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Are you looking into switching from a regular litter box to a sifting litter box? And from clay litter to pine pellet litter?
If you are, then I’m sure you’ve heard some good things about both the sifting litter box and the pine pellet. And truly, they both offer many benefits, which is a reason this combination is becoming increasingly popular.
The way the two work together is that pine pellets turn into sawdust when wet and poop is well…left as it is. After sifting, the sawdust falls through the holes of the sifting tray, while the remaining clean pine pellets are left on top as is the solid waste.
Pine pellet is eco-friendly, biodegradable, lightweight, free from chemicals and fragrances, and does not create any dust. Considering how desirable these features are, it’s no wonder the use of this type of litter is gaining popularity. It is recommended for use with sifting litter boxes as the two are perfect partners.
If you’re in search of a sifting litter box for pine pellets, read on to discover your top nine options!
Sifting Litter Box For Pine Pellets: A Quick Overview
I’m a proud cat owner of six little troublemakers, but if there’s one thing I hate – it’s cleaning their waste. If you have one cat, it might not be the worst thing in the world. But anyone who has ever had multiple cats knows how …unpleasant it can get.
Over the last couple of years, I have been trying sifting litter boxes because my friend (who is also a cat owner) recommended I try them. And I can say one thing – I do not regret it for one second! I highly suggest you try them too as they are very practical.
Below is a list of the top nine sifting litter boxes for pine pellets I have created with my cat-owner friends who have also tried a few of these.
But first, let’s quickly go over the products I will be writing a short review about!
All of these products can be found on Chewy, Amazon, or both!
Review Of The 9 Best Sifting Litter Box For Pine Pellets
Without further ado, let’s get right into it!
1. Purina Tidy Cats Breeze Cat Litter Box System
- Very easy to clean
- Good for cats with allergies
- Great value for your money
Pros
✅ It can be used with both zeolite and pine pellest
✅ Convenient for cats with dust allergies
✅ No tracking
✅ Easy to clean
✅ Scattering is minimal
Cons
❌ Only good for kittens and medium-sized cats
| Brand | Purina |
| Material | Plastic |
| Dimensions | Length: 20.5 inches |
| Width: 15.8 inches | |
| Height: 10.1 inches |
About The Product
The Purina Tidy Cats Breeze Litter Box System is a set that offers you a litter box, a pack of four urine–absorbing pads, a scoop, and one 3.5 pound bag of cat litter. The litter and the pads are designed to be used together. The zeolite litter allows urine to pass through as it does not absorb it at all; The urine is actually absorbed by the pad underneath.
But you don’t necessarily have to use the Breeze litter or the pads – you can use pine pellet cat litter if you prefer! The litter box works very well with pine pellets and, in this case, you don’t need the urine–absorbing pads.
This litter box does not have two or three trays as most sifting litter boxes do. It has one tray that holds the litter, while a drawer beneath holds the pad.
When it comes to using pine pellets, they turn into saw dust when they absorb urine. When you scoop over the litter, the sawdust will fall through the holes in the tray and on top of the absorbing pad. Because of its handy design, the litter box can accommodate both the Breeze litter and pine litter and will work amazingly well with both!
This is a benefit if you decide you don’t like one type of cat litter for whatever reason. You can simply switch to another without having to buy another litter box.
It is one of Purina Tidy Cats best sellers and for a very good reason! It works very well with pine litter and – as you know – there are many benefits to using pine cat litter. It is dust–free and offers no tracking. It’s easily scooped and the tray’s hole size is perfect for pine litter.
The only possible drawback of this litter box is its size. It works amazingly for kittens and medium–sized cats, but it doesn’t work well with large cats. Because of this, the company offers it in its XL form made to fit bigger cats. This XL litter box will also be reviewed in this article.
2. Petmate Arm & Hammer Large Sifting Litter Pan
- Great price
- Very durable
- It has antimicrobial coating
Pros
✅ Microban protection
✅ Can last you a long time
✅ It is suitable even for dogs, rabbits and ferrets
✅ Very affordable price
✅ It is made from recyclable materials
Cons
❌ It might not accommodate larger cats
| Brand | Petmate |
| Material | Plastic |
| Dimensions | Length: 19 inches |
| Width: 15 inches |
|
| Height: 8 inches |
About The Product
This sifting cat litter from Petmate Arm & Hammer will give you great value for your money! Its very affordable price is one of its key benefits and we all love high–quality but cost–effective products.
It is made from very durable plastic, meaning this cat litter box should last you a long time. It’s also very lightweight as it only weighs 2.5 pounds. This may be a huge benefit for some cat owners who have an issue cleaning large and relatively heavy litter boxes due to health issues, for example.
It has two reinforced bottom trays and one sifter tray. You put the litter into the regular tray, place the sifter tray below it, and then the second regular tray beneath the sifter tray. This three–layer sifting box design is something you’ll see in most sifting litter boxes for pine pellets. The fact that it’s very convenient to clean is why cat owners love it.
You simply pour the litter from the regular tray into the sifter tray and scoop through the litter. The sawdust will fall into the bottom tray, efficiently separating the clean pellets from the used pellets. Many rapport Feline Pine pellets work amazingly with this litter box.
The hole size of the sifting tray suits different types of cat litter other than pine pellets. If you decide to change the litter type, you will not need to worry about buying a different litter box since this one suits pine litter, clay litter, crystal litter, and also some others.
An amazing feature this product has is its Microban protection. All trays are coated with an antimicrobial layer, which prevents the growth of odor–releasing bacteria on the litter box. This is a very useful characteristic I am sure many cat owners will be thrilled about!
Even though it is made of plastic, which is a material that isn’t good for the environment, the production of this product is sustainable and eco–friendly. This product is made from recyclable materials, which is always a plus.
The only drawback of this product is its size as it might not accommodate cats that are naturally large, such as Maine Coons.
3. Purina Tidy Cats Breeze Hooded Cat Litter Box System
- Amazing odor control
- Easily cleaned
- Simple design
Pros
✅ It’s composed of only one tray, so no stacking and restacking of multiple trays
✅ It’s a hooded litter box
✅ Efficient odor control
✅ Hood can be detached if you (or your cat) don’t prefer it
✅ Very simple to clean
Cons
❌ The scoop that comes with the box is not the most efficient for pine pellet
| Brand | Purina |
| Material | Plastic |
| Dimensions | Length: 16.5 inches |
| Width: 20.5 inches |
|
| Height: 16.75 inches |
About The Product
This is sort of an “upgrade” of the original Purina Tidy Cats sifting litter box I put at the number one spot. The hood is by far the biggest advantage of this litter box. As you may already know, pine litter does not clump. Why does that matter?
Well, its no–clumping ability means the poop stays “out in the open”. This may not be a problem for some cat owners, while others might hate it. Well, if you really don’t like the no–clumping trait of pine pellets – you will absolutely love this product. The hood prevents unpleasant odors from emanating from the litter box.
This litter box is composed of one tray and one drawer that holds urine–absorbing pads. Just like the original Purina Tidy Cats sifting litter box, its design is for the zeolite litter – which is why it consists of a drawer for the pad. But this does not mean you cannot use it with pine litter as this sifting litter box works very well with pine litter too! In this case, the pad will not be absorbing urine, but rather collecting the sawdust. You just need to replace the pad when a lot of sawdust has built up.
The hood is also detachable, which is beneficial for two reasons. First, it makes cleaning extremely easy because you can simply remove it when you want to get to scooping and separating the clean and used pine pellets. Secondly, you can remove it if you see that your cat doesn’t like using hooded litter boxes, for whatever reason. That means you don’t have to get another litter box, since this one is sort of a 2-in-1 package.
The downside of this litter box set is that the supplied scoop is not the best option for pine litter. It is made for use with another type of litter, so it is understandable that it’s not ideal for pine litter. Luckily, you can get another scoop that suits pine litter, and they’re not expensive at all!
4. Purina Tidy Cats Breeze XL All-In-One Cat Litter Box System
- Extra large size
- Easy to clean
- Very durable
Pros
✅ Its high sides prevent pellet and urine scattering
✅ Easy maintenance
✅ High quality and very durable material
✅ Jumbo size works well for larger cats and multi-cat homes
Cons
❌ Not good for kittens as the sides are high
| Brand | Purina |
| Material | Plastic |
| Dimensions | Length: 19.15 inches |
| Width: 29.25 inches |
|
| Height: 15.25 inches |
About The Product
You might have noticed that this is the third product from Purina Tidy Cats, but I promise you it is not sponsored by them. It’s simply that their products work really well with pine litter. Not a lot of sifting trays are made for pine litter – most of them are actually made for use with clay litter.
As with the previous two products from this brand, this litter box comes in a set with a scoop, their Breeze litter, and a pack of four absorbing pads. If you want to use pine pellets, you surely can because this litter box also works well with pine pellets. The pad will not serve the purpose of absorbing urine, but rather collecting sawdust.
The main disadvantage of the original litter box from this brand was its size (it only suited small and medium–sized cats). Here, they upgraded it to a much larger size, so larger cat breeds can use it too. I am sure every owner of a large cat is happy to be able to use this amazing product as well. It can also be a good option for multi–cat households or just cats that like a little bit of space.
Another advantage of this sifting litter box are the high sides. High sides prevent litter scattering around the litter box, which I am sure all cat owners will love. It’s also a good feature if your cat sprays while peeing, so no drops will accidentally leave the litter box.
The advantage I mentioned above can be a disadvantage for kittens. They might not be able to climb into this XL litter box, which can be a problem if you often foster kittens, for example.
5. Van Ness Pets Large Sifting Cat Litter
- It’s high sides prevent litter-spilling
- It’s very lightweight
- It has anti-stain coating
Pros
✅ It weighs only 1 pound, so it’s easy to move around
✅ Trays have high-polish coat
✅ The top tray is framed so it prevent scattering
✅ It can be used with clay litter too
Cons
❌ Some complain sawdust sticks to the sifting tray
| Brand | Van Ness |
| Material | Plastic |
| Dimensions | Length: 19 inches |
| Width: 15.13 inches | |
| Height: 8 inches |
This sifting cat litter box from Van Ness is an extremely affordable but good–quality product. It is made of two regular trays and one sifter tray, which is a classic design for many sifting litter boxes and many companies use it due to its efficiency and simplicity.
It works well with both clay litter and pine litter – a great benefit if you’ve decided to switch from clay litter to pine pellet. If you see your cat doesn’t like using pine pellets, you can simply go back to clay pellets without having to buy another cat litter box.
The sifting tray efficiently separates the soiled litter from the remaining pellets. The sawdust falls onto a tray underneath it and you can simply discard it in the trash. The sifting tray is framed which is great if your cat is a bit messy. For example, your cat might spray a bit while peeing or scatter the pellets while moving around. The high sides will prevent any of it leaving the litter box, meaning the space around the litter box will remain completely clean.
The trays of this litter box have a high–polish coating, meaning that they will not stain. This is very important because the sifting tray is white and no one wants waste stains all over it, right?
Its price is very reasonable and affordable for many people; for this price, you get a good–quality product that works very well with pine litter and will last you a long time. I would say this is a pretty good deal.
One complaint I’ve noticed from people is that the sawdust tends to stick to the sifting frame. Even though it can be annoying, I believe it’s an easy problem to solve – you simply wipe it off or wash it under water.
6. So Phresh Grey & White Lift-to-Sift Cat Litter Pan
- Works great for larger cats
- Easy to clean
- Can be used with different types of litter
Pros
✅ Works well for multi-cat homes
✅ The spill guard is great if your cat is a messy litter box user
✅ It’s easy and simple to clean
✅ Can be used for most types of litter
Cons
❌ Sifting tray’s hole size might be too big
| Brand | So Phresh |
| Material | Plastic |
| Dimensions | Length: 22.5 inches |
| Width: 17.25 inches |
|
| Height: 5.5. inches |
About The Product
This sifting cat litter box from Petco has size as one of its main benefits. It is an extra–large litter box that can accommodate larger cat breeds and works very well for multi–cat households as well.
It has raised edges that work as spill–guards. This is a huge plus if your cat sprays while urinating or is a messy litter box user and ends up spilling litter all over the floor. Because of this, space around the litter box will stay clean. The spill guard is detachable, if you decide not to use it.
The litter box itself is very easy to clean – essentially, just shake it a little bit and all the sawdust falls through the holes of the sifting tray and onto the regular tray. Then you simply discard the sawdust into a trash can. This usually needs to be done every 2–3 days, but it depends on how many cats use the litter box.
It works well with different types of cat litter, so it’s not an issue if you decide to switch from one type of litter to another. This sifting litter box is made of high-quality durable plastic that should last you quite some time.
There is one thing this product falls short on and it’s the hole size of the sifting tray. If you’re using pine litter, which has pellets of a very small size, some pellets might fall though the holes.
7. SKEMIX Sifting Cat Pan Litter Box with Frame Kitty Van Ness CP5 Easy Clean
- Extremely easy to clean
- Efficiently separates pine pellet and sawdust
- Affordable price
Pros
✅ The trays are stain-resistant
✅ The coating also makes them extremely easy to wipe
✅ Litter spilling is minimal
✅ Efficiently separates the pine pellet from the sawdust
Cons
❌ The front part of the sifting tray is low and some litter can spill out from it
| Brand | SKEMIX |
| Material | Plastic |
| Dimensions | Length: 19 inches |
| Width: 15 inches |
|
| Height: 8 inches |
About The Product
This sifting litter box from SKEMIX has a simple three–layer design with two bottom regular trays and one top sifting tray. The top pan is framed, so it keeps litter scattering to a minimum and holds pan liners in place.
It is very lightweight (it weighs only one pound), which is definitely a plus to those that don’t want to deal with heavy litter boxes. This also makes cleaning a very easy task.
The trays have a high–polish finish which is extremely important for stain resistance. The top tray is completely white and no one wants to see a cat’s waste stains on it. Fortunately, no matter how much your cat uses it, you will never see any stains on the trays. This coat also makes cleaning very easy.
Its price is affordable and you’ll get a good–quality product for the price you pay. It works great with pine pellets, which is a huge plus, but can also be used with clumping cat litter.
It is not hooded, which suits cats that do not like enclosed spaces. I had a friend buy a hooded litter box and her cat simply never wanted to go inside of it to use it. That’s how she learned something new about her cat – her cat does not like small enclosed spaces.
A drawback of this cat litter box is that I’ve seen cat owners complain of its size, which does not suit larger cat breeds. Take that into consideration when thinking about buying this litter box.
8. Van Ness Enclosed Sifting Cat Litter Pan
- Great for messy cats
- Efficient in odor control
- Suitable for bigger cat breeds
Pros
✅ The polished finish
✅ It being enclosed prevents odor from spreading
✅ It has an air filter
✅ It’s easily cleaned by simply spraying and wiping it clean
Cons
❌ Might no be suitable for kittens and senior cats
❌ Good only for bigger pine pellet due to small hole size
| Brand | Van Ness |
| Material | Plastic |
| Dimensions | Length: 21.5 inches |
| Width: 17.5 inches |
|
| Height: 19 inches |
About The Product
This sifting cat litter box from Van Ness is one of a few enclosed sifting litter boxes.
It is composed of two regular trays and one sifting tray: this is a characteristic design for most sifting litter boxes.
What makes this sifting litter box special is its hood. The hood is attached to the top pan by a couple of clips. This is extremely useful if you don’t want your cat’s waste odors to fill the room. As you might already know, the pine pellets don’t clump. That means your cat’s poop does not get covered with a layer of litter that prevents unpleasant odors from spreading (as in the case of clay litter). So with pine pellets, hoods can be a life–saver.
The hood is conveniently equipped with a hood door. That means your cat can leave the litter box with ease, while the odors are left behind in the box. And what happens with the odors trapped inside? The Van Ness sifting litter box deals with that by having an air filter inside the box. The purpose of the filter is to absorb unpleasant odors, which it does efficiently.
Another benefit of this litter box is its large size. Due to its size, it works very well with bigger cat breeds. A number of these cat litter boxes do not accommodate larger cats, so this is a huge plus for this litter box.
The drawback of this sifting litter box for pine pellets is that it is only suitable for bigger pine pellets. The hole size of the sifting tray allows for very small pine pellets to pass though, which is not desirable considering the clean pine pellets need to stay on top of the sifting tray.
Another possible drawback is that the entry is quite high, which is not suitable for kittens and senior cats that have trouble moving. If you’re fostering kittens often, then this might not be the best option for you.
9. Frisco Corner Sifting Cat Litter Box With Rim
- Conveniently-shaped
- Prevents litter from spilling
- Easy to clean
Pros
✅ It’s shape allows easy placing anywhere in the home
✅ The edges of the litter box are tall so no litter scatteringl
✅ The raised edges are also an advantage if your cat is spraying a lot while peeing
✅ It can be cleaned with warm soap and water
Cons
❌ Holes of the sifting tray holes might be too big for pine litter
| Brand | Frisco |
| Material | Plastic |
| Dimensions | Length: 22.5 inches |
| Width: 17.13 inches |
|
| Height: 9.27 inches |
About The Product
This litter box’s most prominent feature is its shape. Not a lot of litter boxes have this triangular design and I personally have never seen one like it before. It is very handy if you really want to use a corner of your bathroom, for example. It is a really good option for those that have a smaller home and want to use space wisely.
It is made of two regular trays and one sifting tray. The way you use this sifting litter box for pine pellets is as follows: the bottom tray is a regular tray. On top of that one is a sifting tray and on top of that one is the second regular tray. Pour the pine litter into the top pan and let your cat use it. After a few days, enough sawdust will have formed for you to need to remove it. Pour the content of the tray into a sifting tray with a regular tray underneath. Then scoop it so all sawdust passes through the holes of the sifting tray and into the regular tray. Then simply discard the sawdust into the trash and reassemble the litter box.
On top of the litter box, you can place a rim. The rim is detachable and serves the purpose of preventing litter and/or waste from spilling out of the box. This is a very handy feature for all cat owners whose cats are a tiny bit messy when it comes to their toileting.
The only disadvantage I see is that the holes of the sifting tray may be too big for some types of pine pellet. Of course, there is not a universal size of pine pellets, so some might be bigger than others.
If you happen to get the smaller pine pellets, this sifting litter box might not work for them as they will pass though the holes together with the sawdust.
4 Things To Consider Before Starting To Use A Sifting Litter Box With Pine Pellets
The switch from clay litter to more eco-friendly pine litter is not so easily done. While some litter boxes can accommodate both types of litter, using a clay-litter box with pine pellet is not usually the most efficient thing to do. Because of that, keep an eye on the following things when you’re out searching for a good sifting litter box for pine pellets.
1. The Sifting Holes MUST Be Small
Sifting trays were originally designed for clay litter, so you might run into some issues finding a pine pellet–suitable litter tray. The problem is the difference in the size of the holes – the separation of clay litter and spine litter requires different sized holes.
The holes of sifting litter boxes need to be very small because ONLY the sawdust must fall through them and not the pine pellets.
For clay litter, the holes are traditionally bigger because their point is to catch large clumps of trapped urine and feces. This is a problem for pine litter users because the pine litter pellets can fall though those large holes.
2. The Sifting Layer Needs To Have A Non–Stick Coating
As you might already know, when pine pellets are exposed to urine (or any liquid), it quickly turns into sawdust. Considering how fine sawdust is, it can stick to most surfaces and is not so easily removable.
Because of this, the sifting tray must be coated with a substance that prevents the sawdust from sticking to it. And because the sawdust doesn’t stick to the (usually) plastic tray, it will efficiently go though the holes. In that way, it gets separated from the remaining pine pellet.
Considering the sawdust does not stick if the non–stick coat is present, the sifting tray is extremely easy to clean and we all love a clean litter box!
3. You Might Want To Opt For An Enclosed Sifting Litter Box
Pine pellets do not clump, which is one of its main characteristics. But why should you care?
The pine pellet does not clump, which means your cat’s poop is left exposed on top of the litter. If it were clay, it would surround and stick to the poop right away, thereby efficiently trapping unpleasant smells.
In the case of non-clumping litter, it’s safe to say your cat’s solid waste is just left in the open. Because of this, it’s a good option to have an enclosed litter box. In that way, the odors will be partially trapped inside. Some enclosed litter boxes even have odor–tapping pads within them.
4. You’ll Have To Scoop Out Poop Yourself
Keep in mind the following two characteristics of using sifting litter box and pine pellets:
🐾 Pine litter does not clump at all.
🐾 When you’re sifting, both poop and unused pine pellet remain on top
Because of the first characteristic, the poop is left on the litter as it is. Because of the second characteristic, it does not get separated from the unused pellets.
Remember how when using clay litter, the unused litter passes through the holes and only solid clumps of waste are left behind on top of the sifting tray?!
That’s not the case for pine pellets, which remain on top of the sifting tray alongside poop. So when you’re cleaning the litter box, you will have to scoop out poop by yourself using a scooping tool.
If you’re someone that simply does not want to deal with cat poop, maybe the sifting litter box with pine pellets might not be the right choice.
The Pros And Cons Of Using Pine Pellet
Pine pellet litter is a type of cat litter made of natural wood fiber. This all–natural cat litter is becoming more and more popular within the cat-owner community. As you might imagine, there is good reason for this, but as with all things, there has to be a few disadvantages as well. Let’s consider them both!
The Pros
The benefits of using pine pellets definitely outweigh the drawbacks, so let’s list some of the most important benefits first.
1. Pine Pellets Are Good For Your Kitty’s Health
Considering pine pellets are all natural, using them means not exposing your cat (and yourself) to chemicals, clumping agents, artificial fragrances, or dust. A very important factor is dust, which is especially bad for cats and owners with litter dust allergies.
2. It’s Good For The Environment
Pine pellet is completely eco-friendly. Considering pine pellets are wood, they are completely biodegradable and compostable. I’m sure we can agree that that’s something all of us should support considering the times we’re in.
3. Use Of Pine Pellets Is More Tidy
Clay litter is infamous for releasing quite a lot of dust. That is surely not the case for pine pellets, which are almost 100% dust free. Also, pine pellets are bigger compared to clay litter particles, meaning it’s easier to clean the potential mess around the litter box made by your cat.
4. Pine Pellets Don’t Create Tracks
Tracks are tiny pieces of cat litter that your cat spreads all over the house. Considering how annoying they can be, it might be a relief for some to use pine litter. The pine pellets are big enough that they can’t get stuck to your cat’s paws and in–between its tiny toes. The same cannot be said for clay litter, which is well known for its tracking feature.
5. Pine Pellets Are Very Lightweight
Cleaning cat litter boxes is not something us cat owners enjoy, especially if we have a multi–cat household. For me, having six cats leaves me with a lot of litter boxes to clean. For that reason, pine pellets can be a great solution for those that find clay litter a bit too heavy to clean every day. And indeed, pine pellets weigh less than clay litter when we compare the two in the same–sized litter box.
The Cons
Considering that everything usually has its drawbacks as well as benefits – pine pellets are no exception…
1. Pine Pellets Cannot Get Rid Of Poop Odors Very Efficiently
Pine pellets don’t clump at all. The way they react to urine is by completely turning into sawdust, and essentially do not react to poop. The poop is left as it is and needs to be removed by a scooper. It will not be covered by litter to form a clump (as it is the case with clumping cat litter), the odors will not be withheld by the layer of litter.
2. May Be A Bit Harder To Find
Clay litter is extremely popular and widespread, while the use of pine pellets is still not so commonly used. Because of this, you might not be able to find pine litter in every supermarket as you can do with clay litter.
DIY Sifting Litter Box
If you’re not able to find a litter box that suits you, or you’re trying to be budget–friendly, there is a way for you not to miss out on the benefits of self–cleaning litter boxes and pine pellets offer – you can make your own sifting litter box!
You might have already noticed that its design is not too complicated. The most vital part of the sifting litter box is the tray with the holes so that the sawdust and clean pine pellets get efficiently separated.
🐾 Get two heavy duty plastic storage containers that fit together nicely (one can fit inside the other)
🐾 Drill holes into the top plastic container and make sure they’re smaller than your pine pellets (so you ensure no clean pellets can go thought the holes – only sawdust)
🐾 Put the drilled container into the second one
🐾 Fill the top contained with fresh pellets
🐾 Let your cat use it to see if your new litter box works well
When your cat pees into the litter, the affected pellets will turn to dust. When you’ve concluded it’s time to remove the sawdust from the clean litter, you will shake the top tray so that the sawdust falls through the holes and into the bottom container. The best case scenario is that it should be a quick and easy process and no pellets should pass though the holes.
It might seem like it requires a little effort, but do not be discouraged – the design is pretty simple and, with a few handy tools, you can make your own sifting litter box for pine pellets too!
Frequently Asked Questions
What Are Pine Pellets Made Of?
Pine pellets are made of compressed wood fibers. The most commonly used type of wood is pine, but others can be mixed in too. The wood fibers are actually leftovers or wood scraps. Now you might wonder where these wood scraps come from? Well, wood scraps mostly come as leftovers from the furniture industry. Any piece of wood that is unused gets transformed into pellets.
Can You Use Pine Pellets For Cat Litter?
Yes, and the use of pine pellets as cat litter has been increasing in recent times, as the overall population’s environment–consciousness has been rising. Pine pellets are completely natural and biodegradable. Also, pine pellets are made from leftovers of another industry, meaning no trees are actually being cut down specifically for the purpose of making cat litter!
What Are The Benefits Of Pine Pellet Litter?
Pine pellet litter:
🐾 poses no health risks to your cat
🐾 is completely dust–free (which suits cats with allergies)
🐾 creates no tracks (as the pellets cannot get stuck to your cat’s paw due to their large size)
🐾 can last longer than clay litter
🐾 is easier to clean up if your cat accidently makes a mess around the litter box (pine pellets are bigger than clay litter particles)
Is Pine Pellet Litter Good For Cats?
Pine pellet litter is better for your cat’s health than regular litters as it does not contain any added chemicals, clumping agents, and synthetic fragrance. All of those are substances your cat doesn’t really need to be exposed to when there are better alternatives.
Do Pine Pellets Pose Any Health Risks To Cats?
Regular pine trees do contain some chemicals that might be a health risk to cats, but all of them “disappear” in the process of treating the wood to produce pellets. One such example is phenol, which evaporates in the process of making the pellets.
So yes, pine pellets are completely safe for cats to use!
Do You Need A Sifting Litter Box For Pine Pellets?
Yes! Considering you cannot possibly want to separate the sawdust and the remaining pine pellets using only a litter scoop – you will need to use a sifting litter box.
Sifting litter box can be used for many different types of litter, but it is especially useful for pine litter. The following questions and answers will make this point a bit more clear.
How Do You Sift A Litter Box With Pine Pellets?
Pine litter completely turns into saw dust when it comes into contact with urine (or any kind of liquid really). On the other hand, pine litter does not clump around poop (nor urine).
So within one layer, you will have: sawdust, pine pellets, and poop. There is absolutely no way you will separate the three by hand. The best option for you is to use a sifting litter box.
In that way, the sawdust will fall through the holes, and poop and pine pellets will remain on top. Now, the only way for you to get rid of the poop portion is by using a scooper. But it’s not that big of an issue, in my opinion. The benefits of using pine pellets and a sifting litter box far exceed the minor inconvenience of removing the poop manually, don’t you think?
How Often Should You Sift Pine Pellet Litter?
The answer depends on two things:
🐾 how many cats are using the specific cat litter
🐾 your preference
Essentially, you need to sift the pine pellet when you see a substantial amount of sawdust. The quantity of pine pellet should always be greater than the amount of sawdust.
Of course, if you have multiple cats within your household, you will need to sift the pine pellet more frequently than will be necessary with one–cat households.
On the other hand, it also depends on you. Some cat owners like to do it daily, while others find it easier to do it every two to three days.
Final Thoughts
Sifting litter boxes have proven to be very useful for both clay litter and wood pellet litter. The benefits of using pine litter is that it is completely degradable and compostable, as well as dust–free – which can be a real lifesaver for cats that are allergic to dust.
One tricky thing about using pine litter is that most litter boxes are not made specifically for pine litter. Many sifting boxes are made for clay litter and a sifting tray’s holes are larger in this case, considering clumps of cat’s waste are pretty big.
On the other hand, the holes for the use of pine litter need to be very small, so only sawdust can pass through. I would say this is the biggest challenge for cat owners that are trying to switch from clay litter to pine litter.
Nevertheless, most litter boxes work well for both types of litter, so I am sure you will not struggle to find the best sifting litter box for pine pellets for too long. Good luck with your search and I hope I’ve helped!