Sodium bentonite clay is a popular choice for clumping cat litter because of its exceptional clumping properties. Cat litter has been used for decades in radiochemistry labs and nuclear facilities to stabilize certain radwastes, like liquid scintillation solutions, evaporator bottoms, and other materials that have nitrate salts in solution. Dr. Elsy’s sums this up with much confidence (under ‘Precious Cat Litter’, Question: “Are clumping litters safe for my cat?”): The now defunct Cat Fancy magazine carried an article by A. D. Shojaim, How Cat Litter is Made in its October 1994 issue. The following is an extract: Is clay cat litter bad? – Clay cat litter has been known to be harmful to a cat’s respiratory system if it contains a large amount of silica dust. With modern technology and scientific evidence, pet brands are moving away from producing cat litter that will potentially harm a cat via dusty residue.

We also offer grades for non-clumping cat litter, derived from moler and zeolite. Organic cat litterCat’s Pride (a flushable litter that claims not to clump as hard as sodium bentonite litter) echoes Dr. Elsy’s in support of bentonite clay:

In the next section, we’ll discuss some of the negatives associated with clay cat litter. The Negatives Of Clay in Cat Litter As you navigate the world of clay in cat litter, it’s essential to know which types of clay are safe for your feline friend. Here’s a closer look at some common clay types used in cat litter: Sodium bentonite clay in cat litterYou may prefer a litter that is environmentally friendly or made from natural materials. Price and Availability Choices of scent: If you want an unscented cat litter, you can find one made from clay. If you want a tropical, pine or floral scented litter, you can find one made from clay. No matter what type of scent you prefer, there’s a clay litter waiting for you! Clay cat litter is the most popular litter choice for cat owners, probably in part because it is also one of the most well-established and easy to come by. Yes, kittens can use clay cat litter, but it’s essential to monitor them closely to ensure they don’t accidentally ingest the litter.