This type of clay also absorbs moisture, but the particles dont clump together. Many other litters can be, as long as you follow some If you are looking for a litter that is kind to the environment, you will have to consider eco-friendly versions, like corn, pine, and wheat. It is most often purchased as an alternative to clay cat litter because of the similar texture; however, walnut cat litter weighs much less, which is often appealing to those who Furthermore, clay litter contributes to deforestation, floods, erosion, and pollution, as well as posing a health concern to your cat. That's why the manufacturers can say it is safe to flush down the toilet. Pine litter is better for the environment. ; However, clay cat litter is the absolute worst cat litter that you can buy if you care about the environment, and there are a few reasons for this: Clay cat litter is not biodegradable. The bentonite clay is formed overtime as rocks are eroded away by the weather and the tiny pebbles compacted into the ground basically become a mineralized soil. Unscented does not contain perfumes or dyes, so its great for sensitive kitties and households. Kitty litter is usually made of bentonite clay, which is used in ceramics as an ingredient in clay bodies and When wet, the clay particles absorb the liquid and stick together to form a clump. The lavender fragrance is recognized for its soothing and relaxing effects. Flushable cat litter is clearly better for the environment as it is designed to biodegrade. Clay cat litter is not biodegradable. Another reason to ditch clay: It cant be composted. What to Look for in Cat LitterClumping. As with any cat litter you buy, consider whether you prefer clumping or non-clumping types. Pellet Size. Pellet size is also something to consider. Multi-Cat. For those with more than one kitty, consider litters designated as multi-cat. They tend to contain more odor neutralizers like baking soda to prevent odors on contact. When the clay has served its purpose as cat litter, it is carried to landfills, where the dead materials will serve as the bedrock for future mounds of non-biodegradable waste. Some estimates indicate that more than 2 million tons of clay litter is disposed of each year in the United States, so the sheer volume of used cat litter has a significant impact on landfills. Molar clay cat litter is made of bentonite clay, which is a natural absorbent. Is Clay Cat Litter Bad For The Environment? It also clumps far better than most litters made from traditional materials. There are other options out there that are so much more eco-friendly. Clay litter is technically natural, but it actually destroys the environment around it when made and it is not compostable. Than you are going to want to check out our pick for overall best non-clay When the litter in the cat litter box is changed, contaminated clay litter dust in the air can be inhaled and can transmit the parasite to you. 2. Definitely not, especially considering how many safe and effective alternatives there are. Kitty Poo Club Clay Cat Litter Best Overall. Some non-clumping cat litters are also made from clay, such as calcium bentonite. There are numerous eco-friendly as well as natural items on the shelves that benefit your pet dog and also the environment too. Of course, after it Toxoplasma gondii causes toxoplasmosis. Walnut cat litter is made from the crushed shells of walnuts. Clay clumping litter, like Frisco Multi-Cat Clumping Litter, is made of natural bentonite clay granules that clump together when liquid is absorbed. Dogs who eat clumping clay litter may suffer from the same health problems as cats who ingest the substance. Environmental Impact of Cat Litter. Can you compost cat litter? And just like the name suggests, the primary material in this cat litter, clay, is derived from the earth. We purchased Naturally Fresh Walnut-Based Quick-Clumping Cat Litter so our writer could put it to the test. In more recent years it has been combined with sodium bentonite to enable it to clump around your cats waste. Clay litter is a little less expensive. any type of litter that has the arm & hammer logo design will certainly help out with the pesky fragrance of the cat box. Cats Pride Max Power Clumping Clay Multi-Cat Litter 15 Pounds. Best Overall Cat Litter: Dr. Elsey's Premium Clumping Cat Litter; Best Value Cat Litter: Special Kitty Scoopable Cat Litter; Best Odor Control Cat Litter: Purina Tidy Cats Pure Nature Cat Litter All you have to do is be open to using them and you can decrease yourand your catscarbon footprint, Bond says. Clay-based cat litter may be the most commonand therefore the most affordable and widely availablechoice on the If you are looking for a non-clay cat litter, but you dont want crystals or wheat. Understandably, ecologically conscious cat owners would choose kitty litter manufactured from natural materials that won't harm their health or their pets. The best cat litter, according to expertsCat litter for odor control. Veterinarian Ginger Benham of Northeast Animal Hospital in St. Non-clumping cat litter. Curious kittens may decide to taste their litter. Unscented cat litter. Lightweight cat litter. Dust-free cat litter. Best value cat litter. It takes a huge amount of resources to produce clay cat litter. Clay-based litter doesn't rot and so all those bags of waste just end up filling landfill sites. Most of the cat litters that you see at your local pet store will be clay cat litter. Clay litter isnt biodegradable either, meaning every bit thats sent to a landfill will remain there basically forever. Environmentally Safe Cat Litters. Unscented litters. The wood fibers used for Okocat litter are free from synthetic chemicals and toxic additives, so theyre safe for your cat. All-natural corncob particles clump and trap odor quickly. Clay Litter Vs Clumping Litter . The Naturally Fresh Walnut-Based Quick-Clumping Cat Litter is a super-easy, sustainable, and affordable swap for traditional clay clumping litter. There are, however, some other concerns posed by clumping clay litter. The litter contains crystalline silica dust, which can cause respiratory problems in animals and humans who breathe it. The environmental impact of clay litter production, in addition to the mining itself, includes the transportation of the clay to the drying facility as well as the use of petroleum products to generate sufficient heat needed to dry the clay. The process for making the more traditional kinds of cat litter clay and crystal versions does hurt our environment a little bit. Its estimated that nearly 3 million tons (yes tons) of cat litter end up in landfills annually, with amounts continuing to rise year over year. Unfortunately, the clay-based cat litter is the worst when it comes to its environmental impacts. Scoopable cat litter which makes up 75% of cat litters on the market are made using BENTONITE CLAY and NOT BIODEGRADABLE! Flushable cat litter is environmentally friendly. Pros. The 11 Best Non-Clay Cat Litters. Most scoopable cat litter is an extension of the format, adding sodium bentonite (a specific type of clay) which forms clumps when exposed to moisture. Keep reading for our full product review. I share some of my favorites below, but stick this thought in your mind: Ditch the clay cat litter to positively diminish your cats impact on the environment! Pros of Clay Litter Strip mining is as bad as it sounds. But your cats preference should play a large role, and not all cats will like pellets. Walnut Shell Litter. Walnut shell cat litter is one natural litter alternative to clay litter. Amazon.com. Natural cat litter options have expanded to include walnut shell litters. These ground-up walnut shells have high absorbency when compared to clay litter, work well for odor control, and clump too. needs to be heated up to 2,000 degrees Fahrenheit to create kitty litter that easily absorbs. Wood pellets naturally suppress the odors of Bond says that part of the reason cat waste is having such a negative impact on the environment is that so many people are simply used to using clay litter. Clay litter, unfortunately, will not break down when discarded. Features : Max Power 10-Day Odor Control patented formula works immediately to trap and eliminate odors. Clay Cat Litter Overview Traditional clay litter is made from sodium bentonite. Most scoopable cat litter forms clumps when exposed to moisture. Clay mining has a massive impact on the The Pine litter is better for your cats health. Youll have to change the litter more often if you opt for an old-school litter. Okocat litter is great at odor control. On top of this, clay litter is often mined using strip mining, which is also hard on the environment. 1. While most clay litter is clumping , there are still some traditional sandy litters on the market. Clay Litter Vs Clumping Litter. 5. Today, 75 percent of litters on the market are made using bentonite clay. Swheat Scoop litter is made from naturally processed wheat, which means its clay free, chemical free, fragrance free and biodegradable. Strong perfumes and deodorizing chemicals can irritate kittens or make them want to avoid the box. Clumping litters may also contain quartz or diatomaceous earth, which has smaller, finer granules. Walnut Cat Litter. According to Stanfords Eco Advice: Digging Deeper: The Scoop on Cat Litter, 75% of cat litters on the market are made using bentonite clay. Theres also the problem of where used cat litter ends up: the landfill. Understandably, ecologically conscious cat owners would choose kitty litter manufactured from natural materials that won't harm their health or their pets. - Thinking Sustainably If a pregnant woman is infected, it can lead to birth defects and problems later in life, like blindness or mental disability, according to the CDC . Buy on Amazon. What Other Environmental Impacts Result from Clay Litters? Clay litter is not biodegradable. Even better, unlike clay litter formulas, Okocat is practically dust-free. Molar clay cat litter is a great alternative to traditional litters because it is safer for the environment and healthier for your cat. Non-clumping clay litter. 1. Our ECO LITTER based products for your critters is to provide eco-friendly, eco-solutions that helps our planet and 100% BIODEGRADABLE!. Can you use cat litter to make bentonite clay? Naturally Fresh Cat Litter. The clay absorbs urine and feces, and the clumps are easy to scoop out. Since the 1950s, the most common type of cat litter has been clay, as clay is very absorbent. It is mined through a process that removes many layers of the naturally occurring clay from mines.