Here is the scenario behind this search: your vet handed you a bag of Yesterday’s News after your cat’s surgery – the dust-free recycled-paper pellets vets have recommended for decades – and now you cannot find it anywhere. The shelves are empty, Amazon says “we don’t know when or if this item will be back in stock,” and the pet forums are full of people asking the same question.
Here is the straight answer, up front: Yesterday’s News was discontinued by Purina in 2022. It is not coming back, and any bags still floating around on resale sites are old stock. This guide explains what actually happened, why loyal users still search for it, and the five currently-available paper litters that fill the gap – including which one is the closest match to the original.
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What Happened to Yesterday’s News: The Real Story
On April 20, 2022, Nestle Purina PetCare announced it was exiting the paper litter business entirely – discontinuing both the Yesterday’s News and SecondNature brands. The reason was physical: Purina closed its paper-litter manufacturing plant in Springfield, Missouri, which shut down completely by June 2022, affecting 40 employees.
According to Purina’s own statement at the time (reported by KSMU public radio): “Demand for these alternative paper litter brands has diminished over the past few years. At the same time, the supply of paper used to make these products has declined as the world has become more digital.” The Springfield plant had been collecting recycled newspaper from across southwest Missouri for decades – “a huge portion of southwest Missouri’s recycled paper was funneled through that facility for the last couple of decades,” the city’s solid waste superintendent said. When the newspaper supply dried up, so did the business case.
What it was, for the record: soft pellets made from recycled newspaper – 99.9% dust-free, non-toxic, unscented, non-clumping, low-tracking – sold in 5, 15, and 30-lb bags. It was the vet’s default recommendation for post-surgery recovery and the go-to for cats with respiratory issues, because there was essentially no dust for healing incisions or sensitive lungs.
Should you buy old bags on eBay? No. Anything still listed is at least four years old. Paper pellets absorb ambient moisture and odors over time, and a bag that has sat in a warehouse since 2022 is not the product people remember. Move on to the alternatives below.
Yesterday’s News Alternatives at a Glance
| # | Product | Type / Size | Best For | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fresh News Original Pellet Cat Litter (25 lb) | Recycled paper pellets · 25 lb | Closest match to the original | Check Price |
| 2 | Fresh News Multi-Cat Non-Clumping (25 lb) | Paper pellets, extra odor formula · 25 lb | Multi-cat homes | Check Price |
| 3 | okocat Dust Free Non-Clumping Paper Pellet (8 lb) | White paper pellets · 8 lb | Cleanest pour / allergies | Check Price |
| 4 | Back 2 Nature Paper Litter (15L) | Recycled paper pellets · 15L | Recycled-paper specialist | Check Price |
| 5 | Small Pet Select Recycled Pelleted Paper Litter (10 lb) | Recycled paper pellets · 10 lb | No-additive formula | Check Price |
Prices shift constantly – check before you buy. Sizes are manufacturer figures.
1. Fresh News Original Pellet Cat Litter (25 lb) – Closest Match to Yesterday’s News
If you want the Yesterday’s News experience with a brand that is still manufactured, this is it: recycled-paper pellets (100% post-consumer recycled paper) in a 25-lb resealable bag, made in the USA by BPV, LLC. It is the same concept – soft non-clumping pellets that absorb urine and get tossed rather than scooped as clumps – marketed as 99% dust-free and non-allergenic, with baking soda plus an ammonia-locking system for odor. On Chewy it has hundreds of verified reviews, roughly three-quarters positive on absorbency, dust-free performance, and tracking.
The honest part: there is no clump to scoop. Wet pellets swell and darken, and you remove them by sight – one owner described the technique as pulling dry pellets aside with the scoop, then lifting out the darker, swollen ones. The pellets are too large to fall through a standard scoop, so you cannot sift. Owners who scoop daily do well; owners who expect clay-style convenience often do not. Also note: some cats loved Yesterday’s News’s exact gray newspaper texture and take a week to accept Fresh News’s pellets – mix the transition over 7-14 days.
Specs: 25-lb resealable bag · 100% recycled paper pellets · non-clumping · unscented · 99% dust-free per manufacturer · non-allergenic · made in USA · baking soda + ammonia-locker odor system.
Pros: closest living match to Yesterday’s News; essentially no dust; genuinely low tracking; vet-recommended for post-surgery use; eco-friendly recycled material.
Cons: no clumps – scooping is a learned skill; pellets too big to sift; odor control fades if you do not remove wet pellets daily.
Verdict: The default replacement – buy this if you just want your old routine back. Check the price on Amazon.
2. Fresh News Multi-Cat Non-Clumping (25 lb) – Best for Multi-Cat Homes
The multi-cat version of the Original, formulated with extra odor control (roughly twice the odor-fighting power per the brand) for households with two or more cats. Same 25-lb size, same recycled-paper pellets, same 99% dust-free and non-allergenic claims, made in the USA. If Yesterday’s News worked for your single cat but you now have a fuller house, this is the version to buy.
Be realistic about what “multi-cat formula” can do. Paper is absorbent but not magic: the most consistent complaint across the Fresh News line is that ammonia odor builds within a couple of days if wet pellets are not removed, and with more cats producing more wet pellets, daily-scoop discipline matters even more. Several owners in small spaces report the ammonia smell arriving fast despite the odor-control claims. This formula buys you margin, not immunity.
Specs: 25-lb bag · recycled paper pellets · non-clumping · unscented · enhanced odor-control formula for 2+ cats · 99% dust-free · made in USA.
Pros: strongest odor formula in the Fresh News line; same dust-free, low-tracking benefits; 25-lb value size.
Cons: still demands daily wet-pellet removal in multi-cat homes; odor complaints persist in small spaces; no clumping convenience.
Verdict: The multi-cat pick – better odor margin, same daily routine. Check the price on Amazon.
3. okocat Dust Free Non-Clumping Paper Pellet (8 lb) – Cleanest Pour
okocat (by Healthy Pet) is the paper pellet litter for people who want the cleanest possible product: pellets made from reclaimed, clean white paper fiber – no inks, dyes, scents, synthetic chemicals, clay, or silica. The formula claims 7-day odor control from plant-based odor suppression, absorbency rated at 5x the pellet’s weight, and biodegradability (it is even marketed as flushable). It is the closest thing to a “premium” paper pellet, and the white pellets make it easy to spot health changes in urine – a small bonus for monitoring older cats.
The honest framing: 8 lbs is a trial quantity in a full-size box – it lasts days, not weeks, and the per-pound cost runs high compared to Fresh News’s 25-lb bag. Cat-specific long-term review data is thinner than Fresh News’s long history. Buy it as the upgrade pick for allergy households, post-surgery boxes, and respiratory-sensitive cats – the exact use cases Yesterday’s News was famous for – rather than as the household workhorse.
Specs: 8-lb bag · reclaimed white paper fiber pellets · non-clumping · unscented · no inks, dyes, or synthetic chemicals · 7-day odor control per manufacturer · biodegradable · made in USA.
Pros: cleanest ingredient list in paper litter; white pellets aid health monitoring; excellent for allergies and post-surgery; low tracking.
Cons: 8 lbs is a trial, not a supply – high per-pound cost; thinner long-term review history than Fresh News; same non-clumping learning curve.
Verdict: The premium pick – cleanest paper litter for sensitive cats and post-surgery boxes. Check the price on Amazon.
4. Back 2 Nature Paper Litter (15L) – Recycled-Paper Specialist
Back 2 Nature (by Fibrecycle) makes litter from 99% recycled paper through a proprietary pelleting process, from a company whose whole identity is recycled-paper pet products. The pellets are designed to be highly absorbent, low dust, and allergen-friendly – the same pitch as Yesterday’s News, minus the newspaper gray. It is biodegradable and made in the USA.
The honest framing: it is primarily positioned as small-animal bedding that doubles as cat litter, so cat-specific review data is thin compared to Fresh News. Consider it a solid second alternative if Fresh News does not work out – or if you already buy the brand’s bedding for rabbits or guinea pigs and want one supplier. The 15L bag is a moderate quantity; compare per-pound costs against the 25-lb Fresh News before committing long-term.
Specs: 15L bag · 99% recycled paper pellets · low dust · natural, non-toxic · biodegradable · made in USA.
Pros: recycled-paper specialist brand; low dust and allergen-friendly; biodegradable.
Cons: thin cat-specific review history; marketed mainly for small animals; compare per-pound value.
Verdict: The backup alternative – worth a look if the main paper litters do not suit. Check the price on Amazon.
5. Small Pet Select Recycled Pelleted Paper Litter (10 lb) – No-Additive Formula
The strongest Amazon-available alternative beyond Fresh News: Small Pet Select’s recycled-paper pellet litter, made in the USA by the family-owned company better known for small-pet hay. It is a non-clumping paper pellet litter engineered to absorb about 3x more than clay, with a natural pet-safe odor blocker – and notably, no baking soda added, for owners who prefer fewer additives. Low dust, non-tracking, and non-toxic: the same core virtues Yesterday’s News buyers valued.
As an alternative it inherits the category’s trade-offs: non-clumping maintenance, and the 10-lb bag is a smaller quantity than Fresh News’s 25-lb flagship, so compare per-pound costs. Review data is thinner than Fresh News’s long history, so buy from a seller with easy returns and let your cat be the judge.
Specs: 10-lb bag (20-lb also sold) · recycled paper pellets · non-clumping · unscented · no baking soda added · low dust · made in USA.
Pros: strong absorbency claims; no baking soda or added fragrances; USA-made by a reputable family brand; Amazon-available.
Cons: smaller bag than Fresh News’s flagship – check per-pound price; thinner review history; same non-clumping learning curve.
Verdict: The cleanest alternative – paper litter without the baking soda. Check the price on Amazon.
How to Choose a Yesterday’s News Replacement
Buy the closest match first. Fresh News Original 25 lb is the directest swap: same recycled-paper pellet concept, same non-clumping routine, same vet-recommended use cases. If your cat used Yesterday’s News for years, start here – the adjustment is smallest.
Transition gradually – even between paper litters. Pellets differ in size, texture, and smell between brands, and cats that loved Yesterday’s News’s exact texture sometimes hesitate at a new pellet. Mix the new litter into the old over 1-2 weeks. If you are already out of Yesterday’s News, mix the new paper litter into whatever you are currently using.
Scoop wet pellets daily – no exceptions. This was true of Yesterday’s News too, but it is the #1 complaint about every replacement: paper litter has no clumps, so odor control lives or dies on your routine. Learn the visual cue: wet pellets swell and darken. Remove them daily, top up, and do a full dump-and-wash every 1-2 weeks.
Size the bag to the household. The 25-lb Fresh News bags are the economical choice for 1-2 cats. The 8-lb okocat and 10-lb Small Pet Select are better as trials or for single-box travel setups – the per-pound cost is much higher at small sizes.
Travel note: paper litter is the road-trip litter. Yesterday’s News fans who travel already know this: paper pellets are dramatically lighter than clay, pour with essentially no dust, and barely track – three things that matter enormously in a car, RV, or hotel room. Keep a 10-lb bag as the travel supply even if you use something else at home. Fresh News’s smaller bags and Small Pet Select’s 10-lb bag are the right formats for this.
Do not hoard old stock. If you find a seller claiming “new” Yesterday’s News, it is at minimum four years old. Paper pellets degrade in storage – moisture, mustiness, and weakened absorbency. The alternatives above are manufactured now and cost less than reseller markups.
Bottom line: Fresh News Original (25 lb) (Amazon) is the replacement to buy first – the same recycled-paper pellet concept that made Yesterday’s News famous. Multi-cat homes should get the Multi-Cat formula; allergy and post-surgery households should look at okocat. Back 2 Nature and Small Pet Select round out the backup options.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why was Yesterday’s News cat litter discontinued?
Purina exited the paper litter business in April 2022 and closed its Springfield, Missouri paper-litter plant by June 2022. The company’s stated reasons: demand for paper litters had been declining for years, and the supply of recycled newspaper – the raw material – was shrinking as the world went digital. Both the Yesterday’s News and SecondNature brands were ended.
Is Yesterday’s News coming back?
There is no indication of it. Purina closed the manufacturing plant and exited the category entirely in 2022 – it was not a temporary pause. The recycled-newspaper supply chain the product depended on no longer exists at that scale.
What is the closest replacement for Yesterday’s News?
Fresh News Original Pellet Cat Litter (25 lb) is the closest match: same 100% recycled-paper pellet concept, non-clumping, unscented, dust-free, vet-recommended for post-surgery use. It is the first alternative most former Yesterday’s News users settle on.
Is it safe to buy Yesterday’s News from eBay or resellers?
We would not. Any bag sold today has been sitting since 2022 or earlier. Paper pellets absorb ambient moisture and odors in storage, weakening absorbency and potentially growing musty. Current-production alternatives cost less than reseller markups and perform better.
Why do vets recommend paper litter after surgery?
Paper pellet litter is essentially dust-free and non-clumping, so there is no silica or clay dust to irritate healing incisions or tiny lungs, and no clumping agents for the cat to ingest while grooming. That is exactly why Yesterday’s News became the vet-office standard – and why Fresh News and okocat now fill that role.
Which paper litter is best for travel?
Paper litter as a category is the best travel litter: dramatically lighter than clay, dust-free to pour in a trunk, and low-tracking in hotel rooms and RVs. For travel sizes, look at the smaller bags – Fresh News’s 12-lb bag, Small Pet Select’s 10-lb bag, or okocat’s 8-lb bag – rather than hauling a 25-lb bag.
