Homemade Clumping Litter

Kitty litter is a necessary tool for any cat owner, but it can become costly to always be purchasing bags of the stuff from your local pet store. As an alternative, consider making your own litter at home using some materials you may already have on hand. This litter recipe will clump up when a cat uses it, just like the clumping litter from stores.

  1. Prep

    • You'll need plenty of shredded paper to make the litter. Use a paper shredder to get thin strips to soak. You can make big batches of shredded paper ahead of time to soak and dry as you need it, or shred week by week for each batch of litter. Twelve newspaper pages should be enough for each batch.

    Soaking

    • Soak the paper in a tub of warm water mixed with a few squirts of gentle soap. Let it soak until it looks a bit like cooked oatmeal. Drain the paper then soak it in water without the soap, for about 30 minutes, then drain again.

    Drying

    • Lay the paper out on a baking sheet to dry. Sprinkle some baking soda over the paper to help the litter clump. Drying can take a few hours. Once dry, scoop it up and store in a plastic container or bin until you need to use it.

    Cleaning

    • Clean out the littler once a week and refill with more homemade litter. Make sure to remove clumps as they form throughout the week, though. Changing less frequently could result in an unpleasant odor in your home.