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PrintThe Scoop on Natural Kitty Litter
Photograph by Allison Shea Malone
As your focus shifts to more natural and green products for your individual and household needs, don’t overlook natural supplies for your companion animals.
The availability of natural food, bedding, supplements, and more for pets is growing. Because these products contain fewer chemicals and preservatives, they may enhance the health of your cat or dog. Plus, these natural products and their packaging break down and are absorbed more easily into the environment.
Cat litter is one product in particular where consumer preference for natural and eco-friendly versus the older clay litters is on the rise. IBISWorld Market Research in Los Angeles, California, reports that at the beginning of 2000 there were only a handful of green brands. Today, cat-litter marketed as “eco-friendly” accounts for some 20 percent of the market.
Consumers are making the switch from clay litters because they cannot be composted and are not biodegradable. They are also moving away from clay litters for their cats’ health. Clay litters contain silica, which is a known carcinogen. Many of the clumping clay litters contain sodium bentonite, a chemical that causes clay to bond when moistened for easy removal. By inhaling the litter dust from the litter or licking their paws after they leave the box, cats can ingest the chemical. Although no scientific studies have indicated that clumping clay litter is harmful to cats, the concern is that the litter could cause lung problems or intestinal blockage.
The newer natural litter alternatives are made from wood, pine, corn, wheat, paper, and more, and have different characteristics. Here’s a rundown of some of the most popular types: Wood-based litters are made from wood pulp or shavings, generally from pine, compressed into pellets. Solid waste can be scooped out and the pellets absorb the urine. Moistened pellets dissolve into a wet wood dust or create clumps. These litters still clump and have the natural odor-eliminating properties of pine. Cat owners can flush the litter down the toilet.
Grain-based litters generally are made from wheat and corn, so they clump. Many are flushable, plus they are dust-free and absorb odors. Manufacturers point out that the products should pass through your cat’s digestive system if ingested. Corn litters tend to be the most expensive.
Paper-based cat litters are made from recycled paper and come in both pellet and granule forms. They are lightweight and flushable in small quantities.
Whatever natural cat litter you choose, you need to guide your cat through the transition as you switch brands. Experts advise that you place about one inch of the new litter on the bottom of your cat's litter box, and then top this with three inches of his/her regular litter. Each time you change the litter, decrease the amount of the regular litter covering the new, alternative litter until you phase out the old litter completely.
