Cleo Carney and her cat Oscar deliver their pick of the kitty litters.
You might recall my cat Oscar, who taste-tested a menu of eco-friendly dinner options. The thing is, it’s not just what goes into Oscar that has an environmental impact on our planet, but also what comes out of Oscar — or rather, where he deposits what comes out.
Most cat litters are made of bentonite clay obtained by mining, a dirty process that contributes to biodiversity loss, greenhouse gas emissions (globally, 4–7 percent of such emissions), and air and water pollution. And it’s not just messy for the planet; clay litter also often contains silica, which can induce respiratory problems in both you and your cat. What’s more, those clumping litters we all love often contain sodium bentonite, which can clump in our kitty’s guts if they ingest it and cause life-threatening blockages. Though there’s plenty of online debate about the safety of clumping litters, why take the chance when, as Oscar discovered, there are plenty of safe, effective options that are also far better for the planet?
But first … a couple to avoid:
Silica or Crystal
Silica-based crystal litter is made from sand, requiring extremely high temperatures (and hence, energy use) to melt it into silica. Like clay or corn litter, silica litter has its own health concerns and can result in your furry friend developing silicosis from the inhalation of microscopic silica dust. Furthermore, this type of litter is often dyed artificially blue using cobalt chloride, which is potentially carcinogenic to cats and humans alike. Finally, silica is strip-mined or excavated from beaches, harming natural habitats and contributing to coastal erosion and biodiversity loss. Silica is not biodegradable and, like clay litter, will likely wind up in a landfill.
Corn
Corn-based cat litter is made from ground corn kernels or cobs, which means it’s biodegradable and repurposes a waste product. So far, so good. But there is some concern around the potential for wheat and corn litter to develop aflatoxins, dangerous toxins produced by fungi found on certain agricultural crops. Also, corn is typically a genetically-modified mono-crop, which requires large amounts of water to grow, can deplete soil nutrients (often “remedied” by the excess use of fertilizers), and drive out biodiversity. (In addition, if you have dogs, be aware that they can embrace corn litter as a delectable meal!)
Dedicating myself to Oscar’s bathroom habits (certainly more than I ever thought I would), I took on the new and now impossible-to-shed role of head kitty litter scooper (to my mother’s delight). I considered the absorbency, clumpability, and before/after scent of each litter.
So what's better?
I tested four Earth-friendly options, seriously invading Oscar’s personal privacy. Over four weeks, I changed Oscar’s litter weekly. Though many cats are fussy about their litter, Oscar took the changes in stride. Dedicating myself to Oscar’s bathroom habits (certainly more than I ever thought I would), I took on the new and now impossible-to-shed role of head kitty litter scooper (to my mother’s delight). I considered the absorbency, clumpability, and before/after scent of each litter. Herewith, my litter appraisals:
Wood Litter
Wood litter — made, unsurprisingly, from wood pellets — is biodegradable and carries a pleasant natural scent. Because it’s compostable, it’s a cinch to dispose of, but ensure that you’re composting appropriately. Some brands are made from recycled wood, further decreasing the environmental pawprint of this litter.
But does it work? We put it to the test: The brand we tested was ökocat, the super soft variety, which is a blend of spruce, fir, and pine. According to ökocat, their wood fiber suppliers comply with the Forest Stewardship Council and Sustainable Forestry Initiative, and the litter is upcycled from wood remnants. It is also free of synthetic chemicals, fragrances, GMOs, or dyes, and is 99% dust free. In addition, it is naturally lightweight, which decreases the environmental impact of transporting the product.
The subtle, natural wood scent of ökocat renders it the best smelling of the litters tested. Unlike all the other litters I tested, ökocat is packaged in a recyclable (or reusable) cardboard box, with a helpful handle at the top. This litter clumped reasonably well and was moderate at retaining its scent. Also, it was very soft on Oscar’s paws, which he seemed to appreciate. My rating: 8/10
Ground nutshells
Litter made from ground nutshells can either be better for the environment or the poster child of greenwashing. Here’s why: while the litter itself is compostable, growing nuts is water intensive. Therefore, if the litter is made from nuts that were specifically harvested for this purpose, the environmental impact of the litter is right up there with clay and silica. However, we tested Naturally Fresh, which is made of ground walnut shells. As walnut shells are inedible, repurposing them into litter gives one more stage of life to a waste product on its way to biodegrading. Walnut shell litter is dust free and three times more absorbent than clay litter. Naturally Fresh is owned by Eco Shell, a Sacramento-based company that grows walnuts and processes their shells for industrial purposes. According to Eco Shell’s website, the walnut shells in the Naturally Fresh products are created from a non-GMO food by-product that is grown without pesticides and asbestos and is free of heavy metals. The walnuts are grown and processed at solar-powered facilities, and the brand is certified by Ecocert.
Naturally Fresh was the heaviest of the litters, with a coarse texture (potentially of concern for cats with sensitive feet) and a natural light smell of dates/wood. It did not clump well but did quickly absorb liquid. After use by Oscar, this product was very effective at retaining its pleasant scent. To limit the distance heavy litter has to travel to you and thereby decrease transport emissions, Bluedot recommends sourcing litter made locally; this makes Naturally Fresh a good choice for our California-and-environs readers. My rating: 7.5/10
Recycled paper
Another biodegradable repurposing option is litter made from recycled paper. You can make it yourself, but it’s time consuming. Fresh News Litter (one of several recycled paper litter options) is created from 100% post-consumer recycled paper. It’s low dust and easy to chuck in your compost after use. But does it work?
This was the most disappointing of the litters tested: it took considerable time to absorb all the liquid, and it didn’t clump. Consequently, it did not do a good job of mitigating umm, eau d’Oscar. Moreover, Oscar did not enjoy using this litter — he seemed to feel that it made for a treacherous journey underfoot. My rating: 3/10.
Tofu Litter
An innovation has taken the litter world by storm: tofu litter! Generally composed of pea fiber (despite the misleading name), it is biodegradable, water-soluble (therefore flushable!), and low in dust. The brand we tested was Junai Pet Original Tofu Litter. The company claims its litter is “sustainably sourced,” which, they explain, means that “Tofu cat litter is made from pea residue, which is a by-product of the pea production process. … Pea is a renewable resource that can be grown and harvested each year, making tofu cat litter a renewable product.”
This kitty litter was lightweight and soft on Oscar’s feet. It clumped very well (the best of all litters tested!) and was highly absorbent. And while it retained its scent well, that scent was a bit weird. Even the unscented option smelled slightly of coconut. It wasn’t overpowering, but worth noting. My rating: 9/10 (1 point removed for scent and plastic packaging).
Cleo and Oscar's Pick of the Litters:
- Junai Pet (9/10)
- ökocat (8/10)
- Naturally Fresh (7.5/10)
- Fresh News Litter (3/10)
