Paper Cat Litter: Gentle on Paws, Gentle on the Environment

Last Updated: 4 months ago

Are you thinking about using paper cat litter and wondering if it’s a suitable type of litter for your feline friend?

Then you’ve come to the right place to learn all about paper-based cat litter.

Just keep reading!

4 Best Paper Cat Litter Brands At A Glance

• Best Overall: Purina Yesterday’s News Paper Cat Litter
• Best Recycled: Fresh News Recycled Paper Cat Litter
• Best with Odor Control: ökocat Natural Paper Cat Litter
• Best for Multii-Cat: HARTZ Multi-Cat Paper Cat Litter

#1 Purina Yesterday’s News Paper Cat Litter

Thanks to its absorbent formula and no harmful additive ingredients, Purina’s recycled paper litter is one of the best eco-friendly cat litters.

Benefits

• Natural absorbent material 
• Low-tracking formula
• Virtually dust-free
• Vets recommend it
• As this reviewer says, it’s soft on the paws.

Drawbacks

• Cleaning is a bit messy since it’s non-clumping pellet litter 

#2 Fresh News Recycled Paper Cat Litter

Fresh News has excellent paper cat litter products suitable for an eco-minded cat owner.  

Benefits

• Made from sustainable materials
• 99% Dust-free formula, ideal for cats with allergies
• Pleasant texture, soft on the paws, no harsh additives
• Fresh New’s paper pellets absorb three times better than the standard clay cat litter
• Moisture-locking pellets with baking soda for outstanding odor control 
• Flushable cat litter (don’t flush cat poop!)

Drawbacks

• It is slightly scented, so some cats might not like it

#3 ökocat Natural Paper Cat Litter

Okocat has a great paper cat litter, suitable for multiple cats and adult cats with respiratory problems or post-surgical cats. Their pine pellet litter is also an excellent clumping alternative. 

Benefits

• Made from clean paper fiber 
• Absorbent material free of chemicals and harsh additives 
• Effective odor control with plant-based ingredients
• Biodegradable litter
• There is virtually no dust for improved respiratory health

Drawbacks

• Small pellet size, so it tracks around the house 

#4 HARTZ Multi-Cat Paper Cat Litter

Hartz offers a unique clumping paper litter suitable for cat owners who want something natural with greater clumping power. 

Benefits

• It forms a tight clump on contact with cat urine
• Lightweight formula with no chemical additives
• Great odor control
• It changes color when soiled 

Drawbacks

• Not the cheapest option

Is Paper Litter Good for Cats?

Many cat owners don’t look at a pile of old newspapers and think, “Oh, that will be an excellent cat litter alternative.”

Still, paper granule brands are popular, and many pet parents are satisfied with how well they absorb urine. 

So, is paper cat litter good?

Yes, paper is one of the best types of cat litter, and it’s a healthier option for cat owners because it’s made from natural materials. 

Paper Cat Litter: Pros and Cons

While paper is a suitable substrate for your kitty box, like all types of litter, paper litter has its benefits and drawbacks.

Let’s take a look at paper pellet cat litter’s pros and cons. 

Pros Of Paper Cat Litter

#1 Eco-Friendly

Paper cat litter is made from recycled materials. Its production doesn’t harm the environment and reduces your ecological footprint.

On the other hand, clay is produced through a form of strip mining, a process that destroys the environment.

#2 Fewer Health Risks

Jackson Galaxy explains the danger of clay litter quite well, saying, “It forms the same insoluble mass you see in the box, inside your cat, if they groom it off of their paws.”

On the other hand, paper pellets break down quickly, so they can’t cause an intestinal blockage if your cat eats the granules. 

Moreover, paper doesn’t contain silica dust, a component of some clay litters, which can irritate your cat’s lungs and cause respiratory issues. It’s also free of harmful chemicals. 

#3 Less Dust

Clay-based litter generates lots of dust when you pour the granules into the box or when your cat digs around to cover its waste.

While paper brands still generate a bit of dust, they’re still less dusty than most traditional brands. And you won’t have to think about silica dust, a known cancer-causing agent.

#4 Variety

You can find paper clumping litter, which has similar clumping abilities to traditional clay litters and forms tight clumps on contact with urine. 

But, in general, paper pellets belong to the non-clumping litter group and absorb moisture without clumping. 

#5 Flushable Litter

You shouldn’t ever try to flush sodium bentonite clay brands down the toilet because they’ll clog your pipes.

But all-natural litters are flushable and compostable, so you’ve got several disposal options. 

#6 Natural Scent-Free

Paper doesn’t have a natural smell, unlike other non-clumping varieties, such as wheat-based litter, corn cat litter, or walnut litter.

So it doesn’t trigger allergies. 

#7 Lightweight Formula

Paper is very light, so you’ll have fewer problems moving the litter bag and pouring the larger pellets into the toilet box.

#8 Good Absorbency

Paper is an absorbent litter, soaking up cat urine on contact and preventing it from sticking to the bottom of the box. 

#9 Doesn’t Track Much

One of the best pros of paper litter pellets is that the larger granule size reduces tracking around the house. And due to its size, it’s less likely to stick to your pet’s fur. 

Cons Of Paper Cat Litter

While paper is a great natural cat litter, it has several cons, which pet owners should consider before switching to it. 

#1 Inferior Odor Control

Unlike traditional litter or silica gel crystals, paper isn’t so good at controlling the ammonia smell.  

When comparing paper cat litter vs. pine pellets, pellets are great at litter box odors, thanks to their natural pine scent.

So, they’re worth considering if you’re looking for a natural alternative to clay. Or, you can add a little bit of baking soda to your paper pellet cat litter to reduce the nasty smell. 

#2 Not the Cheapest Option

Clay-based types of cat litter are relatively cheap, but paper pellet litters are a bit more expensive.

And the price gets higher because you may need to change your cat’s toilet box more often with paper.  

#3 Not for Automatic Litter Boxes

Most automatic toilet boxes need clumping cat litters that form hard litter clumps on contact with liquid.

Paper doesn’t create such solid clumps, so it’s not a good choice. 

#4 Hard to Find

You can find regular clay litters at every pet store or supermarket.

However, paper brands are harder to find, which can be a problem. 

#5 Cats Don’t Like It

Unfortunately, not all cats like natural pellet litter, especially if the granules are large. 

FAQs

Conclusion

As you can see, paper cat litter has numerous benefits for your kitty’s health and is an excellent eco-friendly option. 

Moreover, paper cat litter has minimal dust production, so it’s an excellent choice for allergy-prone cats, even if it tracks a bit more than clay-based brands.

What do you think about paper cat litter? Have you ever used paper pellets? Share what your cat thinks of them in the comment section. 

Resources:

• Cancer.gov

Last update on 2024-04-10 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API