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There is no doubt cats are lovely creatures, but they come with a huge responsibility.
Basically, when you own a pet, it becomes part of your family.
This means you have to take good care of it the same way you would with your children.
As a pet owner, you essentially want the very best for your kitty.
While you can be picky with the kind of foods you give to your cat to feed, the same should happen with the litter they use.
You will find that many people don’t pay that much attention to cat litter.
In fact, it’s only recently that people started purchasing commercial cat litter.
Before then, you could pretty much fill your cat’s box with sand or sawdust.
Commercial cat litters are readily available, but they are also not the safest and most suitable choice.
Cats are picky and hard to please.
You can buy litter, and your cat refuses to use it.
Well, maybe this is the right time to make the switch to natural cat litter.
Natural cat litter is not only biodegradable and hence good for the environment, but it’s also considered to be the safer option.
What makes up the ideal cat litter?
When it comes to cat litter’s essential components, pet owners don’t always agree on one thing.
With that said, there are features to look for in cat litter.
Here are some of them;
Odor control
Since you will be dealing with cat waste, the first thing that should cross your mind is odor control.
It’s vitally important to keep the smell under control.
For an indoor cat, the litter box will be somewhere in your house, and without proper odor control, you can imagine how your house or particular room will smell.
In addition, a foul odor will make your kitty refuse to use the litter box.
Clumping
Cat owners prefer litter that clumps well because of easy cleaning, and it controls odor better.
Clumping litters combine with cat urine and form hard lumps that you can scoop out.
Scooping out is actually easier than dumping the entire contents and replacing it every other week.
All that’s required of you is to replace what’s already removed.
Granule size
The truth is both coarse and fine-textured litters have advantages.
Some cats like the fine-textured litter due to the soft feel on their paws.
On the other hand, coarse litter is safer, especially for kittens that may swallow or inhale the finer granules.
Low dust
Dust is irritating for cats and humans alike.
Unfortunately, clumping litter produces a lot of dust.
This might irritate or make your cat fall ill.
Furthermore, dust creates a mess around the house since your cat can pick it up on the paws.
Some types of natural cat litters produce little to no dust.
Always look around for the best natural cat litter that will not produce too much dust and end up making a huge mess out of the house.
Reasonable cost
Owning a cat can be expensive, especially if you spend hundreds of dollars on cat litter.
But the overall cost of cat litter depends on how much you use it.
It’s easy to get cheap litter that’s required to be changed every week.
But this might cost you more in the long run than the more expensive litter that works for a month or even more.
The types of natural cat litter
There are common types of natural cat litters like corn, pine, walnut, wheat, and paper.
Each type has its own variations, even between different brands producing the same type.
This is mostly in terms of performance and cost.
That being said, each type of natural cat litter has advantages and disadvantages.
Corn
Corn is among the top best material for cat litter.
Usually made from whole kernel corn, corn cat litter is the best choice for people who are conscious about taking good care of the environment.
The good thing about corn litter is that you can flush it down the toilet for simple and easy cleaning.
Additionally, it doesn’t stick to the bottom of the litter box.
As for performance, corn quickly absorbs the urine odor even without the need for perfumes.
Natural starches in the corn combine with moisture and solidify to allow you to scoop out the contents.
Corn litter is edible.
Wheat
Similar to corn, wheat is a grain-based litter made from naturally processed non-food grade wheat.
It’s a renewable and biodegradable material.
Wheat litter is considered septic and sewer safe but might require further litter flushing instructions to ensure you do it the right way and safely.
You won’t have to worry about your cat ingesting the litter because wheat is edible.
Furthermore, it’s safe for almost all cats, including kittens and cats that have undergone surgery.
Wheat enzymes work to naturally eliminate odor, while the natural starches in the wheat combine with moisture and clump.
This makes it easy to scoop them out.
Pine
This type of cat litter is made from pine trees.
It’s derived from the used material left behind during lumber processing that would otherwise have gone to waste.
As for its clumping abilities, the litter clumps from the bottom up, creating a pancake-like clump.
You can scoop this easily and flush it down the toilet.
The pine cat litter has a high absorbency and instantly traps urine odors and moisture.
It also dehydrates solid waste contributing to odor control.
The main benefit of using pine is its low dust.
Therefore, it won’t cause respiratory issues for your cat.
It’s also allergy-friendly for cats prone to common grain allergies.
Grass seed cat litter
Grass seed litter is the most suitable litter for cats with respiratory problems.
It’s 99% dust free and allergy friendly compared to other natural litter types like wheat and corn.
It clumps fast for easy scooping, and the best part of it is that you can flush it down the toilet.
It’s biodegradable, and that means it won’t harm the environment.
The fast clumping action of the litter spontaneously traps odor even before it’s released in the air.
Walnut cat litter
Walnut-based cat litter is basically made from the shells of walnuts.
These are usually products that are thrown away and would go to waste.
Fortunately, they are turned into something useful and biodegradable.
Walnut cat litter is usually quick clumping, and this makes odor control easier.
Other than that, you will only take a few minutes to clean the litter box.
All you have to do is scoop out the clumped waste.
The Top Best Natural Cat Litters
Your cat might not like just any type of cat litter.
As a matter of fact, cats tend to be particular about the kind of litter they prefer to use.
However, if your feline is sensitive to dust or has the habit of occasionally snacking on litter, natural litter might be the best alternative.
Most of it is safe for your kitty to ingest and has low dust.
Though, you should check with your veterinarian for any underlying health issues.
Without further ado, here are the top picks for the best natural cat litter;
World’s Best Multiple Cat Unscented Litter
World’s Best cat litter is natural litter made with corn.
This means it’s definitely an environmentally-friendly option.
Some cats may like it because it’s scent-free.
Aside from that, it clumps quite quickly and does an excellent job keeping any odors under control.
The quick clumping also makes it easy to scoop when cleaning your kitty’s litter box.
It’s also flushable and septic safe.
The only downside might be this litter is a bit pricy, but that’s the price you pay for the quality you get.
The litter lasts longer when you do daily cleanups and top off what’s removed.
This prevents you from having to clean out the litter box now and then completely.
Pros
- Made of corn and thus biodegradable
- It’s flushable
- The fibrous material from the corn traps odor instantly
- Quick clumping for easy scoop outs
Cons
- Odor can quickly build up without frequent cleanouts. This is especially if there are multiple uses by two cats or more.
Okocat Super Soft Clumping litter
This brand of natural cat litter has quite a soft texture suitable for even the most sensitive kitties.
It has a natural scent that tends to mimic the fresh scent of the outdoors.
The litter is made solely from wood grains and particles.
The most impressive feature is the super absorbency and its excellent clumping properties.
The wood fibers work by preventing enzymes from bonding with liquid, which inhibits any creation of odors.
As a matter of fact, since it controls odor effectively, this litter can handle multiple cats.
Since it’s made from natural elements, you can flush the litter down the toilet.
If you are a green-loving person, this litter is biodegradable and has no artificial fragrances.
It is entirely safe for the environment.
Pros
- Superior absorbency qualities
- Naturally biodegradable and flushable
- Low tracking
- Unscented
Cons
- It may actually take a bit of time before your cat gets used to the wood litter
sWheat Scoop Natural clumping cat litter
This particular brand of cat litter is made of wheat and plant extracts.
The natural material helps to eliminate odor.
In addition, the premium cat litter is claimed to clump faster and has high absorbency.
This makes it relatively easy to scoop the material while cleaning the litter box.
If you’re looking for cat litter that will suit your sensitive cat, this would be a great choice.
It’s made from renewable material that’s also flushable.
You won’t have to worry about it tampering with your sewage system.
This is the kind of litter your cat will love using.
Pros
- It doesn’t contain any added artificial scents or dyes
- Flushable and completely septic safe
- Clumps faster than other natural litter brands
Cons
- The wheat, when left open, attracts some tiny bugs.
Blue Buffalo naturally fresh cat litter
I know you don’t like the dusty paw prints your kitty leaves around the house because of litter.
Well, that is something that will not happen with this litter brand.
The Blue Buffalo’s litter clumps very well and absorbs your cat’s urine as fast as possible.
It also controls odor to keep your house smelling fresh and clean.
This litter is made from nothing but natural ingredients to ensure its environmentally friendly.
The fact that it contains natural materials also means there are no toxic chemicals to worry about.
In that case, you can treat it like a biodegradable product because it is.
That aside, the litter absorbs a lot of urine too quickly and can turn muddy if you don’t replace it from time to time.
You might have to replace the litter at least once a week.
Pros
- It is biodegradable
- Very little to no tracking occurs
- It’s designed to be environmentally friendly
Cons
- It can turn muddy if you don’t replace it soon enough
Purina Yesterday’s News cat litter
This is a high-quality cat litter made from a natural material, and hence it’s environmentally friendly.
The Purina Yesterday’s News litter is made from recycled paper, making it biodegradable.
If you’re particularly worried about cat litter that will make a mess in the house, this one will not disappoint.
It’s low dust and, most importantly, track-free.
The manufacturer claims the litter is made without any harmful chemicals to ensure it’s safe for the cats.
That said, you will have to get used to cleaning out the litter box on a daily basis.
When you leave the stinky pellets in the litter box for too long, the odor starts spreading quickly around the room.
Pros
- It doesn’t contain harmful chemicals
- It’s a low-tracking litter
- Made from biodegradable material
Cons
- It’s not quite effective at odor control
Conclusion
There are many brands for natural cat litter in the market.
However, you need to ensure that you pick only the best for your cat.
This list will be your guide in getting the best for your beloved cat.
