How to Save Money with Homemade Cat Litter
Owning a cat can be costly especially when you spend a lot on cat litter. However, you can save money and reduce your environmental impact by using homemade cat litter. There are a number of ways to save on cat litter costs so you can spend more money on cat toys and treats.
Cat litter is basically an indoor feces and urine collector for indoor cats. In order to be effective, cat litter must be absorbent.
This is because cats naturally want to bury their excrement, so it’s important to use cat litter so that they can sweep around with their paws.
However, some pet owners want to stop purchasing cat litter as a result of allergies. Other cat owners have environmental concerns.
While commercial cat litter products can be very effective, sometimes it’s just a matter of finding a super-fast solution for a stray cat you just brought into your home.
5 Ways to Save Money with Homemade Cat Litter
Commonly, any absorbent material that the cats can dig in can be used as kitty litter.
However, their human counterparts generally favor material that is also odor-neutralizing and easy to clean up.
From our list, pick the one that is the most convenient for you and the most comfortable for your pet.
1. Use Shred Newspaper
One of the easiest materials to use in the cat’s litter box is plain newspaper. After all, it is what the vet suggests after declawing.
Newspaper is plentiful, it is cheap, and your cat may even be willing to use it. On the other hand, she may not. If that’s the case, you may need to find a way to attract her to it.
One of the negative aspects of the newspaper is that you will need a lot of it. You can ask neighbors to save newspapers for you, and you may also want to check with the local newspaper.
They may be willing to give you the outdated papers. You can also shred your junk mail.
2. Try Chicken Feed
This article on making homemade cat litter suggests using a combination of chicken feed, baking soda, and cedar shavings.
While this may be very absorbent, it would also potentially attract mice, rats, and bugs. If you decide to try this idea, you will need to monitor the kitty litter very closely to ensure that it isn’t causing a problem.
3. Use Sand
It’s no secret that cats seem to be attracted to children’s sandboxes. You can create the same attractive setting inside by using sand in the kitty litter box.
Sand clumps very well when it is wet and does not hold cat urine odors. For added odor protection, add about one cup of baking soda to the sand and mix it well.
The downside of using sand as kitty litter is that it is easily tracked all over the house in your cat’s paws. A litter box mat can help cut down on the tracking.
4. Homemade Cat Litter Made from Dish Soap and Baking Soda
According to TreeHugger.com, you can make commercial-style cat litter out of newspaper, water, dish soap, and baking soda.
The process takes about an hour. You shred the paper and add the water and dish soap. You drain it, rinse and add baking soda, and then crumble and dry.
The consistency that results is more like conventional kitty litter than any of the other options.
5. Use Wood Chips or Pine Animal Bedding
Wood chips and pine animal bedding can be used for cat litter. You can mix it with baking soda for a deodorizing effect.
The animal bedding is usually quite absorbent, but wood chips may be cheaper if you can make them yourself!
Are there Alternative Ways to Save Money on Cat Litters?
Consider these options as alternative ways to save money if you don’t want to go with homemade cat litter.
1. Take Advantage of Auto-Ship Programs
Many online retailers offer auto-ship programs that make it easy to save on all sorts of pet care products.
They deliver discounts on items purchased through auto-ship programs, which can often add up to a nice bit of change over time.
Most auto-ship plans let you determine how often you get deliveries, and you’ll never have to worry about running out of cat litter again.
Scheduled deliveries can also make it more leisurely to limit and control how much you spend on litter.
2. Use Social Media to Find Deals and Sales
Engaging with pet store retailers online is a wonderful way to find out about deals you can use to save on essentials such as litter.
Like or follow pet stores on Facebook or Instagram to make sure you never miss an opportunity to save.
Many pet companies have coupons and discount codes through their social media accounts.
Meanwhile, some even hold contests and competitions that allow you to score store credits that can be applied to purchases.
3. Sign Up for Mailing Lists
Signing up for retailer mailing lists is usually an incredibly simple way to get fast discounts on litter purchases.
Many stores present set percentages of first orders, which can add up with large purchases.
Retailer emails are usually packed full of useful information about new products and upcoming sales, and they’re great ways to find out about seasonal deals and offers.
4. Comparison Shop
Shopping around and checking prices at various retailers can sometimes deliver significant savings.
Stores sometimes charge distinct prices for the same products, often making it worthwhile to take a look at litter prices at a few different places.
Online retailers and e-commerce sites sometimes market products for less than brick-and-mortar stores.
Therefore, you can save even more by taking advantage of coupon codes and auto-ship program discounts.
5. Use Less Litter
There are a few simple things you can do to minimize the amount of litter your cat goes through, such as ensuring your buddy’s restroom stays clean.
By scooping out the poop super regularly, there will be no accumulation of smell.
A sprinkle of baking soda or other odor-absorbing litter additive can assist in keeping smells at bay.
Some pet parents find automatic litter boxes useful when it comes to odor control, although some cats object to the noise produced by self-cleaning options.
6. Buy in Bulk
Many retailers supply discounts when you spend more than the minimum, and buying a few boxes of litter can save money.
It’s also possible to score free shipping on large purchases, which can be substantial given how weighty cat litter tends to be.
Bulk buying can also make life a bit easier to handle, as it can reduce the number of trips you need to make to the store, eliminating the temptation to spend money.
What is the Cost of Cat Litter?
The table below presents a clear breakdown of the prices of Clay litter to ease your decision-making process.
Meanwhile, Non-clumping clay products are the cheapest types available and are usually pretty easy to find.
Clumping clay litter is next in line, and crystal products are a bit more pricey than clumping clay choices.
Bio-degradable and sustainable litter, such as pine and tofu products, are the most costly since they often require more frequent changing than other types.
Many are only obtainable online or through brick-and-mortar pet stores.
| Product | Price Range |
| Non-clumping clay litter | $0.47/lb–$3.75/lb |
| Clumping clay litter | $0.97/lb–$1.32/lb |
| Crystal litter | $3.18/lb–$3.38/lb |
| Sustainable litter | $1.21/lb–$1.41/lb |
What to Consider When Choosing a Cat Litter Substitute
Always consider the following factors when choosing a cat litter substitute to ensure you aren’t making an irrational decision.
1. Cost of Cat Litter Substitutes
For many pet owners, reduced prices lead to a list of pros. Depending on the substitute you choose, you might notice a significant drop in cat litter fees, especially if you own more than one cat.
2. Convenience and Ease Of Use
Depending on where you live, how accessible materials are, and how big your storage area is, you might find it more convenient to utilize a do-it-yourself cat litter alternative.
You can make kitty litter in bulk and keep it handy for future use rather than make frequent trips to the store.
3. Health Concerns for You and Your Cat
Many commercial cat litter stores treat their formulas with chemicals. Some of these chemicals can cause health problems for your pet.
Gastrointestinal tract issues can occur if your cat ingests sodium bentonite clay, an ingredient used in many clumping cat litter.
Some cats develop respiratory problems from the silica dust in many kitty litters. Even humans may experience an allergic reaction to the dust.
And then, there’s the issue of your own health.
4. Environmental Considerations
You may be unaware of the environmental impacts caused because of some cat litter on the market. Sodium bentonite clay obtained via an environmentally harmful strip-mining process can lead to
contaminated water supplies and destroyed agricultural land and forests. It’s important to choose a sustainable cat litter, whether purchased or handmade.
Furthermore, on how to save money with homemade cat litter, some cat litter is safer to dispose of than others. Some cat litters require disposal via landfill while other kitty litters are compostable.
In summary, whichever cat litter or cat litter substitute you choose, be sure to make the change slowly. A sudden change in routine or environment is upsetting for most cats.
Do your pet a favor and consider their preferences before making any changes to their litter box.
Besides, for some cats, it’s more than just about a bathroom but a sense of security as well.