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Cat litter is usually something we don't think about. However, choosing the right litter for you and your kitten can also be healthier for you, your pet and the environment.

Clay-based cat litter is probably the most common on the market-and therefore the most affordable and widely available option-but it is considered bad for the environment (see FAQ below). In addition, clay cat litter is usually added with silica, which generates dust. When you or your cat breathes in this dust, it can irritate people with asthma. The dust produced during cleaning or use of cats can penetrate deep into the lungs and may be difficult to discharge, causing respiratory problems and, in rare cases, lung cancer.

Therefore, you might think that one of the best choices your cat, environment and lungs make is to choose biodegradable cat litter. Alternative litter is made from a variety of materials alone or in combination, including paper, corn, walnuts, wheat, wood, pine and grass.

The following are the best environmentally friendly cat litter:

In order to achieve the highest overall ranking, the litter must be absorbent, usable, reasonably priced, sustainably produced and able to prevent odors. Cat litter made of corn is made from ground whole corn kernels or ground corn cobs. Corn on the cob is more environmentally friendly because the waste is given new uses and they are biodegradable.   

The magic of this brand is that it is made of whole corn, compressed into compact particles, which expand to absorb and quickly clump to capture odors. In order to achieve odor control, the litter contains a proprietary "wood fiber" that contains no chemicals, additives or preservatives.

We like that it has no dust and no obvious smell. It clumps well, so it's easy to scoop up. Made in Iowa, we also like the feedback from World's Best. The company reports that it has donated more than 662,000 pounds of garbage to rescue cats in need.

If you have never tried to replace trash, this is a good place to start. It is affordable in many major stores as well as health-conscious pet stores.

Non-caking cat litter tends to be more affordable, although you may need to replace them more frequently than clumping cat litter. The non-clumping padding is absorbent and retains the odor well.

Feline Pine is one of the more affordable brands: a 40-pound bag is approximately between 15 and 20 dollars. Rescue agencies and shelters with tight budgets like it also reduce the smell because it has no smell or perfume. Feline Pine uses sustainable kiln-dried shavings recovered from wood production, so it will not kill new trees to make it.

Perhaps the best part is that the litter is 100% pine chips. It has a natural and fresh pine scent, while being light and mild to cat's claws. The absence of additional ingredients also means that no toxins, allergens or other preservatives have been added. It can be found in most major pet retail stores and even many grocery stores.

Like walnut husks, corn cobs, and some wooden trash, this paper cat litter is made from a product that would otherwise be thrown away. Fresh News recycled paper cat litter is made from 100% post-consumer paper from a recycling center. In fact, the company created a community recycling program called PaperGator, in which non-profit organizations (mainly churches and schools) are paid for collecting paper products internally and in the community.

The recycled paper scraps are safe for animals and can be composted, so it does not have to end up in a landfill, although cat dung must be carefully composted so that the resulting soil will never be used for food crops.

Fresh News claims that its water absorption is almost three times that of clay sand, so it lasts longer. The soft, dust-free and allergen-free pellets will retain their shape when wet, but will not clump, so you need to replace it more frequently than clumped garbage.

This kind of garbage is produced in Michigan, and baking soda is added to control the smell.

Used trash may contain parasites, Toxoplasma gondii, which can cause toxoplasmosis, which is especially dangerous for a developing fetus. This is why you should not mix cat dung with other compost.

For any cat litter, pour it in a well-ventilated place to reduce exposure to dust, and wash your hands thoroughly after cleaning.

Wood litter consists of cedar, spruce or fir in the form of light wood chips or pellets. For cats recovering from surgery or injury, wooden cat litter can keep wounds and incisions clean.

Ökocat Super Soft Clumping Wood Unscented cat litter is a good choice because its softness will attract your sore kittens and their delicate feet. Made from natural wood fibers responsibly rescued from sustainable sources, the texture is similar to clay.

Ökocat removes excess dust, allowing you and your cat to breathe easily. Natural wood fibers absorb urine and prevent the formation of ammonia, which is the strongest odor in the cat box.

Walnut cat litter is made from crushed walnut shells and fibers, but not from nut meat. If the shells are sustainably sourced, they will be a by-product of walnut growers or packers, otherwise the shells will be discarded. So, this is a win-win situation. When it comes out of the bag for the first time, it has a pleasant smell, but this smell will not last long to give off the smell of the room.

Naturally Fresh Quick-Clumping cat litter is made from 100% annual renewable, organically grown, non-GMO walnut shells from California. It will form tight scoopable clumps within 15 minutes. The manufacturer claims that this type of litter is very absorbent, and one bag can use three bags of clay litter. Naturally Fresh is dust-free and does not stick to the paws of kittens, so its tracking rate is very low.

An added bonus is that Naturally Fresh is manufactured in a 100% solar factory. Since walnut sand is not as common as clay sand, you may not find them in all stores.

This Quick-Clumping variant is a good place to recommend for one or two cats. The brand also offers Multi-Cat Unscented, Multi-Cat Ultra Odor Control, Non-Clumping Unscented Pellet and Scented Clumping cat litter with Alpine Meadow and Herbal Attraction perfumes.

For some people, the choice of which cat litter to use is entirely for odor control-especially if you have multiple cats and litter boxes in your house. We recommend Pioneer Pet brand SmartCat all-natural grass cat litter. We found that even if the deposit was made, there was no bad smell. It clumps well too-the bag claims it clumps better than clay-so it's easy to scoop up. This kind of cat litter is also very suitable for multi-cat households, because it will not track, so you do not need to carry out additional cleaning work.

SmartCat is made from 100% organic non-GMO grass seeds, chemical-free, and 99% dust-free. This also means that it is a renewable resource. Remove the water from the seeds, leaving behind high starch, light weight and fine-grained litter, which has strong water absorption and can lock the smell. This garbage contains no fragrance and is biodegradable.

Grass cat litter is a relatively new concept, so you won't find it anywhere. This means that its cost may be higher than some other non-clay/non-silica bedding materials. Few cats are allergic to grass, so keep this in mind when trying.

If you are just trying to use non-clay and non-sand cat litter, the world's best multi-cat unflavored corn cat litter (check it at Walmart) is a good starting point. Its price, performance and caking ability make it the most popular product.

As with any cat litter you buy, please consider the type that you prefer to clump or not. Caking is easier to remove, but picky cats tend to prefer lower-priced non-caking litter, which can hold more urine and odor, but must be replaced more frequently (if you shovel once a day, usually weekly once).

Most cat litters will mention whether they can be washed away. But the truth is, if you can avoid it, it's best not to wash away your cat litter. Washable cat litter will not swell like non-washable cat litter. If you ignore their specific flushing direction, both types will clog your pipeline.

But even without the risk of plumbing problems, it still has a negative impact on your municipal sewage treatment facility or septic tank system. In order for the system in your city to process what you wash away, they need to separate the cat litter solids and send them to a landfill. By skipping flushing, you can save them trouble and reduce the amount of sediment sent to the treatment plant.

If you are using a domestic septic tank system, flushing cat litter will only add excess organic solids to your system. This forces it to work harder to dispose of your waste. This may disrupt the balance in the system and lead to an increase in the demand for services. Instead, find out if your local composting facility can accept cat litter, or if you want to compost at home, build a special cat litter pile.

If you must flush, check the bag to make sure the garbage can be flushed. Those will include recommendations and flushing restrictions that are worth following. You will want to avoid anything that swells when it gets wet.

Particle size also needs to be considered. If you have a long-haired cat, discourage the use of small particles of litter. It can stick to and spread on their fur. Many cat litters will indicate on the bag whether they are recommended for long-haired cats.

For those with more than one kitten, please consider a litter designated as "multi-cat". They often contain more odor neutralizers, such as baking soda, to prevent odors from contact. For multiple cats, clumped litter is usually better because they can be scooped up quickly every day and don't need to be changed frequently. Most experts also recommend using a box for each cat, plus at least one extra litter box.

Yes! There are many materials available for making do-it-yourself (DIY) cat litter. Please note that each material has different characteristics, for example, some materials may be very absorbent but odorless, and vice versa. Be sure to review the advantages and disadvantages of each type so that you can choose the type that suits you. Most recipes rely on baking soda as an ingredient to help control odors, but you can also try green tea.

If you are still buying a local newspaper because you are reusing something you have already purchased, then a newspaper is a good choice. But you can also find simple recipes containing one or more of these biodegradable materials online:

The clay used in cat litter is a natural soil component made of minerals-calcium montmorillonite or agglomerated sodium bentonite. Neither type will decompose further in landfills or compost piles. Therefore, although both are naturally occurring, they are not technically biodegradable.

Clay cat litter is not considered to be good for the environment because it is usually not sustainably sourced. Although clays are naturally occurring soil minerals and are therefore better than synthetics, they must be mined. The commonly used process-belt mining-involves removing all trees, vegetation and topsoil, which then leads to erosion of nearby waterways. Most open-pit mines are so destructive that they cannot and have not been repaired or remedied.

Usually, these clays are mined from the southern United States, Montana, Wyoming, or South Dakota. Some clay may also be mined from abroad such as China and Ukraine.   

Many clay cat litters have added silica, which generates silica dust. Silica is a type of sand. It is also called silica sand, silica gel or crystal cat litter. Silica is made from mined quartz (silica). Like clay, it is made of naturally occurring elements that weather slowly and are not technically biodegradable.

Some companies market it as a better alternative to clay cat litter because it is non-toxic, technically reusable, and does not generate harmful dust like clay. It also neutralizes the smell better and lasts longer than clay cat litter. Although the silica mining process is less destructive than clay belt mining, the process still causes damage to the environment. It also requires a lot of processing and energy to produce. On the geological time scale, garbage will still remain in the landfill and will not be sustainable for a long time.

Glad you asked! There are many ways to dispose of garbage, each with its advantages and disadvantages. Check out this Treehugger article to learn about the pros and cons of the greenest option.   

In the past 35 years, Lorraine Wilde has had at least one cat companion in his home. Her two cats lived to their early twenties. She has only the highest standards for her best friends. Lorraine also has a master's degree in environmental sciences and believes that consumers can make healthy, informed and environmentally conscious choices to protect their families, pets and our planet.

"Crystalline Silica: Health Risks." Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

"Toxoplasmosis: Frequently Asked Questions About Pregnancy." Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

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