When it comes to cat litter alternatives, there are a variety of options to choose from, whether you want to save money, have something on hand in the event of an emergency, or want something more environmentally and pet-friendly.
Manufactured cat litter pellets closely resemble chicken feed pellets. Mixed with baking soda and cedar shavings can be used as cat litter.
By making your homemade cat litter, you can save money. Commercial kitty litter can be pretty pricey to purchase. Costs will up if you have to keep replacing them regularly.
Non-clay litter made from plants is popular among cat owners since it is lighter, more environmentally friendly, and better for cats’ health. Biodegradable plant litters are the norm.
Poop can go in the garbage, but what’s left can be composted at home or used around shrubs as mulch. Alternatively, you can decompose all of the waste, excrement and all, at home using a well-designed composting system.
If you’re in the same boat, there’s good news! Learn much more about the best materials, how to use these alternatives, and weigh the advantages and disadvantages of each one in the following sections.
Can Chicken Feed Be Used as Kitty Litter?
Chickens are fed a lot of corn and other grains that have been mashed up. As a result, even though it takes up the same amount of space as litter, it weighs significantly less than that substance.
There ought to be no odor if it is constantly scooped and a little something new is added every other or third day. Some people add clay clumping litter to their chicken feed as a solution to the problem of clumping.
Corn is the principal ingredient of chicken feed, also recognized as chickens’ primary nutrition source. The “mash” or “chick starter” made from this corn-based component is then blended with a few other grains and coarsely processed. Particles are close to dust size but not relatively so small as to be called dust.
In contrast to other clay litters, this one can be decomposed by nature. This particular brand of kitty litter was considerably cheaper than many others. Feed retailers sell it in 25- and 50-pound sacks, depending on how much you need.
Pee appears to have soaked through the chicken feed and into the bottom of the tray before the feed was absorbed entirely and began to clump. However, the tray’s bottom would still be damp from the clump’s foundation even after it clumped.
What Can You Substitute Cat Litter With?
- Many dog owners housebreak puppies with disposable puppy pads. These pads are meant for dogs, but cats can use them too, especially young cats and those who refuse to use the litter box.
- Collect wood shavings if you or someone you know does woodworking. For example, a lumber firm may give you free wood shavings. Add 3 inches of wood shavings to your litter box.
- Outdoor cats will go to a garden to discharge themselves because they prefer soil. Indoor cats can use potting soil as litter.
- Small animal bedding is a beautiful alternative to cat litter. This bedding is frequently constructed with processed aspen shavings to remove dust and wood particles.
- Instead of letting old newspapers pile up, manufacture kitty litter. Shred paper, put it in the litter box, then add water and dish soap.
- Even though it’s messy and makes terrific cat litter, hardware stores sell sand for sandboxes. Landscapers sell large sandbags. If you use sand, add baking soda to absorb odors.
- Many cat owners use wood pellets to heat their homes. The slight weight of these softwood pellets is a plus. In addition, Kitty litter substitutes are readily available at home improvement and DIY stores.
- Sawdust might be collected from a woodworking space, lumber company, or furniture manufacturing. But, again, coarse, not dusty sawdust is better.
Can I Use Rice as Cat Litter?
Because it is such a sound absorbent, rice can be used as an emergency cat litter. Several cat owners have recommended rice husk pellets. However, rice swells when wet, so if you accidentally overfill the litterbox, you’ll have an enormous mess on your hands.
It’s much better to consume the rice you have on hand than use it in your cat’s litter box. On the other hand, rice is more effective in absorbing urine than paper or wood shavings. Also, remember that rice expands, so don’t overfill the cat box.
If you have no other alternative than to use a different kind of cat litter in an emergency, do so. Your cat may reject the new method you’ve introduced if you make too many radical changes.
Even if you plan to use the emergency litter, check to see if you still have some of the old cat litter. These two can then be combined. If not, don’t worry; we’ll see some additional possibilities soon enough.
It’s better to consume the rice you have on hand rather than use it as litter for your cat. Compared to paper or wood shavings, rice is a superior absorbent. But unfortunately, there is no way to cover the ammonia’s smell.
Can Pellets Be Used as Cat Litter?
Cat litter made from kiln-dried wood pellets is safe for usage. Juniper, cypress, and oak are just a few types of wood included here. Wood burner fuel pellets and equestrian bedding pellets are examples of pellets that can be used for several reasons.
Pellets are far more suitable for the environment than traditional wood chips. Because most are constructed from salvaged lumber, no new trees are harmed in making them. In addition, they’re biodegradable and compostable because they’re created from renewable resources.
Wood pellets are often constructed of nothing but natural wood fiber, making them an all-natural product. As a result, they’re a better choice for you and your cat because they’re free of additives and produce little to no dust. When comparing wood pellets to clay litter, this is especially true.
The phenol in pine shavings and other wood shavings can be removed by kiln drying them. In addition, due to pine’s natural antibacterial characteristics, pine shavings are an excellent alternative to clay cat litter.
Additionally, wood pellets may be enriched with various substances to reduce emissions or improve combustion. It’s preferable to keep your cat from anything needless, even if you don’t know the long-term implications of some of these substances.
