Dr. Elsey's Cat Attract is the strongest all-around pick in this comparison for cats avoiding the litter box.
Herbal attractant actually works for litter-box-avoidant cats, with the same low-dust multi-cat clay performance as Ultra.
Fast-forming hard clumps with baking soda odor help, making it a strong mid-range clay pick if you can tolerate moderate dust.
HardBall is the cheaper way to get clumps that set fast and lift whole. Cat Attract only earns its price if your cat has stopped using the tray. Both clump firmly. HardBall throws far more dust with every pour and carries a scent, and that is the trade you make to save the money.
This comparison page is maintained by the ReviewCatLitter editorial team and grounded in the same scoring framework used across the published review catalog.
Choose between them on texture, clumping, dust and price. Then, if the room still tells you where the box is, Purrify is activated carbon you mix into whichever bag you chose. It is what we use in our own homes.
Read our Purrify guide to picking a litter for odor control.
Every figure below is a reading from our own test runs, not a rating. Where a run never took a reading it says so.
| Reading | Dr. Elsey's Cat Attract | Arm & Hammer HardBall | Gap |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dust weighed per pourDust caught on a filter and weighed while the bag goes into the box. Lower is better. | 0.04 mgbetter | 0.48 mg | 0.44 mg |
| Clumps that survived the drop testShare of clumps still whole after a three-foot drop. Higher is better. | 98%better | 87% | 11 points |
| Bag priceWhat the tested bag cost. Bag sizes differ, so read it next to cost per pound. | $26.99 | $19.99 | $7.00 |
| Cost per poundBag price divided by what is in the bag. Lower is better. | $0.67 | $0.53better | $0.14 |
| Cost per dayWhat the box costs to keep running each day. Lower is better. | $0.56 | $0.47better | $0.09 |
| Cost across a yearThat daily cost carried over a full year of use. Lower is better. | $204 | $172better | $32 |
Neither run recorded granules outside the box, ammonia after one day and ammonia after three days, so those rows are left out rather than filled in from a similar bag. The full test data shows every reading we have.
Primary tradeoff: Dr. Elsey's Cat Attract's weakest area here is tracking.
Best dust control here at 0.04mg per pour.
Strongest odor control in this set with strong unscented control.
Clumping is a real edge: rock-solid.
Scroll sideways to see every litter. Scores are editorial judgments out of 10.
| Product | ||
|---|---|---|
| Overall Score | 9.5Excellent | 8.5Very good |
| Pricing | ||
| Price | $26.99 | $19.99 |
| Weight | 40 lbs | 38 lbs |
| Cost / Day | $0.56 | $0.47 |
| Performance | ||
| Dust Control | 9.2 0.04mg per pour | 6 0.48mg per pour |
| Clumping | 9.8 Rock-solid | 9 Hard and fast |
| Odor Control | 8.8 Strong unscented control | 8 Baking soda support |
| Tracking Outside the Box | 7.3 Moderate | 6 Moderate |
| Value for Cost | 8.6 $0.56/day · $26.99 | 8 $0.47/day · $19.99 |
| Features | ||
| Type | Clumping Clay | Fast-Clumping Clay |
| Flushable | ||
| Scented | No | Yes |
| Our Verdict | ||
| Best For | Cats avoiding the litter box | Fast hard clumping on a mid-range budget |
| Read ReviewCheck Price | Read ReviewCheck Price | |
Dr. Elsey's Cat Attract makes the most sense for cats avoiding the litter box.
You want herbal attractant actually works for litter-box-avoidant cats, with the same low-dust multi-cat clay performance as ultra.
You need a formula that solves cats avoiding the litter box better.
Arm & Hammer HardBall makes the most sense for fast hard clumping on a mid-range budget.
You want fast-forming hard clumps with baking soda odor help, making it a strong mid-range clay pick if you can tolerate moderate dust.
You need a formula that solves cats avoiding the litter box better.
The nearest options to this matchup on score and on price.
Weighed 0.04mg per pour and runs at $0.55 a day.
Weighed 0.11mg per pour and runs at $0.63 a day.
Weighed 0.03mg per pour and runs at $0.43 a day.
Dr. Elsey's Cat Attract comes out ahead on the balance of dust, clumping, odor control, tracking and daily cost. Arm & Hammer HardBall is still the one to buy for fast hard clumping on a mid-range budget.
Arm & Hammer HardBall runs at $0.47 a day against $0.56 for Dr. Elsey's Cat Attract.
Dr. Elsey's Cat Attract scored higher: strong unscented control, against baking soda support for Arm & Hammer HardBall.
Dr. Elsey's Cat Attract keeps more litter in the box: moderate, against moderate for Arm & Hammer HardBall.
Buy Ultra unless your cat has stopped using the box, which is the one job Cat Attract does better.
Cat Attract is what you try when your cat is missing the box. Clump & Seal is what you buy when the bag price decides it.
Ultra is the cleaner litter. HardBall is the cheaper way to get clumps that set fast and come out in one piece.
Two Arm & Hammer clays built for different things. Clump & Seal is about fragrance and a low bag price.
Cat Attract is a behavior fix. Sustainably Yours is an everyday natural litter.
If the cat is going on the rug, start with Cat Attract. If the cat is fine and you want to flush the waste, World's Best is the better everyday buy.