Picking the right litter is the difference between a fresh-smelling home and a constant housekeeping nightmare. Dr. Elsey's cat litter is a name you'll hear constantly in vet offices and cat forums—and for good reason. While many commercial litters lean on added fragrance to mask odors, in our reading of the catalog, Dr. Elsey's takes a more practical approach: rock-solid clumps, low dust, and solving actual behavioral problems. This review compares the flagship Ultra, the behavioral Cat Attract, and the low-dust R&R Respiratory Relief—three of the brand's most-discussed products. Kitten Attract, Senior, Clean Tracks, Crystal Attract, Pine, and Clean Air fall outside this comparison because they target narrower use cases; readers looking at those can check Dr. Elsey's current litter catalog and our practical cat litter buyer's guide.
Founded by feline veterinarian Dr. Bruce Elsey, the company traces its start to 1987, when Bruce and Kathy Elsey established Precious Cat Inc. next to his feline-only clinic in the Denver area, according to the brand's official company history. This review focuses on Ultra, Cat Attract, and R&R Respiratory Relief. For a wider comparison of clay, crystal, pine, paper, and plant-based options, see our practical cat litter buyer's guide.
How This Review Was Assessed
Editorial disclosure: This is a research-based product assessment, not a hands-on household test.
- Cats and households used: None.
- Box types tested: None.
- Trial duration: No physical trial was conducted.
- Measurements taken: No independent dust, tracking, odor, clump-strength, or cost-per-day measurements were collected.
- Evidence reviewed: The manufacturer's current catalog and product documentation for each reviewed formula—including product-page ingredient lists, manufacturer-issued feature descriptions, and usage instructions—cross-referenced against veterinary guidance from Cornell University, AAHA, AAFP, and ISFM. Where product claims (such as "99% dust-free") could not be matched to a published test method or independent dataset, they are reported as manufacturer claims only.
- Review process: Each formula's product page was read in full, the ingredient list and usage instructions were checked against the manufacturer's catalog page, and the resulting feature summary was verified against the cited veterinary sources before being included in the breakdown below.
- Scoring approach: We do not assign numeric performance ratings because we do not have first-hand measurements to support them.
That distinction matters. Statements such as "99% dust-free," "low tracking," and "superior odor control" below are identified as manufacturer claims rather than independent test results.
Brand Overview: A Veterinarian's Mission
Company History
Dr. Elsey opened the All Cat Clinic in 1978 and began experimenting with clay litter in 1985. The company was established in 1987 and later expanded its range around litter-box avoidance, paw sensitivity, respiratory concerns, and different life stages. Those dates and milestones come from Dr. Elsey's published brand timeline.
The current Dr. Elsey's litter catalog includes products such as Ultra, Cat Attract, Kitten Attract, Clean Tracks, R&R Respiratory Relief, Crystal Attract, Senior, Pine, and Clean Air. Availability and formulations can change, so check the current package before buying.
What Sets the Line Apart
- Problem-specific formulas: The range includes products positioned for litter-box avoidance, respiratory concerns, kittens, seniors, and sensitive paws.
- Unscented options: Ultra controls odor without perfumes or deodorants, according to its product documentation. The AAHA/AAFP feline life-stage guidelines note that unscented clumping litter may be preferred for cats with a history of urinary problems.
- Clear ingredient listings: The reviewed product pages identify natural clay as Ultra's ingredient, natural clay and herbs for Cat Attract, and natural clay with herbal essences for R&R.
- An important limitation: Most performance information available for these formulas comes from the manufacturer. Product-page claims are useful for comparing intended features, but they are not a substitute for independent laboratory or household testing.
Formula Comparison
| Formula | Published Features | Most Relevant For | Main Limitation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ultra | Unscented natural clay; manufacturer claims 99% dust-free, low tracking, and hard clumping | Single- or multi-cat homes seeking a conventional clumping litter | The product page does not publish an independent dust-test protocol or comparative performance data |
| Cat Attract | Natural clay with an herbal attractant; manufacturer claims 99% dust-free and hard clumping | Cats that avoid an otherwise suitable litter box | A litter change cannot rule out medical, environmental, or social causes of house-soiling |
| R&R Respiratory Relief | Low-dust clay with herbal essences and no plant proteins, perfumes, or deodorants | Households trying to reduce litter dust or fragrance | It is not a treatment for asthma or another respiratory disease |
In-Depth Formula Breakdown
1. Ultra Premium Clumping Litter
Ultra is the most straightforward formula in the group. The official Ultra product page describes a natural-clay, unscented litter made with heavier and medium-grain particles. The manufacturer claims Ultra is 99% dust-free, low tracking, hard clumping, and suitable for single- or multi-cat households — claims that have not, to our knowledge, been independently verified.
What stands out:
- No perfumes or deodorants.
- A conventional clumping texture rather than crystals or pellets.
- Manufacturer instructions call for a litter depth of 3–4 inches.
- Used litter should go in the trash and must not be flushed.
Where to be cautious:
The 99% dust-free and low-tracking descriptions are manufacturer claims. The cited product page does not explain the dust-testing method, publish raw measurements, or compare Ultra under controlled conditions with another brand. "Low dust" also should not be read as "dust-free."
Best fit: Owners who want an unscented clumping clay and are comfortable with the weight and disposal requirements of a conventional clay formula.
2. Cat Attract Litter
The Cat Attract product documentation lists natural clay and herbs as the ingredients and says the formula uses a natural herbal attractant. The manufacturer positions it as a training litter for cats that are not consistently using the box.
What stands out:
- Combines clumping clay with an attractant rather than relying on perfume.
- Manufacturer claims include 99% dust-free performance and hard clumping.
- Can be tried as one part of a broader litter-box intervention.
Where to be cautious:
Cat Attract is a behavioral aid, not a medical diagnosis or cure. The AAFP and ISFM house-soiling guidelines explain that house-soiling can involve medical conditions, feline idiopathic cystitis, marking, or environmental and social factors. Their recommended assessment includes a history, physical examination, and additional tests when indicated.
If a cat suddenly begins urinating or defecating outside the box, do not assume pickiness is the only cause. Arrange a veterinary examination, especially when the change is sudden or accompanied by straining, pain, frequent attempts to urinate, or blood in the urine.
Best fit: A cat that has been medically evaluated and appears to dislike or avoid its current litter setup.
3. R&R Respiratory Relief Litter
Dr. Elsey's R&R Respiratory Relief page describes a low-dust, hard-clumping clay formula made without plant proteins, perfumes, or deodorants. It contains herbal essences and is marketed for cats with respiratory issues.
There is a reasonable basis for paying attention to litter dust: the Cornell Feline Health Center lists dusty kitty litter among the suspected allergens associated with feline asthma.
Where to be cautious:
R&R is still a clay litter, and the manufacturer describes it as low dust rather than dust-free. It should not be treated as asthma therapy. Cornell notes that coughing, wheezing, and breathing difficulty can have multiple causes and that diagnosing feline asthma requires veterinary evaluation to rule out other conditions.
Best fit: Households looking to avoid added perfume and reduce litter dust after discussing respiratory symptoms with a veterinarian.
What About Health-Monitoring Litter?
Dr. Elsey's current online litter catalog does not list a Health Monitor formula, so this review does not assign diagnostic meaning to olive, blue, or red litter colors.
More importantly, a litter-box color or pH observation would be a screening prompt, not a diagnosis. Cornell's guidance on feline lower urinary tract disease says that urinary signs can have several causes and that the initial diagnostic plan commonly includes a physical examination and urinalysis. Additional blood work, imaging, or urine culture may be needed.
Blood in the urine, painful urination, repeated straining, or passing little to no urine warrants prompt veterinary attention. A urethral obstruction is an emergency and cannot be diagnosed or ruled out by litter alone.
Pros and Cons
What Stands Out
- Unscented choices: Ultra uses no perfumes or deodorants.
- Clear formula purposes: Ultra is the general-purpose option, Cat Attract addresses litter-box avoidance, and R&R focuses on lower dust and no added perfume.
- Published ingredient information: Each reviewed product page identifies its basic ingredients.
- Clumping options across the range: All three reviewed formulas are presented as hard-clumping litters by the manufacturer.
The Trade-offs
- No independent testing in this review: Dust, tracking, odor control, and clump strength were not measured first-hand.
- Manufacturer-led evidence: The available percentages and performance descriptions come primarily from Dr. Elsey's own product pages.
- Clay disposal: Ultra's instructions say to place used litter in the trash and never flush it.
- Specialty litter has limits: Cat Attract cannot exclude a medical cause of house-soiling, and R&R cannot diagnose or treat respiratory disease.
- No universal winner: Individual cats can have different litter, box, and location preferences.
Tips for Success
- Use the recommended depth. Dr. Elsey's instructs users to fill a clean, dry box with 3–4 inches of Ultra, Cat Attract, or R&R.
- Scoop consistently. The manufacturer recommends scooping these formulas twice daily. The AAHA/AAFP guidelines also recommend daily scooping and regular box cleaning.
- Keep boxes accessible. AAHA and AAFP recommend boxes in multiple quiet, convenient locations, particularly in multi-cat households. Their rule of thumb is one box per cat plus one additional box.
- Test preferences without forcing a mixture. If you are comparing litter types, the veterinary guidelines recommend offering choices in separate boxes so the cat can show a preference.
- Use an appropriately sized box. AAHA and AAFP recommend a box approximately one and a half times the cat's length from nose to tail tip, with lower entry edges for kittens or senior cats when needed.
- Treat sudden avoidance as a health signal. A new litter may help with preference, but sudden house-soiling, painful urination, blood, or repeated straining should trigger a veterinary call rather than another round of product switching.
References
- Dr. Elsey's — Official company history
- Dr. Elsey's — Litter catalog
- Dr. Elsey's — Ultra Premium Clumping Litter
- Dr. Elsey's — Cat Attract Litter
- Dr. Elsey's — R&R Respiratory Relief Litter
- AAHA/AAFP — 2021 Feline Life Stage Guidelines: General Litter Box Considerations
- AAFP and ISFM — Guidelines for Diagnosing and Solving House-Soiling Behavior in Cats (Carney et al., Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery, 2014)
- Cornell Feline Health Center — Feline Asthma: A Risky Business for Many Cats
- Cornell Feline Health Center — Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disease
Dr. Elsey's isn't trying to win any beauty contests. It doesn't smell like lavender, and the packaging is purely functional.
What the catalog does offer is a clearly structured range: an unscented general-purpose formula (Ultra), a behavioral training option (Cat Attract), and a low-dust option without added fragrance (R&R Respiratory Relief). Each formula has published ingredient information, and the performance figures cited earlier in this article are manufacturer claims that have not, to our knowledge, been independently verified.
Because no hands-on testing was conducted for this review, the most useful next step is to evaluate any of these formulas against your own cat's preferences and any relevant veterinary guidance—especially if your cat has a history of litter-box avoidance or respiratory symptoms. The recommendations in this article should be read as a research summary, not a tested verdict.
For a hands-on, tested perspective specifically on the Ultra formula, see our sibling review of Dr. Elsey's premium clay formulas. That piece reaches different conclusions because it is built on direct handling rather than documentation, and the two should be read as complementary rather than overlapping.
About the Author
Dr. Sarah Mitchell, DVM is a contributing veterinarian for Cat Care World with a clinical focus on feline preventive medicine, behavior, and household safety. Her articles translate peer-reviewed research and clinical protocols from institutions such as AAHA, AAFP, ISFM, and the Cornell Feline Health Center into practical, day-to-day guidance for cat owners. Her clinical focus on feline preventive medicine and behavior shapes the red-flag criteria and the priority given to veterinary-guideline caveats throughout this article. This review was written as a research summary based on manufacturer documentation and current veterinary guidelines rather than a hands-on household test, and the byline and methodology reflect that distinction.