It’s possible to train your cat to use a toilet, but most cats stick to the old-fashioned litter box. Although you have to scoop it out regularly, at least you and your pet have a thrown of your own. However, there are even more litter options, and they’re bright green.
So what’s wrong with traditional clay litter? Even though you can use it to clean up oil spills and other hazardous wastes (including your cat’s presents), it’s created from strip mining, which isn’t good for the environment. If you have one or more cats, you know how much litter you go through and it’s probably not a pretty number.
Before switching to an eco-friendly litter, it’s important to do your research. Not only do you want the best for kitty and the planet, but you also want to preserve your bank account. The more natural or recycled litters range from $8 to $29, so there is some room to work within.
Arm & Hammer Essentials is budget friendly, and it’s made from 100 percent natural corn fibers. Because of the added baking soda, it helps deodorize, and the corn fibers are twice as absorbent as clay. Swheat Scoop is also inexpensive and is made from non-food-grade wheat grown in the U.S. A more expensive brand made from whole-kernel corn is the World’s Best Cat Litter, which works wonders at eliminating odors. One downside with these three types of litters is that the ingredients are fine and can easily be tracked throughout the house with the help of kitty’s scurrying paws.
Some ingredients you might not be familiar with are pine and recycled newspaper. Scoopable Feline Fresh will make your house smell like a forest. The pine is actually a by-product of the lumber industry, and some brands have pellet formulas or a more refined sandy texture. Again, the pine might get tracked around the house, but you can try the pellet formula. Purina makes Yesterday’s News, which is affordable and used by veterinarians. Since the litter is made from recycled newspaper, you might find that it doesn’t clump as well. However, there are larger pellet formulas to try.
Cats are fairly independent creatures, except for that pesky litter box. So until you can figure out how to train your cat to use a toilet or teach it to clean up it’s own mess (good luck with that), you’re best bet is a safe, odor-eliminating, power-clumping litter that is also eco-friendly to boot. Choose one that fits your wallet and pleases your precious fuzzball. Beware that your cat might stick up its nose to a complete litter change, so transition gradually to cause less stress.
