http://www.care2.com/greenliving/the-dangers-of-clumping-cat-litter.html
The Dangers of Clumping Cat Litter
Adapted from Why is Cancer Killing Our Pets? by Deborah Straw (Inner Traditions, 2000).
Clumping cat litters hold great appeal for cat-lovers because they are so convenient. But what many pet-owners don’t realize is that two ingredients in most clumping cat litters have been implicated in diseases and even the deaths of many animals and humans.
Sodium bentonite is often added as a clumping agent to traditional cat litters to create the “scoopable” clay litters on the market. Sodium bentonite acts like an expandable cement, which is why these litters should not be flushed: they swell to 15 to 18 times their dry size and can be used as grouting, sealing, and plugging materials.
Cats often lick themselves after using the litter box, ingesting pieces of the litter. If litter gets inside them, it expands just as it does in the plumbing.
Also, the dust from such litters can coat our cats’ lungs, leading to respiratory problems. The Hennepin Center for Poison Control in Minnesota has reported instances of poisoning in humans from chronic ingestion of sodium bentonite, so just imagine what effect it can have on our kitties!
Quartz silica (sand), the other ingredient in most clumping litters, is a known carcinogen for both humans and household pets when inhaled.
Switch your cat litter to one made from a plant-based material, better for your pet and for the environment. There are many commercially-available products using compacted pine shavings, cedar, newspaper, or corn cobs that make healthier alternatives.
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add your comment »Thank you, thank you, thank you for this article. Buzz tried to tell us there was something wrong with the litter, even resorted to peeing on a carpet. Being a Maine cat the litter was sticking to his long fuzzy hair and he did not like cleaning himself. After seeing this article I introduced the pine pellet litter, which he transitioned to very quickly. Love this litter no dust and a clean/sweet smelling kitty, even his coat is looking better. Buzz now makes a point to show us every evening he is taking a bath. I feel so back that it took me so long to figure out the problem.
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To Ginny,etc.
Sorry to hear your cat is vomiting so much. It could easily be the fault of clumping clay litter that has accumulated in your cat's system & can't be passed. In addition it could also be an unrelated problem.
I suggest you bring your cat to a HOLISTIC Vet for an exam & advice, then if needed, a scan, MRI or ultrasound or Xrays,biopsy (whatever a recommended internist suggests if there is a blockage. Surgery may or may not be needed.
Do you have pet medical insurance? A reputable one is VPI (Veterinary Pet Insurance) out of California. They have different plans;a referred one is their top coverage with their
additional double cancer endorsement.There is often a waiting time for pre-existing conditions. I hope there is a HOLISTIC Vet in your area. Also, it is very important to give your cat quality wet and dry food. Dry food alone does not contain enough moisture. Forget the lower priced brands that contain artificial coloring, preservatives, additives,fillers, etc. Instead stick with Innova, Evo, Harmony,Eagle Pack holistic,etc.
Cat's like Eukanuba SENSITIVE STOMACH too. Petsmart and Petco sell this.
Go to a pet health store to get Innova,Evo, etc.
Sometimes standard Vets will give Hills AD wet food to calm a cat's stomach.
Start using natural litters ASAP. The following 3 can be bought at PetSmart..'Nature's Miracle',
Swheat Scoop, and Feline Pine Scoopable. All 3 are flushable & do not contain silica dust or sodium bentonite. Stay away fr
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Stop using clay cat litter altogether. You can use Feline Pine or one of the other all natural litters. There are some made out of corn. Also, take your cat to another vet. I don't know what you're feeding your cat, but switch to an all natural, holistic brand of food. Personally, I recommend Eagle Pack Holistic Cat Food. My cat loves it & he's 18 & healthy.
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I just read these articles and found out about the clumping cat litter. My cat has been sick for months and always vomits every day. we took her to the vets and they said she was healthy.
now I think i know what the problem is.
so i switched to the regular litter but she is still vomiting. what can I do? Is it too late?
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Sodium Bentonite is included in clay litter. It
causes blockages in cat's organs because it expands & does not flush out of a cat's system.
This happens because they inhale it and also eat it when it sticks to their fur and they groom themselves. Just as clay litter cannot be flushed down the toilet, it cannot flush out of a cat's body. Also, silica dust is a carcinigen for humans AND cats! Gary who had commented (and for some reason is promoting sodium bentonite & silica) suggests wearing a mask!
Unfortunately, cat's cannot do that!!!
There are many eco friendly and scoopable/flushable cat litters out there such as Swheatscoop, Feline Pine flushable, World's Best Litter,and Nature's Miracle..(some made from Wheat, Pine or corn),WITHOUT colors, chemicals, preservatives, etc. which also cause allergies in cats, teary eyes and nose, etc.
Holistic Vets and many traditional vets are
suggesting the all natural cat litters for obvious reasons, and especially for kittens with
such tiny organ.
Google the dangers of clay clumping litter, and
you will be educated and informed.
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Sodium bentonite is one of the safest materials on the planet. Surprising, considering how much stuff around us is not. People have been ingesting Bentonite for years without any adverse affects. I use it for grouting water wells which produce potable water. There is more danger from aerosol or airborne cat feces and urine than from Bentonite. In fact, there are so many trace minerals in Bentonite that some people take it regularly in the form of mud packs, or spend large amounts of money for "special Bentonite" that they mix with water and drink as a health tonic. Bentonite is found all over the world as fine clay deposit, but was named so for Ft. Benton, WY, where the largest deposits in the world are found. Before that it was called Montmoriallite clay, for Montmorillon, France, where other deposits may be found.
I would guess that the additives in kitty litter, or the waste itself are far more dangerous than the pure clay. If one is worried about silica dust, I would say to wear a mask. One should anyway when handling cat litter.
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Because I have asthma, I had to stop using clay cat litter many years ago. I wish I had never used them. More of my cats might still be alive if I had never used clay cat litter. I still have one cat & he is 18 years old, active & very demanding, especially at meal times & when he wants me to go to bed or wake up.
I use the regular Feline Pine & he likes it just fine. Using Feline Pine has also eliminated the urine smell from the house. When I change the cat box, I dump the used litter in the yard. After a few weeks, I put it around my plants as mulch. It's a win - win situation. My cat is happy & healthy, my house doesn't smell like cat pee & I don't have to buy mulch for my plants.
A side note about mulch. I don't know where everybody lives, but our landfill takes the yard waste, grinds it up & turns it into mulch. Anybody who wants some can just go & get it from the landfill. It's another environmentally friendly way to take care of our outdoor plants & flowers. Check out your landfill if you can.
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Is it safe to use white rice for cat litter??
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Does anyone know if the recycled paper litters are processed with deadly chemicals? I'm using Good Mews which tracks much less than Swheat Scoop, produces very little dust, and doesn't set off my allergies like the clay dust and crystal litters do. I have tried Feline Pine and it worked well, but even though it's natural, the pine oils in it can be irritating to a sensitive respiratory tract.
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