The Environmental Impact of Cat Litter

There is no doubt that cat lovers care much about the environment; from cat grass to organic food, there are plenty of ways for you to bring the finest natural products to your cats. And it all makes sense that environmentally informed cat owners would want cat litter made from eco-friendly products that will not harm their pets or their health.

Did you know that a lot of the marketed cat litter contains substantial amounts of silica dust? Well, silica dust has been connected to many upper respiratory problems in cats and humans. Plus, the chemical scent in most cat litters has been proven to be toxic to cats. The environment continues to be negatively affected by cat litters going to landfill, being unsustainably sourced and non biodegradable. So what is the best way to deal  the environmental impacts of cat litter?

Your cat would probably never know the difference between sustainable litter boxes and environmentally friendly litter disposals. However, you will have peace of mind knowing that your pet’s carbon pawprint will be small.

Types of Cat Litter and Their Impacts on the Environment

Clay Cat Litter

This is the most popular type of cat litter as it is cheap, easy to dispose of, and has high absorbency. Unfortunately, the clay-based cat litter is the worst when it comes to its environmental impacts. And just like the name suggests, the primary material in this cat litter, clay, is derived from the earth. It is mined through a process that removes many layers of the naturally occurring clay from mines.

Remember that mining clay is very harmful because clay cannot be replaced, and there are many other impacts involving the mining process. Clay mining disturbs the ecosystem by removing rocks and excavating into the ground. This then steals the home of some animals and plants. Additionally, when it comes to shipping and digging the clay, heavy equipment is used, increasing the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.

Once the clay finishes its work as cat litter, it is transported to landfills, where the dead matter will be a bedrock for future piles of the non-biodegradable matter that will continue to build up.

Silica Cat Litter

This is the next alternative to clay litter. Silica is the original formula that makes sodium silicate permeable; this cat litter is made of silica dioxide, the same that is found in quartz. It is then combined with water and oxygen to form silica gel.

Silica is made from sand, so it also has a mining element. Also, silica gel is lightweight, so it is usually manufactured in other countries and shipped. This means that it has a transportation component that is not present in clay cat litter. The most significant advantage of using silica gel-based cat litter is that you won’t have to change it as many times as the clay litter and it is considered to have less landfill volume.

Unfortunately, with silica cat litter, there are some other downsides. While the waste needs to be changed occasionally, the faecal matter must be removed from the cat litter and disposed of regularly. There have been various concerns that cat faeces have a parasite called Toxoplasma gondii, which might be responsible for killing sea otters when flushed down the toilet.

Plant-Based Cat Litter

Plant-based litter has the most negligible impact on the environment. However, there are some pros and cons of the various plants used to make the cat litter. But these concerns do not outweigh the overall benefits when compared to silica-based and clay cat litters. And as much as plant-based cat litters are said to be flushable and biodegradable, these claims might be overstated.

Flushing down plant-based cat litter together with cat faeces has some possible toxoplasma problems. Besides, flushing something that is not entirely flushable down the drain means that you will have to deal with some drainage problems in the future. For this reason, many cat owners that use plant-based cat litter end up throwing it out.

And if you think that all biodegradable cat litter is degradable once thrown out, you will have to think twice. The answer will depend on how the kitten litter is disposed of.  So keep in mind the fact that if you place the cat litter in the trash can, it will again end up in the landfills, just like silica gel and clay-based cat litter. Also, most landfills are full and have little soil and oxygen; this condition greatly hinders biodegradation.

Why use Biodegradable and Eco-friendly Cat Litter?

Most cat owners are now more aware of the environment and their pets. And while there are many ways to be more eco-friendly with your pet, the most impactful way is by switching your cat litter into a more biodegradable and eco-friendly one.

Eco-friendly litter is available using many natural ingredients with little processing and manufacturing involved. That means that they have a significantly tiny carbon footprint on the environment and the earth as a whole. 

Why Switch to Tofu Cat Litter?

You have maybe tried tofu food, but have you tried the Premium Tofu Cat Litter offered by Premium Cat Supplies? This is the newest natural type of cat litter that your cat will love. Tofu Cat Litter is mostly soybean fibre and corn starch making it 100% safe and natural.

It is also soft to touch as it is made from natural bean curd filtrate and pea fibre with an extra-soft texture that supports cats with sensitive paws.  It is hypo-allergenic, easy to use and dispose of, lasts 4 times longer than other litters and, more importantly, it is environmentally friendly.

Premium Tofu Cat Litter from Premium Cat Supplies is 100% biodegradable, which means you can flush it down the toilet or even use it as fertiliser for your garden. The choice is yours!! Also, if you are worried about tracking, tofu cat litter is made of non-stick particles; therefore, you will experience less tracking and enjoy the soft texture of the cat litter. The best part is that Premium Tofu Cat Litter has zero chemical additives and prevents intestinal obstruction in case your furry friend swallows it.