Is Crystal Cat Litter Environmentally Friendly

Transitioning Your Cat To Crystal Cat Litter

If you want to start using crystal cat litter, the best approach is to do a gradual transition from your cats old litter to the new product over a seven-day period.

Start by mixing one-quarter of the new crystal litter with three-quarters of the old litter product.

Next, switch to half old litter product and half new crystal litter mixed together.

Then switch to one-quarter of the old litter product with three-quarters of the new crystal litter.

At the end of this transition, your kitty should be ready to comfortably use the new crystal litter.

Is It Safe To Reuse Crystal Cat Litter

Its only safe as long as you dont dispose of used cat litter in gardens with edible plants. As we discussed before, crystal cat litter isnt biodegradable, so it can be harmful to your plants.

Also, its a bad idea to put animal waste in your garden because of the parasites it might contain. So, you should stick to the safest options when trying to reuse crystal cat litter, which we already approached in the previous section.

// Worlds Best Cat Litter

Price: $26.95

This litter is made from whole-kernel corn, which makes it sustainable, biodegradable and renewable. There are no added chemicals, and the litter has a natural scent with good odor control. Plus, they have an awesome website with loads of useful information about kitty litter, including tips and advice on how you can switch your litter brand without upsetting your cat.

THIS POST CONTAINS AFFILIATE LINKS. PLEASE READ MY DISCLOSURE FOR MORE DETAILS.

I had wanted to include Tofu Kitty in this list, but their website says theyre closing on April 30th. I dont know if theyre shutting down their business, but if they are that would be very sad. A brief bit of Googling did not help me with any further info, so Im just leaving them off the list for now.

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What Cat Litter Is Organic

• Catspot Organic Coconut Cat Litter
• The Original PoopBags Catfidence Organic Bamboo Cat Litter
• HempAlta Pets Premium Organic Hemp Cat Litter
• Copycat Organic Clumping Cat Litter
• Cat Best Original Litter Organic Cat Litter

More Organic options may appear as biodegradable, compostable, and organic litter becomes more popular.

Is Crystal Cat Litter Eco

Crystal cat litter is also bad for the environment. Its made from silica, is strip mined in a similarly destructive way to clay, and is often shipped across large distances from the mining location to the processing location and so on.

Also, crystalline silica dust, a common ingredient in most clumping litters, is a known carcinogen for both humans and animals when inhaled. Cats can develop silicosis from inhaling microscopic silica dust. Also, if you notice, a lot of crystal litter is dyed blue. This is done using cobalt chloride, which is a known carcinogen.

Crystal cat litter is used because its extremely absorbent, but the environmental and health drawbacks of this product far outweigh any advantage.

All of this seems like a lot of unnecessary effort for something that can be reproduced very easily, locally, and, most importantly, in an eco-friendly manner.

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Overall Best Silica Cat Litter

• Less dust than traditional litter
• Traps odors and eliminates moisture

Best Silica Crystal Cat Litter: PrettyLitter is unlike any litter you have used before. Not only is it lightweight and environmentally friendly, but its most useful benefit is that it is color changing, alerting you to any hidden health issues your cat might be suffering from. PrettyLitter detects health issues such as urinary tract infections, bladder stones, inflammation, kidney issues, and more. Owners are often oblivious to their cats health problems, so PrettyLitter takes out the guess work and tells you what your cat cant! With a once-a-month convenient delivery service, PrettyLitter costs less than some other typical cat litters and the amount is tailored to suit the number of cats in your home. The super absorbent silica gel traps odors and eliminates moisture and is made from natural minerals, which means less dust and allergens and less litter in the landfill.

Pros:

• No plant proteins, perfumes or deodorants
• Biodegradable
• Infused with herbs for stress reduction

Dr. Elseys cat litter made of silica gel takes the top spot on our list because of its quality and eco-friendliness. All of Dr. Elseys cat litters were formulated by Dr. Elsey himself, so you can trust that your cats will be using a top-notch, dependable product.

Pros:

• Gentle on your cats paws
• Virtually dust free
• Cost-effective

Pros:

• Soft on paws
• Light summer scent

Pros:

Cons:

But Where Does This Miracle Product Come From

As the name implies, Fullers Earth comes directly from our planet. Its mined and excavated from Earths surface leaving shallow pits that turn into unsightly scars on our landscape.

The process of making clay litter begins in mountains and hills. Raw bentonite clay is pulled from Earth one truckload at a time in a process called strip mining. How many truckloads are mined in the U.S. each year? Two million tons worth!

To get to this clay, companies must remove all the existing topsoil and vegetation. This leads to deforestation, loss of wildlife habitat, erosion, and depletion of natural minerals. It also leads to sediments getting washed into streams and rivers which pollutes waters and harms fish and aquatic vegetation. It can also destroy watersheds and increase flooding.

Theres also the obvious, too: strip mining is ugly, noisy, and creates dust.

The mining of clay for cat litter causes:

• Depletion of natural minerals
• Loss of forests and natural vegetation
• Loss of wildlife habitats
• Flooding and changes in watersheds
• Noise
• Erosion

After the clay has been excavated, the process of making cat litter is not over.

The clay is hauled to a processing plant which requires a lot of fuel. Its then baked and baked at high temperatures to remove any moisture. This is what gives it its absorbing properties. From there, its cooled and crushed into finer granules before being packaged and shipped out to stores.

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Testing The Health Monitoring System

Fortunately, my cats urine seemed to be within the healthy pH range throughout the testing process.

Because I wanted to see how the litter would respond to different pH levels, however, I ran an experiment using three different solutions:

After pouring the solutions into separate containers of Pretty Litter, I noticed the colors changing and deepening over time. They achieved their deepest color a few minutes after pouring.

Here is what the different colors indicate:

• Red May indicate a Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disorder , kidney stones, bladder stones, bladder inflammation, kidney disease, or clotting disorders. In rare cases, it may also indicate bladder cancer or internal injury.
• Orange May be a sign of metabolic acidosis, kidney tubular acidosis, or calcium oxalate crystal formation.
• Blue or Dark Green May indicate certain types of urinary tract infections and an increased risk for crystal/stone formation.
• Dark Yellow/Olive Green Indicates urine within the typical pH range.

Its important to note that Pretty Litter is a tool that provides insight into your cats health but should not be used as a replacement for medical diagnostics or veterinary care. If the product indicates a potential health problem, take your cat to the vet.

Zero Mess By Worlds Best Advanced Cat Litter

Zero Mess is an excellent natural cat litter. Comprised of a 100% natural corn and plant fiber blend, this litter is dust free and super absorbent. Its designed for multi-cat households with its lightweight, quick clumping formula. We like that you can flush this litter for easy cleanup, and since its 100% natural, it wont harm the environment. The small granules are powerful for odor control and can be used in a mechanical litter box.

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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.

Eco Friendly Cat Litter Crystals

Original Eco Friendly Natural Pine Wood Cat Litter Description. 100% imported natural pine wood, Environmental, degradable Super extra deodorizing, water absorption No dust, protects pet respiratory tract Less track,keeping your home clean Detailed Images Packing & amp Delivery OEM Packing also ok. Our Service Environmental, degradable 20KG bags or 4L,8L,10L,20POUND packing Pine Wood cat Sand Contact Person: Amy Yu Email: Mobile: +86 17741196185 Wechat/What& amp rsquo s app: +86 17741196185 Skype: amy of allrise pet factory

We mainly four advantages: research and development, production, sales and technical ability. We are equipped with most advanced producing line for cat litter and annual output is beyond 100000 Tons. For 10 years, we have set up the production factories,manufacture cat litter and pet products.

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Cat Litter Crystals: The Safer Option

The additional benefit of crystal litter producing less silica dust is that it’s kinder to people with allergies. It can also even prevent cats developing asthma, and is certainly easier on the lungs of those animals who already have asthma.

Clay litter or silica cat litter has special chemicals added which cause the clay to clump when it comes into contact with your cat’s urine. This is supposed to make it easier to scoop, but those chemicals can actually be harmful to your cat. This is because your cat licks their paws after a visit to the litter tray , and the clay dust they lick off can expand in their tummies and intestines.

Crystal cat litter is entirely non-toxic and has no such clumping or expanding chemicals. Your cat is at no risk from licking silica crystal kitty litter, which gives you peace of mind as a responsible cat owner.

Silica gel littersare also super light, because they’re made of silica gel. This means it’s safer for your back and knees too!

It’s so important we look after our environment. Kitty litter is one of those unavoidable consumables that we need to keep our kitties clean and healthy. But do we need to be changing the cat litter every few days? With traditional clay litter which clumps, you might find you need to empty and refill the tray at least this often.

Cat litter crystals could be the future of cat litter cleaner, greener and better for your cat. Give us your views in the comments!

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Common Questions About Crystal Cat Litter Boxes

Cat parents unanimously agree that while cats are great companions and fun to be around, no one wants a stinky litter box in their home. Consequently, litter box odor control is key. The right litter for your cat is one that effectively absorbs urine, neutralizes odors and is convenient to change. However, with so many options and varieties of litter, it is important to understand the ingredients of each litter.

There are a plethora of choices — clumping litters made from clay, non-clumping clay litters, recycled paper, and crystal litter made from amorphous silica. When it comes to crystal silica litter, it checks all the boxes on odor control and cleanliness, and because its soft to walk on it is suitable for cats of all ages.

What is Crystal Litter?

How does it control odor?

I thought lavender was harmful to cats, why is there lavender scented litter?

ScoopFree® Premium Crystal Litter is available in unscented, sensitive, and lavender. Because the light lavender fragrance is a synthetic one, it is soothing to cats, unlike essential oils which their systems cant metabolize. Both the unscented and scented versions of the Premium Crystal Litter will help keep your home smelling fresh. However, if you or your cat are sensitive to fragrances go for the ScoopFree® Premium Sensitive Crystal Litter, free of perfume and dyes while maintaining the same odor control.

What should I do if my dog goes near the litter box?

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Best Budget: Feline Pine Original Non

Non-clumping cat litters tend to be more affordable, although youll likely need to change them more often than the clumping kind. Non-clumping litter is absorbent and holds odors well.

Feline Pine is one of the more affordable brands: A 40-pound bag is around $15 to $20. Rescue agencies and shelters that are on tight budgets like it also for its smell-reduction without scents or perfumes. Feline Pine uses sustainable kiln-dried shavings reclaimed from lumber production so no new trees are killed to make it.

Perhaps the best part is the litter is 100% pine shavings. It has a naturally fresh pine scent while also being lightweight and gentle for cat paws. No additional ingredients also means no added toxins, allergens, or other preservatives. It can be found at most major pet retail stores and even many grocery stores.

“When I adopted my cat from the shelter, Feline Pine was the litter she was already using so we stuck with it. The pine smell is pleasant but not overpowering, and its easy to know when to change it because you can clearly see that all the pellets have broken down into a sawdust consistency.” ~ , Senior Treehugger Editor

Overall Best Natural Cat Litter

• Wheat offers fast clumping action
• Fine texture is gentle on paws

This natural wheat cat litter is 100% natural and biodegradable. The wheat starches cause moisture and liquid to quickly clump, making tidying up your cats litter box easy and low-stress. sWheat Scoop is free of chemicals, dyes and perfumes. It doesnt have any silica dust, so that is a great natural kitty litter for kitties with allergies.

sWheat Scoop natural cat litter is eco-friendly and safe for your sensitive cats. We like that you can easily dispose of the litter by composting it or flushing it down the toilet. This cat litter wont clog up landfills since its biodegradable, and our planet can use all the help it can get. For a high-quality, eco-friendly, natural kitty litter, this is our top pick.

Pros:

• Made from 100% reclaimed fibers
• Made with Odor Shield Technology
• High absorbency

Runner-Up Best Compostable Litter: Okocat is an environmentally-friendly cat litter which is made from 100% natural materials. Its free of chemicals and dyes, making it biodegradable. Okocat cat litters are created with Odor Shield Technology to fight and absorb odors for up to seven days. Superior clumping action makes cleanup a breeze, and its great for multi-cat households.

Pros:

• Dust free
• White color to detect changes in urination

Pros:

• Tiny grains are soft on paws
• Good for mechanical litter boxes

Cons:

• Not the best choice for cats with long hair

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Is Crystal Cat Litter Safe

So, is crystal cat litter safe?

This is perhaps the number one question owners have when making a switch from traditional clay litter or non-clumping litter to crystal cat litter.

Concerns about safety include:

• paw abrasion from walking over the sharp crystals
• irritation from agents added for scent and color.

Some new crystal cat litters are made with the goal of being soft under the paws.

Benefits Of Using Natural Litters For Cats

While natural cat litters may not be the most cost-effective option, they are definitely the healthiest for cats. Natural kitty litter is also environmentally-friendly, so you cant go wrong by choosing to use one for your cat. Weve outlined some of the benefits of using a eco friendly cat litter.

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