Kate Barrington / Cats.com
Free from synthetic chemicals and toxic additives, Ökocat natural litter is marketed as a healthier alternative to clay cat litter. But how does it hold up in real-world testing? Find out in this unbiased, in-depth review.
Ratings
Price Per Pound – 3/5
Multi-Cat Formulas – 4/5
Natural/Alternative Options – 5/5
Dust/Mess – 4/5
Easy to Scoop – 4/5
Overall Score: 4/5
Why Trust Cats.com
Ökocat was one of the first cat litters I tried—it was recommended for litter training by the shelter when I adopted my first two kittens, Bagel and Munchkin. Over a decade later, I’ve tested dozens of natural and alternative cat litters. When Ökocat announced the release of updated formulas and brand new packaging, I was eager to try it for myself.
To write this review, I tested three Ökocat formulas in several different styles of litter box over the course of a month. During testing, I made observations about how well each product controlled odor and limited tracking on top of metrics like dustiness and scoopability. My cats didn’t display any objections to Ökocat litter and didn’t require any lengthy transition process to start using it regularly.
Ökocat Litter and Healthy Pet Overview
Kate Barrington / Cats.com
Healthy Pet was founded in 1985 and currently operates out of two locations in the United States—Ferndale, Washington and Jesup, Georgia. The Healthy Pet family of brands includes Ökocat natural litter, carefresh and CritterCare small pet bedding, and Puppy Go Potty dog litter.
Ökocat is Healthy Pet’s only line of cat litter. Named after the German word for “eco” or ecological, Ökocat is made from 100% reclaimed wood. It’s a sustainably sourced and biodegradable alternative to clay cat litter that comes in five different formulas.
All five Ökocat formulas are free from synthetic chemicals and come in 100% recyclable packaging. Depending on the formula, the litter is sold in 9-, 12.6-, and 18.8-pound volumes.
You can find Ökocat litter in major pet retailers like Petco and Petsmart as well as independent and regional pet stores and big box stores like Walmart. Ökocat products are also sold online at Chewy.com or on Amazon.com.
Ökocat Litter Features
Kate Barrington / Cats.com
Unlike traditional clay cat litter, Ökocat litter is sustainably sourced and completely biodegradable. It’s made from reclaimed wood fibers—a blend of spruce, fir, and pine. The fibers come from suppliers that comply with Forest Stewardship Council and Sustainable Forestry Initiative policies and are regularly subjected to third-party testing for safety.
Healthy Pet uses leftover by-products from local lumber mills (before they add any chemicals) and dries the wood at high temperatures to remove any phenols or volatile oils that might otherwise irritate your cat’s nose or lungs. No synthetic fragrances or other chemicals are added to Ökocat litter, though the product does retain a subtle natural wood scent.
Ökocat offers the following cat litter products:
Original Premium Clumping Wood Cat Litter
Super Soft Clumping Wood Cat Litter
Low Tracking, Less Mess Mini-Pellets
Featherweight Clumping Wood Cat Litter
Dust Free Non-Clumping Paper Pellet Cat Litter
All Ökocat products are clumping cat litters with the exception of the dust-free paper pellets. It’s worth noting, however, that the products don’t clump to quite the same degree as clay-based litter. The clumps may need to sit for an hour or two to harden enough for easy scooping.
Three Ökocat products come in soft, lightweight granules while the other two come in small, oblong pellets. All five products are free from potentially harmful silica dust but may break down into a fine sawdust-like material. The mini pellets are the lowest tracking of the Ökocat lineup because the pellets simply don’t stick to a cat’s paws like smaller, finer granules might.
Though free from added fragrance, Ökocat litter offers strong natural odor-control benefits. It’s highly absorbent, soaking up urine and locking away the ammonia odor on contact. A small or medium bag of Ökocat litter can last a single cat for several months when scooped daily and the large bags are ideal for multi-cat households.
One final fact worth mentioning is that Ökocat litter is biodegradable but Healthy Pet doesn’t recommend flushing it. It’s not so much a plumbing issue, however, as an environmental one. Healthy Pet cites concerns about the potential impact of flushed pet waste on water quality and wildlife as an explanation.
What We Like:
Sustainably sourced from reclaimed wood fiber
Eco-friendly alternative to clay litter
Packaging is 100% recyclable
Strong natural odor control ability
Five different formulas to choose from
Free from synthetic fragrance and other chemicals
What We Dislike:
Clumps need time to harden before scooping
Lightweight formula may track more than heavier products
Some cats might not like the texture of the pellets
What Did Our Test Cats Think?
Kate Barrington / Cats.com
To test Ökocat natural litter, I purchased three formulas: Original Premium Clumping Wood, Low Tracking Less Mess Mini-Pellets, and Featherweight Clumping Wood Cat Litter. These are the only three Ökocat products my local pet store carries, though others are easy to find online.
Immediately, I was impressed by the new packaging. Not only is it 100% recyclable, but it makes it easy to distinguish between the different products. The bag for each product is a different color and there’s an enlarged picture of the litter on the front.
The new bags are made from pretty sturdy paper and the handles make them just as easy to carry as the old boxes. They’re a little tricky to open but there aren’t any corners for the litter to get stuck in (an issue I always had with the boxes). Plus, they fold up nicely to fit in the recycling bin.
Throughout the testing process, I found Ökocat litter did a great job controlling odor and it lasted longer than I thought it would. It had a subtle natural wood scent that I liked and my cats didn’t seem to have any issues with the size, shape, or texture of the different formulas.
The litter didn’t clump quite as well as clay litter but the small bits left behind by the scoop were easy to stir back in for reuse. This was most noticeable with the mini-pellet formula.
I actually found this quality surprisingly beneficial when I was testing it in the Petmate Booda Dome Cleanstep Litter Box. The clay cat litter I’d been using always stuck to the sides (especially since my cat Munchkin sprays urine all over the walls of the box), which made it tricky to scoop. Instead of scraping, I simply stirred any leftover bits back into the litter bed. The product did a much better job of minimizing odor than the clay litter I’d been using as well.
Kate Barrington / Cats.com
Overall, Ökocat remains one of my favorite eco-friendly alternatives to clay cat litter. I love the wide variety of formulas now available and appreciate the brand’s continued commitment to sustainability.
What Do Customers Think of Ökocat Litter?
Ökocat litter appears to be generally well-liked, especially among cat owners looking for a low-dust, fragrance-free alternative to clay. With thousands of customer ratings on Chewy.com alone, Ökocat products earn an average of at least 3 out of 5 stars. The least popular product appears to be the non-clumping variety—the others average 4 out of 5 stars.
Positive Reviews
Satisfied customers often comment that Ökocat litter isn’t dusty like clay and many seem to appreciate the product’s subtle fresh-cut wood scent. Numerous positive reviews mention the switch to recyclable packaging with several customers saying they believe the slight price increase is worth the improvement.
“I appreciate that this is packaged in paper. I realized that the price increased but it’s now bagged instead of boxed so you are actually getting more litter even though the weight didn’t reflect that. Anyway, my cats like this, it’s easy to clean and not dusty at all.” – Eve reviewing Ökocat Dust-Free Unscented Non-Clumping Clumping Paper Pellet Cat Litter on Chewy.com, February 25, 2024
“I’m sensitive to scented things, so it’s been really hard to find a cat litter that takes care of the poop smell but also doesn’t make my whole house smell awful. Even the unscented cat litters have scents that bother me. Anyway, this smells like sawdust, which is perfect for me.” – Lena reviewing Ökocat Super Soft Clumping Wood Cat Litter on Chewy.com, June 26, 2024
Negative Reviews
Dissatisfied customers frequently complain that the lightweight Ökocat formulas track to a significant degree—more than the mini pellets. Some customers say the product is too dusty or that it becomes sticky when wet. A few customers think the new packaging is too large.
“This litter tracks quite a lot. I thought it would be less than the pellets, but, alas, no. It also allows urine to become sticky in the corners of the litter box and start smelling.” – Janet reviewing Ökocat Original Premium Wood Clumping Cat Litter on Chewy.com, August 18, 2024
“I love the Ökocat wood litter, but my most recent purchase was in a mylar bag instead of the previous box. The bag in this large size is very unwieldy — hard to drag down the stairs and will not stay upright when open and causes contents to spill.” – Eileen reviewing Ökocat Original Premium Clumping Wood Cat Litter on Chewy.com, August 21, 2024
Overall, Is Ökocat Litter a Good Choice?
When it comes to natural cat litter, Ökocat appears to be a popular choice. Not only do the products perform well in the litter box, but customers seem to think the quality is worth the premium price. As a brand, Healthy Pet also appears to be committed to meeting the customer’s needs while respecting the environment.
Ökocat is a particularly good choice for cats with sensitive noses and for applications where a soft, clay-free litter is required (such as post-surgical recovery or litter training for kittens). With five formulas to choose from, Ökocat is versatile for both single- and multi-cat households. It’s also easy to find online or in stores, including major pet store chains.
Similar Brands
Looking for other cat litter brands similar to Ökocat? Check out some of our other brand reviews.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Ökocat litter made from?
All five Ökocat formulas are made from reclaimed wood fibers sourced from local lumber mills. It’s a mixture of spruce, fir, and pine that has been dried at high temperatures to remove any potentially harmful phenols or volatile oils.
Can you flush Ökocat litter?
It depends. While Ökocat is biodegradable like other flushable cat litter products, Healthy Pet removed the term “flushable” from product labels out of concern for the environmental impact of flushing pet waste.
How often should I change Ökocat litter?
Like any litter, Ökocat should be scooped daily to remove clumps and waste—the litter level can then be topped up as needed. A small or medium bag of Ökocat litter should last a single cat 2 to 2 ½ months or two cats up to one month. A large bag can last a single cat up to 4 months or multiple cats up to 3 months.
Does Ökocat work in automatic cat litter boxes?
No, Ökocat is not recommended for automatic litter boxes. For clumping varieties, the clumps should sit for an hour or two to harden before scooping or sifting for the best results.
