Pretty Litter is one of the most popular brands of cat litter on the market today, captivating cat parents with its unique health-monitoring features and overall performance. But is this premium crystal litter truly worth the price tag? In this article, we'll answer this all-important question and help you figure out whether it's a suitable choice for you and your cat.
This article is based on information from our in-depth Pretty Litter Review.
What Is Pretty Litter?
Pretty Litter is a health-monitoring, non-clumping cat litter made from silica gel (also known as crystal cat litter). It monitors urinary health by changing colors depending on your cat’s urine pH. The white crystals also show if any blood is present. This innovative color-changing allows cat parents to identify potential health issues and seek treatment. Long-term, this can save cat parents lots of money on costly vet appointments, medications, and procedures, and in some cases even save your cat’s life.
Note: Pretty Litter just recently launched a clumping formula.
Pretty Litter Pros
Monitors Urinary Health
The most significant advantage of Pretty Litter lies in its capacity to monitor your cat's urinary health. For cats with recurrent urinary issues, this feature alone justifies the cost.
Easy Litter Box Maintenance
Pretty Litter is impressively simple when it comes to maintaining the litter box. All it requires is scooping solid waste and stirring once or twice a day to ensure all liquid waste is absorbed.
Convenient Subscription
Pretty Litter’s subscription service is very handy, with one (or more) bags arriving at your doorstep every month. The online subscription interface is quite easy to navigate as well.
Good Odor Control
Pretty Litter offers quite good odor control, especially in the first couple weeks of use. As the crystals absorb more urine, their odor controlling capacity diminishes, so weeks three and four are slightly stinkier. However, the odor is more like a chlorinated swimming pool than cat pee—definitely a big improvement.
Pretty Litter Cons
Litter Tracking
Pretty Litter's main weakness is its tendency to track. The tiny silica gel particles cling to cat fur and paws very easily and can be kicked out of the litter box with little effort. Although nearly invisible on the floor, you definitely feel them when walking around. You may find yourself vacuuming often when using Pretty Litter.
Expensive
Pretty Litter is definitely expensive compared to most other cat litters. At $24 for a six-pound bag, the price comes out to $4/lb. The health-monitoring feature is worth it if your cat has health issues, but other cat parents may prefer a clumping, lower tracking, or natural cat litter for the $2-3/lb range (like corn or tofu litter).
Not Eco-Friendly
Crystal litter, derived from silica, is harvested by open pit mining, resulting in habitat destruction, extensive water and air pollution, and landscape erosion. Moreover, silica gel is not biodegradable.
Doesn’t Stay Pretty for Long
Fresh out of the bag, Pretty Litter is definitely pretty. However, as it absorbs urine it takes on a yellowish pee color. This concern is more a matter of personal preference, but if you’re used to scooping out urine rather than stirring it into the litter, it can be a bit off-putting.
Conclusion: Is Pretty Litter Worth the Price?
Pretty Litter is undoubtedly a quality cat litter, and its popularity is understandable. However, it's important to recognize that Pretty Litter might not be the universal solution for every cat household. To assist in your decision-making process, here are our recommendations:
Pretty Litter is worth it if…
- Your cat is elderly or has a history of health issues, especially urinary-related ones. Pretty Litter is an excellent option for these situations.
- You love a low maintenance cat litter. Pretty Litter is easy to clean, has good odor control, and ships to your door.
Pretty Litter is not worth it if…
- You hate litter tracking.
- You’re on a budget. Pretty Litter is quite pricey at $4/lb.
- You have several cats. With more than two cats, Pretty Litter could become prohibitively expensive.
- You want an eco-friendly cat litter. Crystal cat litter is not biodegradable and is sourced via open pit mining. If you want a more eco-friendly product, look for a natural cat litter.
Ultimately, the choice of cat litter should align with your cat's needs and your personal preferences. Pretty Litter offers unique features that could be a game-changer for some cat parents, but it's essential to weigh its advantages and disadvantages against your specific circumstances and priorities.
Lastly, if you prefer a natural, low tracking cat litter but also like the convenience of a subscription, check out our Really Great Cat Litter. It's thoughtfully made from soybean byproduct, and it's even flushable!
