound.

This litter is virtually maintenance-free for up to about a week and the 4 bags should last a minimum of one month for one cat.

It is also low tracking and has a mild, pleasant scent.

It is a good choice for for multiple-cat households, or any home that uses a lot of litter.

See my list of the best non-clumping cat litters here.

Cheapest Natural or Biodegradable Cat Litter

The cheapest natural cat litter I could find was Nature’s Miracle Premium Clumping Corn Cob Litter, which is around $13 for an 18 lb bag. That works out at around 72 cents per pound.

If you’re looking for an affordable biodegradable cat litter, then this Naturally Fresh Cat Litter is made from Walnut shells and starts around $22 for 26 lb when on offer. That works out around 85 cents per pound.

Very good at reducing odor and absorbing liquid. It is a low dust formula and has been made to suit multiple cat homes.

Cheapest Crystal Litter

For some perspective of the cost of silica cat litter, the cheapest I could find was Fresh Step Crystals Clumping Cat Litter for around $33 for 2 x 8 lb bags. That works out at over $2 per pound.

Note that silica cat litter does last a lot longer than other types of litter, so less goes a long way.

This one has great odor control, is very low-tracking and 99% dust-free.

Here is my list of the best cat litter crystals if that’s your preferred type.

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 50 cents per pound.

There are other types of cheap cat litter in this list and all of them range between 60 to 85 cents per pound. It all depends on the size bag you buy and if you can find them on offer.

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