Published Sep 2, 2020
Kate Barrington / Cats.com
In a world where everything seems to be overly processed and fake, Naturally Fresh stands apart. While many cat litter brands seek to create products as cheaply as possible, Naturally Fresh wants to do it right.
They offer a completely unique and all-natural alternative to clay litter that is low in dust and tracking, three times as absorbent, and excellent with odor control.
Read on to learn more about this natural cat litter and what we thought of it in testing.
Ratings
- Variety of Products – 4.5/5
- Price Per Pound – 4/5
- Multi-Cat Formulas – 5/5
- Clumping Ability – 4.5/5
- Long-Lasting Odor Control – 4.5/5
- Natural/Alternative Options – 5/5
Overall Score: 4.58/5
Brand Overview
The Naturally Fresh cat litter brand was originally owned by Blue Buffalo. Effective January 2, 2018, however, marketing and manufacturing has been taken over by Eco Shell, Inc. This is the company that originally developed the patented formula and manufacturing process in 2010 and has, since 2012, manufactured the litter while Blue Buffalo did the marketing.
Of the change, Blue Buffalo states:
“This was not an easy decision. Naturally Fresh is an outstanding product, and one that addresses the growing trend of naturally based pet products. In the end, Blue Buffalo remains laser focused on being the leading brand in pet food, and we must continue to dedicate our resources to meet this goal.”
What makes Naturally Fresh cat litter unique is that it is completely natural, made from 100% natural walnut shells. Every formula is biodegradable and designed to be low dust and low tracking. Plus, these formulas are three times more absorbent than clay litter and offer powerful odor control.
In addition to being conscious about the ingredients used in their cat litter, Naturally Fresh is eco-conscious about their packaging as well. The bags Naturally Fresh litter comes in are #7 plastic which is accepted by most curbside recycling programs. The litter itself is, of course, biodegradable, flushable, and compostable (though it’s recommended you don’t use cat litter in vegetable/herb compost).
Kate Barrington / Cats.com
| Products Available | ||||
| Name | Materials | Clumping? | Life Stage | Additional Features |
| Naturally Fresh Multi-Cat Unscented Clumping Walnut Cat Litter | Walnut Shells | Yes | All | Multiple Cat Formula, Unscented, Biodegradable, Odor Control |
| Naturally Fresh Quick-Clumping Unscented Walnut Cat Litter | Walnut Shells | Yes | All | Unscented, Biodegradable, Odor Control |
| Naturally Fresh Multi-Cat Ultra Odor Control Clumping Walnut Cat Litter | Walnut Shells | Yes | All | Multiple Cat Formula, Unscented, Biodegradable, Odor Control |
| Naturally Fresh Herbal Attraction Scented Clumping Walnut Cat Litter | Walnut Shells | Yes | All | Quick Clumping, Scented, Biodegradable, Odor Control |
| Naturally Fresh Alpine Meadow Scented Clumping Cat Litter | Walnut Shells | Yes | All | Multiple Cat Formula, Scented, Biodegradable, Odor Control |
What Kinds Of Litter Does The Brand Offer?
Naturally Fresh currently offers seven different formulas in all-natural walnut cat litter. Six of these formulas are clumping with one non-clumping option, and most are unscented. All of the brand’s cat litter formulas are biodegradable and flushable, though the brand recommends checking with local and state regulations before flushing cat litter in a public or septic system.
The three formulas we’re reviewing here are some of the most popular Naturally Fresh cat litters.
Kate Barrington / Cats.com
Top 3 Cat Litters Reviewed
| Product Name | Type | Price | Overall Rating |
| Naturally Fresh Multi-Cat Unscented Clumping Walnut Cat Litter | Clumping | $0.99 per lb | 8.5/10 |
| Naturally Fresh Quick-Clumping Unscented Walnut Cat Litter | Clumping | $0.85 per lb | 8.5/10 |
| Naturally Fresh Multi-Cat Ultra Odor Control Clumping Walnut Cat Litter | Clumping | $1.04 per lb | 8.5/10 |
#1 Naturally Fresh Multi-Cat Unscented Clumping Walnut Cat Litter
In a multi-cat household, odor can become an issue very quickly. This Naturally Fresh formula is designed specifically for multi-cat households. It offers 3x the absorption of traditional clay litter which makes it last longer, and it neutralizes odors very effectively.
Made with natural walnut shells, Naturally Fresh cat litter organically neutralizes odors for long-lasting odor control. It works particularly well with urine odor due to its highly absorbent nature, but we didn’t notice an issue with solid waste either. The size of the granules was similar to clay litter, if a little larger than some brands, and our cats didn’t seem to find it uncomfortable.
While Naturally Fresh cat litter is fairly low in dust, we found the amount of dust varied from one bag to another. The lightweight granules also tracked a bit more than heavier clay litter. Overall, however, we were pleased with the clumping and odor control.
| Category | Rating |
| Price | 8/10 |
| Clumping Action | 9/10 |
| Odor Control | 9/10 |
| Dust/Mess | 8/10 |
| Scent | 10/10 |
| Easy to Scoop | 9/10 |
| Overall Rating | 8.5/10 |
Pros
- Great for multi-cat households
- Lasts 3x longer than clay litter, highly absorbent
- Lightweight granules, gentle texture
Cons
- Lightweight granules tend to track a fair amount
- Dark natural color can disguise dirty litter
This litter comes in a 14-pound or 26-pound bag. Because it is made from 100% natural walnut shells, it is much more lightweight than traditional clay litter.
#2 Naturally Fresh Quick-Clumping Unscented Walnut Cat Litter
The key to controlling odors is a highly absorbent, quick-clumping cat litter and that’s what this Naturally Fresh litter is. Made with the same all-natural walnut shells as the previous formula, this cat litter is biodegradable, gentle on your cat’s paws, and flushable for easy disposal.
This Naturally Fresh litter is highly absorbent, making quick work of even large volumes of urine. We didn’t find that it soaked through to the bottom of the litter box, though we can see that potentially happening if your cat tends to pee along the edges. The clumps were solid and hard enough to scoop, though the irregular size of the granules needed a little extra sifting with the scoop we use.
We didn’t find this formula to be particularly dusty, but it had the same issue with tracking as the previous one. Overall, however, we were very pleased.
| Category | Rating |
| Price | 9/10 |
| Clumping Action | 9/10 |
| Odor Control | 9/10 |
| Dust/Mess | 8/10 |
| Scent | 10/10 |
| Easy to Scoop | 9/10 |
| Overall Rating | 8.5/10 |
Pros
- Clumps quickly, very easy to scoop
- Absorbs liquid well, controls urine odor
- Made with 100% natural walnut shells
Cons
- Lightweight granules tend to track a fair amount
- Dark natural color can disguise dirty litter
This litter comes in a 6-pound, 14-pound, or 26-pound bag. Because it is made from 100% natural walnut shells, it is much more lightweight than traditional clay litter.
#3 Naturally Fresh Multi-Cat Ultra Odor Control Unscented Clumping Walnut Cat Litter
When testing these three Naturally Fresh cat litters, we didn’t notice a significant difference among the three. They all look more-or-less the same and perform equally well.
This Ultra Odor Control cat litter performed well in absorbing urine and controlling odor. As is true for most cat litters, feces odor was a little more difficult to cover but we didn’t notice the smell when we weren’t standing directly next to the litter box. Scooping was easy enough and the clumps formed quickly and didn’t break apart once they hardened.
Again, Naturally Fresh litter is lighter in weight than many litters which adds to the issue of tracking, but the litter is easy to sweep up and a litter mat may help with the mess.
| Category | Rating |
| Price | 8/10 |
| Clumping Action | 9/10 |
| Odor Control | 9/10 |
| Dust/Mess | 8/10 |
| Scent | 10/10 |
| Easy to Scoop | 9/10 |
| Overall Rating | 8.5/10 |
Pros
- Long-lasting odor control for multi-cat households
- Lasts 3x longer and absorbs better than clay litter
- Biodegradable formula, can be flushed away
Cons
- Lightweight granules tend to track a fair amount
- Dark natural color can disguise dirty litter
This litter comes in a 14-pound or 26-pound bag. Because it is made from 100% natural walnut shells, it is much more lightweight than traditional clay litter.
What Do Customers Think Of Naturally Fresh Cat Litter?
Sold on Chewy, Naturally Fresh is a very popular brand of natural cat litter. Chewy sells all seven formulas and all but one (the kitten formula) have more than 50 customer reviews. Naturally Fresh cat litters have a 4-star average rating and most customers seem pleased with the products.
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:
Kate Barrington / Cats.com
Positive Reviews
“I was lucky and found this litter on my 2nd round of trial and error of litter and have been impressed ever since. Living in a small space, the litter box is part of the room and good smells are a priority. Guests have never been able to identify the litter box by smell and are amazed.” – Nanc, reviewing Naturally Fresh Multi-Cat Unscented Clumping Walnut Cat Litter
“Been loving this litter going on 6 years. It clumps easily even when big old urine patties. It’s not dusty – thank the feline heavens. It’s not perfumed like so many litters are. What’s worse than cat poop is definitely perfumed cat poop. It lasts fairly long.” – Kittenbootycookie666, reviewing Naturally Fresh Quick-Clumping Unscented Walnut Cat Litter
“Both my boys took to the litter with no problem. I didn’t do the titration over the course of a few days that is recommended. This litter does a GREAT job making nearly completely solid clumps. I just wish B.B. didn’t EAT the litter. Not sure how that’s going to sit with him.” – NewKittyMama, reviewing Naturally Fresh Multi-Cat Ultra Odor Control Unscented Clumping Walnut Cat Litter
Negative Reviews
“We’ve been using this brand of kitty litter for years now and previously used the pellets. Switched over to multi-cat a few months back when they discontinued the pellets and was very happy with it, actually. But this last bag is so dusty that I can barely scoop the litter box. I had a mask on and it was covered.” – 4cats, reviewing Naturally Fresh Multi-Cat Unscented Clumping Walnut Cat Litter
“I tried out this litter because I wanted to try a cheaper option. Because the environmentally friendly conscious litters are more expensive than clay, this one caught my eye due to the cheaper price point (compared to corn). This litter did not clump as well as I had hoped. It does not hold urine well.” – Astrosmom, reviewing Naturally Fresh Quick-Clumping Unscented Walnut Cat Litter
“This litter is great for odor control. However, it is VERY dust. A layer of red dust was on things 5+ feet away, my white cat had reddish paws, etc. If you’re okay with dust, then this is a good litter to try. I, however, keep a clean house and ended up throwing it away.” – Keli, reviewing Naturally Fresh Multi-Cat Ultra Odor Control Unscented Clumping Walnut Cat Litter
How Much Does Naturally Fresh Cat Litter Cost?
Natural cat litter typically costs more than clay litter, but it isn’t always exorbitantly expensive. Naturally Fresh is sold in 6-, 14-, and 26-pound bags, and you’ll get the best price buying the biggest bags.
The price for Naturally Fresh cat litter ranges from about $0.75/pound to just over $1.00 per pound. This puts it somewhere in the middle of the price spectrum – it’s more expensive than clay litter, but not the most expensive litter we’ve tried.
Kate Barrington / Cats.com
Overall, Is Naturally Fresh Cat Litter a Good Choice?
When testing Naturally Fresh, we weren’t quite sure what to expect. We’ve tried alternative and natural cat litters before, but never one made with walnut shells. We liked that it was lightweight, though we were correct in assuming that might increase the degree of tracking.
What we were most surprised by was how quickly the litter absorbed liquid and how well it controlled odor. Even in a multi-cat household where one cat will enter the litter box right after another has left, we didn’t notice any odor from even just a few feet away.
In terms of natural cat litter, Naturally Fresh is high on our list of recommendations. It’s a little pricey compared to clay litter, but definitely not the most expensive natural option out there. We’re very happy with our 9.25/10 numerical rating here.
Where Is Naturally Fresh Cat Litter Sold?
Originally made by the same company as Blue Buffalo pet food, Naturally Fresh is fairly easy to find in pet stores. You can find this brand in major pet retail chains like Petco and PetSmart as well as independent and local stores.
Online, your can purchase Naturally Fresh cat litter from major pet retailers or from Chewy.
Hello Pete Wedderburn,
Thanks for sharing such a wonderful information with us.
I’ve been buying Naturally Fresh for 3 years and LOVE IT!, No scent which cats like,has a slightly earthy scent,and so much betterthan ANY clay litter cost a bit more BUT in the long run it last longer,is much better than any other litter out there!!
I have been trying to understand whether there are differences in the clumping ability of the three Naturally Fresh unscented litter types. Although “Quick Clumping” would suggest that this one has better clumping ability, is this really so? They are, after all, made from the same stuff, and if the hazy information on additives in the odor control is concerned, they have more smell-neutralizing chemicals (and what are those?). But, does that come at the expense of clumping ability?
Hey, great question. Unfortunately, I can’t shed any more light on this than was described in the article. I will consider doing additional testing of the different products in the line during our next litter testing session.
Thank you for the post! We were looking for alternatives for clay litter since we found our cat sneezing here and there. This post helped with deciding if we should buy the product or not. For the current week, the cat actually prefers it over the clay so it has been amazing! But as we expected reading the review, the tracking of the litter is not that fun. A lot of vacuum but I think we will keep purchasing this item. Thank you for the review!
I been using Naturally Fresh since 2014…it’s the ONLY one I like it smells earthy. and my 4 cats poop doesn’t smell as bad,and it lasts so much longer than any other litter!
Thanks for sharing this, Sharon!