Recycled Paper Cat Litter
Cat litter made from recycled paper comes in the form of pellets as well. Where the environment is concerned this is a wonderful option since it reuses what might have otherwise have been wasted. Recycled paper-based litter is also mostly dust-free, low-tracking, and very absorbent.
When made without harmful additives like sodium bentonite , paper litter is safe for kittens, cats prone to infection, cats with respiratory problems, and cats recovering from surgery. For disposal, composting is fine but with paper-based litter, the litter box has to be cleaned a little more often than its counterparts.
In our search for the best non-toxic cat litter, where materials used are recycled or upcycled, that is even better. We also look for brands that go the extra mile, to avoid any greenwashing. Whether it be through the use of sustainable packaging and other sustainable practices, or their charitable works.
The best non-toxic option for you will depend on your cat’s preferences, however, so this may require some trial and error.
How Much Does Pretty Litter Cat Litter Cost
A single 6-pound bag of Pretty Litter retails for $22 on the company website. Depending on how many bags you purchase at one time, you may receive a discount.
For example, two bags cost $40 and three bags costs $60. Expedited shipping is always free.
Pretty Litter frequently offers discounts and promotions, plus you can contact the company via email to ask about bulk discounts. Even so, Pretty Litter is fairly expensive.
Its also worth noting that one bag may not be enough to fill a large litter box and may not last the full month in a multi-cat home.
Okocat Original Premium Wood Clumping Cat Litter
Okocat Original Premium Wood Clumping Cat Litter is a plant-based option that is a blend of pine, fir, and spruce wood. It will clump solid for easy scooping. The fiber is precision-cut to be able to absorb liquid on contact, and it can prevent odor. Plus, it is designed to last longer between changes.
This lightweight litter is 99% dust free, flushable, and biodegradable. Its also free of synthetic chemicals, GMOs, artificial fragrances, and toxic dyes. And it is made from natural reclaimed wood fiber that is sustainably sourced.
Side note: Other options from this brand include an unscented super soft clumping wood litter, unscented clumping mini pellets, and an unscented dust-free non-clumping paper pellet formula, so you can find the solution that works best for you and your pet.
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Best Recycled: Fresh News Recycled Paper Litter
Like walnut shells, corn cobs, and some wood-based litters, this paper cat litter is made from a product that would otherwise be thrown away. Fresh News Recycled Paper cat litter is made with 100% post-consumer paper from recycling centers. In fact, the company created a community recycling program called PaperGator where non-profit organizations, primarily churches and schools, get paid for collecting paper products both internally and from their communities.
Recycled paper litter is safe for animals and can be composted so it doesnt have to end up in the landfill, although cat waste must be composted with care so that the resulting soil is never applied to food crops.
Fresh News claims to be almost three times more absorbent than clay litters, so it lasts longer. The soft, dust- and allergen-free pellets retain their form when they get wet but they dont clump so youll need to change it more often than clumping litter.
Made in Michigan, this litter has added baking soda to control odors.
Used litter can contain the parasite, Toxoplasma gondii, which causes toxoplasmosis that is especially dangerous for a developing fetus. That’s why it’s important not to mix cat waste with other compost.
With any cat litter, pour in a ventilated area to reduce your exposure to dust, and always wash your hands thoroughly after cleaning up.
Okocat Super Soft Clumping Wood Cat Litter
This cat litter is made from 100% reclaimed fibers so that it is an environmentally-friendly one. This type is biodegradable because it is free of chemicals and dyes. Created with Odor Shield Technology, Okocat cat litters can fight and absorb odors for up to seven days. Besides, it is great for multi-cat households, and the users can clean up a breeze because of superior clumping action.
In addition to this, the product is also extra soft for all types of cat paws. This environmentally-friendly cat litter is gentle on the paws of cats whether you have an elderly kitty or kitten at home. The reviewers say that this natural cat litter is lightweight. It is easy with the handy when disposing of the litter and replenishing it.
One of the best attractions is that the product can be compostable. Okocat Super Soft Clumping Wood Cat Litter can be an ideal choice if you prefer a natural wood pellets cat litter. With the high absorbency, this item can satisfy the consumers.
However, this type of litter is not the best one for long hair cats it just the favorite product for the short hair ones.
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Skip The Plastic Water Bowls & Litter Scoops
Choose ceramic or glass water bowls for your cat rather than plastic ones. Plastic bowls can retain odors and residue, which can cause many cats to turn up their nose. Consider using a metal scoop for your litter box maintenance. These tend to be more durable and longer-lasting than plastic. Many also have a non-stick coating that makes for easier litter scooping and clean up.
Is Cat Litter Biodegradable
Many biodegradable litters exist already, and more keep hitting the market. We cat lovers know how particular our furries can be, so its important to test a few to find the right fit for your home and your cat. Consider these options:
- Grass seed: This is first on the list because its my favorite and the one we stuck with after trying many others on the market. It controls odors well. It doesnt spread dust, though you will need to sweep around your box because when my girls jump out they tend to have some stuck to their toes. It does, however, clump well, which is a big bonus for me for ease of scooping.
- Newspaper: A popular, commonly-available option. We tried one brand and found that it didnt control odors well, but remember that every cat is different so it might work for you!
- Coconut: Weve never tried this. Its newer to market than some of the others, but it might be the one that appeals to your cat.
- Wheat: A highly-rated, popular option made from renewable wheat. We did try this and felt like it tracked a bit more, but Ive read a ton of positive reviews, so Id be open to giving it another try if we decided to shift from the grass seed.
- Pine cobble: Made from renewable pine, and the brand claims cats are naturally drawn to the material, which makes transitioning easy.
All these options can naturally biodegrade. FWIW, still another reason to ditch clay: Its not biodegradable.
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How To Dispose Of Cat Litter Safely
There are some good reasons to use ‘flushable’ cat litter, as the litter itself will biodegrade and so can be composted. Provided you separate the soiled litter and waste into the bin, you won’t be polluting the environment, and you will reduce the amount of waste going to landfill considerably. To find the cat litter that’s right for you, check out our guide to the best cat litter choices on the market right now.
Zero Waste Cat Litter Is It Even Possible
No at least not completely but that doesnt mean we shouldnt minimize the impact of our furry friends. The litter box is the perfect place to start.
From sustainable litter boxes to compostable cat litter, to eco-friendly cat litter disposal options abound. Your cat likely wont know the difference, but you can be content knowing your pets carbon pawprint will be light.
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Why Choose A Natural Litter
There are several reasons why a natural litter might be a better fit for your cat and your family, as a whole.
They are environmentally friendly. “By switching to natural litters that are compostable or biodegradable, we can help our planet,” said Satchu. Indeed, natural litters are made from sustainable resources such as responsibly managed forests, upcycled food waste, and quick-growing plants. Both their acquisition and disposal have less of an environmental impact than strip-mined clay litters.
They provide natural odor control. “The nice thing about natural options is that the scents tend to be less intense than the intentionally scented ones,” said McKechnie. That means odors are kept at bay without producing a cloying perfume fragrance that many cats dislike.
They produce less dust than the average clay litter. Cats with respiratory issues may benefit from switching to a natural litter with minimal dust, according to Satchu. Grass litters, she said, are consistently among the most dust free of the natural options, though we found in testing that some of the walnut, wood, and grain litters produced equally minimal dust.
They won’t harm cats who like to snack on their litter. A cat that eats its litter may have an underlying medical problem or just an unusual craving. After a visit to the vet rules out issues such as anemia, kidney disease, or nutritional deficiencies, Satchu often recommends that snacky cats switch to a grain litter that is safe for ingestion.
Use The Litter For Decorative Gardens
It is no secret that some pet owners find it difficult to switch to a different method of disposing of their cats litter. But, it is something you must start adapting to because the world is now going the eco-friendly way and you and your pet cannot afford to be left behind.
Therefore, if you have to give up plastic bags entirely, you can take solace in using your cat litter to decorate your gardens. Luckily, it can also turn out to be manure to aid your plants growth.
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Made From Upcycled Food Waste Littermaid Premium Walnut Litter Clumps Tightly And Produces Very Little Dust
Pros: Made from discarded walnut shells, generates minimal dust, clumps tightly, absorbs odors
Cons: May be slow to absorb liquids fully, not suitable for people with nut allergies, tracks easily
Arguably among the most eco-friendly of all the natural cat litters, Littermaid Premium Walnut Litter is made from the discarded shells of edible walnuts. Littermaid grinds the fibrous and naturally absorbent material into a sandy texture that is easy on the paws.
Each of the three walnut litters we tested were high quality and effective at clumping and controlling odors, making it a challenge to select a category winner. This was especially true because, like the grass litter, my cats did not use the box consistently enough to determine whether each litter would continue to control odors equally well on day 21 as it did on day 1. We will be testing this substrate with other cats in the near future to find out.
Still, Littermaid’s walnut litter did have a couple of characteristics I preferred. First off, despite being a soft substrate, this was the heaviest of the three litters. Although it tracked easily out of the box, the volume of the escaped litter was a little less than its lighter competitors. When pouring and cleaning, this walnut litter also produced even less dust than its competitors though the other walnut litters also generated very little dust.
// Scoop Out The Litter Daily If Not Twice A Day
You know your cats daily pooping and peeing routine. Scoop out the litter box accordingly.
Note: Remember to be careful while handling cat litter. Not only does it have excessive ammonia, which you shouldnt breathe in, but skin contact with the germs in the litter is not ideal. Wear gloves if you need to, and a mask as well, especially if youre living in a small apartment and the box is in a closed off bathroom or storage room . The best scenario, though, is to keep the litter box in an area with a lot of good ventilation. And wash your hands thoroughly after handling soiled cat litter.
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What Is Eco Friendly Cat Litter
Making the transition to sustainable living means finding more eco-friendly alternatives to all sorts of things, including eco-friendly cat products. When it comes to the best sustainable cat litter, products that are made using materials that will biodegrade once discarded are best. Thankfully, there are many brands making cat litter using plant-based materials that are biodegradable and compostable.
They use materials like corn kernels, corn cobs, recycled newspapers, wood shavings, or grass seeds. If you do opt to compost your cat’s waste, you cannot use that compost on plants that you plan to eat.
There are even options made from recycled rubber tires. That is unfortunately not the most eco-friendly option overall unless you find that your cat will use it over the other more eco-friendly options.
To be eco-friendly, cat litter should also be free from any harmful chemicals, synthetic fragrances, and dyes, as well as bentonite clay and silica dust. Avoiding the use of harmful chemicals and synthetic fragrances might be a no-brainer but why bentonite clay or silica dust? Well get into that in just a moment.
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Try Newspaper For A Diy Solution
There is always the option to create a homemade litter if you have old newspapers. Follow these steps:
Fill the cat’s litter box to a depth of 2 inches. Scoop daily and change weekly.
A simpler homemade solution is to add a few extra litter trays lined with a few sheets of newspaper. When the paper is wet, simply replace it. You’ll still need a traditional litter box somewhere because kitties tend to only urinate on the paper, but you’ll buy far less litter.
Ellen Nulf
Many cat litters work well and may even be perceived as eco-friendly, but you might want to take a closer look. Switching to a truly eco-friendly litter isnt only good for the environment, its good for your cat too.
Swheat Scoop: This natural wheat litter contains no chemicals and no clay, is biodegradable and flushable, doesnt create dust, is made from a renewable resource and is 100 percent compostable for non-vegetable plants . The wheat enzymes naturally neutralize odors.
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Do Not Flush Your Cat Litter
You may be tempted to flush your cats poop down the Water Closet believing that it is a better alternative to disposing of cat litter without plastic bags. It may be fast but it is nerve eco-friendly and that eco-friendliness is what we are looking for.
Flushing your cat litter down the Water Closet can cause many health challenges, such as resulting in the death of ocean wildlife and intoxicating our waterways. Such can be possible if the cats litter is contaminated.
The Origins Of Cat Litter
Have you ever wondered what indoor cats used before sterile clay balls and plastic litter boxes were invented? I imagine it was perhaps a wooden box filled with coarse sand brought in from the outside. It turns out Im not very wrong.
In the 19th century, as cars became more popular, and life for the beloved cats became more unsafe outdoors, they began to be kept indo ors, and the problem of the litter box came into existence. Before clay litter began to be used for cats, people used sand, sawdust, dirt and ashes, probably trying to recreate the outside world where cats generally did their business. It was only in the 1940s that clay was used for cat litter, and that too by chance. Edward Lowe, who had a business selling clay, sawdust and sand, helped his neighbor out by offering granulated clay for her litter box . It worked wonderfully, clumping in the presence of moisture, and even deodorized the smell a fantastic, unexpected win for an indoor cat bathroom.
Since the commercialization of Edward Lowes granulated clay litter, a host of other types of cat litter have popped up in the market. Some, such as crystal cat litter, have been much more processed and unsuitable for the environment, and some, such as recycled newspaper litter, have been less. Its important to know why some cat litters are more harmful to the environment than others, so lets find out.
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Wood Pellets May Attract Insects
Certain bugs are attracted to wood. Others to organic waste, like feces. As a result, you may notice more insects in and around your litter box after a switch to wood pellet litter.
But the infestation is more than likely not being caused by the new litter. Instead, insects are being drawn to the litter box from other locations in the home where they would normally stay.
Wood pellet litter may sometimes attract bugs, but its actually just making an already existing problem more obvious.
Final Thoughts: How To Make Eco
Making your eco-friendly cat litter is easy, cost-effective, and good for the planet. If youre willing to put a bit of effort into it, you can create something that will do the job properly without burdening the environment.
Whether with wood grain, sand, or processed newspaper, if you make it correctly, there shouldnt be any extra smell or mess, and no reduction in your cats quality of life!
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