What Can I Use Instead Of Cat Litter? Top 10 Alternatives

What Can I Use Instead Of Cat Litter?
There are a variety of reasons why people look for cat litter alternatives. Have you ever pondered the outrageous prices of cat litter when standing at a pet store? Purchasing commercial litter may be incredibly expensive, and things get considerably trickier if you have a lot of furry companions.

Other types of litter may enable you to live a more sustainable lifestyle, save money, protect the environment, and prevent health issues for both you and your cat. There are a number of less expensive, environment-friendly, and widely accessible alternatives to kitty litter. 

In order to simplify your life, I’ve identified the top 10 solutions in this post. Although most of the 10 choices will be outstanding, none of them will perform as well as store-bought litter. I’ve also included all the arguments for considering moving from standard cat litter to anything different. 

Top 10 Cat Litter Substitutes

For a number of different reasons, many individuals search for kitty litter substitutes. Some individuals want to save money, while others want to know what their choices are if they run out of kitty litter or are unable to buy any more.

If you’re looking for kitty litter substitutes, we can assist. Here are a few unusual and even original kitty litter replacements that you might not have thought of on your own.

1. Walnut Litter

Since it is made from walnut shells, this litter is more ecologically friendly than the typical litter that people purchase. Although it’s neither homemade nor free, this item is nonetheless excellent. Lumpy walnut litter collects and savours the scent. You may choose from a number of litter granulations that the manufacturers offer to find the one that works best for you. The best grains are the ones that cluster together and are easiest to clean.

2. Wastepaper

If you have old newspapers or other types of paper at home, you may also use this in place of cat litter. Paper is biodegradable, making it certainly a more ecologically friendly alternative to typical kitty litter. 

The fact that pet stores sell paper-based cat litter further demonstrates how useful this idea is. Additionally, doctors sometimes encourage owners to use paper as litter for cats who have recently had their claws removed or who have injured paws since the paper is so mild on a cat’s paw pads.

3. Sand

Sand makes great cat litter, despite the fact that it may be unclean. Hardware stores sell sand that may be used in children’s sandboxes. Sand comes in large numbers in stores that sell landscaping supplies as well. If you choose to use a litter box, add some sand first, then some baking soda to help with odour absorption.

To avoid spills and simplify cleanup, place a rubber mat beneath your litter box. Use cardboard or any other flat, disposable, or sometimes washable material in its place if you don’t have a rubber mat.

4. Wood Pellets

You may give wood pellets for cat litter another try if you want something biodegradable. All of the pellets you need are made of pine. You could find wood pellet cat litter in stores that sell pets, make wood pellets, or sell burning wood for your house stove. 

Because pine doesn’t form clumps, routine litter box sweeping may become more challenging. When your cat uses the lavatory, though, you’ll notice that if you use wood pellets as litter, the pellets turn into sawdust.

Also Read: Are Pine Pellets Safe for Cats? Things You Need To Know

5. Artificial turf

Artificial grass is one of the list’s more unusual choices. To use the grass as cat litter, just chop it up into smaller pieces and put it in the litter container. The grass is appealing to me since it looks lovely and is rather simple to maintain. It can be found easily everywhere, including online. In addition, you won’t need to change it as frequently because it is made of durable material.

The main problem you can experience is your cat using artificial turf, which they might not like. They find trash, sand, and other analogous replacements to be more appealing than it is.

6. Small Animal Bedding

Cat litter may be replaced with small animal bedding, which is also widely available. Natural aspen shavings that have undergone thorough processing to eliminate dust and wood particles are typically used to make this type of bedding.

Small animal bedding is very absorbent and effective in eliminating the unpleasant odour of cat excrement and waste. To make sure the bedding you choose is safe for your cat to use, look for a brand that is devoid of chemicals and artificial colouring.

7. Sawdust

Sawdust may be acquired from your own woodworking area, a lumberyard, or even a business that makes wood furniture, similar to how you can get wood shavings. It is preferable to utilise sawdust that is grittier than powdered. According to the experts at Cancer.org, sawdust may have an impact on cats as well because it is a recognised human carcinogen, but this hasn’t been proven.

Wood shavings are preferable over sawdust if both options are given. By producing your own cat litter in this way, you may rest easy knowing that you’re not putting your cat at risk.

8. Poultry Feed

The most exciting substitute for cat litter is definitely poultry feed because it works well, is inexpensive, and absorbs well, making it a fantastic option for your litter box. Baking soda may be used with chicken feed pellets, which resemble cat litter in shape, to create an odour-reducer.

You may buy chicken feed in large quantities from sellers of farm animal supplies to save a lot of money. Using chicken feed has the drawback of perhaps attracting insects and rodents since it contains substances including wheat, peas, milo, flaxseed, and alfalfa.

9. Puppy Training Pads for the House

Many dog owners housebreak young puppies using disposable puppy pads. Even though these pads are intended for dogs, cats, especially kittens and cats who don’t use the litter box, may use them as well.

Just place one or two pads on the floor and instruct your cat to use those as a bathroom. You should also concentrate on getting your cat to realise that the pads are not toys or pleasurable stuff to drag about the home.

10. Potting Soil

Cats are drawn to potting soil by nature, so you should only use it as a last option. This stuff is rather messy and will definitely spread over your house! Furthermore, I advise against using potting soil since cats may spread germs all over the place, it doesn’t mask odours, and it might bring diseases into your house. You may try using potting soil from your garden inside your home, though, in an emergency.

Why Not Just Buy Cat Litter? Why Should I Use a Substitute For Cat Litter?

There are several good reasons not to buy commercial kitty litter. These are what they include:

1. Costs

You may save money by choosing to make your own cat litter. Commercial cat litter may be expensive. The costs will surely rise because you’ll need to replace them regularly. The amount of money you spend on kitty litter each year could astound you.

2. Environmental Concerns

The clay required for kitty litter is obtained by strip mining, which destroys forests and animal habitats. Even though certain litters are labelled “flushable,” they may not be compatible with sewage systems, which might harm nearby rivers and water supplies.

3. Sustainability

If you wish to live a more sustainable and independent lifestyle, you should utilise fewer commercial products. Among them are cat litters made with a disregard for the environment. By creating these DIY kitty litter alternatives, you can lessen your dependency on commercial litter.

4. Health Issues

Dangerous carcinogens may be present in some litters, particularly those formed of clay, which is able to move through the air on dust particles and perhaps be swallowed. They could cause allergic reactions. Certain cat litter formulations have been known to cause asthma attacks in cats.

5. Emergency Situations

You may have discovered a cat litter product that is virtually perfect and defies all the other requirements stated above given that it is fairly priced, hypoallergenic, eco-friendly, and sustainable. In such a case, you might wish to stick with that specific kind of commercial cat litter.

However, there is still a possibility that in a crisis you can run out of your cat’s chosen litter. In that circumstance, having a few kitty litter substitutes on hand is really beneficial. These options for emergency cat litter may be useful and aid in keeping you composed when your cat has a breakdown (and has to urinate wherever!).

Materials to Avoid Using in Place of Cat Litter

Despite the fact that they are on our list of alternatives above and may be favoured by certain cat owners, there are a few materials we would avoid using, and with good reason.

Garden soil: It seems rather messy. It might possibly create more problems than it fixes if used in place of conventional kitty litter (think: infections, bacteria, etc.).

Cats shouldn’t use all sorts of wood, say some wood shavings. Check to discover whether any of the wood shavings in a bag are toxic before attempting to use them as a substitute for litter.

What are the Benefits of Using a Cat Litter Substitute?

You might be asking what the advantages of an alternative are when there are so many easily available commercial cat litter solutions. It turns out that kitty litter options provide more advantages than you might be aware of. Just a handful of our favourites that could influence you are listed below:

1. Improved Health

Unlike store-bought litters, when you pick your own cat litter, you always know precisely what’s in it. Many clay-based recipes contain harmful carcinogens that can evaporate into the atmosphere when the clay releases particles. If a human or pet has allergies or asthma, finding a substitute might be a great way to make sure that everyone in the household stays well.

2. Budget-Friendly

Although producing homemade cat litter could take a bit longer and more work, the net savings might be substantial. If you have a tight budget, alternative DIY litters are more economical since many of the supplies may be purchased in bulk.

3. Less Damaging to the Environment

The process used to create the clay used in typical industrial clay-based litters is strip mining, which destroys our forests and animal habitats. Even flushable waste has the potential to contaminate water supplies.

How To Introduce Fresh Cat Litter?

You already know that cats are finicky creatures who have a hard time adjusting to change. An abrupt change in his litter might disturb your cat, causing him to stop using the toilet. To get over this problem, gradually introducing the new litter to your cat is a great idea.

Start by incorporating a little amount of the substitute into your regular kitty litter. Once you’ve switched completely to the alternative, gradually decrease the quantity of traditional litter you add to the box.

None of this is essential for you if you wish to proceed immediately with the human toilet training option. If you decide to proceed in that way, we wish you luck!

You should feel more confident because many people have been successful in teaching their cats to use human toilets.

The Bottom Line on What Can I Use Instead Of Cat Litter

You’ll have the best options ready the next time you ask yourself, “What can I use instead of kitty litter?” Some of the more well-liked alternatives are sand, sawdust, paper, wood shavings, wood pellets, whole wheat, chicken feed, artificial grass, walnut litter, and potting soil. Pick the one that best suits you; each has benefits and drawbacks.

Now that you’ve read about them all, do you think at least one of these options will work for you and your animal friend? Why not give one of the most affordable, ecologically friendly, and sustainable cat litter alternatives a try?