Litter, Litter Everywhere - Let's Stop and Think

Petside is celebrating "Green is Universal" this week, so let's gather round for a discussion about one of our "favorite" topics; litter and litter boxes. With the wide variety of brands and types of litter available, there are many kinds of litters which will help keep our environment pristine and are completely "Earth friendly".

So if you are "Green" conscious and looking for ways to "chip in "why not help by protecting our planet, and go the extra mile. Get onboard and use degradable cat litter! Did you know there are a few products that can be used in your garden as mulch or add a decorative touch around your shrubs?

If I have captured your attention, read on!

Years ago, before I was aware of the carbon paw prints which the litter I was using was creating, my favorite litter was made of clay. Inexpensive and readily available, (in fact I purchased tons of the stuff through my local auto repair shop, which was used to absorb oil spills), until I learned that clay litter was not only was a hazard to the environment, our cats, and humans, since the silicon particles which it contains is very dusty, but also that clay litter is manufactured using Strip Mining, a process which is very destructive to the environment.

Heavy equipment used in Strip mining, removes a thin layer of the earth in order to "mine" a seam of clay. Strip mining destroys thousands of acres of land by removing millions of tons of soil. According to an article I read, "native lands are acquired with leaseholders kicked off their land so that these mining companies can get to it." This doesn't sound appealing no matter how cheap it is!

So what are alternatives to clay litters? I began an exhaustive search to find the purrfect litter for our cats. I immediately ruled out those brands impregnated with perfume designed to hide obnoxious odors. Most cats abhor them.

I tried pellets made of recycled newspaper, but my cats objected. I offered litter made from straw pellets, which also received an immediate "paws down." I was about to pull my hair out in frustration, until I found a brand made of cedar shavings! Our cats purred contentedly, and the deal maker was that I could scoop up the solid waste and dump the box directly into the woods or around my garden for mulch. Additionally, after the shavings were dry, I used it decoratively around our shrubs. This made for a real win-win situation.

But after attending a cat show where a demonstration of corn kernel based litter was being held, I was really impressed with its clumping qualities, and that it was both septic safe and flushable. I purchased a package, and gave it a test drive with a spare litter box. My cats were thrilled! They far preferred it to the cedar litter, which saved me time and energy with no reason for further dumping! I was also impressed with how fresh the litter remained with prudent scooping. I have been using it for almost ten years now.

While I have never tried the other alternatives, they are made from Kenaf plant pellets manufactured from a fast growing hibiscus plant and products made from cellulose fiber A word about litter boxes: We use Clevercat brand. This large, tall box has an optional cover with an off- center hole. The top has ridges which help to remove litter from cat's paws; a handy addition.

The boxes are easy to keep clean and since they are ruggedly constructed they last forever! Since my two neutered boys are macho at times, standing up in the box to pee does not result in a huge mess which other boxes may cause. We know live with two happy cats who make no complaints about their bathroom facilities.

What "Earth friendly" cat litter do you use? Leave a comment and let us know.