Side-by-side comparison based on expert reviews and community consensus.
Dr. Elsey's Ultra Unscented Clumping Cat Litter
Best OverallGorilla Grip Cat Litter Trapping Mat
Best Litter Mat (Accessory)Price
$20-$35
$20-$35
Summary
Consistently top-ranked by Wirecutter for superior clumping and low dust. Hard, tight clumps make scooping easy and odor control beats most competitors.
The best mat for catching scattered litter before it spreads across your floors. Coil design traps fine granules better than flat or ribbed alternatives, and it's comfortable underfoot for cats.
Pros
- Creates the strongest, hardest clumps of any tested litter
- Minimal dust production in side-by-side testing
- Excellent odor control compared to non-clay alternatives
- Unscented formula ideal for sensitive cats and owners
- Coil design traps fine-grain litter better than ribbed or flat mats
- Soft enough that cats don't avoid stepping on it
- Works with all litter types including clay and corn
- Easy to shake out or vacuum clean
Cons
- Heavier than corn or tofu-based litters, harder to carry
- Clay is not biodegradable or flushable
- Can track fine particles outside the box
- Not ideal for sticky messes like vomit — silicone mats clean easier for that
- Coils can be harder to deep-clean than flat mats
- Doesn't eliminate tracking entirely, just reduces it
Our take
If you only try one litter, make it Dr. Elsey's Ultra. It outperformed every other clay litter in clumping strength and dust tests — the benchmark everything else gets measured against.
No litter is perfect at staying in the box — the Gorilla Grip mat is the cheapest, most effective fix for tracking. Buy it alongside whatever litter you choose.
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