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Whatever product you’re using, it’s good to have a substitute for it in case you find that it is unavailable, want to save money, or want to make a change for some other reason such as making a more environmentally friendly choice.
This is certainly the case with cat owners, who are always interested in alternative products that might be better for their pets, their wallet, or their home. Of course, cat litter is exactly the type of product that can always be improved!
There are a lot of alternatives for kitty litter, and most importantly, these substitutes may have a lot of benefits for both indoor cats and pet parents.
When talking about alternative cat litter, some of the best products can be found in various stores, some may be found in online shops, and there are even DIY cat litters that you can make at home!
So, if you’re interested in the best alternative cat litter for your feline, then you should read on and find out more! Who knows, maybe something catches your eye and turns out to be a perfect substitute for traditional clay litter!
The Benefits Of Using Alternative Cat Litter
Believe it or not, using an alternative cat litter can be very beneficial for you and your pet. Of course, every product has its advantages and disadvantages. Luckily, most of these litter alternatives have more advantages than disadvantages.
Stick around to learn more.
🐾 Money-saving – buying products that can be an alternative to cat litter from a store can be cheaper than buying actual cat litter.
An even cheaper option is to make DIY cat litter at home using materials that almost every household has. In doing so, you’ll save extra money, and your feline will be provided with great litter.
🐾 Health improvement – by using homemade litter or natural things as an alternative, you may have a healthier version of cat litter for both you and your feline.
When you make it yourself, you know what ingredients it contains and you can be sure that it is completely safe. On the contrary, real cat litters are great but they may contain various chemicals which may be harmful for cats, or which may trigger allergies.
🐾 Environment-friendly – alternative cat litter may be kinder for the environment than cat litter that contains clay and other ingredients that may have a negative impact on our environment.
Many people, who are aware of what they’re buying, are looking for a substitute for clay cat litter because the clay used for cat litter is obtained with strip mining that is bad for nature and the environment.
🐾 A natural scent – natural products used as cat litter alternatives also have a natural scent that can be more attractive to cats because it reminds them of natural “toilet” spots outdoors.
🐾 Safe for cats and kittens – cat litter alternatives are safe for cats and even kittens because they contain natural ingredients and have a natural scent instead of added scents and perfumes.
🐾 Just as effective as cat litter – most importantly, alternative litter has the same functionality as ‘normal’ cat litter; it works just the same, and cats usually don’t notice the difference, and usually prefer a more natural option.
11 Best Alternative Cat Litters
Cat litter usually contains a type of clay called bentonite, which isn’t the best, as sourcing it can be bad for nature and the environment. Therefore, more and more cat owners are looking for a better substitute to replace a traditional litter.
So, if you’re interested in cat litter alternatives, for whatever reason, I’ve got you covered! Check out these best alternative cat litters that may be a much better version of a traditional cat litter!
Old Newspapers
Why throw yesterday‘s news or junk mail away when you can make a super cat litter substitute out of them? All you need is shredded paper (made of newspapers), a bit of warm water, some baking soda, and dish soap.
Start by shredding some newspapers with scissors, tearing by hand, or using a paper shredder if you have one. After that, put the paper into the litter box and pour on some water and dish soap. Let it sit for a few minutes and then you’ll need to rinse off the dish soap.
The next step is to let it dry. When it is completely dry, for the final touch, sprinkle some baking soda over it, and that’s it. The cat litter is ready for your feline friend!
Wood Pellets For Heating
If you’re one of the many people who use wood pellets for heating during cold days, then it shouldn‘t be a problem to simply pour some pellets in the cat’s litter box.
It’s another great alternative, and the best thing about it is that the wood pellets are available almost everywhere, as they’re one of the most popular heating fuel options.
Wood Shavings
This is probably the cheapest option for cat litter. If you have leftovers from wood shaving at home, simply just gather them up, and put them in the litter box. Make sure that the shavings completely cover the bottom of the litter box.
If you don’t have any wood shavings at home, you can always ask someone, or check in a lumber company, or woodworking stores.
This alternative idea is great because it’s natural, absorbent, it almost doesn’t cost you anything, and most importantly, wood shavings have a strong scent that prevents a cat’s urine from smelling.
Sawdust
Sawdust is another cheap alternative for cat litter. It doesn’t cost you anything to pick up after you work with wood, or you can ask a lumber company who will probably be happy to get rid of some sawdust.
However, it’s highly important to mention that some experts claim that sawdust can be carcinogenic for people and so can be dangerous for animals.
There is no conclusive proof of this but it may be better to choose wood shavings rather than sawdust for this particular reason, just in case.
Sand
Sand is also a great alternative, however, maintenance may be more difficult. The space around the litter box may get messy because of the sand, especially because cats will love to dig through the sand.
For that reason, it would be best to put something under the litter box to make it easier to clean up.
There is also a chance that the sand may get stuck in your cat’s paw pads, leading to your pet tracking the sand from its paws all around the house.
When it comes to scent, sand doesn’t have any particular or strong scent, so in order to prevent odors from’ cat’s urine or poop, you should sprinkle baking soda on the sand and mix it.
All in all, sand is not the cleanest option, however, it’s good and affordable. You can buy different types of sand, such as sand for children’s sandboxes, or you can even check in landscaping, DIY, and garden stores.
Potting Soil
The best thing when it comes to the potting soil is that it’s the most natural place for felines, as it’s the main spot for outdoor cats to do their business. Using it as an alternative to traditional cat litter has its pros and cons.
The advantages of using potting soil as a cat litter are that it’s completely natural for cats, it’s cheap (or even free), and it’s widely available.
The bad thing is that potting soil is really messy, it doesn’t clump, it cannot mask odors with its own scent, and unfortunately it can carry germs. Therefore, if you are not careful enough with frequently changing the litter, you can quickly run into messy problems.
If you’re still willing to try this option for your cat’s litter, then make sure you put a few litter mats around and under the litter box, and don’t forget to add some baking soda for odors.
Chicken Feed
Chicken feed can be also used as one of the cat litter alternatives. This is a good option because the feed comes in pellets that might remind us of actual cat litter.
More importantly, chicken feed is cheap and very affordable. You can buy it at farm supply stores.
Homemade Cat Litter – Chicken Feed
If you want a DIY project, for this homemade cat litter you’ll need to mix chicken feed, baking soda, and cedar shavings.
Chicken feed doesn’t have a particular scent, therefore, you should use baking soda to prevent odors. However, there’s a small disadvantage for this option as it may attract insects and mice.
Horse Bedding
Horse bedding is not common as an alternative cat litter, but it may be a great option. Horse bedding is actually made of sawdust, which again raises those same worries over the safety of the material.
Moreover, there are advantages; it’s very affordable and highly absorbent. To prevent different odors, you can mix horse bedding with some water and baking soda.
Also, be careful when it comes to the amount of the bedding you’re putting in the litter box. Make sure that you don’t overdo it, because when mixed with water, the bedding will swell and may disintegrate.
Paper Cat Litter
Paper cat litter is made of recycled papers and similar materials, and it’s usually formed into balls of paper or pellets. However, this type of litter is great because it’s eco-friendly, and it doesn’t contain toxic ingredients.
Moreover, paper cat litter is very soft, making it comfortable for a cat’s paws. It doesn’t produce dust, and most importantly, some paper cat litter options may have a great clumping formula.
Home Pads For Puppies
Yes, home pads are actually for puppies, however, it can be an alternative for cats, especially in an emergency.
These pads are made of a highly absorbent material. However, cats are known for burying down their mess when they finish, and that’s impossible with home pads. That’s why this shouldn’t be a long-term solution.
A cat owner using this as an alternative for cat litter should train his feline not to dig. Cats may be confused while using these pads, and the inability to bury their mess easily may only lead to bigger mess, as you can imagine.
However, it‘s very easy to clean and it dries fast, the only problem is that it doesn’t‘ mask odors very well.
A Human Toilet
Whoever thinks that cats cannot be trained or that they cannot learn tricks like dogs can, is wrong!
Cats are highly intelligent animals, even if they won’t do certain tricks for treats like dogs will. However, with a lot of patience, you can train your kitty and teach her some important things, like using a human toilet.
A cat using a human toilet would mean no need for buying cat litter and accompanying tools, no cleaning, and no messes.
However, at the beginning you’ll have to get a cat toilet training kit, and of course it is important to use litter until your feline masters this.
A toilet training kit consists of several shaped trays that you fill with litter and place on the toilet. After that, you have to ensure that your feline notices where her litter is and encourage her to use it.
After some time, your cat will probably learn to use the first tray, so you move to the next tray that sits deeper inside the toilet, and you repeat that process until your cat eventually gets used to using the toilet without the training kit.
Once your cat learns how to use a human toilet, all your litter box worries are gone, and you can say goodbye to cat litter!
7 Best Cat Litter Alternatives You Can Buy Online
Read on to find out all about the best cat litter alternatives that you can buy online on Chewy or Amazon. These products are already prepared from natural ingredients. So, let’s take a look and see what else you can use as a cat litter substitute!
World’s Best Cat Litter – Corn Litter
- Long-lasting odor control
- Clumping cat litter
- 99% dust-free
Pros:
✅ Long-lasting odor control
✅ Flushable
✅ 99% dust-free
✅ Easy to clean up
✅ 100% natural whole-kernel corn
✅ Great for kittens
Cons:
❌ Uncomfortable for cat paws
❌ Unusual smell
❌ Not ideal for cats with asthma
This corn litter is actually made from 100% natural whole-kernel corn. It can be a good option if you want a natural cat litter. While it has larger pellets which are completely safe for felines, they may be uncomfortable for their paws, so not every cat’s going to like it.
Corn litter is very effective because it forms clumps, making it easier for the owner to clean.
Moreover, it has a distinctive smell, a rather unusual one, and not every cat owner likes it. Also, this litter is not completely dust-free, so it’s not recommended for cats suffering from asthma or allergies etc.
This bag of corn litter comes in three different sizes at affordable prices, so check it out!
sWheat Scoop Multi-Cat – Wheat Litter
Pros:
✅ Biodegradable
✅ Eco-friendly
✅ Flushable
✅ Made of secondary wheat
Cons:
❌ Produces dust
❌ Requires frequent changes
❌ May stick to the litter box
This litter option is the most similar to normal clay litter. This product can be a good alternative for cat litter because it’s eco-friendly, biodegradable, and flushable.
sWheat Scoop is made of whole wheat, however, for some cat owners, this type of litter may be a little messy.
The wheat granules clump very well, but these clumps may stick to the bottom of the litter box. Moreover, it requires frequent changes if you want to avoid strong odors because it doesn’t have full odor control.
Furthermore, it does create dust, which means that it’s not recommended for cats who suffer from asthma or similar health issues.
Regardless of the pros and cons, this product is recommended by veterinarians, and it gets better. You can choose wheat cat litter in three different sizes for an average price.
CatSpot Coconut Cat Litter
- Amazing absorbency
- Eco friendliness
- Low tracking
Pros:
✅ Lightweight
✅ Eco-friendly
✅ Super absorbency
✅ Chemical free
✅ Two options: clumping and non-clumping
Cons:
❌ May produce odor
❌ May produce dust
This product is made from coconut shells, and what makes it so perfect is that it’s chemical and allergen free which makes it a hypoallergenic cat litter.
However, this cat litter doesn’t have a scent and, unfortunately, may produce odor after some time, so it requires frequent changes. However, if you want to make a change and need a natural, hypoallergenic litter , follow the link and check out this product!
Feline Pine Cat Litter
- Clay-free
- Chemical-free
- Super absorbing
Pros:
✅ Odor control
✅ Clay-free
✅ Chemical-free
✅ Super absorbing
Cons:
❌ No clumping formula
Pine litter can be made of pine, however, other ingredients may be added as well. Pine litter is a non-clumping cat litter that prevents fecal and urine odors.
However, pine litter has a unique smell which may be acceptable for people, but some cats don’t like the smell of it.
Most importantly, it doesn’t contain various chemicals and artificial fragrances, which makes it non-toxic and completely safe for your pet.
Although this litter is a non-clumping litter, some cat owners prefer these more than ones with a clumping formula as they say it’s easier to maintain.
Green Tea Fresh Cat Litter
Pros:
✅ Chemical-free
✅ No artificial fragrances
✅ Biodegradable
✅ Odorless
Cons:
❌ It may produce dust
This product is another great alternative for a traditional cat litter, and it has very good clumping abilities. It’s made with green tea leaves which prevents bacteria forming and reduces urine and fecal odors.
The green tea cat litter doesn’t contain chemicals or artificial fragrances, which makes it perfectly safe for your feline friend!
Naturally Fresh Multi-Cat Walnut Litter
- Made from 100% natural walnut shells
- Pet-friendly
- Dust-free formula
Pros:
✅ Made from 100% natural walnut shells
✅ Fecal and urine odors control
✅ Non-toxic
✅ Pet-friendly
✅ Dust-free formula
Cons:
❌ The litter may leave stains on the toilet if flushed
This product is made from 100% natural walnut shells, which makes it a perfect substitute for a traditional cat litter, and you’ll see why!
The litter clumps very well, and the walnut scent helps in preventing fecal and urine odors. Moreover, it creates almost no dust and is safe for cats and pet parents with health issues.
In addition, this walnut litter is completely safe for cats because it contains natural ingredients, and is non-toxic.
Another great thing is that this litter is flushable. However, a small disadvantage is that it may leave stains on the toilet butwith frequent and effective toilet cleaning, you won’t face these problems!
The bag of this litter comes in three sizes for the average price of walnut litter!
Grass Cat Litter
Pros:
✅ Great odor control
✅ Perfect for a multi-cat household
✅ Produces low dust
✅ Natural smell
✅ Made from 100% natural grass ingredients
✅ Biodegradable
✅ Clumping formula
Cons:
❌ Cost more than other alternative cat litters
❌ The clumps may fall apart
❌ The bag of litter comes in only one size
This product is a perfect alternative cat litter as it has a natural scent for cats. This scent masks odors very well. The grass litter is made from 100% natural grass-based ingredients, and it’s eco-friendly and biodegradable.
This grass litter produces very low dust and the best thing is that it’s perfect for multi-cat households.
Moreover, this litter clumps very well, however, those clumps may fall apart easily. Unfortunately, this bag of litter comes in only one size and it’s a bit more expensive than other alternative cat litters.
Introducing Your Cat With A New Kitty Litter
Every cat person knows that felines adore their routine, so even slight changes may confuse and disrupt them.
If you want to switch to one of these alternative cat litters, your cat may object to the change and refuse to use it unless you make the change gradually..
How to introduce your cat to a new litter properly? The best way to introduce her to a new litter is to start adding small amounts of the new litter to the old one.
In the beginning , make sure you’re only using very small amounts so that she cannot notice the difference.
With every litter change, gradually increase the quantity of the new litter and decrease the old one, until you have fully replaced it.
By making the swap using small steps, your cat probably won’t notice it, but if you notice slight changes in cat’s behavior, make sure you encourage them to continue with using the litter box.
Don’t forget to keep their litter box clean and bring treats with you so you can reward them with their favorite cat food or treat every time they do something good!
FAQ
Can You Use Rice As A Cat Litter?
Yes, you can use rice as a cat litter as it will absorb the urine very well. However, there are a lot of better alternatives that can be used as a cat litter besides rice. Rice is a very healthy food, so why waste it on a cat litter alternative?
What Are The Benefits Of Using Cat litter?
The use of natural cat litter has many benefits. Natural litter is cheaper than others, moreover, it contains safe ingredients and it doesn’t contain any other chemicals or perfumes.
That’s a great thing because these perfumes can trigger various health issues in cats and people. However, when using natural litter, you can always add a bit of baking soda to mask the odors caused by the cat’s urine and poop.
What Is The Difference Between Cat Litter And Cat Litter Pellets?
The main difference between cat litter and cat litter pellets, is that pellets are completely safe and healthy for cats. They are also way cheaper than cat litter, and most importantly they are environmentally friendly.
On the other hand, cat litter is more expensive and it contains dust and perfumes that help to mask odors.
Final Thoughts
Nowadays, people are much more aware of the environmental impact of the products they use and therefore many of us are using more eco-friendly products.
Many cat owners want a change for them, their feline friends, and nature too. The traditional cat litter contains clay called bentonite which is not good for nature and our environment.
More and more cat owners are looking for the best alternative cat litter. This article provides you with the 18 best alternatives to traditional cat litter.
Some of these alternatives can be found around the home already or in stores for a very low price, but there are also those that can be made at home.
Moreover, there are somewhat less cheap litter options that you can buy online on Chewy or Amazon. `They each have pros and cons but all these alternatives are way better and healthier for felines and their owners.
So, among all of these ideas, I hope you’ll find something good that both you and your feline will like!
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