You love animals. You love the environment. But sometimes, it can be difficult to reconcile the two. While you may not think twice about potentially harming our planet when you’re changing your cat litter pail, the two are more connected than you might realize. What about thinking of using an eco-friendly cat litter?
If you are a pet owner who also wants to be a friend to the environment, here are a few tips and insights from the LitterLocker pros for creating an eco-friendly cat litter setup for your kitty.
The problem with clay litter
Clay litter is an extremely popular choice among cat owners, but not many people are aware of its ecological impact.
The clay used to create this type of litter is extracted via a process called strip mining: companies remove the topsoil and plant life covering mountains and hills in order to get to the clay underneath, robbing animals and insects of their habitats. Strip mining also creates toxic runoff that washes into nearby aquatic ecosystems, harming fish populations and polluting waterways.
How to make cat litter boxes more eco-friendly
The good news is, there are tons of affordable alternatives to bentonite clay litter that don’t harm the environment one bit! Here are a few of our favourite options:
Paper litter
Clumping paper is great at absorbing pesky odours, and is typically made of recycled materials. Paper is also much more absorbent than clay litter – to the tune of about 3X – and since it doesn’t contain tiny grains, it won’t get stuck in your cat’s paws and make them uncomfortable.
If you’re feeling particularly frugal, you can even make your own paper litter by shredding junk mail such as envelopes, flyers, or plain newspaper!
Wood shavings and sawdust
While wood pellets are more frequently associated with hamster, guinea pig, and small rodent cages, they’re also an effective eco-friendly substrate for cat litter. When your cat uses the wood pellet litter, it will break down into sawdust, conveniently leaving the pellets on top and dust on the bottom.
Not only are these products typically made of natural materials that are biodegradable and renewable, but they are also recycled from post-consumer products, much like paper litter.
Corn and wheat litter
Both wheat and corn are natural, renewable materials that make for very eco-friendly cat litter. These products have no artificial scents, create less dust than clay, and are conveniently flushable (though it is not recommended to flush litter down the toilet if your pet goes outdoors, since its waste may contain bacteria that’s harmful to the water supply).
There are few differences between wheat-based and corn-based litter, but some owners find that wheat feels a little more like clay to their pets, which may shorten the adjustment period when switching between litters.
Say yes to the environment, and no to odours!
If litter-related odours are a concern, clay is far from your only option. No matter which eco-friendly cat litter you choose, LitterLocker offers sleek and odour-busting accessories that make for a clean and simple hygiene experience for your pet. Finally, the LitterLocker refill’s container is made from 50% recycled materials and is fully recyclable.
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