I have had cats as pets since I was 12 years old but it was only in the past couple of years that I became aware of how important it is to choose the right cat litter. For years I bought the kind of litter that clumps. Then one day my vet mentioned to me that not only does it clump in the litter box but also in the cat’s intestines. In other words when the cat leaves the litter box and begins to wash itself the particles of the litter are licked off the paws, swallowed and accumulate in the intestines in clumps ( see here for more information). Once I knew this I was on a mission to find a good cat litter.
Now mind you when I say good it has to satisfy my requirements also, those being, doesn’t track, easy to clean, biodegradable, sustainable and most importantly absorbs odor. So first I tried “Feline Pine” it sounded good. It’s made from pine which is biogradable, sustainable and it absorbs odors. However it comes in small cylindrical pieces and it not very comfortable to walk on if you are a cat. If you are a cat lover and/or owner ( which you probably are if you are reading this) you know that cats hate change and litter change is viewed with great skepticism and disdain. When my cats got into the litter box filled with “Feline Pine” they kept lifting their feet up and when they spotted me looked at me like I had obviously lost my mind. I found it difficult to clean this litter and then the cats decided they had had enough of it and began to go to the bathroom just outside the litter box..charming! So that put an end to “Feline Pine”. I understand that they have now come out with a clumping version of the Feline Pine and this I have not tried.
My vet suggested I use a clay litter. Initially I used the Safeway brand (unscented) and mixed in baking soda. But it tracks and doesn’t do a very good job of controlling the odor and it is not biodegradable, doesn’t clump and it is not sustainable. Next I started using Hartz clay litter. This is better than the Safeway brand but the issue mentioned before still apply. Then I happened to read several articles about the dangers of clay litters as written here.
I am now pleased to announce that I think I have found my dream litter!!! And the cats like it too!!. It is “Swheat Scoop” natural wheat litter. It clumps, you can flush it!, it absorbs odor beautifully, it’s biodegradable and sustainable. No clay, chemicals or fragrances and it was a breeze to switch to this litter. For more details on this great product see here.
~ Heather