By Jennifer Copley (Last Updated April 11, 2010)
Consumer reviews indicate that eco-friendly paper-based pellet litters have a number of advantages, though there are also a few problems associated with them.
The Benefits of Paper-Based Cat Litters
Positive attributes of cat litter made from post-consumer paper include the following:
- The litter is developed from natural, renewable, recycled resources, so it is more environmentally friendly and safe for cats than clay litter.
- The material is highly absorbent.
- Tracking is minimal compared to other litter materials.
- There is usually no dust.
- Most brands are inexpensive and long-lasting.
- Paper litters usually control odours quite well if they are stirred daily.
Problems Associated with Paper-Based cat Litters
Problems that some cat owners have found with paper-based kitty litter include the following:
- The litter doesn’t clump, making it difficult to keep the box clean without changing the entire batch of litter.
- Some cats refuse to use it because they dislike the texture.
- Some paper litter products don’t control ammonia odour well without regular maintenance (scooping, stirring).
The Best Newspaper Cat Litters
Overall, cat owners intensely love or hate paper pellet litters regardless of brand. Ratings for such products tend to be either 5 out of 5 stars or 1 star only on various consumer review sites.
Forty-nine reviewers gave the leading brand, Yesterday’s News Cat Litter, an average rating of 3.8 on PETCO.com, with reviews polarized at either end of the spectrum. The product received a slightly higher average of 4 out of 5 at PetSmart.com, and even higher (4.4) at PetPlanet.co.uk.
Exquisicat Recycled Paper Fragrance-Free Cat Litter also generated mixed reviews on the PetSmart website, with an average of 3. The product did better on Zootoo.com, where it averaged 4.1, with the majority of reviewers noting that it provides excellent odour control.
Good Mews Cat Litter received an average rating of 3 at Epinions.com, where many reviewers praised the product’s enviro-friendliness and lack of tracking, but a few complained about odour. However, because there have been few reviews of this product thus far, it is difficult to draw conclusions about it.
Fresh News Post Consumer Paper Pellet Cat Litter has also not been reviewed as extensively as other paper litter products, though it did generate one highly enthusiastic 5-star review on Amazon.com, in which the reviewer noted that the slightly larger pellets reduce tracking.
There were only a handful of reviews on the PETCO website for PETCO Paper Pellet Cat Litter for Cats, generating an average of 4 stars. The litter was praised for being less expensive than comparable products, though one reviewer complained that the product did not control ammonia odours well.
For more cat product reviews, including reviews of other cat litter types, visit the main Cat Products page. For a full list of cat articles, see the main Cats page.
