Here’s what you need to know before trying pine cat litter…
For some cats pine cat litter can be a great option - it’s natural. It’s a good sustainable earth-friendly material to use.
It comes in 2 versions - a non-clumping option where the pellets absorb the urine as well as a clumping version, so there is some versatility when choosing which to use in your litter box.
However, there are concerns for some cats when using a pine litter.
Here are a couple of things to watch out for if you are considering switching to a pine litter:
The pellets are large - big pieces of litter may not suit cats with sensitive paws. These big pieces of litter may be very uncomfortable for your cat to walk on and so they may reject using their litter box. This is especially true if you have previously been using a soft clay or crystal litter - it can be quite a change.
The pine smell can be quite pungent and some cats will just dislike the strong odor coming from their litter and refuse to use it. Remember cats are very scent driven creatures and their cute noses are super sensitive to smells. In extreme cases, some cats can develop respiratory reactions to the strong smelling litter. This can present as coughing, sneezing, or watery eyes. If you notice any of these after switching your litter to pine, you will want to reconsider and try something else.
So if you want to make the switch and try pine litter for your kitty, go ahead, just be super vigilant to watch for signs of reaction and be okay with the fact that they may not take to using this particular type of litter due to the big size of the particles.
If you want a list of all my top recommendations for cat-safe litter, check out this blog.
