Honest Catsan Cat Litter Review

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Catsan Clumping Clay Cat Litter Review

Pros

  • Very affordable
  • Two kittens approved
  • Easy to scoop
  • Great absorption

Cons

  • A little dusty
  • Tracks a little
  • Made in China

Final Thoughts

Catsan clumping clay litter is a no-nonsense affordable choice that’ll suit many.

As far as performance goes, it gets the job done on many fronts. Good odor control, great absorption, effortless scooping, and cat friendly.

Whilst it tracks a little and could be a tiny bit less dusty, it’s a great product for the money. Just be careful with the heavy litter that you’ll need to factor in with how much to buy.

Key Features

FeatureNote
MaterialBentonite clay
ClumpingYes
FlushableNo
Packing typePlastic
Re-sealable bagNo
ScentedNo
Odor control additiveNo
Bag sizing options7kg; 15kg
Size2 x 2 mm
Made in?China
Absorption ratio*97%
Density (g/ml)0.9
Key features for Catsan clumping clay cat litter *Percent of moisture absorbed with testing
A photo showing the size of Catsan clumping clay cat litter
Sizing: 2 x 2mm litter size
A photo showing the volume of Catsan clumping clay cat litter
Density: 500g of litter fills ~450ml
A short video showing how well Catsan clumping clay cat litter absorbs

Dust Testing Information

Air Quality0cm0cm pat test15cm 15cm pat test30cm
Max PM2.57.63.73.23.83.2
Average PM2.53.72.62.43.02.4
PM2.5 fluctation5.01.91.51.82.3
Max and average (mean) PM2.5 and AQI levels for Catsan clumping clay cat litter
A graph showing PM2.5 results from testing Catsan clumping clay cat litter with an air quality monitor
PM2.5 results from testing Catsan clumping clay cat litter with an air quality monitor
Catsan clumping clay cat litter air quality and PM2.5 testing

Cat Preference and Usage

The table below shows how often our two kittens used Catsan clumping clay cat litter (test) compared to a clay cat litter (control).

DayTestControl
122
1.543
222
2.543
Total1210
A comparison of how often our cats used Catsan clumping clay cat litter to our control cat litter when tested
A look at scooping waste from Catsan clumping clay cat litter

Review Limitations

I only used this litter for 3 days (one to acclimate the kittens to the litter, and two for testing). This may not be enough time to find out if our kittens liked it best.

I emptied the litter tray three times a day to make sure the trays were clean at all times to reduce bias. However, I couldn’t empty the tray at night so that might have influenced results.

Finally the litter boxes used in this article are only 42cm long. Research suggests cats prefer larger boxes (at least 1.5x the size of your cat).

Catsan Clumping Clay Cat Litter Review Notes

  • Review date: 30 October – 01 November 2023
  • Testing methodology: 1.1 (see here)
  • Test cat litter: Catsan clumping clay cat litter
  • Control cat litter: Smitten clay litter
  • Cats: 2 cats (Cleo and Maxi) (see our cat testers here)
  • Temperature: 17 degrees Celsius
  • Humidity: 54%

Changelog:

  • 02 November – First upload

Catsan Crystal Cat litter Review

Catsan crystal cat litter (C) Simply Cat Care
Catsan crystal cat litter

Review Summary

  • Odor control: Did a good job at keeping unpleasant smells at bay, making it good option for indoor use.
  • Urine absorption: Excellent urine absorption that reduces the need for frequent litter changes.
  • Low-tracking: Generally minimal tracking, although it does leave small levels of dust. Less clean up required.
  • Non-clumping: While it offers great absorption, Catsan crystal litter doesn’t clump. Can be good or bad depending on your preference.
  • Hesitant kittens: Our kittens didn’t seem to enjoy using this one compared to clay litter.
  • Dust levels: Brief but noticeable spikes in dust occurred when poured. Exceeded healthy air quality indices and worth caution for those with respiratory problems.
Score 7

Final Thoughts

Catsan crystal litter is lightweight and does great in odor control and absorption, if that’s what you’re after. However, if you or your cats are sensitive to dust, this might not be ideal.

Key Features

FeatureNote
MaterialCrystal (silica gel)
ClumpingNo
FlushableNo
Packing typePlastic
Re-sealable bagNo
ScentedNo
Odor control additiveNo
Bag sizing options2kg; 6kg; 8kg
Key features for Catsan crystal cat litter

Product Testing Data

TestResult
Sizing< 5mm
SoftnessMedium
TrackingMinimal
Absorption ratio92%
Did cat use?Sometimes
Density (g/ml)0.6
Product testing data for Catsan crystal cat litter
A picture showing the size of Catsan crystal cat litter (C) Simply Cat Care
Sizing: <5mm granule length
A picture showing the water absorption from Catsan crystal cat litter (C) Simply Cat Care
Absorption: Result of 85ml water on 1 inch litter
A photo showing tracking of Catsan cat litter on black cardboard paper
Tracking: This litter tracks a little
A photo showing the density of 500g of Catsan crystal litter (C) Simply Cat Care
Density: 500g fills a depth of 1,000ml

Here’s results from testing the dust using an air quality monitor.

The most notable sharp increase in air quality index (AQI) occured when pouring litter into a tray at 15cm away.

The AQI goes from 0 (good) to 500 (bad). Anything over 300 is harmful to health when inhaled. Catsan exceeds 300 AQI for around one minute before settling down.

If using Catsan crystal litter, I recommend a well ventilated area and taking care to pour in the litter gently (perhaps using a scoop).

For small spaces, this could be a problem to health.

Air Quality15 cm 15 cm pat test30 cm
Max PM2.567.47.41.4
Average PM2.519.15.41.1
Max AQI384307
Average AQI92234
Max and average (mean) PM2.5 and AQI levels for Catsan crystal cat litter when testing for three minutes
Catsan crystal cat litter dust testing results for Air Quality Index (AQI) (C) Simply Cat Care
AQI results from testing Catsan crystal cat litter with an air quality monitor (learn about AQI here)
Catsan crystal cat litter dust testing results from PM2.5 particle size (C) Simply Cat Care
PM2.5 results from testing Catsan crystal cat litter with an air quality monitor
A picture showing Catsan crystal cat litter producing high amounts of PM2.5 dust (C) Simply Cat Care
Catsan crystal litter produces high amounts of PM2.5 dust for a short period at close range

Cat Preference

I tested Catsan Crystal cat litter compared to a control cat litter (clay).

Here’s how often the litter trays were used (litter spot rotated on the second day). Our kittens preferred the clay litter.

  • Test: Catsan crystal cat litter
  • Control: Smitten clay litter
DayTestControl
101
1.514
212
2.525
Total412
A comparison of how often our cats used Catsan crystal cat litter to our control cat litter when tested
A comparison of litter tray usage between Catsan Crystal Cat Litter and control litter (day 1) (C) Simply Cat Care
A comparison of litter tray usage between Catsan crystal cat litter and control litter (day 1)
Our cat Cleo trying Catsan crystal cat litter and Smitten clay litter in comparison (C) Simply Cat Care
Cleo examines Catsan crystal cat litter
Our cat Cleo trying Catsan crystal cat litter and Smitten clay litter in comparison (C) Simply Cat Care
Cleo prefers the clay cat litter

Review Notes

  • Review date: 12 – 17 September 2023
  • Testing methodology: 1.0 (see here)
  • Test cat litter: Catsan Crystal Cat Litter
  • Control cat litter: Smitten Clay Litter
  • Cats: 2 cats (Cleo and Maxi) (see our cat testers here)
  • Temperature: ~16 degrees Celsius
  • Humidity: ~52% humidity

Changelog:

  • 22 September 2023 – Published article using cat litter testing methodology 1.0

More About Catsan Cat Litter

What Kinds of Litter Does Catsan Offer?

Catsan offers the following in Australia:

  • Crystal cat litter (unscented or scented with lavender)
  • Clumping clay litter

Other types are available if you are overseas.

Where Is Catsan Manufactured?

China.

It is distributed to Australian customers from New Zealand. Site of manufacter may vary depending on region.

How Often Do You Need to Replace Catsan?

Every 4 weeks.

This may vary depending on how often your cat uses the litter tray and how many cats you’ve got.

The back label of Catsan crystal cat litter showing more details for customers (C) Simply Cat Care
Catsan crystal litter information

How Do You Dispose of Catsan?

Catsan is not flushable so you’ll need to dispose of it in a bin using plastic gloves and a disposal bag.

Don’t directly touch litter, especially if you’re pregnant, as this carries a risk of infection from cat feces.

Who Owns Catsan?

Mars Petcare.

Conclusion

Catsan crystal litter excels in odor control and urine absorption. It’s generally low tracking with larger particles that don’t spread as much.

It you don’t mind the occasional dust and non-clumping, this is a solid choice. But if you’re sensitive to dust, you might want to consider other options.

Photo of author

AUTHOR

I'm qualified dietitian that's turned their attention to cat nutrition. My goal is to help tease out the science on how best to feed your cat.