How Can I Reduce The Cost Of Cat Litter: Four Money-Saving Tips

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Cat litter is one of those costs that doesn’t look like much per bag and adds up over a year.

How Can I Reduce The Cost Of Cat Litter

There are several ways to cut the cost and still keep your cat healthy and comfortable. Recycled cat litter products are often cheaper and just as effective.

Odor-neutralizing additions such as baking soda or activated charcoal can extend the life of your litter and keep things smelling fresh between cleanings.

How Can I Get Cat Litter Cheaper?

Price comparison sites are the easiest way to find the best price, and searching online can turn up offers from different retailers.

It may be worth subscribing to the newsletters of pet supply stores or joining their loyalty programs, so you hear about discounts and deals.

Coupons and voucher codes help too. Several websites list codes, and many retailers email coupons or include them in loyalty programs.

Watch for sales, particularly around online shopping holidays like Black Friday or Cyber Monday, which often have big discounts on pet supplies. That is a good time to buy in bulk if you can (more on that below).

Consider store-brand litter over leading brands. Own-brand products often offer similar quality at a lower cost, and in the litter aisle some are very cheap compared with the big names.

What Is The Cheapest Cat Litter You Can Buy?

Affordable matters, but the litter also has to suit your cat and, ideally, the environment.

Clay-based clumping litter is some of the cheapest effective litter on the market, typically under $15 per bag.

Biodegradable paper pellets are another wallet-friendly option at around $17 per bag, and they are often seen as more eco-friendly because they decompose faster than other kinds of litter.

Related: Do Cats Like Pellet Litter?

Compare a few and pick something that is cheap but still good quality.

How To Use Less Cat Litter?

Cats get through a lot of litter, but there are ways to cut waste and save money over time.

Start by not putting too much in the box.

You only need 2-3 inches of cat litter in each box.

That is enough for your cat to bury its waste without making a mess getting in and out or digging.

Silica gel crystals and clumping litter are the easiest to use less of, because you can scoop out the dirty litter and top up rather than emptying the whole litter box every other day.

Related: Best Cat Litter For Heavy Urination

Non-clumping litter and recycled wood pellets are not far behind, though you will use more non-clumping litter than clumping. They may still work out cheaper if they cost less. Paper litter takes a lot more to be effective.

A larger litter box than usual reduces waste overall. Some special litter boxes have sensor-activated lids that help contain mess and keep fresh litter from spilling out. If that seems impractical, an extra large garbage bin used for disposal may also work: try filling it with newspaper before adding a conventional filler like dirt or sand.

If your cat is fussy about cleanliness, an automatic self-cleaning model saves time and cuts down on odor-causing bacteria.

Is It Cheaper To Buy Cat Litter In Bulk?

Yes. Buying a large container instead of several small bags saves money in the long run, particularly in a household with several cats using the litter.

Looking at the cost of some popular brands, larger packs and multipacks are clearly much cheaper per lb.

Where To Start Saving

Comparing prices, using the right amount in the box and buying in bulk are the three that make the biggest difference, and none of them costs you hygiene or quality.

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