Clumping Clay / Behavioral
Dr. Elsey's Cat Attract
Herbal attractant actually works for litter-box-avoidant cats, with the same low-dust multi-cat clay performance as Ultra.
Overall score
9.5/10
Cost per day
$0.56
Reviewed Mar 5, 2026
Head-to-head comparison
Dr. Elsey's Cat Attract vs Arm & Hammer HardBall: Which Should You Buy?
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.
ReviewCatLitter editorial teamUpdated Mar 5, 2026
This comparison page is maintained by the ReviewCatLitter editorial team and grounded in the same scoring framework used across the published review catalog.
Clumping Clay
Arm & Hammer HardBall
Fast-forming hard clumps with baking soda odor help, making it a strong mid-range clay pick if you can tolerate moderate dust.
Overall score
8.5/10
Cost per day
$0.47
Reviewed Nov 28, 2025
Overall winner
Dr. Elsey's Cat Attract
Dr. Elsey's Cat Attract is the strongest all-around pick in this comparison for cats avoiding the litter box.
Lowest daily cost
Arm & Hammer HardBall at $0.47/day
Budget is often the deciding factor in this tier.
Best odor control
Dr. Elsey's Cat Attract at Strong unscented control
Odor control often decides whether a litter feels tolerable long term.
Tracks less outside the box
Dr. Elsey's Cat Attract at Moderate
Tracking can be more important than overall score in small spaces.
What we actually measured
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 pourParticulates caught in the air 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.
Why Dr. Elsey's Cat Attract wins this matchup
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.
| Product | ||
|---|---|---|
| Overall Score | 9.5 | 8.5 |
| 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 | |
Best fit
Dr. Elsey's Cat Attract
Dr. Elsey's Cat Attract makes the most sense for cats avoiding the litter box.
Worth it if
You want herbal attractant actually works for litter-box-avoidant cats, with the same low-dust multi-cat clay performance as ultra.
Skip it if
You need a formula that solves cats avoiding the litter box better.
Best fit
Arm & Hammer HardBall
Arm & Hammer HardBall makes the most sense for fast hard clumping on a mid-range budget.
Worth it if
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.
Skip it if
You need a formula that solves cats avoiding the litter box better.
If neither option is quite right
The closest litters we have tested to this matchup, on score and on price.
Clumping Clay
Dr. Elsey's Ultra
Weighed 0.03mg per pour and runs at $0.51 a day.
Best for dust-sensitive homes
Premium Clumping Clay
Boxiecat Premium
Weighed 0.04mg per pour and runs at $0.55 a day.
Best for lowest-maintenance scooping
Natural Corn + Cassava
Sustainably Yours
Weighed 0.11mg per pour and runs at $0.63 a day.
Best for best-performing natural litter shoppers
Read the full reviews
Use this page to choose a winner quickly, then open the full product reviews if you want the long-form test notes.
Keep comparing nearby options
Related matchups that share one of the same products and answer the next likely decision.
Related matchup
Dr. Elsey's Cat Attract vs Dr. Elsey's Ultra
Buy Ultra unless your cat has stopped using the box, which is the one job Cat Attract does better.
Winner: Dr. Elsey's Cat Attract
Related matchup
Arm & Hammer Clump & Seal vs Dr. Elsey's Cat Attract
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.
Winner: Dr. Elsey's Cat Attract
Related matchup
Dr. Elsey's Ultra vs Arm & Hammer HardBall
Ultra is the cleaner litter. HardBall is the cheaper way to get clumps that set fast and come out in one piece.
Winner: Dr. Elsey's Ultra
Related matchup
Arm & Hammer Clump & Seal vs Arm & Hammer HardBall
Two Arm & Hammer clays built for different things. Clump & Seal is about fragrance and a low bag price.
Winner: Arm & Hammer Clump & Seal
Related matchup
Dr. Elsey's Cat Attract vs Sustainably Yours
Cat Attract is a behavior fix. Sustainably Yours is an everyday natural litter.
Winner: Dr. Elsey's Cat Attract
Related matchup
Dr. Elsey's Cat Attract vs World's Best Cat 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.
Winner: Dr. Elsey's Cat Attract
Quick Answers
Which is better: Dr. Elsey's Cat Attract or Arm & Hammer HardBall?
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.
Which is cheaper per day: Dr. Elsey's Cat Attract or Arm & Hammer HardBall?
Arm & Hammer HardBall runs at $0.47 a day against $0.56 for Dr. Elsey's Cat Attract.
Which controls smell better: Dr. Elsey's Cat Attract or Arm & Hammer HardBall?
Dr. Elsey's Cat Attract scored higher: strong unscented control, against baking soda support for Arm & Hammer HardBall.
Which tracks less outside the litter box: Dr. Elsey's Cat Attract or Arm & Hammer HardBall?
Dr. Elsey's Cat Attract keeps more litter in the box: moderate, against moderate for Arm & Hammer HardBall.