Cheap cat litter
The cheapest cat litter to buy and the cheapest cat litter to actually use are not always the same bag. A low headline price on a small bag can cost more per kilo than a larger one, and a litter that clumps well can need topping up less often than one that does not — so the sticker price is only half the comparison.
Comparing price properly
The only honest way to compare two bags is price per kilogram, which most supermarkets print on the shelf edge and which you can work out yourself for anything you buy elsewhere by dividing the price by the pack weight. A smaller bag at a lower headline price is very often the more expensive option once you do that sum.
Beyond the bag price, how far a litter goes matters just as much. A clumping litter that lets you scoop out only the soiled part and top up the rest tends to last longer per kilo bought than a non-clumping type you have to change out completely more often, even where the clumping bag costs slightly more to start with.
What actually varies between cheap and premium litters
Budget litters are usually a simpler, less refined material, whether that is a basic clay or a plain wood pellet, and they generally do the core job of absorbing moisture perfectly well. What you tend to lose compared with a premium product is odour control over several days, dust levels, and how finely the litter clumps.
Sacks vary in weight too, and a heavier bag is not always better value once you factor in what you can realistically manage carrying and storing at home. A lighter bag bought more often is a reasonable trade for some households, even if the per-kilo price looks slightly worse on paper.
Getting the most out of a budget litter
Scooping daily rather than every few days makes almost any litter, cheap or premium, perform better and last longer, because it stops the whole tray absorbing odour from waste sitting in it. A deep enough layer in the tray also helps a basic litter clump and absorb properly rather than reaching the tray base too quickly.
If odour is the main complaint with a cheaper litter, a well-ventilated tray location and a regular full change of the litter, rather than only topping up, usually does more than switching brands. Most cats are also more particular about a clean tray than about the brand of litter in it.
The cheaper end of the range
Everything below is in stock with us, priced with delivery worked out, and packed and posted by hand in the UK.
Catit Pea Husk Unscented Clumping Cat Litter
Unscented clumping cat litter made from upcycled pea husks, 99% dust-free
£17.99
Catit Go Natural Pea Husk Clumping Litter Vanilla
Pea husk clumping litter, 99.9% dust-free and biodegradable, lightly vanilla-scented
£17.99
Catsan Hygiene Non-Clumping Odour Control Cat Litter
Natural non-clumping litter that locks liquid into white mineral granules
£5.45
Catsan Hygiene Cat Litter
A 20LTR unscented mineral cat litter that works on odour before it develops
£20.45
Plastic Cat Litter Tray — Large & XL
A sturdy plastic litter tray in two generous sizes — practical, no-fuss, and easy to clean.
From£11.49
PawHut XL Stainless Steel Enclosed Cat Litter Box with Flip-Top Lid and Scoop
A 60cm enclosed litter box with a stainless steel tray that will not absorb odour, a 180-degree flip-top lid, deodoriser compartment, filter step and scoop.
£76.99
Catsan Ultra Clumping Odour Control Cat Litter
Fine-granule clumping clay litter, low tracking and made to stop odour forming
£10.25
App-Controlled Self-Cleaning Cat Litter Box
A smart self-cleaning litter box that scoops waste automatically and bags it contactlessly, so you never face the mess. The companion app records toilet use and weight, and sends full-box, low-litter and cleaning reminders.
£399.99
Catsan Smart Pack 2 Inlays
Two litter tray inlays that Catsan say work as well as 30 litres of ordinary litter
£13.19
Enclosed Cat Litter Box with Carbon Filter
A roomy enclosed litter box with a carbon filter that helps keep household odours in check.
From£28.99
Catsan Natural Biodegradable Clumping Cat Litter
A 20 litre bag of clumping cat litter made from wheat, fully biodegradable
£31.49
Catsan Wood Comfort Non Clumping Cat Litter
Biodegradable wood-granule litter for cats and kittens
£18.75
Common questions
- Is clumping or non-clumping litter cheaper overall?
- Clumping litter often works out cheaper per week even where the bag itself costs more, because you can remove just the soiled clumps and top up the rest rather than changing the whole tray. Non-clumping litter usually needs a full change more often, which uses more litter over time.
- How do I compare prices between different sized bags?
- Divide the price by the weight in kilograms to get a price per kilo, then compare that figure between bags rather than the total price on the shelf. A smaller bag with a lower sticker price can easily work out more expensive per kilo than a larger one.
- Does cheap cat litter smell more?
- It can, since basic litters generally offer less odour control than premium ones, but how often you scoop and change the tray usually makes a bigger difference than the brand. Daily scooping and a full change on a regular schedule will keep most litters, cheap or otherwise, from smelling.
- Is wood pellet litter cheaper than clay litter?
- It depends on the specific products being compared, since both budget and premium versions exist of each type, and prices shift over time. Working out the price per kilo for the actual bags in front of you is more reliable than assuming one material is always cheaper than the other.
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Written by Matt Garnett, who runs Giddy Pets and is a lifelong pet owner — not a vet. This is general information, not veterinary advice, and it cannot replace an examination by the vet who knows your animal. How we write these guides.