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As you can imagine, any product called Cat Crap anti-fog will spawn more than a few jokes and smart-aleck remarks. But seriously, what the product does is no joke. Medical professionals depend on anti-fogging products to keep their safety glasses clean and fog-free. And those in the military, many already in dangerous environments, rely on them to keep their optics, eyeglasses, and goggles clean and free from fogging issues.

How well does it work? We’ll get into that, while also taking a look at how the product functions on different types of plastic and glass lenses. Keep in mind there are two versions of the product. One is a balm, which has a green tint and is slippery to the touch. The other version is a spray, which is clear and has no scent. We’ll be taking a look at how both versions of Cat Crap anti-fog perform in the review below.

What Is Cat Crap Anti Fog?

Cat Crap is the brainchild of E.K. USA, headquartered in Logan, Utah. In business for 35 years, E.K.’s various accessories are distributed in over 40 countries and across nine industries. The company claims Cat Crap was voted the #1 anti-fog on the market, however, we couldn’t find an independent source to confirm that claim.

Cat Crap is available in a balm and spray, either of which can be used on glass or plastic to prevent lenses from fogging and dust from accumulating. Its recommended uses include eyeglasses, safety goggles, face shields, ski goggles, sunglasses, binoculars, helmet visors, and swim goggles.

Here are the specifications for the balm and spray:

	Cat Crap Balm	Cat Crap Spray
Product dimensions	1 ¾” diameter x ¾” high	1″ diameter x 4″ high
Weight	.16 ounces	1.4 ounces
Application	Wipe on/wipe off	Spray on/wipe off
Price (Average)	$7.50	$8.00

Balm Product Features

Easy to apply: Rub a small amount of the green balm on any lens using your finger. Then, wipe it off with a soft cloth. E.K. also sells a microfiber lens cleaning cloth, and many users report having to reapply it after a few hours.

Convenient: You can carry the compact balm wherever you go at under one-half ounce and a little under 2″ diameter x 3/4″ high.

Lens cleaner and de-fogger: A “specially-formulated” lens cleaner keeps dust and dirt accumulating while preventing lenses from fogging.

Spray Product Features

Easier to apply than the balm: Rather than using it with your finger, merely spray it onto any lens and wipe it off with a soft cloth or microfiber lens cleaning cloth. As with the balm, the spray is suitable for multiple applications. 

Convenient: The small spray bottle (about 1.5 ounces) easily fits into pockets and purses for instant access if you’re working, cycling, or skiing. 

Lens cleaner and de-fogger: The spray has the same “specially-formulated” lens cleaner as the Cat Crap balm and “repels” lint and dust while protecting lenses from mild scratches and fogging.

Safe for all lenses: E.K.’s Cat Crap formula is safe for all lenses, including eyeglasses, sunglasses, ski goggles, safety goggles, swimming goggles, cameras, binoculars, and various types of eyewear.

Balm VS Spray: Which One Works Better?

If you use both products, you’ll quickly discover that a few squirts from the spray bottle is more convenient. Otherwise, you’ll be running your fingers through the balm and over your lenses multiple times to coat them. Which option works best? It depends on your intended use. If you’re working indoors, in less extreme temperature conditions, the spray makes the most sense. However, if you are outdoors, or going in and out of extreme temperature conditions, the balm does provide a thicker coating to combat fogging.

Take a look at the results from the testing below:

Cold To Heat Transitions (39°-92° Fahrenheit)

For the cold to heat transition test, we left the lenses in a 39°F fridge for 1-hour after each coating. In between each coating, we took the lenses outdoors into a 92°F environment to test them. When transitioning from the cold to hot test environments, we found that the lenses fogged up immediately, even when coated with the Cat Crap anti-fog products. However, during the testing, we found that lenses coated with the products produced less fogging, and cleared up more quickly than the uncoated lenses. All times are approximate.

Lens Type	Uncoated (Time To Clear)	1X Coated Balm/Spray	2X Coated Balm/Spray	3X Coated Balm/Spray
Eye Glasses (Glass)	2:00 Min	1:20/1:30 Min	1:00/1:20 Min	:40/1:20 Sec/Min
Safety Glasses (Plastic)	1:00 Min	:40/:45 Sec	:30/:40 Sec	:20/:35 Sec
Safety Goggles (Plastic)	:45 Sec	:30/:35 Sec	:20/:25 Sec	:15/:20 Sec
Red Dot Optic (Glass)	4:00 Min	2:45/3:15 Min	2:20/3:00 Min	2:00/2:45 Min

Heat To Cold Transitions (100°-39° Fahrenheit)

For the heat to cold transition test, we left the lenses in a 100°F heat source for 15-minutes after each coating. In between each coating, we took the lenses outdoors into a 39°F environment to test them. When transitioning from the hot to cold test environments, we found that the lenses took several seconds up to a couple of minutes to fog up. During the testing, we found that lenses coated with the Cat Crap products took longer to fog up than the uncoated lenses. All times are approximate.

Lens Type	Uncoated (Time To Fog)	1X Coated Balm/Spray	2X Coated Balm/Spray	3X Coated Balm/Spray
Eye Glasses (Glass)	:15 Sec	:30 Sec/:25 Sec	:35 Sec/:30 Sec	:40 Sec/:35 Sec
Safety Glasses (Plastic)	:30 Sec	:40 Sec/:30 Sec	:45/:35 Sec	:50/:40 Sec
Safety Goggles (Plastic)	1:15 Min	1:40/1:20 Min	1:50/1:30 Min	2:00/1:40 Min
Red Dot Optic (Glass)	:30 Sec	:40/:30 Sec	:50/:40 Sec	1:00/:45 Min/Sec

FAQ: Cat Crap Balm

Here are some frequently asked questions about the balm:

Is it hypoallergenic and fragrance-free?

The spray has no fragrance, but the balm does have a slight tropical smell to it. While the product is not advertised as hypoallergenic, I could not find any reports of Cat Crap triggering allergic reactions. 

What are the ingredients in the balm? 

Ingredients include water, Glycerol, coconut, and tallow soaps, all of which are nontoxic.

Will Cat Crap spray stain clothing?

I tried both the balm on a 100% cotton shirt and on a 50/50% blend shirt. I let both shirts dry for fifteen minutes at normal indoor temperatures. The balm does leave a waxy residue behind (depending on how thick it is) but is wiped off easily with water.

How often must you apply it?

Many users report having to reapply after six hours or so.

Does this come with a wipe to apply the product onto the lens?

No. You rub it on with your finger and wipe it off with your soft cloth.

Is this safe to use for camera lenses?

According to the company (E.K. USA), the product is safe on all lenses. I wasn’t brave enough to rub it directly on my camera lens, so I opted to try it out on a lens filter instead.

FAQ: Cat Crap Spray

Here are some frequently asked questions about the spray:

What are the ingredients in Cat Crap spray?

Ingredients include water, Glycerol, coconut, and tallow soaps, all of which are nontoxic.

Will Cat Crap spray stain clothing?

I tried both the spray on a 100% cotton shirt and on a 50/50% blend shirt. I let both shirts dry for fifteen minutes at normal indoor temperatures. The spray did not leave a stain or residue after drying.

Is there alcohol or ammonia in Cat Crap spray?

There is neither alcohol nor ammonia in it.

Do you apply this to the inside or outside of a lens?

The manufacturer recommends spraying it on both sides and wiping it with a clean cloth.

Cat Crap Anti Fog: Buy The Balm Or Spray?

After trying both the Cat Crap anti-fog balm and spray, I found the spray to be the more convenient option. Both options perform about the same, but the spray is a lot easier to apply and is less messy. The balm does seem to coat the lenses with more thickness, which may be to your advantage in extreme conditions. However, it requires rubbing it with a clean cotton cloth, or chamois to clear the excess away. The spray on the other hand worked fine for me without having to wipe it down. After spraying and letting it dry, it became a one-and-done solution to reduce fogging.

From reading numerous reviews, I can only assume that very few people read the directions printed on the back of the products. The majority of complaints about the products seem to stem from a lack of understanding of how to correctly apply them. E.K. USA clearly states that the products are a temporary solution and will need to be reapplied often as needed. They are intended to be a temporary, non-permanent anti-fog solution.

Let me be clear, Cat Crap anti-fog is not a magical compound that bypasses the constraints of science. It WILL NOT eliminate fogging from lenses when transitioning from extreme temperatures. It also will not completely eliminate fogging on glasses/shields caused by condensation from breathing. What it will do, and it does it well, is greatly reduce the amount of time your lenses will fog over while in transition from extreme temperatures. While I am hard-pressed to give them an enthusiastic endorsement, the product does work as advertised when applied correctly.

What About Cleaning Lenses?

I did find that the spray also works well as a cleaner for lenses that have minimal prints, dust, and dirt. The balm is a better solution for cleaning lenses that are grimy with prints, mud, or even oils/grease. Although price is not a big issue in this case, both products have their strengths and weaknesses. If you’re only interested in trying one of the Cat Crap anti-fog products, I’d suggest the spray. However, I see some merit in both products depending on your need for an anti-fogger—and that’s why some people would purchase both options.

My overall rating of the Cat Crap Anti Fog products: 3.5/5