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Tidy Cats Litter Review: Should You Choose To Be Tidy?

Chances are, you recognize the name ‘Tidy Cats.’ You may have seen an ad of some kind for their cat litter, or strolled by a bucket of Tidy Cats in the pets aisle at your local grocery store. In fact, Tidy Cats. is sold in many places, and it’s very hard not to come across it when you are shopping for your cat.

This is also why you are probably searching for a tidy cats litter review! You have come to the right place for information on this enormously prolific cat litter. If you are wondering why Tidy’s is so popular, there is a very good reason. Tidy Cats is the market innovator in cat litter.

Founded by Edward Lowe, the inventor of cat litter itself, Tidy Cats was and continues to be a popular and productive company. While giving you a vast selection of clumping and non-clumping formulas to choose from, they also have listened to consumers by creating a lightweight line of litters, and an alternative product line made from natural and recyclable materials.

As Tidy Cats says on their website, “Tidy can’t stop,won’t stop reinventing…our cat scientists at the Tidy Lab are always chasing smart litter solutions.”

Beyond the company’s robust and impressive history, this brand is distinguished from others by the variety of options available as well as the extremely low price. For less than $0.50 a pound, you can receive a great clumping multi-cat litter as well as excellent odour control. Tidy Cats is an excellent choice if you’re looking for a low-cost, high-quality litter.

Let’s dive into everything Tidy.

Cat resting in the hay

History Of The Company Tidy Cats: Bringing Cats Indoors

Tidy Cats’ origins began in the 1940s when cat litter was found almost by accident. Edward Lowe, an entrepreneur, began selling oil-absorbing clay as Kitty Litter, and the idea quickly took off. Lowe took his invention to pet stores and cat fairs around the country, and by the 1950s, it had grown into a profitable company.

Before this time, cats were largely outdoor pets. There was no cat litter, as we know it today, to bridge that gap between felines and humans.

That being said, there were some who tried. In fact, Edward Lowe’s neighbour was one of these. She personally tried to use sand in a box, and at another time ashes, to provide a way for her cat to live inside with her.

Ashes,  or course, tracked across her floor, and sand very, very, quickly smells- unbearably so. Lowe personally gave her some absorbing clay, and ended up solving her problem for her. He then went on to radically change the way humans and cats coexist by essentially introducing them into our houses, all through the invention of cat litter in 1947.

His goods were so popular that he launched his own brand, Tidy Cats, in 1964. It didn’t take long for Lowe to become the world’s largest producer of kitty litter, as well as the founder of a massive industry, and he sold the firm in 1990 when it was worth more than $165 million per year.

cat with goats

Today, the cat litter industry market size was estimated at USD 10.89 billion in 2021, and it is expected to reach USD 11.23 billion in 2022. This is just litter,  and does not include boxes, scoops, or numerous other accessories.

Not to mention that Covid has only increased this market, as owners have put more money into cleanliness and hygeine for their cats and their entire households, says Grand View Research.

The Tidy Cats brand still reigns very much dominant in this cat litter business today. The discovery of clumping kitty litter in 1984 ushered in a whole new category of goods, and for Tidy Cats, also.

Tidy Cats continues to be an industry pioneer, discovering innovative solutions to old issues. For example, they introduced the Tidy Cats Lightweight Cat Litter range, which provides the same hard-clumping action and odor-fighting protection as regular clay cat litter at a fraction of the weight.

 

What Kinds of Litter Does the Company Provide?

Tidy Cats presently sells five distinct types of cat litter, as well as Tidy Cats Breeze, an all-in-one odour-fighting cat litter box system. Tidy Cat’s product line is broken down into these five categories:

  • Lightweight
  • Breeze- litter, and accessories for Tidy Cats Breeze, their all-in-one odour-fighting cat litter box system.
  • Tidy Max
  • Free & Clean
  • Naturally Strong

The Tidy Cats Lightweight Litter range comprises six distinct formulas with varying benefits ranging from rapid action and 24/7 performance to formulas perfumed with Glade freshness power. If you are interested in the Tidy Max product line,  which features odour-fighting agents, then you can also buy Tidy Max varieties that are also lightweight.

Tidy Cats Lightweight Litter line encompasses the following varieties:

  • Tidy Cats® Lightweight 24/7 Performance® Cat Litter
  • Tidy Cats® Lightweight 4-In-1 Strength Multi-Cat Litter
  • Tidy Cats® Lightweight Free & Clean® Unscented Cat Litter
  • Tidy Cats® Lightweight Instant Action® Cat Litter
  • Tidy Cats® Lightweight With Glade® Clear Springs™ Cat Litter
  • Tidy Cats® Lightweight With Glade® Clean Blossoms™ Cat Litter

For complete product details, click this link. You will be taken to the Tidy Cats website, products page. Click on the ‘view product’ button for the litter that you are interested in. Clicking ‘lightweight’ in the filter section to your left. This will show you the Lightweight product line, as well as some of the Tidy Max product line that features lightweight litter.

Tidy Cats Clumping Litter comes in six various formulations, including scented and unscented alternatives, clumping and non-clumping, as well as a 4-in-1 strength composition. Others are: Free & Clean®; 24/7 Performance®; and Instant Action®

Tidy Cats Alternative Litter features four eco-friendly solutions manufactured with alternative components including recycled newspaper and absorbent wood shavings. Tidy Cats Non-Clumping Litter is a clay litter product that provides great odour management without clumping.

Finally, the Tidy Cats Unscented Cat Litter collection offers four formulas: one lightweight, one unscented clumping litter, and two recycled newspaper litters.

The three formulations under consideration here are clumping formulas intended for rapid and simple cleaning.

#1Tidy Cats Scoop Instant Action Immediate Odor Control Formula

Tidy Cats Scoop Instant Action Immediate Odor Control Formula is effective at controlling odors from the litter box. It also works well to keep scents from the litter box wafting throughout the house. A natural clay litter with patented deodorizing technology, this variety of Tidy Cat’s locks in and neutralizes scents from the beginning well.

This litter inhibits the scents of urine, ammonia, and feces, providing all-over odour control even in multi-cat households. This litter not only keeps the litter box smelling fresh for you, but it also makes the experience more enjoyable for your cats, since cat’s don’t like their litter box smelling strongly of their business any more than you do.

The TidyLock technology in  Tidy Cats Scoop Instant Action Immediate Odor Control Formula claims to lock away smells on contact for long-lasting freshness and generally does well in living up to this claim.

It makes quickly clumps, allowing for fast and easy cleanup, and it is 99.9% dust-free, allowing you and your cat to breathe easier. The litter does have a mild, chemical aroma that isn’t overbearing but may bother some people. The litter is a bit coarse, which may not please all cats and owners.

While it does create firm clumps around the excrement, liquid clumps do not solidify immediately, resulting in some cracking while scooping. We also discovered that liquid quickly entered the litter, occasionally resulting in sticky glue on the bottom of the box.

Pros

The advantages of Tidy Cats Scoop Instant Action Cat Litter are as follows:

  • Forms firm clumps around excrement and effectively suppresses odour.
  • With low-to-moderate tracking, there is hardly any dust.
  • Extremely low cost, amazing value for the quality

Cons

The disadvantages of Tidy Cats Scoop Instant Action Cat Litter are as follows:

  • Feces odour control and urine odour control are not created equal. Urine odour control is less effective.
  • The litter itself does smell a bit, but the smell is not overbearing, and shouldn’t be  a problem for most cats and cat owners.

There are 14- and 20-pound jugs available, as well as a 35-pound pail and a 40-pound box. Even in the tiniest container, the litter is rather heavy due to the clay elements. Lightweight options are available if heaviness is an issue.

#2 Tidy Cats Scoop 24/7 Performance Formula

No matter how many cats you have, Tidy Cats Scoop 24/7 Performance Formula does provide round-the-clock odour management to keep your house feeling fresh. That being said, with all litters, as with this one, regular scooping is a must to keep this aspect of the litter  working for you.

This mix has TidyLock antimicrobial protection against ammonia, urine, and feces odours and is very absorbent to keep your cat comfortable. This composition generates compact clumps for simple cleanup and is almost dust-free, so it is also low-mess.

Tidy Cats Scoop 24/7 Performance Formula lives up to its claims of being dust-free, very absorbent, and good for odour control.

Because the litter is so absorbent, moisture occasionally soaks through to the bottom of the box before clumping. As you scoop, the urine clumps tend to break, leaving behind little fragments.

You can experiment with different kinds of scoops to fix this problem. Some scoops will have smaller holes, alloweing you to catch these fragments- so this problem may not be a deal-breaker.

The litter has a little chemical odour that isn’t overbearing, although some cats and/or cat owners may dislike it.

Pros

The Pluses of Tidy Cats Scoop 24/7 Performance Cat litter:

  • Tidy Cats Scoop 24/7 Performance Advantages TidyLock provides 24-hour odour prevention for cat litter.
  • Absorbs well and creates stiff clumps around excrement.
  • For simple cleanup, it is almost dust-free and low-mess.

Cons

The Drawbacks of Tidy Cats Scoop 24/7 Performance Cat litter:

  • Some users report a minute chemical odour, but one that is not overbearing.
  • Urine clumps can fall into smaller pieces and may also adhere to the litter box in areas.
  • Before clumping, liquid may seep through to the bottom, although this is not usually an issue that overshadows the performance of this litter overall.

 

*This litter is available in 14- and 20-pound jugs, as well as a 27- and 35-pound pail and 40-pound cartons and sacks. Because the litter is formed of clay, it is rather heavy, even in the tiniest container.*

 

#3 Tidy Cats Scoop Glade Tough Odor Solutions Formula

Some cat owners want to do more than just seal in pee and excrement stink; they want to completely cover it up. With the addition of a new Glade smell,  Tidy Cats Scoop Glade Tough Odor Solutions Formula makes that feasible. However, scented litter is not for everyone. This Glade smell might not be your cup of tea.

It should also be noted that many cats do not like fragrances in their cat litter. If this is the case with your cat, please do not force them to use a scented litter! Their noses are so much more sensitive than humans,  and you can be assured that if it bothers them,  it really does bother them!

Tidy Cats’ TidyLock technology is still used in this litter to lock in odours from ammonia, urine, and faeces, but the inclusion of Glade Tough Odor Solutions technology extends the fresh aroma beyond the litter box.

This product was quite comparable to the other two clumping products we tested, with the exception of the Glade aroma. The aroma is apparent both within the litter box and in the immediate surrounding area, but it isn’t overbearing. In other words, it won’t seep a sickly sweet smell all across your home.

The litter absorbed liquids and scents effectively, but it had the same problem with pee clumps breaking apart and leaving fragments behind after emptying the litter box.  Moist litter was sometimes discovered at the bottom of the box. But, this happens often with many litter varieties and may not personally bother you.

Pros

The Advantages of Tidy Cats Scoop Glade Cat Litter: Glad Tough Odors Solution:

  • technology keeps the box and room smelling fresh and swiftly eliminates odours caused by urine, ammonia, and faeces.
  • Very little dust and tracking means less mess.

Cons

The Drawbacks of Tidy Cats Scoop Cat Litter Glade:

  • Urine clumps disintegrate and may adhere to the litter box.
  • Slight chemical odour, but not overbearing

 

#4 Purina Tidy Cats Lightweight Clumping Cat Litter Varieties

This is a lightly scented clumping litter that’s lightweight. I’m highlighting this product line in my review because there are so many people interested in ‘lightweight litter,’ from seniors to people with injuries, and many others.

There is not doubt that clay cat litter can be so heavy!

Purina Tidy Cats Lightweight Clumping Cat Litter is part of their ‘Lightweight’ litter line-up- which we feature below.

Odor Elimination: 

No unpleasant odours, but a strong Glade perfume. I often avoid perfumed litters at all cost, but some people genuinely liked the smell of this one. It’s scented with Glade, and the effect is a fresh smell that doesn’t overrun the space where your cat’s litter box is located—rather, it merely softly conceals bad odours. At least, that’s how it feels at first.

No foul scents escape from the litter box after a week of use (as long as you are doing your due diligence to scoop. daily). I don’t mind the Glade aroma with the litter box after a few weeks of experimentation (and all that comes with it), but my litter box is not in a central area of my home.

While my cat doesn’t mind the scented litter, I probably would became tired of the aroma if it was in a more central area of my home. In addition to this, my cat is very easy going. I imagine many cats would not be okay with this smell.

You may catch a whiff of it on your cat, shortly after they have most likely just been kicking about in the litter box. So if you don’t like the scent, you may have a big problem with this litter as well as being continually reminded of the smell by your cat’s fur.

Aside from the Glade aroma, foul scents don’t easily escape from the litter box after a week of use. Even when we drawing near, you probably won’t smell the typical odour of cat pee- as you would with other litter brands.

This is not by chance, since Purina says its clumping cat litter has an “Ammonia Blocker.” This ensures that there will be no ammonia odours for two weeks.

Capability for Clumping: Scooping is a Simple Process:

Purina Tidy Cats litter clumps well, making scooping a piece of cake. Because some cats can prefer one region of the litter box, some litters tend to collect cat urine together in one huge clump.However, the Purina litter clumps are small, solid, and do not fall apart when scooped.

You may find that because you aren’t wasting any litter by over-scooping because of the great clump you get with this litter, you just needed to top off the box with a little fresh litter each time you clean.

Purina Tidy Cats litter clumps beautifully, making scooping simple.

Ease of Use:

Purina Tidy Cats comes in a variety of weights, but we tested the 17-pound pail. Cat litter pails might be large and heavy, but the Purina handle makes them much easier to move. Purina claims that its 17-pound pail is equivalent to 35-pound pails from other producers due to its lightweight formula and increased performance. And, based on the cat litters we’ve tested, they’re not lying.

It was difficult at first to manage the bucket while pouring out the trash, but we found one essential advantage. When we drop litter, it usually creates a dust cloud, but Tidy Cats didn’t.

Purina litter can track more than usual, which is one of its greatest downsides. When using Purina instead of other brands,  much more litter can end up in front of the box.

Price:

Given the quality and quantity, the price is reasonable.

Purina Tidy Cats, as previously said, comes in a variety of sizes and prices. The 17-pound bucket costs roughly $20, but larger sizes are available for less.

Overall, I feel the cost is fair.

Purina Tidy Cats Lightweight Clumping Cat Litter vs. Arm & Hammer Clump & Seal Platinum Litter

The SprucePets recommends choosing Arm & Hammer Clump & Seal Platinum Cat Litter if you prefer a less-scented cat litter. The aroma of the litter is not as strong as that of the Purina Tidy Cats litter.

While you may like Purina’s clumping powers, the Arm & Hammer litter trails far less. Regardless of the option you select, you will be left with a clean-smelling house for a comparable charge.

Final Choice

This is a fantastic alternative if you, and/or your cat, don’t mind scented waste material.

While the fragrance won’t be everyone’s favourite, (probably after a few weeks of use you will get sick of it), the Purina Tidy Cats litter does a decent job of clumping and will keep your place smelling reasonably fresh.

I would certainly buy the unscented version!

A woman deep in thought

What Do Tidy Cats Litter Customers Think?

Tidy Cats is a well-known brand in the cat litter industry, having been one of the first commercial cat litter products to enter the market. Tidy Cats not only has a lengthy history, but they also provide a wide range of goods so that any cat owner may discover the appropriate cat litter for their family. Customers are generally pleased with Tidy Cats goods.

Having said that, each customer’s experience is unique, and there are both positive and negative reviews about the company online. Continue reading for good and negative customer feedback on each of the three cat litter recipes

Amazon Review

by: la plume d’une femme TOP 1000 REVIEWER VINE VOICE 5.0 out of 5 stars Wouldn’t use another brand.

Reviewed in the United States on May 26, 2018

Verified Purchase I have been using this particular cat litter for years. Uh…at least, my cats have. I wouldn’t even bother trying any more of the other brands and types because I’ve never found one more universally accepted by a wide variety of cats as Tidy Cats. At any given time I have been fostering up to 6 or 8 cats, and that’s a lot of pickiness. I never could get them all to agree on the same food, but they all seemed fine with the Tidy Cat litter in the 4 boxes I had to maintain. These days I have only one indoor cat, and I get 2 containers of Tidy Cats a month to keep him happy. My cat is a big guy, a Ragdoll, and he uses a bigger-than-normal litter box, so one container of Tidy Cats fills the box twice. I just use a poop scooper in between changes. Great stuff, at a great price, especially having it delivered right to my front door.

From Purina Website:  

Positive:

  • March 10, 2021

Loyal pet owner from Elliot Lake, Ontario, Canada

Best litter in 20 years of being owned by cats!

I switched from a cheaper, heavy brand a couple of months ago, and I couldn’t be more pleased. I serve two cats who allow me to live in their apartment. I would say it cuts the smell at least in half, if not more. Carrying the litter up three flights is a breeze. And cleaning their litter boxes has never been easier because it clumps beautifully and is so light. Highly recommend!!
(and I never write reviews!)

Negative:
Rating: 1 out of 5 stars

Reviewing: Tidy Cats® Lightweight 24/7 Performance® Clumping Cat Litter

    • Multiple_cat_owner
  • December 1, 2019

Loyal pet owner from Ottawa

Bring back the regular Tidy Cats

This litter is one of the worsts I have ever used. Yes, it might trap ammonia smells, but it gets tracked all over the house and if the cat has a large urine output, it DOES NOT clump well and you are left with a gooey mess to scrape .

What Is the Price of Tidy Cats Litter?

Tidy Cats is without a doubt one of the most reasonably priced brands of cat litter on the market.

When purchasing the largest size container, the four formulations evaluated above cost no more than $0.50/pound.

Purchasing smaller containers may raise the price per pound, but regardless of the formula, it is still a very reasonable brand price.

Finger pointing at 5 stars
Is Tidy Cats Litter a Good Choice Overall?

We are pleased to report that Tidy Cat’s litter is both inexpensive and of great quality. We only tested three of their clumping recipes, so we can’t comment to the non-clumping or lightweight formulas, but overall, we liked what we observed. Even in multi-cat households, the TidyLock system protects against ammonia, urine, and faeces odour.

One thing to keep in mind about this type is that, while it produces firm clumps around faeces, the clumping effect with pee isn’t nearly as intense. Liquid quickly seeps through the litter and can cause a sticky mess on the litter box’s bottom. Urine clumps also break more quickly than faeces clumps, making cleaning the litter box more difficult.

Tidy Cats has a wide variety of products, making it simple to discover a solution that works for both you and your cat. Just be cautious when using scented formulations on kittens and elderly cats, and pay heed to extra substances such as scents.

Shopping bags lined up

Where Can I Buy Tidy Cats Litter?

Tidy Cats litter is a popular brand that is available both online and at pet shops. You can find it basically wherever you prefer to shop. It is available for purchase via popular. online merchants such as Chewy and Amazon, as well as big-box stores such as Walmart and Target, and local and national pet stores like Bosley’s, PetSmart, and Petco.

Looking to compare products? Check out our articles on silica gel litter brand Pretty Litter, or the staple brand Arm & Hammer, or creative brand OkoCat.

For further discussions on alternative, eco-friendly types of cat litter, see the following article on eco-friendly litters.

More on how too choose cat litter here.

Videos

Works Cited

https://allaboutcats.com/tidy-cats-cat-litter-review

https://www.grandviewresearch.com/industry-analysis/cat-litter-products-market

https://www.purina.com/tidy-cats/cat-litter-info

https://www.thesprucepets.com/purina-tidy-cats-clumping-cat-litter-review-4773015

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