A Comparative Analysis of Plant-based Cat Litter Versus Traditional Mineral (Clay) Cat Litter, Focusing on Material Properties, Environmental Sustainability, and Animal–human Health Implications

Qinghua Siluo

doi:10.71097/IJSAT.v17.i1.10225

A Comparative Analysis of Plant-based Cat Litter Versus Traditional Mineral (Clay) Cat Litter, Focusing on Material Properties, Environmental Sustainability, and Animal–human Health Implications

Author(s)	Qinghua Siluo
Country	Australia
Abstract	This paper will compare and contrast plant-based cat litter and traditional mineral (clay) cat litter which will be based on material properties, environmental sustainability, and animal-human health considerations. The evidence on the common plant-derived litters (e.g., hemp, corn, wheat, coconut husks) and sodium bentonite clay are synthesized in the review and assessed in terms of absorption, odor cleanup, clumping, and dust formation. It has been found that the plant-based litters are based on the fibrous and porous architecture and a high content of cellulose to absorb moisture effectively, generally resulting in few dusts and providing good indoor-air performance in cats and owner with respiratory sensitivities. Conversely, clay based litters have been shown to perform well in clumping with the use of bentonite swelling but are often connected with increased dust generation as well as non-biodegradable wastes. Environmentally, plant-based solutions are demonstrated to be more beneficial due to their renewable nature, compostable nature, and reduced effects on the life cycle, especially through strip mining avoidance and reducing landfill persistence. The upstream effects of clay litter are the disruption of the habitat, excessive consumption of water, and emissions associated with the extraction and processing of litter, and end-of-life disposal contributes to the overall build-up of landfills in the long term. In general, these research results demonstrate that plant-based litter is a more sustainable and health-conscious option, but performance trade-offs are present, which can affect the adoption by consumers.
Keywords	Liter and Cat litter Plant-based; Clay (bentonite) litter; Absorbency and clumping; Environmental sustainability; Life-cycle analysis; Animal-human health.
Published In	Volume 17, Issue 1, January-March 2026
Published On	2026-01-26
DOI	https://doi.org/10.71097/IJSAT.v17.i1.10225
Short DOI	https://doi.org/hbmh28

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A Comparative Analysis of Plant-based Cat Litter Versus Traditional Mineral (Clay) Cat Litter, Focusing on Material Properties, Environmental Sustainability, and Animal–human Health Implications

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