Cat Litter: An Environmental Problem?
Cat litter not only can create environmental problems for the places it comes from but also for the places it goes. That saying, "We're all connected," explains why keeping our environment healthy occupies our country's best minds.
Here's what a busy mother needs to know to choose a "green product" from among the twenty-five brands that look the same, while her children inch the grocery cart closer to a teetering display of canned pet food.
Cat Litter Essentials
The problem breaks down to two parts: what do you use to absorb waste and odor and how do you dispose of the soiled material. Clay-based litter is commonly available and inexpensive. However, the clay is extracted by strip mining, which is bad any way you look at it. To make matters worse, both human and feline family members inhale clay-dust particles that can cause or worsen respiratory disease. All clays contain the problem-causing material.
Dust free litters include silica gel pearls and plant material litters such as corn, wheat, paper, and pine. Silica gel pearls are expensive, but work well for those who clean their cat boxes infrequently. Made from the same material as sand and processed to absorb tremendous amounts of liquid, a much smaller amount of litter is needed than with other materials. Mining sand does create open pits, but restoration can be more complete than with strip mining.
Corn, wheat husk, and pine litters absorb odor well, but some cats do not like the smell or texture of a particular litter. If the cat does not enjoy digging in the litter, he will not use it. However, plant-based litters are byproducts of other industries, which is, in principle, a good thing.
Suggested Selections
If you can afford it and are not fastidious about changing your cat's litter, you should try silica gel pearls and see how those work for you. If you want to be frugal, select an unscented product that uses corn or wheat husk or pine and try it. These litters require changing every couple of days.
Litter Disposal
Many litters claim to be flushable. Two issues with flushing: First, consider the age and sensitivity of your plumbing and the amount you wish to flush. Second, some cities' water treatment facilities are not able to remove a parasite that cats often carry.
If you plan to flush, check the website of your local water and sewer company to find out whether they can filter the toxoplasmosis parasite. If so, flush away. If not, or if your litter is not flushable, bag the litter and dispose of it in the trash. Some suburbanites or rural residents bury their cat litter. You could do this, but do not bury litter (and possibly parasites) near water. If the parasite can enter your water source, the savings in the landfill is not worth it.
Litter Alternatives
Oddly, many people toilet train their cats. Some training systems use instructional CDs. Alternatively, some cat behaviorists step their clients' cats through this training. Again, check whether your sewer company is able to filter the parasite.
Oh, and if you were considering simply letting your cat roam and do his business elsewhere, the world is not your cat's litter box. If your cat uses others' yards for toileting, your neighbors pick up after your cat. You haven't solved a problem. You've simply shifted your problem onto someone else's garden.
Understanding more about how our cats can effect our environment is one step closer to preserving it.
Share Your Stories
Please share your stories about cat litter choices. I'd love to hear from you. Leave a comment below!
Carol has been fascinated by cats ever since she watched a bobcat hunt along the swamps of her childhood home. She writes about the many felines that have graced her life at www.thiswildlife.com.
Petside: Get Started
-
- 2010 NCAA Mascot Tournament
Vote for your favorite pet mascots to determine the ultimate NCAA mascot champion!
-
- Find a Breed
Browse dog and cat breeds to find your perfect pal.
-
- Diagnose a Condition
Use PetVet to research what's ailing your pet.
-
- Locate a Hospital
- Find the nearest accredited animal hospital.
Specials
Check out these deals picked by petside.com just for you!
Comments (4)
Neno WS March 14, 2009 8:46 PM
nice article...another environmental problem with flushing cat litter is toxoplasma...it also can affect sea mammals. research found sea otters infected with toxoplasma cat litter type
Betty April 24, 2009 4:27 PM
I've recently started using shredded paper (from a paper shredder that gives 1/8" by 1 1/2"shreds)for kitty litter. My cats seem satisfied with it and it is much easier for me to use and of course it is free. Also it has much less odor,maybe because I empty it oftener because it is so much easier. Does anyone know of any reason not to use this for kitty litter?
Kara April 26, 2009 11:32 AM
Has anyone used any of the suggested selections, and if so, what are they like? Do any of them clump?
Claudia June 30, 2009 9:41 AM
I absolutely LOVE "The World's Best Cat Litter." It clumps BETTER than any of the other litters (clay-based or eco brands) that I tried. Some of the pine litters require special scoops (with extra-wide set tines) and my cats didn't take to the pine. But it was easy to convert them from clay-based litter to the corn-based WBCL. With WBCL, the clumps don't stick to the bottom of the litter box the way clay-based litter clumps do. That was something I was esp. delighted to discover. Also? No more dust! While the eco-products are more expensive per bag compared to clay-based, WBCL lasts a lot longer than clay-based litters so probably in use it's not really more $$. For disposal, I built an inground composting tank--see step-by-step photos and usage instructions at www.cityfarmer.org/petwaste.html. My cat septic is working great for me and I LOVE not having to put soiled litter into the trash (landfills) anymore or worry about where the Toxo. cysts are going.
add your comment