Cat Litter Cost Per Week: Clumping Clay vs Pellets vs Crystals

I have two cats and a strong opinion about litter. For a month, I tracked three different litter types to see which one actually costs the least per week. Bag price is misleading.

Clumping clay

**Cost:** cheapest per pound. **How it went:** Easy to scoop, good odor control with scented or unscented options. But we used a lot of it, and it's heavy to carry.

**Weekly cost:** moderate, because you top up often.

Pine or paper pellets

**Cost:** cheap per bag. **How it went:** Pellets break down into sawdust when wet. You sift the dust out. Lightweight and less tracking. One of our cats hated it at first.

**Weekly cost:** often the lowest, if your cat accepts it.

Silica crystals

**Cost:** expensive per bag. **How it went:** Excellent odor control, lightweight, lasts a long time. You stir daily and replace fully every few weeks.

**Weekly cost:** close to clumping clay, sometimes cheaper for one cat.

Our results

For two cats, clumping clay and crystals ended up close in weekly cost. Pellets were the cheapest but required a special sifting litter box and one grumpy cat's approval.

Ways to save on any litter

• Buy the biggest bag or box you can store.
• Use autoship discounts for regular purchases.
• Scoop daily. A clean box means less litter wasted on full changes.
• Use a litter mat to catch what gets tracked out.

Switching litter

Mix old and new litter gradually over a week or two. Cats are picky. A sudden switch can lead to accidents outside the box.

Health note

If your cat suddenly changes litter box habits, it can signal a health issue. Talk to your vet.

Where to buy

Walmart has low prices on big bags of clumping litter. Target often runs promotions on pet supplies. Amazon and Chewy offer autoship discounts and deliver heavy bags to your door, which your back will appreciate.

Verdict

Calculate weekly cost, not bag price. For most households, clumping clay is the easy default, but pellets can save money if your cats agree to it.