What is litter made of

May 1, Back Home. Understanding what cat litter is made of can help you pick the litter that works best for you, your cat, your family, and the planet.

In the s, biochemists developed a new kind of litter made of bentonite clay. Bentonite clay has the advantage of clumping in the presence of moisture, so urine can be removed more effectively.

However, bentonite clay comes from strip mines, leading to environmental concerns. Some cat litter is made from silica gel, a crystallized form of silicon dioxide.

Already a subscriber? Sign in. Thanks for reading Scientific American. Create your free account or Sign in to continue. See Subscription Options. Discover World-Changing Science. Get smart. Sign Up. Support science journalism. Knowledge awaits. See Subscription Options Already a subscriber? Create Account See Subscription Options. Just like humans, some kitties have allergies, asthma, or sensitive respiratory systems.

Also like humans, some cats are sensitive to fragrances. Many vets and shelters prefer pellet-based litter for kittens as well, at least until they are a few months old. There are many types of cat litter available, but the basic ingredients are either clays, silica, or plant shavings of some sort.

While clay litters still dominate the market due to their liquid-absorbing properties, alternative kitty litters made from paper, wood, wheat, corn, and other natural ingredients are also available. Be sure to slowly add the new litter to previous one, gradually phasing out the old, or if the litters do not mix well, put out an additional litter box with the new litter so kitty can investigate.

To fight cat fur, put clothes in the dryer for a few minutes before washing to loosen hair. Litter boxes should always be large enough for your cat to cover their waste with fresh litter. With multiple cats, vets recommend multiple litter boxes — one per cat, with another as a spare. Topics: Pet Care. Clay Cat Litter is the Most Common Kitty Litter Most cat litters, whether clumping or non-clumping, are made of a mixture of clay types. Ingredients in Non-Clay, Natural Cat Litters Although clay is the most common cat litter ingredient, there are cat litters made from a variety of other materials, including pine chips, wheat, walnut shells, corn cobs, sawdust, and paper.

Other Kitty Litter Ingredients You may have also seen crystal kitty litter on you stroll down the cat litter aisle. Other ingredients that may be added to cat litter include: Baking soda. This natural salt is made from trona deposits and is added to clay and other types of cat litter to absorb and neutralize odors. Mineral oil.