Healthy Pet Ökocat Cat Litter Review

Even a decade ago, the idea of natural cat litter was still fairly new and foreign to many cat owners. Today, however, cat owners are joining the ranks of the eco-conscious and natural cat litter brands like Ökocat are stepping up to the plate.

With six formulas to choose from, Ökocat is providing eco-conscious cat owners with options for both clumping and non-clumping cat litter. Every formula offers 7-day odor control in a lightweight, biodegradable cat litter that absorbs anywhere from 200% to 500% its weight in liquid.

Though you’ll pay a little more for Ökocat, many cat owners agree that it’s worth every penny. Try it for yourself and see if your cat agrees!

How We Tested The Litter:

• We purchased 3 of the best cat litters Healthy Pet Ökocat has to offer
• We spent a few weeks testing the cat litters on several cats
• We did not receive these product in exchange for a favorable review, they were purchased with our own money

Brand Overview

Nestled in a cozy corner of the Pacific Northwest, Healthy Pet was developed by a team of passionate, innovative, and committed people who love pets and who want to create exceptional pet products.

The Healthy Pet family includes pet brands like CareFresh, CritterCare, Puppy Go Potty, Simply Pine, and of course, Ökocat. The company is owned by the J. Rettenmaier & Sohne Group (JRS), a family-owned global leader in natural fiber processing, so it is no wonder that their name ranks among the best for all-natural cat litters and other pet products.

The Ökocat brand is dedicated to being eco-friendly. In fact, the word “Öko” is German for eco or ecological, making it a fitting name for a cat litter made from 100% reclaimed wood and other eco-friendly materials.

Ökocat litter is naturally absorbent, helping to prevent the kind of unhygienic litter box conditions that lead to odor. Plus, the materials are biodegradable which means they are safe to flush for easy disposal. Even the corrugated box that Ökocat litter comes in is completely recyclable.

What Kinds Of Litter Does The Brand Offer?

The Healthy Pet brand manufactures and sells Ökocat litter. There are currently six formulas to choose from, all made from natural materials.

Ökocat sells four clumping and two non-clumping cat litter formulas. All of the clumping formulas are made from natural wood in soft, ground pellets. These pellets absorb up to 500% their weight in liquid and form tight clumps while remaining super lightweight. Both of the non-clumping formulas are alternative litters – one is pine and the other paper.

The Ökocat Cracked Pine formula is completely free from chemicals, dyes, and synthetic ingredients and offers lightweight odor control for 7 days. The Dust Free Paper formula is also lightweight, completely dust-free, and absorbs up to 200% its weight in liquid.

The three formulas we’re reviewing here are the clumping formulas included in the Original Series.

Top 3 Cat Litters Reviewed

#1 Ökocat Natural Wood Clumping Cat Litter

Kate Barrington / Cats.com

$24.99 At Chewy $24.99 At Petco

Many cat owners are starting to turn to natural cat litters out of a desire to protect the world we live in. Unfortunately, many natural cat litters offer sub-par performance in areas like clumping and odor control. Ökocat is different. Their all-natural litter is made from reclaimed wood which is naturally lightweight, absorbent, and odor-controlling. It is also sustainable and biodegradable. What more could an eco-conscious cat owner ask for?

This Ökocat Natural Wood Clumping Cat Litter is the original recipe that has been perfected over time. It is made from reclaimed timbers and lumber materials and protected by patented Odor Shield Technology to bind and trap both liquid and odors for longer than ordinary cat litters without the use of chemical additives.

Simply put, this litter offers both higher absorbency and higher yield than typical clay litter and even other natural materials. This litter had virtually no dust, but the lightweight granules did track quite a bit more than expected.

Our primary concern when testing Ökocat Natural Wood Clumping Cat Litter was odor control. In a multi-cat household, odors build up fast and we weren’t sure a natural cat litter could handle it. Fortunately, Ökocat proved up to the challenge.

The litter itself had a slight natural scent, but nothing too noticeable. In terms of odor control, the litter did fairly well with multiple cats, though we were scooping at least once a day.

We liked that this natural wood litter absorbed liquid immediately before it could soak to the bottom of the box and formed a clump that was easy to scoop and dispose of.

We did find that the clumps did not harden as much as they do with clay litter, but the idea is for the clumps to break up in the toilet or compost bin, so this is understandable.

As far as scooping goes, we were able to use a regular scoop.

Category	Rating
Price	4/5
Clumping Action	3/5
Odor Control	3/5
Dust/Mess	3/5
Scent	5/5
Easy to Scoop	4/5
Overall Rating	3.75/5

Pros:

• Made from all-natural, sustainable, and biodegradable materials
• Absorbs liquid quickly and forms clumps for easy disposal
• Controls odors for 7 days without artificial fragrance or chemicals

Cons:

• Feces clumps tend to fall apart more than urine clumps, may produce odor
• Liquid may hit the bottom of the pan before absorbing if litter isn’t deep enough
• More expensive than clay litters and other natural options

This litter comes in an 8.2-pound, 13.2-pound, and 19.8-pound box. Because it is made from all-natural reclaimed wood, this litter is incredibly lightweight.

#2 Ökocat Super Soft Clumping Wood Cat Litter

Kate Barrington / Cats.com

$24.99 At Chewy $24.99 At Petco

Switching to natural cat litter is great, but some cats don’t make the transition easily. Many natural cat litters have a unique texture that cats dislike, and even switching to Ökocat Clumping Wood Cat Litter can be a challenge.

That’s where this Ökocat Super Soft Clumping Wood Cat Litter comes in. It’s the same naturally lightweight wood litter but in a softer, finer texture, similar to clay litter to make the transition a little easier for your cat. It’s also the perfect solution for cats with delicate paws including senior cats and kittens.

This Ökocat Super Soft Clumping Wood Cat Litter absorbs up to 5 times its weight in liquid, forming clumps around both liquid and solid waste for easy scooping. The fine granules worked just fine in a regular litter scoop, though the clumps did tend to fall apart a bit more than with clay litter. The idea, again, is that the litter breaks up in the toilet or compose heap, so we weren’t too bothered by this fact. Plus, we were happy to find a natural cat litter that really works.

In addition to being highly absorbent, this Ökocat Super Soft Clumping Wood Cat Litter does a good job of controlling odors. Like the previous formula, it is designed for single-cat households, but it may work if you scoop the box regularly.

We liked that it didn’t have much of a scent and that it was very low in dust. Like the previous formula, however, it did track significantly.

Category	Rating
Price	3/5
Clumping Action	3/5
Odor Control	3/5
Dust/Mess	3/5
Scent	5/5
Easy to Scoop	4/5
Overall Rating	3.5/5

Pros:

• Eco-friendly formula – all-natural, sustainable, and biodegradable materials
• Absorbs liquid quickly and efficiently, so disposal is easy
• Controls odors for 7 days without artificial fragrance or chemicals

Cons:

• Lightweight granules track quite a bit
• Clumps may break up more easily than with clay litter
• More expensive compared to other similar products

This litter comes in a 7-pound, 11.2-pound, and 16.7-pound box. Just like the previous product, because it is made from all-natural reclaimed wood, this litter is very lightweight.

#3 Ökocat Natural Paper Dust Free Cat Litter

Kate Barrington / Cats.com

$28.99 At Chewy $24.99 At Petco

One of the most common complaints cat owners have about clay litter is how dusty it is. Not only does it produce a cloud of dust when you pour it in, but the box fills with dust every time your cat scratches around. Few litters are truly dust-free, but this Ökocat Natural Paper Dust Free Cat Litter is the closest we’ve seen. Made with natural paper materials and free from synthetic fragrances, additives, and chemicals, this paper litter is as simple and natural as it comes.

While this Ökocat Natural Paper Dust Free Cat Litter’s claim to fame is being dust-free, it is also highly absorbent and offers impressive odor control for a natural cat litter. The paper materials absorb more than twice their weight in liquid, and the specially formed pellets are firm on the outside and soft on the inside for maximum absorbency. The high absorbency means that your cat’s litter stays dry longer than clay litter, saving you from having to empty the litter box as often.

In testing this Ökocat Natural Paper Dust Free Cat Litter, we found it to be very different from other paper litters we’ve tried. The pellets were much smaller and lighter which, unfortunately, led to some tracking. They were, however, just as absorbent as promised and dust-free.

We found it a little trickier to scoop than the wood litters, especially for solid waste, but had no significant issues with it.

Category	Rating
Price	1/5
Clumping Action	2/5
Odor Control	3/5
Dust/Mess	4/5
Scent	5/5
Easy to Scoop	3/5
Overall Rating	3/5

Pros:

• Made from natural paper materials with no additives or chemicals
• Absorbs up to 2x its weight in liquid, stays dry longer
• Very lightweight and gentle on the paws

Cons:

• Lightweight granules can be tracked fairly easily
• Solids don’t clump well, somewhat tricky to scoop
• Can be difficult to tell clean and dirty litter apart when dry

This litter comes in a 5.1-pound and 8.2-pound box. Because it is made from recycled paper, this litter is very lightweight.

What Do Customers Think Of Ökocat Cat Litter?

Ökocat litter is unlike anything most cat owners have used. This being the case, the reviews are highly varied. For those who purchase the litter understanding the unique benefits, the reviews are largely positive.

For those who purchase the litter expecting it to act like typical clay litter, the reviews are a little more critical. Overall, however, customers love Ökocat as a natural alternative to clay litter.

Naturally, every customer’s experience is unique, and there are both good and bad reviews for the brand online. Keep reading to see positive and negative customer reviews for each of the three cat litter formulas featured above:

Positive Reviews

“Was recommended by a family member so we decided to try it. We’ve tried lots of other clumping, clay alternatives including walnut and corn. The best part is the dust is very minimal compared to other litters. We have one cat with renal issues and therefore high urine output and this litter has still clumped well and provided good odor control. We are a multi-cat household and had no issues transitioning from the previous litter. My only complaint is due to the size of the granules, when I scoop out clumps, the unused litter does not easily fall back into the box. A minor complaint as a different scoop may solve that issue. I’ll take that problem over the dust mess any day.” – TheAI2000, reviewing Ökocat Natural Wood Clumping Cat Litter

“I want to talk to you about the best cat litter in the world!! I ordered my first 16.7lb box Aug 2018 and I am now ordering my second box TODAY with still some leftover. I noticed my older cat wasn’t really liking the standard cat litter anymore and it was making my other cat sneeze. This clay wood liiter is like magic and lasts for a VERY long time. It doesn’t stink either like the normal stuff. You can scoop n drop and still have tons of litter left. It also clumps up the pee for easy pickup!! I LOVE THIS LITTER!! I give it 1,000 stars.” – Krystal, reviewing Ökocat Super Soft Clumping Wood Cat Litter

“Surprisingly great litter; treat it like you would a crystal litter; does have a weird smell though. Detailed review: I’ve tried most of the popular cat litters, always trying to find something that worked but wasn’t dusty or too heavy, but I never wanted to try paper litter because I assumed it would be messy and gross. Recently, after one of my kitties was diagnosed with asthma, I begrudgingly ordered this product. I really wasn’t expecting it to work well at all… but it does! It’s the only litter I’ve tried that is actually 100% dust free, both when you first put it in the box AND after it’s been used multiple times. It consists of small white pellets with no pointy edges (unlike the newspaper brand I tried, which I found to have large, sharp pellets). My cats took to it with no issues.” – Elizabeth, reviewing Ökocat Natural Paper Dust Free Cat Litter 

Negative Reviews

“I so wanted to love this litter, it is eco-friendly, zero waste and flushable, but little did I know that my house was going to be turned in to a woody mess! I have the little pellets all over my house, bathroom, living room, bedroom, bed, kitchen, EVERYWHERE!! I don’t understand how this litter has so many good reviews, does it work for only short hair cats? I have a long haired one and I can’t wait until the box is empty, I will continue my search for a great eco-friendly litter.” – Mariangel, reviewing Ökocat Natural Wood Clumping Cat Litter

“The cats like it, I like the biodegradable aspect. There is no odor control. None. Nada. Zip. I didn’t notice so much with the first two boxes I converted in a larger area with better air flow, but when I converted the box in the bedroom with a door that has to remain shut, oh boy does it stink. There is one cat in here who uses this box and it’s cleaned out daily. I’m sitting here in 35-degree weather with the window open to air out the bedroom so I can breathe. No bueno. Back to the drawing board for me.” – Robin, reviewing Ökocat Super Soft Clumping Wood Cat Litter

“A former colleague of mine who said she had 4 cats swore by this product and said no one would ever know that many cats were living there! She swears she wasn’t being “noseblind”. I love that the box is light weight vs clay litter. I have 2 cats. The smell is simply disgusting after 2 days and because the material is so light, it sticks to their feet and they track it Everywhere around the house. I’m vacuuming 3x a day to keep my floors clean. Unfortunately going back to clay litter.” – AZpurr, reviewing Ökocat Natural Paper Dust Free Cat Litter

How Much Does Ökocat Cat Litter Cost?

The upside of Ökocat litter is that it is made from all-natural materials in a variety of different formulas, both clumping and non-clumping. The downside is that Ökocat is significantly more expensive than the typical clay litter.

Compared to other all-natural cat litter brands, Ökocat is competitively priced but it is still more than the average cat owner may be used to spending. Ökocat’s clumping litters range from about $0.70 per pound to over $1.15 per pound.

Ökocat pine litter is the most affordable formula, under $0.50 per pound, and the natural paper litter is the most expensive at over $2.50 per pound.

Overall, Is Ökocat Cat Litter a Good Choice?

All in all, we were very impressed with Ökocat litter. We loved that it was made from natural, sustainable materials and it was definitely a bonus that it is flushable. We were a little skeptical about the odor control but were pleasantly surprised, and we were pleased to see how lightweight it was and that we didn’t need a special scoop.

The thing to remember about this brand is that it is not designed for multi-cat households. Because Ökocat is made from all-natural materials with no added fragrance, it does not cover up odors as well as some clay litters.

Even the clumping formulas develop an odor over time if you don’t scoop the litter box regularly. If you have more than one cat, your best bet is to provide an extra litter box and to scoop the box daily, refreshing the litter entirely every 10 to 14 days.

Being a natural cat litter has many benefits. Not only is Ökocat better for the environment and totally biodegradable, but it is flushable as well – this makes it very easy to clean the litter box and dispose of waste. It also makes Ökocat safe and gentle for senior cats, kittens, and cats with sensitive paws.

Where Is Ökocat Cat Litter Sold?

Ökocat litter is sold online and in pet stores. You can find it for sale from online retailers like Chewy and Amazon, as well as big box stores like Walmart and Target or even local and national pet stores such as PetSmart and Petco.