Dr. Elsey's Cat Attract Review: Does the Attractant Work?
The litter sold to bring cats back to the box, checked against test data and vet advice.
Dr. Elsey’s Cat Attract is the litter people buy when a cat stops using the box. This Dr. Elsey’s Cat Attract review checks the brand’s promise against our own test data and vet advice. It comes down to two questions: does the herbal attractant help, and is the litter any good once the problem is solved?
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Short verdict
Cat Attract is a premium clay litter with an herbal attractant, and owner experience backs it up: many box-avoiding cats return within a couple of weeks. In our tests, dust and clumping matched Dr. Elsey’s Ultra. It costs more per day, so switch back to Ultra once your cat is using the box reliably.
Best for box problems
Dr. Elsey's Cat Attract
- Dust per pour
- 0.04 mg
- Clumps held
- 98%
- Cost per day
- $0.56
Figures: Our 90-day test, Mar 2026
Best forCats that avoid the box, newly adopted cats and cats moving from outdoors to indoors.
Skip it ifYour cat already uses the box every time; Ultra does the same job for less.
What stands out
- Herbal attractant draws many cats back to the box
- Very low dust at 0.04 mg per pour
- Hard clumps, 98% survived drop tests
Watch out for
- Costs more per day than Dr. Elsey's Ultra
- The brand doesn't say which herb it uses
- Won't fix avoidance caused by illness or pain
These figures come from our own tests, not from Dr. Elsey’s. The sections below explain how the attractant works, the vet check to do first, and how to use the litter for retraining.
Dr. Elsey’s Cat Attract at a Glance
Cat Attract is a clumping clay made from natural clay and herbs, according to the brand. Dr. Elsey’s calls it a “problem cat training litter” and guarantees it will bring cats back to the box. Here’s how its main claims compare with what we measured.
| Spec | Brand says | Our tests |
|---|---|---|
| Purpose | Solves litter box avoidance | Many cats return within 1–2 weeks; no large study |
| Attractant | Natural herb, not named | Herb not disclosed on public listings |
| Dust | 99% dust-free | 0.04 mg per pour |
| Clumping | Hard clumping | 98% of clumps held in drop tests |
| Odor | Superior, multi-cat strength | Odor score 8.8 out of 10; no ammonia reading |
| Depth | Fill 3 to 4 inches | ASPCA says most cats prefer 1 to 2 inches |
| Cost | Not stated | About $0.67 per pound, $0.56 per day |
Most claims hold up well. The one clash is litter depth, which I cover in the how-to section below.
Does the Herbal Attractant Actually Work?
This is the only question that matters for Cat Attract. Owner reports are consistently positive: cats that use the box on and off, and cats moving from outdoors to indoors, tend to respond fastest, often within one to two weeks. Set side by side with a regular litter, many cats head for the Cat Attract box.
Keep the limits in mind. There’s no large controlled study, and the brand doesn’t name the herb, so no one outside the company knows exactly what’s doing the work.
I used Cat Attract when a new cat came home, to help with litter box training.
Rule Out Medical Problems First
A cat that suddenly stops using the box may be ill, not fussy. The ASPCA says the first step is to rule out medical problems and urine marking. Urinary tract infections, feline interstitial cystitis and kidney stones can all make the box feel painful, so the cat avoids it.
If your cat strains, pees small amounts often, cries in the box or has blood in its urine, see a vet before changing litter. The same goes for older cats, since stiff joints can make high box walls hard to climb. No litter will fix a medical problem, and a delay can make some conditions worse.
How Cat Attract Compares With Dr. Elsey’s Ultra
Ultra is Dr. Elsey’s everyday clay, and it’s the natural comparison. The two measured almost identically on dust and clumping in our tests. The differences are the attractant, the price and a small edge in odor control.
| Cat Attract | Ultra | |
|---|---|---|
| Overall score | 9.5/10 | 9.4/10 |
| Dust per pour | 0.04 mg | 0.03 mg |
| Clumps held | 98% | 98% |
| Odor score | 8.8/10 | 8.5/10 |
| Tracking score | 7.3/10 | 7.2/10 |
| Price per 40 lb bag | $26.99 | $20.99 |
| Cost per day | $0.56 | $0.43 |
Both are among the best clays tested, and Ultra tops my best cat litter guide. You pay about 13 cents more per day for the attractant. That’s worth it for a few weeks of retraining, but not forever. Prices change often, so check the retailer’s page before buying.
Dust, Clumping and Odor in Tests
Dust is very low at 0.04 mg per pour, about a tenth of what supermarket clays like Fresh Step measured. Clumps are hard: 98% survived the drop test, so scooping leaves little behind. It also clumps fast, which suits multi-cat homes where the box gets heavy use.
Odor scored 8.8 out of 10, the highest of the Dr. Elsey’s litters tested, though no ammonia reading was taken. The litter has no added perfume, but the herbs give it a mild smell that some people notice. My guides to low dust cat litter and odor control litter compare it with the alternatives.
In my home, it was low in dust, and it had a noticeable herbal scent. It also controlled odor well.
How to Use Cat Attract for Box Training
Start with a clean, dry box, since leftover smells can put a cat off. Fill it with Cat Attract alone rather than mixing, so the attractant is at full strength. Place it where your cat has been going, or somewhere quiet with an easy way out. Scoop at least once a day; the brand suggests twice.
Depth is where advice differs. Dr. Elsey’s says to fill 3 to 4 inches, while the ASPCA says most cats prefer 1 to 2 inches. For a cat that’s avoiding the box, I’d start shallower and add more if your cat digs happily. My guide on how deep cat litter should be explains the trade-off.
Other box basics matter just as much. The ASPCA recommends one box per cat plus one, daily scooping and avoiding liners and lids, all covered in how many litter boxes per cat.
Downsides to Know Before You Buy
Cat Attract does its job, but it isn’t perfect. These points come from our testing and the brand’s own information:
- It costs about $0.13 more per day than Dr. Elsey’s Ultra.
- The attractant herb isn’t named, so you can’t check it for allergies.
- The herbal smell may bother some people, even without perfume.
- It won’t help if the cause is pain, illness or marking.
- It’s clay, so it’s heavy and shouldn’t be flushed; the brand says so too.
For most owners, the cost is the real drawback. It’s easy to manage: use Cat Attract while retraining, then switch to a cheaper litter once the habit sticks.
When to Switch Back to a Regular Litter
Once your cat has used the box reliably for a few weeks, you can move to an everyday litter. Mix the new litter in gradually over about a week, raising the share each day. If your cat hesitates, slow down or go back a step.
Ultra is the easiest switch because the texture is the same. If you prefer a different base, my unscented cat litter guide covers options that most cats accept. Keep a bag of Cat Attract on hand for moves, new cats or setbacks.
Once training was done, we didn’t go back to a regular Dr. Elsey’s. We moved on to other brands instead.
My Verdict on Dr. Elsey’s Cat Attract
Bottom line
Dr. Elsey’s Cat Attract does what it promises for many cats. Many box-avoiding cats go back to the box within a couple of weeks, and in our tests the litter itself matched Ultra on dust and clumping. It costs more per day, and the brand keeps its herb a secret.
See a vet first if the avoidance is sudden, then use Cat Attract as a retraining tool. Once the habit is back, switch to Dr. Elsey’s Ultra or another everyday litter to save money.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Dr. Elsey’s Cat Attract really work?
For many cats, yes. Owners of box-avoiding cats often see them return within a couple of weeks, especially cats that used the box on and off. There’s no large study behind it, though, and it won’t fix avoidance caused by pain or illness, so see a vet first if your cat suddenly stops using the box.
What is the herb in Cat Attract?
Dr. Elsey’s doesn’t name it. The brand describes it only as a natural herb attractant blended into clay. Some retailer listings mention hydrolyzed herbs, but no public source confirms whether it’s catnip or another plant, so treat any specific claim as a guess.
Is Cat Attract better than Dr. Elsey’s Ultra?
Only if your cat has a litter box problem. Both measured almost identical dust and 98% clump strength in our tests. Ultra costs less per day, $0.43 against $0.56, so it’s the better everyday litter for cats that already use the box reliably.
Can I mix Cat Attract with other litter?
Yes. Mixing it gradually into the old litter over about a week is a gentle way to switch, and it lets your cat get used to the new texture. If your cat is avoiding the box, filling a clean box with Cat Attract alone gives the attractant its best chance.
Is Cat Attract safe for kittens?
Dr. Elsey’s sells a separate Kitten Attract formula for young cats. Young kittens sometimes eat litter while they explore, so watch your kitten closely for the first few days on any clumping litter, and ask your vet if you’re unsure which type to use.