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 isn&#;t only good for the environment, it&#;s good for your cat too.
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More than 2 million tons of sodium bentonite clay is mined in the United States each year just for kitty litter. Sodium bentonite can be harmful if cats ingest it, which can happen accidentally when they clean themselves. Likewise, the silica dust in many litters may contribute to respiratory problems for your kitty and you. Fortunately, there are many options, and Weavers Way Across the Way carries a wide variety. Here are some of them:
Swheat Scoop: This natural wheat litter contains no chemicals and no clay, is biodegradable and flushable, doesn&#;t create dust, is made from a renewable resource and is 100 percent compostable for non-vegetable plants (after scooping). The wheat enzymes naturally neutralize odors.
Blue Naturally Fresh Litter: This is a flushable multi-cat quick-clumping litter made of walnut shells. It is chemical-free, grain-free, clay-free and corn free.
Cedarific Soft Cat Litter: This all natural, biodegradable litter is made with wood fibers grown in the United States. It contains no chemicals, is lightweight and dust-free, and has a soft texture for your kitty&#;s paws.
Premium Choice Carefree Kitty: This litter company claims its litter &#;won&#;t harm the environment,&#; but it is based on mining. This litter uses bentonite clay from Wyoming and is unscented.
Arm & Hammer Feline Pine: This is a 100 percent natural-pine clumping litter. It contains a &#;clumping agent&#; and mineral oil. It creates no dust and contains no artificial scents. This litter doesn&#;t actually clump; solid waste can be scooped but once liquid hits the litter, the pellets break apart into sawdust. The box can be shaken so the sawdust settles at the bottom, and the litter can be changed when it is close to 90 percent sawdust.
Arm & Hammer &#;Naturals&#;: This litter is a corn-based clumping litter, containing a &#;plant-based clumping agent,&#; baking soda (of course) and mineral oil.
Cat Tails: 100 percent clay-based litter containing no chemicals. This product packaging does not give information about where the clay comes from.
World&#;s Best Cat Litter: This is the priciest, but users seem to appreciate that it clumps, is (technically) flushable and dust-free. It is made of whole-kernel corn and comes an all-natural lavender-oil-scented variety. World's Best is sold in Chestnut Hill as well as at Across the Way.
Purina Yesterday&#;s News: Known as the gentle pellet litter for kittens just having had surgery, Yesterday&#;s News calls itself the &#;#1 Recommended Eco-Friendly Cat Litter.&#; It is made with recycled newspaper, is dust-free, unscented and three times more absorbent than clay.
If you are looking for more details, kindly visit Natural Sodium Bentonite Cat Litter.
One thing that needs acknowledging is the potential problems that can result from flushing "flushable" litter. Some cats harbor a parasite called Toxoplasma gondii (especially outdoor cats that eat raw meat), and sewage treatment does not kill this parasite in cat poop. World&#;s Best's label has a disclaimer from the state of California urging users not to flush the waste, and the Sea Otter Alliance also urges cat owners to never flush cat waste because it may be harmful to marine life. This parasite is also potentially dangerous to people who have vulnerable immune systems such as pregnant women, elderly and people with serious illnesses, who should never handle cat litter at all. So if you choose a "flushable" litter, the best practice is to put it out with the trash.
Obviously, this is a lot to consider! It may take some trial and error to find the best litter for your home, but of course your cats will love you for it.
Should you use litter with sodium bentonite? Is sodium bentonite dangerous for your cat? This common cat litter additive has been a source of concern for many loving pet owners. Today I want to give you a vet&#;s perspective on its safety.
Chemically speaking, sodium bentonite is natural. It is most commonly found in clay beds and is known for its ability to absorb moisture and swells to many times its original size. This makes it a very useful additive for cleaning spills. It also can enhance the clumping properties of cat litter.
It is this absorbent quality that concerns some owners and makes them question whether their cats should be exposed to it. It is estimated that sodium bentonite contributes to 15 million pounds of non-biodegradable waste each year. But what effect does it have on your cat?
There are few formal studies so far on the effects of sodium bentonite on cats. However, this does not mean that it is necessarily safe or unsafe. One thing to consider is that some cats do not like litter with any additives at all, even ones that are technically not dangerous, and will refuse to use litters that irritate their sensitive noses or eyes.
In this vet&#;s opinion, if your cat shows any signs at all of eating foreign material such as litter, paper, or fabric, it is best to avoid litters with sodium bentonite. This is because ingesting even a small amount of material can cause an impaction in the stomach or intestines. These blockages can require expensive and painful surgery to remove, and can be fatal if they are not treated quickly.
Most cats are likely to eat foreign material at least once. Small amounts typically pass through their digestive tracts unharmed but if the material swells, like sodium bentonite can, it can cause severe problems. Therefore, if you do choose to use litter containing sodium bentonite it is very important to monitor your cat regularly to ensure that they are eating and using the litter box properly.
Litter additives can be dangerous to cats if eaten. Sodium bentonite has not been studied enough to determine whether it poses a threat to cats, but a vet&#;s advice is to stay on the safe side and use it with caution.
I hope this has helped you learn whether sodium bentonite is safe for cats.
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