Published Nov 7, 2019
By now, most pet owners are familiar with Chewy, one of the largest online retailers of pet products. Chewy offers the best deals on the best pet products and delivers them right to your door with free 1-to-2-day shipping on orders over $49. Chewy was founded in 2011 and grew rapidly, to the point where it was acquired by PetSmart in 2017.
Two years prior to the acquisition, Chewy launched their own brand of cat litter, Frisco. Frisco cat litter is affordable and comes in a wide variety of options. If you’re looking for a standard clay litter that offers hard-clumping action, low dust, and an affordable price, Frisco is definitely a brand to consider.
Ratings
- Variety of Products – 4/5
- Price Per Pound – 5/5
- Multi-Cat Formulas – 5/5
- Clumping Ability – 5/5
- Long-Lasting Odor Control – 4/5
- Natural/Alternative Options – 2/5
Overall Score: 4.25/5
How We Tested:
- We purchased 3 of the best cat litters Frisco Cat Litter 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
The Frisco brand was launched in 2015 and has grown rapidly in the years since. Though Frisco originally only offered a select few cat litter products, they now offer nearly 10 different types of cat litter as well as litter boxes, litter box liners, and other accessories.
All of Frisco’s products are affordably priced and, because they are sold on Chewy, can be delivered right to your door. Frisco offers a selection of unscented and scented cat litters, most of which are multi-cat friendly, and almost all of which offer hard-clumping action.
Frisco also offers one natural formula made from grass.
| Products Included in This Review | ||||
| Name | Materials | Clumping? | Life Stage | Additional Features |
| Frisco Multi-Cat Clumping Cat Litter | Clay | Yes | All | Multi-Cat, Unscented, Odor Control, Hypoallergenic |
| Frisco Fresh Scent Multi-Cat Clumping Cat Litter | Clay | Yes | All | Multi-Cat, Scented, Odor Control, Low-Dust |
| Frisco Lavender Fields Scent Multi-Cat Clumping Litter | Clay | Yes | All | Multi-Cat, Scented, Odor Control, Low-Dust |
What Kinds of Litter Does The Brand Offer?
The Frisco brand currently offers nine different cat litter formulas. In addition to one all-natural grass cat litter and one non-clumping crystal litter, this brand offers an assortment of more traditional products including scented, unscented, and multi-cat litters.
All of Frisco’s clumping cat litters form hard, tight clumps which makes them easy to scoop and quick to dispose of. You can choose from unscented varieties or scented litters with fragrances ranging from a clean, fresh scent to floral and tropical scents. Frisco also offers two lightweight formulas.
The three formulas we’re reviewing here are clumping formulas, one unscented and two scented.
Top 3 Cat Litters Reviewed
| Product Name | Type | Price | Overall Rating |
| Frisco Multi-Cat Clumping Cat Litter | Clumping | $0.58 per lb | 4.75/5 |
| Frisco Fresh Scent Multi-Cat Clumping Cat Litter | Clumping | $0.49 per lb | 4.5/5 |
| Frisco Lavender Fields Scent Multi-Cat Clumping Litter | Clumping | $0.51 per lb | 4.5/5 |
#1 Frisco Multi-Cat Clumping Cat Litter
Kate Barrington / Cats.com
If you’re looking for a traditional clumping clay litter, this Frisco Multi-Cat Clumping Cat Litter is a great option. Made from all-natural clay materials, this litter forms hard, tight clumps that are easy to scoop and throw away.
With fine granules, moisture is immediately absorbed and locked away to prevent it from reaching the bottom of the litter box. Despite its fine texture, however, this litter is very low-tracking, and the Frisco brand uses a proprietary de-dusting system to make it ultra-low-dust.
Not only is this clumping cat litter easy to scoop and great at absorbing liquid, but it offers strong odor control as well. This litter is uniquely formulated to neutralize odors on contact, including strong ammonia odors, and it is completely free from artificial perfumes and added fragrances.
The fact that it is unscented means that it has to rely on odor-elimination properties to keep the box smelling fresh and this is a goal it definitely accomplishes. It is also a hypoallergenic formula, free from plant proteins, dyes, and perfumes, so you don’t have to worry about it irritating your cat’s paws or nose.
Upon testing this multi-cat formula, we found that it lived up to its promise of being a very low-dust formula. It also absorbed liquids immediately on contact, forming tight, hard clumps that didn’t break apart during scooping.
We didn’t notice any scent, and we were very pleased with the litter’s odor-absorbing properties. Plus, the 20-pound bag was a fairly manageable size. The only thing we didn’t love was the fact that the fine granules did track to some degree, though it wasn’t an overwhelming amount.
| Category | Rating |
| Price | 5/5 |
| Clumping Action | 5/5 |
| Odor Control | 4/5 |
| Dust/Mess | 4/5 |
| Scent | 5/5 |
| Easy to Scoop | 5/5 |
| Overall Rating | 4.75/5 |
Pros
- Very low dust and low-mess formula
- Forms hard, tight clumps on contact with liquid
- Easy to scoop, low waste on litter
Cons
- Not scented, must rely on odor-elimination properties
- Fairly heavy because it is made from clay materials
This litter comes in a 20-pound or 40-pound bag. Because the litter is made from clay, it is somewhat heavy, but the 20-pound bag was fairly manageable.
#2 Frisco Fresh Scent Multi-Cat Clumping Cat Litter
Kate Barrington / Cats.com
No one wants to deal with litter box odors, which is why many cat owners prefer to use scented litter. The problem with scented litter is that the fragrance can be overwhelming, especially in a covered litter box.
Frisco Fresh Scent Multi-Cat Clumping Cat Litter has a very light fragrance, however, that can be a little strong when you first pour it, but it quickly dissipates, leaving behind a light, fresh scent.
Paired with Frisco’s odor-neutralizing technology, this scented cat litter offers long-lasting protection from litter box odors. The litter itself is highly absorbent, locking away odors on contact and forming hard, tight clumps that are easy to scoop.
Scooping solid waste once a day is perfectly adequate to control litter box odors in a multi-cat household, though you may be able to get away with skipping a day here and there.
In testing this cat litter, we found it to be very similar to the unscented formula tested before it. The fragrance was definitely noticeable when pouring the litter, but it faded quickly and was barely noticeable unless we were very close to the litter box.
We found this litter to be highly absorbent, forming tight clumps almost immediately, before liquid could sink through to the bottom of the box. If you’re looking for a scented litter to give your litter box a boost of freshness, we recommend this litter.
| Category | Rating |
| Price | 5/5 |
| Clumping Action | 5/5 |
| Odor Control | 4/5 |
| Dust/Mess | 4/5 |
| Scent | 4/5 |
| Easy to Scoop | 5/5 |
| Overall Rating | 4.5/5 |
Pros
- Fresh scent is not overpowering, becomes very mild
- Forms hard, tight clumps that are easy to scoop
- Very low-dust formula minimizes mess
Cons
- Only comes in a 40-pound bag, may be too heavy for some to lift
- Fragrance can be very strong at first
This litter comes in a 40-pound bag. Because the litter is made from clay, it is somewhat heavy – especially since the only size is 40 pounds.
#3 Frisco Lavender Fields Scent Multi-Cat Clumping Litter
Kate Barrington / Cats.com
No one likes the smell of a dirty litter box. If you’re looking for a cat litter that can make your box smell like something else, try this Frisco Lavender Fields Scent Multi-Cat Clumping Litter.
It offers the same hard-clumping, odor-eliminating properties as the previous two formulas but comes with a pleasing floral scent. The fragrance can be a little strong when you first pour it, but it fades quickly to a mild, pleasant scent barely noticeable outside the litter box.
Like other Frisco formulas, this cat litter absorbs liquid immediately and forms hard clumps on contact to seal away odors and to make scooping the box easier than ever. Because scooping is so easy, it minimizes mess around the litter box and cuts down on wasted litter as well. The formula is very low dust but, due to the fine granules, it can track to some degree. It isn’t as bad as other formulas we’ve tried, however.
In testing this scented cat litter formula, we found it to be nearly identical to the first two litters aside from the lavender scent. All three formulas were great for our multi-cat household because they controlled odors for days at a time, formed tight clumps, and didn’t send up a cloud of dust each time a cat used the litter box.
Overall, we were very pleased with this brand.
| Category | Rating |
| Price | 5/5 |
| Clumping Action | 5/5 |
| Odor Control | 4/5 |
| Dust/Mess | 4/5 |
| Scent | 4/5 |
| Easy to Scoop | 5/5 |
| Overall Rating | 4.5/5 |
Pros
- Lavender scent is paw-activated and neutralizes odors
- Forms hard, tight clumps that are easy to scoop
- Offers excellent odor control for multi-cat households
Cons
- Only comes in a 40-pound bag, may be too heavy for some to lift
- Lavender fragrance can be very strong at first
This litter comes in a 40-pound bag. Because the litter is made from clay, it is somewhat heavy – especially since the only size is 40 pounds.
What Do Customers Think of Frisco Cat Litter?
The Frisco brand is known for being affordable, offering excellent value to cat owners with multiple cats. In some cases, cheaper products don’t offer the same quality as more expensive ones, but that doesn’t seem to be the case with Frisco cat litter. For the most part, customers are very pleased with the brand.
This being said, every customer’s experience is unique, and there are both good and bad reviews for the brand online. Keep reading to see a positive and negative customer review for each of the three cat litter formulas featured above:
Positive Customer Reviews for Frisco Cat Litter
“I’ve had cats for almost 20 years, and I’ve tried many litters. Up until a few weeks ago, my go-to for many years had been Arm & Hammer, but after using this litter, I am hooked. It clumps far better than any litter in the past, and my cats love using it!! Not even 3 minutes after I replaced the old litter with this, there were two of them stepping in and doing their business. I have also noticed there is no “litter stink” in the house because the clumps do not break apart and mix back in to make it stinky.” – Ceege, reviewing Frisco Multi-Cat Clumping Cat Litter
“I was skeptical about trying new litter, but after much consideration, I decided to change my Step brand for this one. My main concern was dust, the other brand is good at clumping but dusty. This one is good at both. It clumps well and is very low on dust (please don’t change your formula) plus it does a good job at keeping the odors down from my smelly friends. I bought 4 bags, 2 of the fresh scent that I’m trying now and 2 lavender scent which I’ll be trying next. Shipping was a breeze.” – Catlover309, reviewing Frisco Fresh Scent Multi-Cat Clumping Cat Litter
“I wanted to try this product and compare it to the ARM and Hammer Multicat that I have been using if for anything else the choices in scent. I have 2 cats with separate litter boxes for each, and one bag fills both quite easily. I find very little if any dust and the litter encapsulates the cat waste and allows for easy pick up. A lot easier than A+H. Very clean and uses less litter to cover the waste and doesn’t fall apart when lifting out of boxes. So far so good and I plan to buy more and highly recommend. The Lavender smell is very mild and I like that it isn’t strong.” – Joan, reviewing Frisco Lavender Fields Scent Multi-Cat Clumping Cat Litter
Negative Customer Reviews for Frisco Cat Litter
“I normally purchase the Frisco Lightweight Multi-Cat litter but needed to get something cheaper as payday was still a ways off. I was hoping this litter would be of similar quality (albeit missing that lighter weight) and while it helps ~okay~ with odor control, the clumping action for urine is not great, though not terrible either…with my cats, it seems like the litter takes too long to clump thus most of the urine sinks to the bottom of the box and forms this giant solid rectangle which can be almost impossible to scoop up, and it most definitely uses more litter than the Frisco Lightweight did.” – K9Kenai, reviewing Frisco Multi-Cat Clumping Cat Litter
“I clean the litter box twice a day. We ordered 1 40lbs bag and slowly integrated the new litter in with our old type of litter. At the beginning, we didn’t notice any smell issues but as time went on and Frisco was the only litter being used, the smell was awful. I ended up purchasing our old litter again and mixing it in and guess what—the foul smell was gone! The litter works but does not keep the smell in check.” – Kelsey, reviewing Frisco Fresh Scent Multi-Cat Clumping Cat Litter
“I was excited to try something with rave reviews and cheaper than my usual World’s Best. Big mistake. When wet it turns into a claylike mixture impossible to clean, clinging tenaciously to the box and scoop. It also leaves a bunch of smaller clumps that slide through when sifted. I noticed a puddle of urine sitting on top of a wet section, which may be why one of my cats peed on the floor next to it.” – Xtine, reviewing Frisco Lavender Fields Scent Multi-Cat Clumping Cat Litter
How Much Does Frisco Cat Litter Cost?
The Frisco brand of cat litter as a whole is very affordable. All three of the formulas reviewed here are priced under $0.50 per pound, with the greatest savings coming from buying the larger bags. Because Frisco cat litter clumps so well, you end up wasting less litter as well which saves money over time.
Overall, Is Frisco Cat Litter a Good Choice?
Having reviewed a number of inexpensive cat litter brands prior to this, we weren’t sure what to expect from Frisco.
We are happy to report, however, that not only is Frisco a highly affordable brand of cat litter, but their products are excellent as well. All three of the formulas we reviewed formed hard, tight clumps and offered excellent odor control, even in a multi-cat household.
One thing to be mindful of with the Frisco brand is that some formulas are scented. We found both the Fresh Scent and Lavender Fields scent to be very light and pleasant, but some customers found that the scent mixed unpleasantly with litter box odors. If you or your cat is sensitive to fragrances, you may want to stick to the unscented formula.
All but one of Frisco’s cat litter formulas are clumping formulas, the exception being their crystal cat litter. Hard-clumping cat litters are easy to scoop and clean, but you should be mindful that clay litters like the three formulas reviewed above are not flushable. Flushing these litters will only clog your toilet.
Where Is Frisco Cat Litter Sold?
Frisco Cat Litter is only sold online from Chewy.com.
This probably is the worst litter I have ever used. I tried it based on some positive reviews. It has caused so many problems that still exist. It is heavy, cannot be flushed, gets all over the place, hard to vacuum and smudged up the hard wood floors, that after multiple heave mopping still cannot be removed all the way. I even thought I would just get through the bag, but after seeing my kitties struggle, I got rid of it (and I did not overflow the box). I have read other similar comments on other reviews sites (Chewy etc). I have four kitties, I scoop multiple times a day and just wanted to try something else. Back to Worlds Best Litter, which I feel is excellent and have been using for years.
I have four kitties too and I live by this litter. It does a great job. Sometimes it just takes time and not stressing out over it. Your kitties might stressed out by your reaction to it as if they did something wrong. No offense. Sometimes this brand isn’t for every kitty out there. I’m just glad it works for my household.
My kitten was not having a great time with pellet litter. He certainly did not enjoy the feel of it with his paws. I decided to give Frisco’s unscented clay litter a try. He immediately took a liking to it and within a few shifting of the litter he went! I am quite happy that I didn’t need to use any attractant or show him how to shift the litter. He knew what to do with this Frisco litter. The only con is that sometimes I have to wipe his back paws because a bit of the litter adhere to his paws after he urinates. But it’s not too much. I agree with your review of 4.5.
Why is bentonite not mentioned and it’s risks discussed?
Hi Alyson, we don’t usually go in-depth on this in our cat litter reviews, but we do talk a bit more about sodium bentonite clay in this article on litter in general: https://cats.com/best-cat-litter
This is literally the best litter I’ve ever used. The pee goes nowhere making the box easy to clean and my cats love it@
Glad to hear that it’s working for you!
This is a great litter but I wish they’d make it in 10.5 lb packets like Fresh Step and Scoop Away as it is difficult to lift for some people. No matter how many times I list Fed EX to leave it in a certain area where it can be moved, they leave it in the wrong place. The only reason I stopped using this litter was Fed Ex. However, I am considering going back because it is far superior than the other two mentioned.
I have 24 cats this is the worst litter I’ve used for clumping and dust this stuff I have to pour at such a slow rate otherwise I have a cloud in the room by far worst I’ve used if I keep using this everyone in my house will eventually have lung issues. It say low dust well that’s not true and it sticks to bottom of litter box. So I say stay away from it.
Great review! 🙂 In our home, we currently have 5 rescues indoors; 4 of our own, and 1 foster. We have been using Frisco Multi-Cat Clay Clumping litter exclusively (both Lavender and Fresh Scent) for about 3 years now.
What I will say is this: We still really like this litter, BUT, for some reason, after/during Covid, the formula changed and it is now way dustier than it ever was before. In fact, we used to marvel at how it was nearly dust-free compared to other litters we’ve used. Now, it is dusty enough that I will only pour it outside of the house. To say that it’s a pain to take the litter boxes outside, pour the litter, and then bring the boxes back inside….is an understatement. Unfortunately, this is the only way it works for us. Otherwise, things get covered in a dusty film. :/ For many people, this just wouldn’t work.
So why do we keep using it? For us, the odor control has been fantastic, and it seems to last a good while before we need to completely refresh the litter. It’s just frustrating that they took an amazing litter and made it much less amazing.
And yes, I would agree about the bags being heavy. For us, it’s not terrible, but there are many who would find these bags to be too heavy and too bulky to handle.
Love your site. Thanks for all the great content! We cat parents appreciate you!
I agree something about the formula changed! It’s is extremely dusty when pouring it into litter box or scooping. It doesn’t clump as well either and almost always crumbles making the litter smell and have to be changed more often now. I have 3 cats and two boxes, scoop multiple times throughout the day. I used to have to dump and change litter out about every 2 1/2 to 3 weeks but now having to change about every week and a half, so for me it isn’t as cost efficient as it used to be. They took a really good product and changed it to be less desirable and keep increasing the price. I’ve decided to try something else and still shopping around for the right product, as we’ve used frisco for many years so exploring other options.