CAT GO THERE: Many cat litters contain significant amounts of silica dust, chemical fragrances and, in "clumping" cat litters, sodium bentonite clay, which can be derived from destructive strip mining and can cause gastrointestinal distress in cats that can lead to death.
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Dear EarthTalk: Which are the most ecofriendly and nontoxic (to people, cats and sanitation systems) cat litters?—Sam Barnes, Macon, Ga.
It makes sense that environmentally enlightened cat owners would want cat litter made from natural products that will not potentially compromise their health or that of their beloved pets. Many mass market cat litters contain significant amounts of silica dust which has been linked to upper respiratory issues in cats and even humans. Likewise, the chemical fragrances in many cat litters can also be toxic to cats.
Yet another issue is the sodium bentonite clay in “clumping” cat litters. The fact that this type of clay can swell up to 15 times its original volume when a cat urinates or defecates into it makes it an excellent cat litter substrate, as waste clumps can be scooped out and filled in without changing the entire litter box. But when cats ingest this material it can cause gastrointestinal distress that in some cases can lead to death. Also, the clay commonly used can be derived from environmentally destructive strip mining.
But thanks to increased concern for cats’ health and the environment, there are plenty of greener options out there. To wit, Yesterday’s News cat litter is made from recycled newspaper and is reportedly three times more absorbent than clay. It is non-toxic and contains no scented fragrances, but its makers say it is still tough on odors, and is 99.7 percent dust-free. It also comes in recyclable paper packaging.
Wood shavings and sawdust also make good cat litter substrates. NEPCO’s Cedarific Natural Cat Litter is a blend of hardwood and cedar chips with no clay or silica dust. Besides being inexpensive, it is easy to handle, has a pleasant odor, and is biodegradable and compostable. Other wood/sawdust alternatives include Feline Pine, which is made from dust-free pine chips, and Better Way Cat Litter, which combines clay with cedar chips for natural odor control. Yet another great choice is Eco-Shell’s Purr & Simple Cat Litter, made from a proprietary blend of fibrous material from annually renewable tree-nut crops.
SwheatScoop Natural Wheat Litter keeps odors at bay through the power of natural enzymes in renewable wheat crops; it is low-dust and low-tracking besides being biodegradable and compostable. Meanwhile, World’s Best Cat Litter is made from whole kernel corn. And Benevo Cat Litter is made from non-genetically modified maize and other vegetable derivatives.
Frugal eco-conscious cat owners might consider making their own cat litter by repurposing everyday materials that would otherwise end up in the waste stream. Plain sawdust makes great cat litter, but doesn’t control odor as well as other substrates and might be hard to find in urban areas. The website treehugger.com offers instructions on how to turn old newspapers into cat litter; the process is a bit involved but can save money while extending the life of discarded newsprint.
Cat litter made from natural materials can also be composted as a way to reduce waste while creating rich soil for the garden. The Glenbrook North Zero Waste Blog in Vancouver, BC provides instructions on how to get healthy compost from cat litter derived from wood, sawdust or vegetable products.
CONTACTS: Yesterday’s News, www.yesterdaysnews.com; NEPCO, www.nep-co.com; Treehugger’s “Make Your Own Newspaper Cat Litter,” www.treehugger.com/culture/pet-topic-make-your-own-newspaper-cat-litter.html; Glenbrook North Zero Waste Blog’s “How to Compost Your Cat’s Litter,” http://glenbrookzerowaste.wordpress.com/2010/03/30/how-to-compost-your-cats-litter.
EarthTalk® is written and edited by Roddy Scheer and Doug Moss and is a registered trademark of E - The Environmental Magazine (www.emagazine.com). Send questions to: earthtalk@emagazine.com. Subscribe: www.emagazine.com/subscribe. Free Trial Issue: www.emagazine.com/trial.
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18 Comments
Add CommentYou want eco-friendly? Get rid of the cats and the problem goes away.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisBy far the most dangerous thing to be found in cat litter is toxoplasmosis gondii, and if you own a cat you are almost certainly infected with this dangerous parasite. Look it up. Then get rid of the cat.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisSteve, For being a Scientific American reader, your comment was not very scientific.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to this35% of households, comprising more that 50% of the population, in the US have a cat... yet only 11% have t gondii. That is a far cry from "almost certainly infected". I am my wife have had cats for 20 years and have been tested negative for t gondii. I guess we are the almost part of your comment.
To quote from the CDC site:
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to this"Toxoplasmosis is considered to be a leading cause of death attributed to foodborne illness in the United States. More than 60 million men, women, and children in the U.S. carry the Toxoplasma parasite, but very few have symptoms because the immune system usually keeps the parasite from causing illness. Toxoplasmosis is considered one of the Neglected Parasitic Infections, a group of five parasitic diseases that have been targeted by CDC for public health action."
Check it out:
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thiscdc.gov/parasites/toxoplasmosis/epi.html
Very sensible
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisWow, there is some hating on cats today. At least you guys were finally heard and could get your hate of cats off your mind and onto scientificamerican.com because that is what it is here for. We care so much about your guys' professional opinion.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to this
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisEat the cat, problem solved, tastes like chicken. ;^P.
Seriously house/feral cats are the largest killer of lizards, frogs, birds that eat mosquito's, etc pests. Plus cats spread fleas, diease, etc.
First of all, thank you for some very useful information regarding cat litter alternatives. I have used the SwheatScoop litter and one of the pine-based litters and found them to be excellent. Not to give them a plug--I just haven't had the opportunity to try the others. I don't have a cat a present (not by choice--my spouse developed allergies), but I would certainly prefer to use eco-friendly cat litters. Knowing it can be composted is a plus, because I was always afraid to do that, due to the potential parasite problem.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisTo dbtinc, SteveinOG, and jerryd: You have a problem, but it doesn't belong in this discussion. If you don't like cats, fine--that's your privilege. Other people--I would say MANY other people--DO like them, and if that rubs you the wrong way, get over it.
Train the cat to use the toilet, presto, no litter at all. You can teach them to flush if you want, but they tend to waste water because they find flushing even more interesting than their pajamas. BTW, I've found people who don't like cats don't like poetry either. Read some Richard Wilbur, you fiends.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisMy comment is not about liking or disliking cats. They're animals that exist in nature. It's like saying you don't like rocks. I'm pointing out that when people choose to have them inside their homes, they expose themselves, their children and neighbors to a dangerous parasite. Check out:
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thiscdc.gov/parasites/toxoplasmosis/epi.html
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisSablwolf, get a life!! Can't you tell sarcasm? when posted? Most others do.
Again by far the best litter is that you don't use because you don't have a cat whether as dinner or choice.
And cats are the biggest killer of wildlife in urban areas by a large amount. And I chose them, not cats.
I do wish kitty could learn the difference between birds and rodents but as it is, she goes out on a leash. A cat tower and cat wheel also keep her claws sharp and her energy level up. But as to choosing wildlife, I became a vegetarian six years ago for that very reason. When Erwin Schrödinger said,"Conscious is a singular for which there is no plural." he necessarily did not distinguish between animal and human consciousness.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisI'm with you, brublr. Our son has indoor cats and trained them to use the toilet. During the training process he used the Swheatscoop litter, which claims to be flushable. It probably is because he used it for months with no complaints from the plumbing system.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisI have been using "pea pebbles" available in garden section at Lowes / Home Depot etc. I recycle the pebbles by cleaning them in a concrete mixer with soap. The litter box I use is 3x6 ft and located in a custom built cat gazebo outside my house. There will be some loss as the pebbles will gradually turn into sand size, which I remove.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisBecause cats only shed the organism for a few days in their entire life, the chance of human exposure is small. Owning a cat does not mean you will be infected with the disease. It is unlikely that you would be exposed to the parasite by touching an infected cat, because cats usually do not carry the parasite on their fur. It is also unlikely that you can become infected through cat bites or scratches. In addition, cats kept indoors that do not hunt prey or are not fed raw meat are not likely to be infected with T. gondii.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisIn the United States, people are much more likely to become infected through eating raw meat and unwashed fruits and vegetables than from handling cat feces.
Because cats only shed the organism for a few days in their entire life, the chance of human exposure is small. Owning a cat does not mean you will be infected with the disease. It is unlikely that you would be exposed to the parasite by touching an infected cat, because cats usually do not carry the parasite on their fur. It is also unlikely that you can become infected through cat bites or scratches. In addition, cats kept indoors that do not hunt prey or are not fed raw meat are not likely to be infected with T. gondii.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisIn the United States, people are much more likely to become infected through eating raw meat and unwashed fruits and vegetables than from handling cat feces.
Because cats only shed the organism for a few days in their entire life, the chance of human exposure is small. Owning a cat does not mean you will be infected with the disease. It is unlikely that you would be exposed to the parasite by touching an infected cat, because cats usually do not carry the parasite on their fur. It is also unlikely that you can become infected through cat bites or scratches. In addition, cats kept indoors that do not hunt prey or are not fed raw meat are not likely to be infected with T. gondii.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisIn the United States, people are much more likely to become infected through eating raw meat and unwashed fruits and vegetables than from handling cat feces.