What Is Kitty Litter Made Of?

Before 1950, kitty litter mostly consisted of sand, dirt or ashes. The first modern kitty litter was created when a neighbor of entrepreneur Edward Lowe asked him for sand for her litter box. Mr. Lowe, whose business created absorbents, convinced his friend to use clay rather than sand. He gave her granulated clay known as Fuller's earth, a general term for a wide range of absorbent clays. Lowe saw that he had a viable product and he created the name "Kitty Litter" for his product.

  1. Bentonite

    • In the early 1980's, biochemist Thomas Nelson discovered that bentonite clay clumped in the presence of moisture, allowing cat owners to scoop out the waste material, leaving behind clean litter to be reused. Today, 60 percent of all kitty litter is made from bentonite clay. In particular, sodium bentonite is used, due to the larger hydration sphere in the sodium ion. Since the clay traps the urine and its ammonium, smell is reduced.

    Silica Gel

    • Silica gel is a material that can absorb up to 40 times its weight in moisture. Silica is derived from silica dioxide which is then mixed with oxygen and water in a patented formula. Since the silica dioxide, or sand, is so lightweight, silica gel is often made overseas. Given its ability to absorb so much liquid, it's often enough to change the litter once per month in a single-cat home. However, solid fecal waste must be disposed of quite frequently.

    Wheat Enzymes

    • Some kitty litter is now made using wheat enzymes to control litter-box odor. The wheat starches trap moisture and clump much in the same way as clay, yet remain 100 percent safe for cats to digest, if they happen to lick their paws after doing their business. This variety of kitty litter is also biodegradable. In fact, wheat-based kitty litter can even be flushed down the toilet for extra convenience.

    DIY Kitty Litter

    • For the cat owner who is looking for a project, kitty litter can be made from old, shredded newspaper. Soak the paper in warm water with a few squirts of liquid soap, strain the excess water in a colander and repeat the soak without the soap. Coat the wet, pulpy paper with baking soda and knead until the baking soda is integrated. Let the mix dry for a few days then place a few inches in your cat's litter box, cleaning the box weekly.