Most cats prefer clay litter as it is similar to soil or sand that cats use in the wild, so if you are unsure about which litter to use, clay litter is usually a good place to start. Clumping clay litter is made from natural bentonite clay which rapidly absorbs liquids for easy removal of waste.
Clay granules are similar to the soft soil or sand that cats use in the wild. Both non-clumping and clumping litter can produce dust, but some clay cat litters are specifically formulated to produce less dust.
Potting Mix (or garden soil) is actually a very natural product for cats to use instead of a litter tray! Many cats choose to do a complex contortionist act in order to poo and pee into pot plants!
Traditional Clay Cat Litter
These are the litters that look like sand, and in fact for a long time sand (and/or dirt) was what was used for cat litter. But clay is a lot more absorbent, and in the late 1940s, industrial absorbents were repackaged and clay cat litters became available commercially.
The experts said: “Kitty litter is a great bulb plant soil since it provides the conditions the plants need to thrive: well-draining soil that allows excess water to exit, but holds enough to keep the bulb from drying out, and sufficient air pockets for oxygen.” They advised using lightweight non-clumping litter.
No. Clay-based and other types of clumping litter contain chemicals and fragrances to help with masking odors and “scooping” agents for forming clumps. These types of litters are not safe to dispose of outside. Look for an all-natural, 100% organic cat litter if you wish to dispose of the litter outside when finished.
Insoluble Cat Litter is great for succulent soil as it provides the conditions the plants need to thrive. It has well-draining soil that allows excess water to exit but holds enough to keep them from drying out and sufficient air pockets for oxygen.
Best Overall: Fresh Step Advanced Cat Litter
Crowned Ochoa's top pick, this clumping litter is formulated to be 99.9 percent dust-free.
Sand will give you immediate traction, but it won't absorb moisture. Kitty litter will also give you immediate traction and absorb moisture, but it will absorb so much that it will stick to the driveway. You should use sand for making your driveway drivable and kitty litter for emergency situations.
If you have rice on hand, it's a much better idea to eat it rather than using it in your cat litter box. But, rice will absorb urine in a way that paper and wood shavings will not. It won't do anything to hide the smell of ammonia. And, remember not to overfill the cat box since rice expands.
Sand as cat litter
That's because sand is a natural litterbox for cats. You can easily create the same attractive setting by using sand in your feline's litter box. The advantages of using sand include: Sand naturally clumps when it is wet and does not hold cat urine odours.
To avoid exposing your cat to harmful ingredients in potting soil, opt for organic or sterilized versions of the product. Avoid choosing potting soil with added chemical fertilizers and pesticides. Fertilizer consumption can lead to serious gastrointestinal problems for a pet.
However, you must shop wisely and avoid clay, wheat, corn, crystal, and wood clumping litters. These clumping litters pose serious health risks to you and your cat. Breathing in these litters can cause respiratory issues, cancer, and starch-based litters are at risk for deadly mold.
Chicken wire is very efficient at keeping cats away, as they hate bristly material. Additionally, cats prefer to dig and defecate in loose dirt, so using sharp-edged pine cones, holly cuttings, eggshells, or stone mulch will deter them from using your garden as a litter box.
Wheat Cat Litter
Yet another alternative to clay litter is litter made from ground wheat. An example of this type of litter is sWheat Scoop's multi-cat natural wheat cat litter, which is flushable, biodegradable and contains no silica dust.
How Often Should You Change the Cat Litter? If you use a clumping litter, it's best to scoop the box daily and change it out completely at least monthly. If you have more than one cat, it may be best to change the cat litter more often, every 2-3 weeks.
Virtually all cats like clean litter boxes, so scoop and change your cat's litter at least once a day. Rinse the litter box out completely with baking soda or unscented soap once a week.
“Cats will sometimes jump into the litter boxes and often use them while, and right after, their people have scooped them,” says Marilyn Krieger, certified cat behavior consultant. “Cats love clean litter boxes, ones that are freshly scooped and don't smell of excrement.
Dr. Elsey's Premium Clumping Cat Litter - Ultra - 99.9% Dust-Free, Low Tracking, Hard Clumping, Superior Odor Control, Unscented & Natural Ingredients.
Dust-free litter can still be made of many different materials, and there are some great brands out there that I will recommend below. Not only do dust-free cat litters help to protect the cat's paws from tracking litter dust all around the house, but they also help pet parents to have a completely dust-free home.
Boston ferns, spider plants, and prayer plants are all good options.
Begin composting by first adding a layer of sawdust, soil, or leaves, simply dump your cats litter laced with poo and urine directly into your compost bin or pile. Cover it with a 1 inch layer of sawdust, soil, or leaves, and leave it alone.
Cat feces contain two and a half times the amount of nitrogen as cattle manure and about the same amount of phosphorus and potassium. They also contain parasites and disease organisms that present significant health risks. Therefore, composting cat litter and its contents may not be a good idea.