What to Use in Place of Cat Litter
Having a few cat litter alternatives up your sleeve is ideal for those times when yous've run out of your called commercial litter or if you're looking to make the switch to a more wallet or environmentally friendly option.
While the all-time cat litter is certainly convenient and comes in a wide range of options from clumping to flushable and everything in betwixt, cat litter alternatives are becoming a lot more pop amongst wellness and budget-witting pet parents.
Information technology may sound like a lot of extra hassle, but believe it or not, virtually alternative litter options are super easy to prepare and readily available. And best of all? In that location are more choices than yous might think, which means you're bound to notice one that suits your furkid, your family, and your abode.
But before we dive into what cat litter alternatives are bachelor to yous, allow'south accept a closer look at some of the benefits that can come from making the switch.
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What are the benefits of using cat litter alternatives?
With no shortage of commercial cat litter options available for buy, you may be wondering what the benefits of an alternative are. Well, equally it turns out, in that location are more pros to cat litter alternatives than you may exist aware of, and here are but a few of our favorites that may help convert you lot:
- Better health: When you lot cull your own cat litter, you know exactly what's going into it, which isn't ever the case with store-bought litters. Many clay-based formulas contain harmful carcinogens that tin become airborne in the dust that clay releases. For whatever homo or cat with allergies or asthma, opting for an alternative can be a great style of making sure the whole family stays salubrious.
- Wallet-friendly: Making your own homemade true cat litter may require a piddling more time and effort, merely it tin can save you a lot of coin in the long run. Alternative DIY litters are more price-constructive and many of the materials can be bought in majority, so it's neat if you're on a upkeep.
- Kinder on the environment: The dirt that goes into your traditional commercial clay-based litters is obtained through strip mining, a process that destroys our forests and wildlife habitats. Even litters that are safe to flush tin can end upward contaminating waterways.
Now that you know how cat litter alternatives tin can improve your wellness, salve you lot money, and protect the environment, let'southward take a dig around our seven favorite options so you lot can find the one that works best for you.
1. Shredded newspaper
If you're an avid paper reader and love nil more than than pouring through the pages each day over your forenoon loving cup of coffee, then what better way to become rid of them all than to turn that paper into kitty litter.
Cheap and readily available, newspaper is a popular choice amongst pet parents wanting a litter alternative and while it can take a fleck of time to prepare, it'south well worth it.
Start past shredding the paper into long, thin strips and then soak them in warm water and dish soap. Leave them to enjoy their nice bath until the water turns gray and the ink disappears.
Remove the gray water and pop them into a second bathroom with clean water but no soap. Drain the water away and sprinkle baking soda over the wet pieces of paper earlier kneading to squeeze out the liquid.
For the concluding step, take those strips of paper yous've lovingly prepared and pop them on a tray to air dry in the sun or gently bake in the oven. When the pieces are all crumbly and dry, they're ready to use.
2. Wood shavings or sawdust
Woods shavings and sawdust are other popular alternatives that work really well in place of your standard store-bought cat litter. Not just are they cheap, but they're eco-friendly as well.
When it comes to arresting urine, both wood shavings and sawdust do a stellar task. As a bonus, they're also not bad at masking unpleasant urine odors because they have such a strong natural scent of their ain, and wood shavings are vivid equally they won't get stuck in your kitty'southward claws, so there are no issues with tracking.
Only be mindful that sawdust isn't a great pick if you have a cat with allergies as it creates a lot of dust that tin trigger a reaction and information technology can also exacerbate asthma symptoms. Information technology can exist messy too, so it's best for single-cat households.
iii. Sand
If cats had their manner, sand would be their number ane option when it comes to where they practise their business. It was the most common spot for wild cats to coffin their treasure centuries ago and this instinct remains firmly embedded in a domestic true cat's DNA.
Sand feels cracking under your cat's claws and is easy for them to rake through, it also creates clumps which make it easy to remove your kitty's business concern, is environmentally friendly, and very economical.
The one downside to sand is that it doesn't absorb smells, so we recommend adding some baking soda into the mix to neutralize unpleasant odors. Sand is best suited to airtight litter boxes rather than open ones as it can be more a picayune messy.
4. Whole wheat
Clumps when wet? Tick. Compostable? Tick. Eco-friendly? Yup, y'all guessed, it - tick! Ground-up whole wheat can work well as an emergency solution when y'all're out of regular shop-bought litter or another homemade alternative.
The reason nosotros suggest you only use information technology in an emergency is that while it volition clump together beautifully it won't mask the smell, so information technology'due south non the best long-term selection for anyone who doesn't like urine smell floating around their house, which, let's be honest, is all of the states!
five. Potting soil
Wondering what to do with all that leftover soil from your spring bulb planting mission? Why not plow it into cat litter. Like sand, soil is a natural favorite of cats when it comes to burying their business and information technology's cheap and readily available, which makes your life a lot easier.
You tin can either choose a designated spot in your lawn for your kitty to apply every bit their toilet or you can try it out in an indoor litter box. If y'all opt for the latter, just make sure to add some baking soda to continue those odors under control and identify a litter mat around their tray or box to avert your cat from tracking soil through the house.
6. Chicken feed
Readily available and highly absorbent, chicken feed works wonders as a litter culling when combined with wood shavings and baking soda. Mix together all iii and you lot'll be able to hands remove your cat'south business plus continue odors at bay.
At that place is one downside to craven feed though and that'due south its ability to attract rodents, and then use with intendance if your kitty has an outdoor litter box, but if your kitty does their business concern within, you won't have to worry.
seven. Walnut litter
We dear walnut litter and we're pretty sure your cat will too. Made from the shells of this tasty nut, walnut litter is eco-friendly and information technology has a grainy texture that is easy for your kitty to dig around in.
Walnut litter clumps well, and then it'due south easy to scoop out, merely it does break apart a petty more easily than a regular clumping litter. Information technology has adept odor control and the tracking and dust are on par with a store-bought clumping litter.
Choose the finest granules you can observe as not simply volition these clump the best but it also makes cleanup easier.
Source: https://www.petsradar.com/advice/cat-litter-alternatives
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