By Guest Blogger Kristy Hodson

As a proud mom of two feline furbabies (l to r: O'Malley and Daly--aren't they just the cutest?) who spend a majority of their time inside, cat litter is an important part of my monthly budget. But how can you green up cat litter? There are many different options ranging from newspaper and pine pellets to kicking the litter habit by toilet training your kitty. Not too long ago one of my favorite blogs that deals with all things cats did a comparison on how some of the different types of natural cat litter hold up. If you get some time check it out at Moderncat. In my house we've switched to an all natural scoopable cat litter with herbal odor control that is specifically for a multi-cat home. If you've never thought about switching to a more natural cat litter, why not try today? For more background on the dangers of clay litters check out the post  below that was originally published on The Green Guide.

The Scoop on Clumping Cat Litter

By Aisha Ikramuddin

February 21, 2003

The convenience of easy clean-up provided by clumping cat litter may be something to reconsider. Clumping litters, as the name suggests, become clumpy when moistened. These clumps may be removed with a slotted spoon without having to change the entire litter box. This all results in less mess and odor.

Unfortunately, the clay in most clumping litters may be dangerous. Clumping litter is made of sodium bentonite, a naturally swelling clay. According to Ken Simard, CEO of Nature's Way Earth Products, this clumping clay is dusty when dry. As cats kick up the dust, while digging and scratching the litter, it clings to fur, under claws and in between toes, gets tracked around the house, and ingested by cats when they lick themselves. The dust is also inhaled by the owner. Clay dust contains crystalline silica, which is registered as a carcinogen by the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), and may cause respiratory illnesses. The greatest danger, however, may come from ingested litter, which can expand up to 15 times more than its original volume. Simard says that this can block a cat's gastrointestinal tract. Unfortunately, no studies have yet been conducted on clumping cat litter, and the evidence against it remains anecdotal. Some pet owners have seen kittens ingest the litter, only to fall sick and die later. Symptoms include vomiting, nasal and eye discharge, and diarrhea which turns hard and clay-like.

Until the verdict is in, the simple and safe solution is to "dump the clump." Alternatives include plant litters made of alfalfa, corn cobs, peanut shells or wheat, and pellets made of cedar, pine or newspaper. The down side is that plant litters may attract pests and, along with newspaper, may smell when wet. Pine, a natural disinfectant and neutralizer of ammonia, may help. All of these products, unlike clay, are biodegradeable and flushable. As an added bonus, some are recycled or made out of waste which would have gone to landfills, such as Nature's Way Feline Pine, available at PetSmart, Kroger Supermarkets and some Wal-Mart stores.