Is Clay Litter Safe for Cats?
Natural Cat Litters May be Better for You and Your Feline
Jun 21, 2009
Sodium bentonite, an active ingredient in clay cat litters, is believed by some to cause health problems. Since it expands fifteen times its size to absorb liquid, it could be harmful to cats if ingested. It does not pass through the intestinal tract, and can build up on the intestinal walls of a cat, absorbing fecal matter, causing nutritional deficiencies and urinary tract problems.
Kittens are especially susceptible to problems associated with clay litters. Like babies, kittens tend to experience their world by tasting it, and can ingest dangerous amounts of clay litter. As a result, many new kitten owners choose not to use clay litters.
It is also thought that sodium bentonite can build up in the lungs of cats, as their face can get quite close to the litter as they use it. If the cat kicks up a lot of dust as it uses the litter box, some people fear that the dust can be harmful to humans as well, as they will also breath in the sodium bentonite contained in the dust.
Though no scientific studies have been done to prove any harmful effects of clay cat litters, some people are more comfortable using natural alternatives.
Newspaper Litters
Newspaper litters may not be considered natural, but they are a healthy and eco-friendly alternative to clay litters. These products are made out of recycled newspaper, and come in large pellets. Litters made from newspapers are dust free, absorb liquid and odors, and still clump.
These litters are popular amongst small animal owners too, as they are not as messy as wood chips, and do not contain any harmful oils such as cedar wood chips exude.
Pine Litters
These litters are by-products from wood mills, so no new trees are cut down to manufacture pine litters. They still clump, and have the natural odor eliminating properties of pine. They range in size from fine granules to pellets, and can be flushed down the toilet.
Wheat Litters
These litters are fine pieces of wheat, a totally natural and renewable resource. They clump, are dust free, flushable, and absorb odors. Though a cat food that contains wheat is not the best thing for a cat, if a cat ingests a little bit of wheat litter, it will do no harm.
Corn Litters
Again, these litters clump and can be flushed down the toilet like all the others mentioned previously. Consumers feel that they do offer superior odor control though, and are worth the cost, as these litters tend to be the most expensive.
An interesting fact about corn litters is that they originated as by-products of liquor production, and the scientists making the liquor found that the corn made such a good litter for their own cats, they decided to market it to the public
Though there is no scientific proof that clay litters cause harm to cats, there are many benefits to using natural litters. None of the natural litters mentioned above are suspected of doing any harm to cats or their owners. All of these litters are by-products of things already being made, so they do not have to be mined from the earth like traditional clay litters, making them eco-friendly.
Natural litters are more costly than clay litters, but most consumers feel that their safety, effectiveness, convenience, and reduced impact on the environment is well worth the price.
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