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Clumping cat litter may be one of the best inventions in cat care. Instead of daily changing of the litter box and the usual mess and odor of traditional products, scooping litter is quite a convenience in keeping your cat's box cleaner longer as well as the new formulas to prevent and/or cut down on offensive odors.

However, as with any new product, there can be dangers with clumping litter. The agent used to create the clumping effect is sodium bentonite, which can expand fifteen to eighteen times its size. As advised on most clumping cat litter containers, this type of litter should not be flushed not even the clumps themselves.

Cat owners have noticed that their pets often clean themselves after leaving the litter box. If particles of clumping litter should get into their digestive systems, it will have the same effect as if the litter was flushed, causing a critical health issue in your pet. According to an article by Lisa Newman, clumping substances also coat the digestive tract, collecting old fecal material, increasing toxicity, bacteria growth, and prohibiting proper assimilation of digested food. As a result, cats become susceptible to viral, bacterial, parasitic and yeast infections.

Several clumping litters are also dusty. Dust particles can build coating in cats' lungs, resulting in respiratory issues. Quartz silica also known as sand is another common ingredient in most clumping litters. This is a known carcinogen when inhaled in both animals and humans.

There is also the consideration of dogs in households. Some canines have a instinct to see the cat box as sort of their very own cookie jar. Just as a cat would ingest clumps, this can also pose the same dangers to their dog counterparts.

Are there safe alternatives to commercial clumping cat litters, but you don't want to go back to the messy traditional clay brands? Fortunately, there are.

There are plant-based cat litters such as World's Best Cat Litter (this brand is also the best for automatic litter boxes), SWheat, a clumping and scoopable cat litter made from wheat, and Feline Pine, made from pine a healthy alternative to clay litter. Feline Pine also destroys litter box odor naturally on contact.

The Greenists website also offers a recipe for homemade cat litter as follows:

Shred newspaper in a paper shredder. Collect shredded paper in an unused litter box.

Soak the paper in warm water mixed with a few squirts gentle, biodegradable dish soap. The shredded paper takes on a cooked oatmeal consistency.

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