The Best Cat Pads

What to Look For

Taking absorbency, odor control, and affordability into consideration, we gathered and reviewed the best litter box cat pads on the market today. Diving into the details made it easy to narrow down our options. For example, the Amazon Basics pads stood out right away thanks to their effectiveness and affordable price. And the Peritas version exceeded our expectations in odor control thanks to the activated carbon interiors. Which version will work best for you and your cat? Read on to find out.

Amazon Basics Litter Box Cat Pads

Affordable and effective

These simple cat pads work well, and they're sold at a price that won't break the bank.

Best Overall

Find on Amazon

These litter box cat pads prove you don’t need to spend a lot for high quality. Choose from packs that range from 20 to 100 pieces, as well as aromas that include Fresh, Lemon, and Unscented. The PE film material is extremely absorbent, and the purple layer underneath is leakproof for added protection. Use the pads with your litter box system or for traveling with your furry friend.

Pros:

• We appreciate that these cat pads work well in both single and multi-cat homes.
• The prices are much lower than name-brand competitors.

Cons:

• Since these don’t have built-in odor control, they should be changed every 3 days instead of once per week.

Peritas Activated Carbon Litter Box Cat Pads

Stink no more

These activated carbon cat pads are masters at odor elimination.

Runner Up

Find on Amazon

With activated carbon inside, these litter box cat pads are designed to remove unwanted odors immediately. They’re also extremely absorbent, holding up to 7 cups of liquid at a time. The bottom layer is durable and leakproof. Use the pads with the breeze system or a similarly-designed litter box. They’re made to fit perfectly in the bottom drawer.

Pros:

• Even with their elevated technology, these pads are cheaper than name-brand versions.
• You can purchase a version without the carbon interior if you prefer.

Cons:

• No special scents are offered for this product, but they still remove unwanted odors easily.

Purina Tidy Cats Breeze Litter Box Pads

Two cat control

These pads are designed to hold the urine of multiple cats for up to one week at a time.

Best For Multi-Cat Homes

Find on Amazon

These cat pads are designed for the most popular liquid-absorbing litter box, the Purina Tidy Cats Breeze. The pads fit perfectly, controlling ammonia odors and soaking up urine for up to one week at a time. They’re also designed specifically for homes with multiple pets, so you won’t have to change the liners more often just because two cats are using the same box.

Pros:

• They’re lightly scented to help keep your home smelling fresh.
• The bottoms are leakproof for quick and clean pad changes every time.

Cons:

• The price is higher than other litter box cat pads, but the quality and fit are worth it for many pet families.

Honey Care All-Absorb Disposable Cat Litter Pads

Hold it all

These porous cat pads turn liquids into a gel for immediate absorption.

Most Absorbent

Find on Amazon

These innovative pads are designed to soak up every liquid that comes their way. When urine touches the surface, it’s quickly absorbed and turned into a fresh-smelling gel. This absorbency and odor-control technology last up to one week. The back is leakproof for easy cleaning, and the price is just right for such a well-working product, too.

Pros:

• These pads fit nicely into the Breeze system and other similar models.
• They can be used with any type of non-absorbent litter. 

Cons:

• Adhesive bottoms would add a new level of convenience to these pads.

 ValuePad Plus Cat Litter Pads

More for your money

This set of cat pads will keep your litter box covered for many months to come.

Best Bulk Buy

Find on Amazon

If you’re a hardcore cat pad user, you may be searching for a bulk pack of quality products to keep you going for months to come. And this set of 100 may be a great fit. The pads quickly turn urine into a gel, and the bottoms are leakproof to prevent unwanted messes. They can be used in Breeze systems and similar boxes, under litter boxes, and even on their floor on their own.

Pros:

• These have soft top layers, which is helpful if you want to use them outside of the litter box.
• Smaller packs are available if you don’t need 100 at a time.

Cons:

• There’s no odor, but they also don’t smell much if they’re changed every few days.

Frequently Asked Questions

What litter boxes will cat pads work in?

These pads are designed to be used in litter boxes that have a bottom drawer for liquid control. One common version is the Purina Tidy Cats Breeze system. The pads on the list above work well in this container and those with similar designs and sizes.

How often will I need to change my cat pads?

Most pads need to be changed once per week per cat. If you have more than one cat and prefer not to purchase pads designed specifically for multi-cat homes, you will want to change the pads twice weekly or every three days.

About the Author

Jessica has two kids, but she's a parent to numerous pets, including cats, dogs, and even reptiles. Needless to say, she's an animal lover. She admits to spoiling her furry friends, and now wants to share her decades of experience in pet care with the rest of the world to help others find the best products for their four-legged families.

Why Trust Us

Since 2008, CatTime has provided millions of cat owners with all the information they need to keep their pets happy and healthy. Our experts know exactly what it takes to raise our furry friends and our goal is to help all owners, new or experienced, care for their cats with all the right food, toys, equipment, and accessories.