Some facts about cat litter

health considerations ... earth friendliness ... cat litter reviews

When choosing a cat litter,

common considerations are product safety and the use of added chemicals or fragrances (which affects the health of all family members and other pets).

Other cat litter features are odor control, ease of cleaning and value for your money. Flushable litters are absolutely convenient but many plumbers recommend you don't flush.

The final say is usually awarded to your cat.

If your cat doesn’t approve,

funny cat with an attitude

he or she simply won’t use the litter box.

When choosing kitty litter ...

do bear in mind that cats lick their paws when grooming and can swallow any traces of litter that remain on their paws, after a visit to the litter box.

Scented litters are meant to appeal to us. They can overwhelm your cat's powerful sense of smell and might even cause your kitty to avoid the litter box entirely.

Kittens should not be exposed to clumping cat litter until eight weeks of age.

Sprinkling baking soda on the bottom of an empty box, before you refill it, will help control odors.

With increased focus on going green and maintaining good health, you can now choose from many environmentally friendly cat litters. Some of the many products available are discussed below.

Share your own experiences with cat litters.

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Cat Litter Reviews

Silica gel cat litter … also known as crystals and pearls

These crystals are not plant based ... but made from a dried silica gel. The main ingredient is sodium silicate, which is an extremely absorbent material. It effectively controls odors and can last a long time.

Sodium silicate has many industrial uses. It is used in the little silica packs that are put into pill bottles and shoe boxes to absorb moisture.

These packs usually come with warnings, such as "do not swallow."

Concern does exist that ongoing exposure to silica dust is associated with pulmonary (functioning of the lungs) difficulties.

... sodium silicate is in its natural state so it does not decompose. It is a non-renewable but plentiful resource.

Silica gel cat litter review

I tried the silica litter some time ago. It controlled odor well but with five cats I found this litter to be a bit too pricey for me.

When the pearls cannot absorb any more moisture the next delivery of urine will become a puddle on the bottom of your litter box. Should any pearls escape from the box they roll around all over the place.

Clay based cat litter – available as clumping and non-clumping

The granddaddy of kitty litters is clay litter. This litter has fine sand-like qualities which cats like. Clumping is the most popular … and can be easily scooped along with the poop.

However, there are concerns that the chemical that makes it clump, sodium bentonite, may cause serious health problems for pets and notably very young kittens. That seems pretty logical given sodium bentonite hardens (clumps) and expands up to 15 times when it comes in contact with moisture.

In spite of that, some 'authorities' claim clay litters pose no risks to a kitten's or a cat's health.

Given the growing concerns about the safety of our food and the alarming discovery that children’s toys contain toxic materials … I would be very inclined to play it safe … and use one of the many alternative litters.

After all, a kitten or a cat must stand in the litter and all cats lick their paws. (Cats and people inhale the dust.)

If the clumping and expanding properties of sodium bentonite are enough to plug up a toilet (been there - done that) can we be sure this litter will simply slip right on through a kitten’s or cat's digestive system with no adverse affects?

If a curious toddler swallowed this litter, the next stop would be the Emergency ward, at the nearest hospital. And dogs have been known to nose around in a litter box to grab a quick snack.

Some cat owners have marveled when symptoms of poor health disappeared, once the clay litter was replaced with an alternate litter. They are not experts, just ordinary consumers who observe and know their cats.

However, clay based clumping litter remains popular and many cat owners are quite happy with it.

… clay is in its natural state and therefore does not decompose. It is a non-renewable resource.

Clumping clay cat litter review

We used clumping clay litter once, a few years back. The only thing I really remember about this clumping litter is my daughter scooped and flushed the litter down the toilet. At some point, this litter expanded and plugged a pipe. When I was done with the plumber, I was done with the litter.

Some plant based cat litters

Feline pine litter

This litter uses kiln-dried pine sawdust. The pine oils have been removed and the pellets are sterilized. The manufacturer states one 20 pound bag (9 kg) of Feline Pine will outlast a 60 pound bag (27 kg) of clay litter.

Over time, the pellets will break down into sawdust. At that point, the sawdust leaves the litter box on your cat's paws and gets messy. It also gets stinky and needs to be replaced. Feline pine is earth friendly and has a pleasant pine scent. There are two kinds, original and clumping.

Some house cats may need to get used to or will simply not like the texture of the pellets. My cats don't give a hoot.

… a biodegradable and renewable resource

Pine litter review

We did use the original, unclumping litter. We found it to be less work than a clumping litter which needs constant scooping. The fresh pine pellets absorb the urine but also dry out so there is no unpleasant odor for several days (dependant on how many cats you have).

The pellets do eventually break down causing a tracking problem. At that point, the litter also becomes stinky and needs to be replaced.

Cat on a budget tip !

Look for bulk cat litter

If you live in a rural area, like us, you may be able to buy bulk cat litter. Look for large bags of pine or other wood pellets that are used for horse stall bedding ... and save some kitty cash.

If you know of other materials that can be used as bulk cat litter, please share them here.

World’s Best Cat Litter

Made from organic corn, World's Best litter is a clumping and earth friendly litter. As of this writing, the manufacturer does state:

"It will not harm your kittens or cats if they sample it."

“Do not expose kittens to litter before they are 8-weeks of age.”

Odor is controlled by protein molecules in the corn. World’s Best contains no chemicals, perfumes or binding agents. If your kitty does eat the litter it should pass safely through your cat’s digestive system.

The clumps can be scooped and the manufacturer states that the litter outlasts traditional clumping clay litters by about 40 percent. It also comes in an extra strength formula designed for households with multiple cats.

Some manufacturers of self cleaning litter boxes recommend this brand because it does not have a gummy texture and will not clog the machines.

Many cat owners love this brand even though it does cost more than most.

… a biodegradable and renewable resource

World's Best Litter review

We had a tracking problem with World's Best litter. It clumped well but did not offer outstanding odor control. In our minds, it was comparable to Swheat Scoop. Our cats had no problem adjusting to it.

Arm & Hammer Cat Litter

Their Essential Clumping Cat Litter is also corn based. Combined with baking soda to control odors, it is a powerful but gentle combination that is earth friendly. Good for your cat, good for your family. It absorbs twice as much moisture as clay litters and has a soft texture which cats prefer.

(Arm & Hammer also produce clay based litter products.)

... corn is biodegradable and a renewable resource.

Swheat Scoop Natural Wheat Cat Litter

Secondary grade wheat is naturally processed into an environmentally friendly litter with clumping properties. When exposed to moisture the natural wheat starches begin the clumping process. Wheat enzymes do their bit and help to neutralize unpleasant odors.

Swheat litter is chemical and fragrance free and described as safe and non-toxic for cats and kittens should they swallow some while grooming.

… a biodegradable and renewable resource

Swheat cat litter review

We found this litter to be a bit messy and somewhat dusty. Unless you use liners, it can get gummy and stick to the litter box. We found SWheat and World's Best Cat Litter to be somewhat alike. Both litters were made available to our cats at once and they had no preference.

Yesterday's News Litter

This litter really does embrace the concept of recycling and is made from recycled newspapers. In pellet form, it is an almost completely dust free, tends not to get tracked all through your home, and is three times more absorbent than clay.

It is available in two textures, original and softer. The softer texture tends to resemble sand, which is appealing to cats. Yesterday's News is also recommended by veterinarians for cats recovering from surgery.

... this biodegradable litter is plant based and trees are a renewable resource.

Yesterday's News review

We used the pellet type. There was very little tracking. You definitely need to scoop the soiled pellets at least daily. If you don't scoop, this litter can develop a powerful ammonia like smell within a few days. We found that the soiled pellets can be a bit difficult to see because of their dark color.

If you change your brand of kitty litter, do so gradually

Cats are very much creatures of habit and don’t adjust quickly to any sudden changes. Over a period of a few weeks, add some of the new to the old type. Start with about one part new on the bottom of the litter box with four parts of the old litter on top. Continue to adjust the portions.