Cat litter products differ, which is essential since it allows cat parents to choose the best litter for their cats. However, the cat litters are made with different ingredients whereby are not safe as they may intoxicate the cats. On the other hand, some cat litters like corn are recommendable as they are made with natural ingredients.
But is corn litter safe for cats? If you are wondering whether to get corn litter or not, this is the article to read. We will provide exclusive details about;
- The pros and cons of corn litter.
- Other natural litter alternatives may work in the place of corn.
- How to determine between corn litter and different natural litters.
Table of Contents
What’s the Danger of Corn Litter?
Causes the development of aflatoxin fungus.
Although there are plenty of benefits of using corn litter, it also has one huge downfall that may even cost your cat’s health. To break it down, corn litters are made from corn, a plant classified as maize. Aflatoxin is a deadly fungus that grows in the maize family once they come to contact with wetness and stays wet for a long time.
Therefore, if your cat pees on the corn litter too many times before you change, the chances of this fungus growing are relatively high. So, when the litter gets stuck to the cats’ paws, the cat may ingest the aflatoxin stuck on the paws mainly when grooming.
Aflatoxin is not safe for human beings, too when they inhale it. So, if the corn litter gets stuck to the cat’s paws and tracks in the house you and your cat are in great danger.
What’s the Good of Corn Litter?
Easy to dispose
Unlike other types of litters that are hard to dispose of and may cause harm to the land, the corn litters are pretty much the opposite. The corn litters take little time to decompose and are flushable in the toilet. Once you change the cat litter box, pour the used debris in the toilet and flush it to drain it away.
Has natural smell
This must be one of the top factors that make many pet owners consider this litter product. Unlike other types that emit strong smells, the corn litters only produce natural odors since they are unscented. This is the right choice for cats allergic to strong scents, and the litter is comfortable to use indoors as well.
Less dusty
If you have respiratory issues or your cat is allergic to dust, corn litter is one of the best choices. It has very minimal dust resulting in low tracking and less dust blow in the surroundings.
Controls odor
The corn litter absorbs the highest percentage of odor coming from the litter box. This is because corn has micropores that trap ammonia; hence, reducing the ammonia smells from spreading all over the house.
So is Corn Litter Worth Recommending for Cats?
From our list of pros and cons of using corn litter, I would advise you to get it for your cat.
Although the corn litter does not entirely control tracking and may be harmful when kept for too long, it is perfect for cats allergic to dust and strong scents. It is a natural litter that cannot cause any harm even when the cat ingests it. Also, disposing of the corn litter after use is easy since it is biodegradable.
Other Natural Cat Litter Alternative to Corn Litter
Wheat
Wheat litters are biodegradable, and if you do not have a composite system, you can flush the litter off the toilet when disposing of it. Wheat is made with large granules that do not quickly get stuck on the cat paws. So, it has no tracking effect when the cat comes to contact with it.
Wheat litter has a natural scent and does not have dust. It is also recommendable for cat parents who want to change litter products since cats easily adjust to wheat than other natural brands.
Pine
Pine is one of the most expensive natural cat litters, but it is worth it. This litter clumps like clay only that it clumps from bottom to top. So, the top part is soft and comfortable to the cat’s paws when they step on it. Pine litter is easy to dispose of to land as it can decompose. It is also durable if used by the cat that does not use the litter box too often.
Walnut
This litter product is extracted from crushed shells of walnut fruits and is highly recommendable due to clumping. The litter helps to control odor in the house, and the high absorbency power ensures the litter box stays dry for the comfort of your cat. Another crucial point worth noting is that walnut litters are biodegradable.
Paper
Paper litter works the same as clay litter only that it has better absorption power compared to clay. The paper litter absorbs the cat urine from the base way up. It is also safe for kitties that ingest clay as it is made of natural recycled papers.
But, paper litters are quite expensive in the market. However, note that the paper litter tends to get wet very quickly, and thus, you may need to keep on changing it often.
Corn Litter Vs. Wheat Litter
Although these litters are almost the same, they do differ in how they affect the cat. The wheat litters have large granules with high absorbency to trap all urine from the cat. Also, wheat litter is more comfortable to the cat paws compared to corn.
Corn may produce aflatoxin, which is deadly to humans and cats when tracked in the house. But overall, these two types of litters are excellent when used as per the manufacturer’s advice.
Conclusion
So, corn litter is safe for your cat if used accordingly. This litter is safe for the environment and humans since it is biodegradable and does not emit strong scents. It has minimal tracking in the house and does not have high contents of dust.
But, if your cat is taking too long to adjust to this natural litter, consider the other discussed types from natural wastes.
