Why the litter tray deserves a rethink

If you have a cat, you probably buy litter more often than almost anything else. It is worth knowing what is in the bag. Most traditional litter is made from clay — usually sodium bentonite — which is strip-mined, takes a great deal of water and energy to process, and never breaks down. Silica crystal litters are mined and processed, too. Both are heavy, so transporting them adds emissions, and both end up in the bin.

Add a plastic tray, a plastic liner and a plastic bag of waste, and one small cat can rack up a surprisingly large footprint over a year. The good news is that plant-based litters and better-built trays have improved enormously. The trick is to change things in a way your cat will accept.

Biodegradable litters: the main contenders

No litter is perfect, and the greenest option is the one your cat will actually use — a tray avoided means accidents elsewhere, which is worse for everyone. These are the families worth knowing.

• Wood pellets. Made from kiln-dried sawdust, a timber by-product, they are widely available and very cheap in bulk. Pellets break down into soft sawdust when wet, which sits at the bottom of the tray and keeps the top dry. Odour control is good. The texture is chunkier than most cats are used to, so switch gradually. They do not clump: scoop the solids daily, stir, and change the whole tray when the sawdust builds up.
• Recycled paper pellets. Soft underfoot, very low dust and gentle on paws and on stitches after surgery. Absorbency is decent if you scoop often. Excellent for kittens and older cats.
• Corn, wheat and grass seed. Fine-grained and sand-like, so most cats take to them quickly. They clump firmly and are light to carry home. Some cats nibble them, and eating a lot can upset the digestion, so keep the bag sealed and watch a greedy cat.
• Coconut husk and tofu-style litters. Fast-clumping, low-dust and pleasant to handle, though usually pricier. Read the ingredients, as the environmental story varies depending on what has been blended in.

Whichever you choose, buy the largest size you can store, favour minimal or refillable packaging, and treat "flushable" claims with caution — UK drains are not keen on any of it.

Matching the litter to your cat

Cats are particular, and their preferences usually come down to texture and smell.

• Texture. Fine, sandy, unscented litter comes closest to soil, which is what most cats instinctively like to dig in.
• Scent. A cat's nose is far sharper than ours. Perfumed litters can be off-putting and may cause sneezing, so choose unscented.
• Dust. Low-dust litters are kinder to cats with asthma or sensitive airways — and to you.
• Age. Kittens under about twelve weeks should not have clumping litter, as they sometimes eat it; paper or non-clumping wood is safer. Older cats with stiff joints appreciate something soft and low-dust.

If your cat has always used a particular litter, it may be more honest to keep it and change everything else — the tray, the bags, the mat and the cleaning routine.

Choosing a tray that lasts

Most commercial trays are too small, and a cramped tray is a common cause of accidents.

• Size. Aim for a tray about one and a half times the length of your cat from nose to the base of the tail. A sturdy storage box with a doorway cut into one side often works better than anything sold as a litter tray.
• Open or hooded. Most cats prefer open trays, and hoods trap ammonia and reduce airflow. If you use a covered tray, take the flap off.
• Material. Stainless steel is pricey but lasts for years and does not hold smells. Thick recycled plastic is fine if it will not crack. Bamboo and resin composites look smart — check they are properly sealed.
• Depth and access. Five to seven centimetres of litter suits most cats, deeper for a digger. Kittens and older cats need a low entry point.
• Numbers and placement. One tray per cat, plus one, in separate quiet spots away from food, water and busy routes.

Clean with hot water and unscented soap; strong disinfectants and bleach can put cats off the tray and irritate their airways.

Switching over without protest

Change one thing at a time and give it a fortnight.

• Mix the new litter with the old, increasing the new proportion every few days.
• In a multi-cat household, keep one tray on the old litter throughout.
• Stir a scoop of used litter into the new tray so it smells familiar.
• Never punish a cat for going elsewhere — it is information, not naughtiness.
• If your cat strains, cries or toilets outside the tray, speak to your vet.

Disposal and everyday habits

Used cat litter should not go into your home compost heap or the council garden waste bin. Cat faeces can carry parasites that harm people and wildlife, and garden waste schemes will not accept it. Bag it and put it in general waste, which in many parts of the UK is burned for energy recovery rather than buried.

Compostable bags made from plant starch help a little, but they rarely break down in landfill, so treat them as hygiene rather than a fix. Scoop daily, top up, and do a full change before the tray starts to smell. A washable mat and a metal scoop will cut the plastic you get through each month. Small changes, repeated, add up — and your cat mainly cares that the tray is clean, quiet and soft underfoot.