How do you mask the smell of urine in your cat’s litter box? Do you use traditional litters with artificial fragrance that can cause harm to your cats? Or you make use of an all natural scents litter like Pine?
We’ve explained pine cat litter pros and cons, and the reasons why you should stop using traditional cat litters in this blog post.
Keep reading!
What is Pine Cat Litter?
Pine cat Litter is a non-artificial product manufactured from wood pulp. The litter is produced in pellets and that’s the form you get when it’s purchased.
However, cat litter is also made from several materials like clay, silica, wood, paper etc. But Pine cat litter is one of the most common and healthy litter. Litters are basically categorized into clumping and non-clumping litters.
- Clumping litters: Litters that clump together when cats urinate on them. They tend to get stuck on your cat’s body and fly around the house.
- Non-clumping litters: they are litters that don’t clump together. Besides, they’re mostly in pellet form, so they turn into sawdust when cats urinate in them.
Pine cat litter is a good example of non-clumping litter and you’ll see its pros and cons below.
Pros of Pine Cat litter
- Lightweight
- Pine cat litter is very lightweight. You don’t have to stress when buying it at the store or when pouring it into your cat’s litter box. In fact you can flush it down the toilet since the pellets can degrade easily.
- Natural scent
- Pine cat litter has a natural scent that masks the smell of your cat’s urine or poo. The pellets absorb the liquid and limit the odor around the room. This isn’t the same for traditional litter – as they contain artificial fragrance that might be toxic to cats.
- Cost
- When pine is compared to the traditional litter, it’s a bit expensive. However, pine cat litter is an essential that should fit in your cat’s supplies budget. It’s the best for your cat and has more pros than the traditional cat litter.
- Durability
- Pine cat litter lasts longer than the other cat litters. You can use seven pounds for more than a month with the right management skill. It’s the best eco-friendly litter for your cat.
- Dust-free
- Pine litter is dust-free and you won’t have to worry about your cats contracting dust related respiratory issues.
- Biodegradable
- Pine litter is an eco-friendly product that’s degradable. It can help to reduce landfill waste since it’s reusable. Besides, it’s eco-friendly in the sense that it was made from wood byproducts, thus, preaching against wastage.
- Bacteria reduction
- Pine litter even contains antimicrobial properties that reduce harmful bacteria. It consists of a compound called Shikimic acid which can suppress the multiplication of bacteria, keep the litter box healthy and reduce infections.
- Absorbent
- Due to the absorbent nature of pine litters, it creates less mess compared to the traditional litter. When the pellets become wet, they degrade into sawdust which eliminates the pungent four in the box
- Reuse
- Since Pine litters degrade into sawdust, you’ll find the pellets on top of the degraded litter. Then, you can sift the sawdust and reuse the pine pellet.
- Cheap plant based litter
- Of all the plant-based cat litter, pine litter is the cheapest.
Cons of Pine Cat litter
- Pine Cat litter is more expensive than the traditional cat litter although it’s worth the price.
- You and your cat might not like the natural scent of the pine litter.
- There’s a possibility that your cat will reject pine litter, if you’re switching it with traditional cat litter.
- Pine cat litter can be a bit difficult to find in the stores.
- You’ll need a new litter box for pine cat litter. Since it’s in pellet form and it turns to sawdust when wet, you’ll need a box that can sift the remaining pellets from the sawdust.
- Pine pellets may contain phenol which can be harmful to cats.
- Pine pellets can be a huge discomfort to cats with sensitive paws.
Reasons why you shouldn’t use Traditional Cat Litter
1. Clumping
Cat litter clumps together when your cat urinates in the litter box. Then the clumps cling everywhere- on your cat’s tail, its fur, the box etc. Thus, making the litter box and your cat messy.
2. Artificial Fragrance
Most cat litter has artificial fragrance as part of their components. However, your cat might be allergic to some of these scents that can make it sneeze or dry out its skin.
3. Weight
Clay litter, for example, is heavier to lift when compared to Pine cat litter. Thus, you might experience extra stress when buying the clay litter.
4. Toxic
It’s quite easy for cats to ingest litter that clumps to their paws, and body. Meanwhile, clumping litters contain sodium bentonite which can cause intestinal blockage in cats.
5. Dusty
Traditional cat litters can be dusty. They can affect you and your cats. Besides, dusty cat litter can cause respiratory issues like coughing and sneezing.
The 3 Best Pellet Litters
ARM & HAMMER Feline Pine Platinum with Baking Soda Non-Clumping Cat Litter

One of the most popular cat litters is ARM & HAMMER Feline Pine Platinum with Baking Soda Non-Clumping Cat Litter. It is a clumping litter that comes in a variety of sizes and has a fresh pine scent.
The litter is made from natural ingredients and does not have any artificial perfumes or chemicals, making it perfect for sensitive cats with asthma.
The company claims that their litter is 99% dust free and offers up to 7 days odor control.
It also has an antimicrobial agent to help keep bacteria from forming on the surface of the litter box, which can cause bad smells.
Pros | Cons |
✔️ Litter is unscented | ❌ Doesn’t clump that great |
✔️ No harsh chemicals or synthetic perfumes | |
✔️ 100% natural pine |
Casual Home Natural Pine Pellet Unscented Non-Clumping Cat Litter

There are many different types of litter that can be used for cats. Some litters are designed specifically for cats and some litters are designed to be safe for both cats and humans. There are also litters that have been designed to provide a natural experience for the cat owner.
This cat litter is made from natural pine pellets, which are biodegradable and non-clumping. This product is completely safe for your pet and will not cause any health problems.
This is a product that can be used by all types of cats because it is unscented, non-clumping, and biodegradable. It can also be used as a litter box liner if you want to reduce the amount of time it takes to clean your cat’s litter box.
Pros | Cons |
✔️ Low dust | ❌ Don’t clump the best |
✔️ Odor control | ❌ More pricey than other litters |
✔️ Flushable |
Dr. Pol Pine Pellet Cat Litter

This product has been designed to be dust-free, which ensures that it doesn’t cause respiratory problems in humans or cats.
Dr. Pol is a pine pellet litter that is made of 100% natural pine, making it safe and eco-friendly.
It also has an antibacterial agent that doesn’t allow bacteria to grow on the pellets. Dr. Pol is dust free and hypoallergenic, making it ideal for cats with allergies or asthma.
Pros | Cons |
✔️ Contain no chemicals or additives | ❌ Doesn’t clump the best compared to other litters |
✔️ Odorless | |
✔️ 100% natural pine |
Bottom line
Pine cat litter is one of the healthiest litter for your feline pets. It’s durable, non-toxic and affordable. So, if you still doubt the authenticity or the pros of Pine litters, don’t be afraid to read this post. We’ve highlighted some pine cat litter pros and cons and other information you should know about cat litter.