Clumping Clay
Dr. Elsey's Ultra
The gold standard for dust-free clay litter. Rock-solid clumps, very low dust, and excellent day-to-day usability.
Overall score
9.4/10
Cost per day
$0.51
Reviewed Mar 7, 2026
Head-to-head comparison
Dr. Elsey's Ultra vs Fresh Step Scented: Which Should You Buy?
Ultra if you want the box to stop smelling of perfume and stop clouding when you pour. Fresh Step if you want it in the cart tonight. On every performance reading we took, Ultra is the better litter. Fresh Step is the one that is already on your route home.
ReviewCatLitter editorial teamUpdated Mar 7, 2026
This comparison page is maintained by the ReviewCatLitter editorial team and grounded in the same scoring framework used across the published review catalog.
Scented Clay
Fresh Step Scented
A dependable grocery-store clay option with decent clumping, a noticeable fragrance profile, and fair everyday value.
Overall score
8.1/10
Cost per day
$0.40
Reviewed Mar 3, 2026
Overall winner
Dr. Elsey's Ultra
Dr. Elsey's Ultra is the strongest all-around pick in this comparison for dust-sensitive homes.
Lowest daily cost
Fresh Step Scented at $0.40/day
Budget is often the deciding factor in this tier.
Best odor control
Dr. Elsey's Ultra at Strong unscented control
Odor control often decides whether a litter feels tolerable long term.
Tracks less outside the box
Dr. Elsey's Ultra 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 Ultra | Fresh Step Scented | Gap |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dust weighed per pourParticulates caught in the air while the bag goes into the box. Lower is better. | 0.03 mgbetter | 0.42 mg | 0.39 mg |
| Clumps that survived the drop testShare of clumps still whole after a three-foot drop. Higher is better. | 98%better | 66% | 32 points |
| Granules outside the boxCounted inside the 12-inch ring around the tray. Lower is better. | 18 granules | not measured | only one side measured |
| Bag priceWhat the tested bag cost. Bag sizes differ, so read it next to cost per pound. | $24.99 | $18.99 | $6.00 |
| Cost per poundBag price divided by what is in the bag. Lower is better. | $0.62 | $0.45better | $0.17 |
| Cost per dayWhat the box costs to keep running each day. Lower is better. | $0.51 | $0.40better | $0.11 |
| Cost across a yearThat daily cost carried over a full year of use. Lower is better. | $186 | $146better | $40 |
Neither run recorded 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 Ultra wins this matchup
Primary tradeoff: Dr. Elsey's Ultra's weakest area here is tracking.
Best dust control here at 0.03mg per pour.
Strongest odor control in this set with strong unscented control.
Clumping is a real edge: rock-solid.
| Product | ||
|---|---|---|
| Overall Score | 9.4 | 8.1 |
| Pricing | ||
| Price | $24.99 | $18.99 |
| Weight | 40 lbs | 42 lbs |
| Cost / Day | $0.51 | $0.40 |
| Performance | ||
| Dust Control | 9.4 0.03mg per pour | 6.2 0.42mg per pour |
| Clumping | 9.8 Rock-solid | 7.9 Decent |
| Odor Control | 8.5 Strong unscented control | 8 Strong fragrance masking |
| Tracking Outside the Box | 7.2 Moderate | 6.2 Moderate |
| Value for Cost | 8.8 $0.51/day · $24.99 | 7.9 $0.40/day · $18.99 |
| Features | ||
| Type | Clumping Clay | Scented Clumping Clay |
| Flushable | ||
| Scented | No | Yes |
| Our Verdict | ||
| Best For | Dust-sensitive homes | Convenient store-bought clay |
| Read ReviewCheck Price | Read ReviewCheck Price | |
Best fit
Dr. Elsey's Ultra
Dr. Elsey's Ultra makes the most sense for dust-sensitive homes.
Worth it if
You want the cleanest clay experience with hard clumps and low dust.
Skip it if
You need flushable or lightweight litter.
Best fit
Fresh Step Scented
Fresh Step Scented makes the most sense for convenient store-bought clay.
Worth it if
You want a dependable grocery-store clay option with decent clumping, a noticeable fragrance profile, and fair everyday value.
Skip it if
You need a formula that solves dust-sensitive homes 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 Cat Attract
Weighed 0.04mg per pour and runs at $0.56 a day.
Best for cats avoiding the litter box
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 Ultra vs Arm & Hammer Clump & Seal
Choose Ultra if dust or fragrance bother anyone in the house. Choose Clump & Seal if the price of the bag decides it.
Winner: Dr. Elsey's Ultra
Related matchup
Dr. Elsey's Ultra vs Boxiecat Premium
Ultra gives you the hardest clumps and the lightest dust for less money.
Winner: Dr. Elsey's Ultra
Related matchup
Dr. Elsey's Ultra vs PrettyLitter
Ultra is scoopable clay. PrettyLitter is crystals that change color to flag a health problem.
Winner: Dr. Elsey's Ultra
Related matchup
Fresh Step Scented vs Arm & Hammer Clump & Seal
Two perfumed supermarket clays. Clump & Seal holds smell down longer and clumps harder. Fresh Step is the cheaper bag and pours a little less dust.
Winner: Arm & Hammer Clump & Seal
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
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
Quick Answers
Which is better: Dr. Elsey's Ultra or Fresh Step Scented?
Dr. Elsey's Ultra comes out ahead on the balance of dust, clumping, odor control, tracking and daily cost. Fresh Step Scented is still the one to buy for convenient store-bought clay.
Which is cheaper per day: Dr. Elsey's Ultra or Fresh Step Scented?
Fresh Step Scented runs at $0.40 a day against $0.51 for Dr. Elsey's Ultra.
Which controls smell better: Dr. Elsey's Ultra or Fresh Step Scented?
Dr. Elsey's Ultra scored higher: strong unscented control, against strong fragrance masking for Fresh Step Scented.
Which tracks less outside the litter box: Dr. Elsey's Ultra or Fresh Step Scented?
Dr. Elsey's Ultra keeps more litter in the box: moderate, against moderate for Fresh Step Scented.