Cat Litter: It's a Dirty Business

Oh, how our pets fill up our lives — and if we're talking about cats, they fill up our lives almost as much as they fill up their litter boxes.

It's not the most charming of tasks — dangerous nearly, if you're pregnant (toxoplasmosis is an infection found in the deposits that kitty leaves behind in the litter box that pregnant women are especially susceptible to), but it must be done to keep your house and your kitty healthy and happy.

Luckily, the New York Times felt up to the task of testing the myriad kitty litters on the market and evaluated each for "how well it controlled odor, first and foremost, and for how well it clumped, how easy it was to scoop and how much the cats tracked it through their homes," surgical mask in place.

In fact, did you know that the traditional clay-based litter, while absorbent, is an eco misfire because most are not biodegradeable and can contain elements that have come from strip mining.

Five brands were put to the test:

• Swheat Scoop (wheat-based)

• Yesterday's News (ha! from recycled newspapers)

• Katgo (made from wood)

• Feline Pine (made from pine)

• World's Best Cat Litter (made from corn)

Feline Pine beat out the other four for its superior odor control, which, when you think about cat boxes, is up there on the list of things you need.

Sure, cost is a factor, but if you're looking for a healthier alternative to your daily scoop ... at least someone's already done the dirty work for you.

[Via NYT]

Photo: Sneakerdog@flickr