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10 Eco-Friendly Litters!

onegreenplanet.org 1 day ago
cat in litter box

Having a sustainable home can come in many forms, and if you’re a pet parent, it can even start in the litter box. Traditional litter, often composed of non-biodegradable materials, poses a severe threat to ecosystems and wildlife. Eco-friendly litter, on the other hand, is designed to minimize environmental impact by utilizing biodegradable, recyclable, or compostable materials. This approach not only reduces Pollution but also promotes a more sustainable lifestyle. Luckily, there are quite a few eco-friendly litter options on the market!

1. Boxie Eco

Boxie® Eco™ Farm to Box Sustainable 30 Day Odor Control Clumping Cat Litter
Boxie® Eco™ Farm to Box Sustainable 30-Day Odor Control Clumping Cat Litter

Boxie® Eco™ Farm to Box Sustainable 30-Day Odor Control Clumping Cat Litter redefines eco-consciousness in pet care, offering a 99.9% dust-free, plant-based solution derived from soft red wheat and perennial rye. Priced at $22.55 for a 6.5lb bag, this litter guarantees easy cleaning and a month-long supply for one cat.

Paige said, “I love this eco version of kitty litter. The ingredients are easy to understand and I feel confident that if ingested by my cat (honestly or even me by accident somehow) it’s not nasty chemical clay. It keeps scent down for the most part and clumps great! It’s lightweight to carry for me and doesn’t have dust really! I have bought this a couple of times and it’s worth the price tag.”

2. SmartCat

SmartCat All Natural Clumping Cat Litter

Providing a green alternative to traditional cat litter, SmartCat All Natural Clumping Cat Litter stands out with its chemical-free, 99% dust-free formula made entirely of grass. At $21.17 for a 10-pound pack, this unscented and lightweight litter ensures a clean, odor-free environment for your feline friend.

Kari said, “This litter is super lightweight and easy to scoop. Perfect for hands that are sore with arthritis! It is dust-free. It clumps urine hard and dries out fecal material (poop) so well that waste is minimal – even stays together in a firm clump when my one cat pees along the litterbox wall and the clump comes free from the wall without extra effort. This is the best of any litter I have ever used in my 30 years of owning cars and working in kennels and vet hospitals!! Truly!

But there is a trade-off. I wanted unscented (and used unscented scoopable clay litter too), and this litter is scent-free except for a subtle kind of woody smell when first poured into the box. The downside is that it does not absorb odors as well so some days, I know when one of the cats has used the box because it smells. This is getting better as I find the best diet for my cats though (their poop has less smell so less smell to block). I have one covered and one uncovered litterbox and the smell is an issue with both equally I think. I am sure if I left it, the grass litter would dry the poop up great and the smell with it…but I can’t stand to try it so I scoop right away when it happens, which is only occasionally. This is why I gave it 3 stars for scent. Not sure there is an answer to this without adding unnatural scents and/or dustiness to the litter – which are both worse in my opinion. Mixing some clay litter in is an option (see the rest of the review below) but I quit because of the negatives with this option. The clay litter just gets kind of sticky and is so heavy.”

3. World’s Best

World’s Best Cat Litter Multiple

World’s Best Cat Litter Multiple Cat offers a premium solution for multi-cat households with its natural corn-based composition, boasting quick clumping, flushability, and 99% dust-free formulation. At $36.69 for a 32-pound bag, this USA-made litter promises long-lasting odor control and effortless scooping.

Jeanette said, “My house is very small and I have two cats. This litter does help with the smell. It clumps very well. It does not stick to the bottom of the litter box! There’s no slimy or nasty sticky wet litter. It scoops very easily. It says it’s flushable, however, I have not tried to because I am not comfortable with that. The bag of litter lasts a long time compared to any other brand I have used. The litter is made from corn which I really like and it doesn’t get dusty or stick to their paws.”

4. Naturally Fresh

Naturally Fresh Cat Litter

Naturally Fresh Cat Litter presents a sustainable choice with its walnut-based, biodegradable formula that ensures quick clumping and odor control without any added fragrances. It’s priced at $24.99 for a 26-pound bag!

Mellie said, “We have four cats and yes, they are a lot of work. We pride ourselves in keeping their “area” clean and odor-free. We used regular clumping litter before and then someone at my work mentioned this stuff. I thought….how odd….cat little made of walnut shell? Surely that has to stink or not clump and all that. This person assured me that I’d love it and he was not wrong! So, once you get past the fact that it’s dark brown and looks obviously messy once tracked around, you’ll definitely love the reduction in odor and ease of cleaning. It clumps fantastically and really disguises your kitty’s #2. My husband does all the potty duty and says it’s amazing. More affordable in my opinion and it lasts longer.

At the same time we started using this, I chose to toss out our old plastic litter box and invested (yes, about $110 so it’s an investment) in a stainless steel litter box and the difference with this combo is phenomenal! I highly recommend this cat litter. We put it on auto-ship so we’ll never be without it.”

5. Okocat

ökocat Less Mess Natural Wood Clumping Cat Litter

ökocat Less Mess Natural Wood Clumping Cat Litter Mini-Pellets offers a tailored solution for long-haired breeds, delivering superior odor control and no artificial fragrance with its $26.22, 18.6-pound pack. Free from synthetic chemicals, toxic dyes, and GMOs, this litter prioritizes both your cat’s well-being and environmental sustainability.

Julianne said, “I’m not exaggerating when I say, this is by far the best litter I have ever tried. Let me explain:

1) I started with clay litter (like most people) and once you learn about any other litter, clay litter is just awful and it’s hard to understand why it was created. It’s smelly, messy, and not the healthiest or most environmentally friendly.

2) I then discovered Feline Pine – awesome at first! Good for the environment, healthy for my cats, and great smell. Covered odors perfectly. Eventually, I got fed up with how incredibly messy it was. It would always stick to my cats’ paws, they would track it all over the house (including on furniture – so gross) and 1 day after changing it, it would become pure dust as soon as the cats would use it.

3) of course, I also tried silicone litter. Wrong again. The smell was just OK. But it was oh so messy. My floors were covered in litter at all times. It felt like I had kids coming in after playing in the sandbox with shoes full of sand. Do you get the picture? Yup.

4) I then tried paper pellets – what was I thinking? Not messy at all but the ammonia smell was absolutely unbearable. 1-2 days in and my house smelled like a train station in NYC.

5) and finally, I tried this litter! Wow wow wow. I’m sure everyone has a preference, but I personally chose the “less mess” formula. First of all, amazing smell. Pure wood and you cannot smell pee or poo. It masks odors perfectly. Messy? Not at all!!! I filled the litter box this past Saturday (4 days ago) and the pellets are still intact! No dust, no tracking, no mess. The litter also clumps, which I didn’t think I would like but I do! It makes it so easy to scoop out the dirty litter and poop which results in a fresher litter box which I’m sure will last for days (maybe more than a week, maybe two because this litter is god-sent!). I attached a photo so you can see what I’m talking about.

I’m so happy with this litter. The price is decent and shipping is lightning fast, too!

So let this be your sign – if you have tried all of the other litters in existence and haven’t found the litter for you, this is it. ;)”

6. Vetreska

VETRESKA Tofu Cat Litter provides an innovative tofu-based solution for cat owners seeking strong clumping, ultra-absorbent, and odor-controlling litter pellets. Priced at $13.29 for a 5.5-pound bag, this dust-free and low-tracking litter offers eco-friendliness without compromising on performance.

Susan LeMay, “This is a low-tracking, low-dust, good clumping, and great smelling litter. I wish it were more affordable but I can’t emphasize how much nicer it is than traditional clay litter.”

7. Nature’s Miracle

Nature’s Miracle Premium Clumping Corn Cob Litter

Nature’s Miracle Premium Clumping Corn Cob Litter stands out with its tough odor bio-enzymatic formula and dust-free composition, priced affordably at $11.37. Featuring an easy-pour handle, this litter ensures convenience alongside superior odor control for a fresh and clean litter box environment.

Ezra said, “Most cat litter… it doesn’t smell good, but it doesn’t smell bad, and that seems like a win. This? This smells GOOD when it comes out of the bag. It smells like what it is: ground-up corncobs. It cleans easily and the cats seem to like it. Unlike clay litter, it doesn’t turn into concrete when a cat pees on it, or when you toss it in the toilet. I’ve recommended this to friends out in the real world and no one has ever been unsatisfied with it.”

8. Small Pet Select

Small Pet Select Hemp Pelleted Cat Litter

Small Pet Select offers a sustainable solution with its Hemp Pelleted Cat Litter, providing eco-friendly odor control in a biodegradable format. Priced at $29.37 for a 20-pound bag, this litter guarantees a fresh litter box experience. Additionally, each acre of hemp captures 10 metric tons of CO2, so you’re helping the planet!

One user said, “I ordered this in hopes of using it with the Tidy Cat breeze litter box system. Unfortunately, I didn’t realize the pellets are the type that dissolve when wet. They are not like the pellets that come with the tidy cat litter system. These will not work with that litter box setup. However, if you’re looking for a litter that dissolves when wet and is nontoxic, I think this is a great litter option! I love the 100% natural safe hemp ingredients! Perfect for sensitive people and pets. Just don’t get it for the Breeze litter system.”

9. GrandTail

Grandtail Macadamia Nut Cat Litter

Grandtail Macadamia Nut Cat Litter impresses with its 99.9% dust-free, low-tracking formula that boasts solubility in water for easy disposal and superior odor control. At $14.99, this eco-friendly litter offers both performance and sustainability.

One reviewer said, “This is an amazing litter. It is far superior to any kind of clay litter. It’s much healthier. It clumps well and the cats took to it immediately. It lasts far longer too, and keeps the smell down better without adding any weird and artificial parfumy smells. It also isn’t dusty whatsoever.

I really like this litter. I don’t have any allergies to macadamia nuts, but people who do should probably stay away from it. The blend of tofu and macadamia nuts is great. I love that it is healthy and easier on the environment too. It’s pricier but I go through clay litter far faster, so I’m not sure that it actually IS pricier…it just is more of an upfront cost. I’d definitely order it again.”

10. Skoon

Skoon All-Natural Cat Litter

Skoon All-Natural Cat Litter redefines convenience with its lightweight, non-clumping formula designed for low maintenance and eco-friendliness. Priced at $28.99 for an 8-pound bag, this litter excels in absorbing, locking, and sealing liquids for optimal odor control, providing high absorption without compromising on environmental impact.

JoAnn said, “I have a Modkat litter box and trained my cat to use the top entry door. I had a problem with Betty throwing the litter everywhere. The modkat can be used with a top or front entry. I found my old basic litter still stuck to her paws.
Then I found Skoon and decided to give it a try. I have been very happy with my purchase. It’s a much larger litter, more like a chunk or rock.
Now I only find the occasional rock around her box. Skoon lasts a long time with daily scooping and most important STIRRING. The stirring brings the urine-soaked rocks to the top so it can mix with the dry rocks and air out.
They seem to dry out without smelling. Eventually about 3 weeks to a month you’ll notice the urine smell is stronger and no longer absorbs into the rocks. This is my indicator to change the entire load of litter. This diatomaceous earth product is leaps and bounds superior to clay litter. The bonus with Skoon is that in a short time, the poops become hard like little tootsie rolls, and are very easy to remove. I could never let the old litter remain in the litter box like I can Skoon, it would have been disgusting. I do use the auto-ship. If you choose not to, you can order through Amazon. VERY IMPORTANT you must order the Skoon scooper as Skoon is too big for any other scooper, believe me, I’ve tried others.
My only wish is for Skoon to make the scooper a little larger. I won’t be switching from Skoon. I’m completely satisfied. It also comes in lemon and lavender scented but I feel the lemon smelled like urine quicker and lavender didn’t smell at all so I stick with the original.”

Adopting eco-friendly litter is a small but impactful step towards a more sustainable home. By opting for biodegradable, recyclable, and compostable options, we can significantly reduce the environmental footprint of our waste. The shift towards eco-friendly litter not only protects wildlife but also fosters a culture of environmental responsibility. As individuals and communities become more aware of the environmental challenges we face, making conscious choices about the products we use, including litter, can lead to meaningful change.

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