Is Pretty Litter Biodegradable? (And Bad for the Environment?)

Pretty Litter is one of the fastest-growing cat litter brands, and it is easy to see why. If you live with feline housemates, you will agree that a litter box is an indispensable part of raising cats. The type of cat litter you use determines how enjoyable or frustrating the experience will be. The pros of Pretty Litter are many, but the most important selling point is its ability to help your pet stay in top-notch shape and health. 

You see, the colors of the crystals change when there is a problem with your cat’s health. In any case, you may be unable to detect it, and the red, blue, or orange will let you know if medical assistance is needed or not. 

Is Pretty Litter biodegradable or bad for the environment? Is it safe for kittens? You’ve got questions, and we have the answers, so stay right there and keep reading! 

Read: Is Cat Litter Bad For the Environment?

Is Pretty Litter Biodegradable? 

No, Pretty Litter is not biodegradable. Although it is made from naturally occurring materials, it does not break down when exposed to the ecosystem. Microbes, heat, oxygen, and moisture will not biodegrade it because of their composition.

Pretty Litter may be a godsend to households that can afford it. It has many benefits, including monitoring your cat’s health and making it easier for you to scoop and dump when necessary. 

However, regardless of the environmental benefits of Pretty Litter, sadly, it does not biodegrade. Pretty Litter is a non-clumping solution to feline fecal matter and urine. It has ultra-fine particles that are absorbent, although non-clumping. 

The non-clumping characteristic may be good because it means the product does not contain sodium bentonite. Sodium bentonite is the substance that aids the formation of clumps for easy disposal. 

But sodium bentonite does not biodegrade and is quite bad for the environment because of how it is sourced and manufactured.

On the other hand, Pretty Litter lacks clumping features, which makes it the lesser of two evils. Unfortunately, it does not break down naturally because it is not organic matter. 

Microbes and other factors responsible for biodegradation cannot act on it and break it down because it does not supply nutrients. In other words, it is inert and unattractive for consumption. 

At best, Pretty Litter will take long years to break down, but you may trust that the process is harmless to the environment, especially when you dispose of it properly. 

In contrast, biodegradable cat litter is made from organic materials like corn, wheat, and pine. Those break down fast and naturally, even though they also need to be appropriately disposed of to avoid health hazards to living organisms in the area.

What is Pretty Litter Made of? 

Pretty Litter is made of silicone dioxide or amorphous silica dust. You may be more familiar with it as silica gel, a preservative substance that can be found almost everywhere. But contrary to public opinion, silica gel is not toxic or bad for the environment and you, even though ingesting it is another matter entirely. 

Pretty Litter comprises not just silica gel but also a couple of chemicals that help safeguard your pet’s health. However, the major component, which is different from what you will find in clumping options, is silica gel.

Silica gel may be misconstrued as bad for you and the environment, but it isn’t. it is famous for its water-absorbent qualities, which Pretty Litter has maximized in its 0.5mm to 6.0mm granules. 

Without the Pretty Litter secret manufacturing formula, the crystals are already super absorbent. They are unlike clumping products but do the job just as well because of the adsorption capacity of silica gel. 

It happens such that the surface of the granules soaks up water from the feline’s feces or urine. That way, instead of clumps of your pet’s poop, you scoop out the dried and leftover matter. 

The odor is also absorbed, and every cat owner knows what a godsend that feature is. 

Is Pretty Litter Bad for the Environment?

No, Pretty Litter is better for the environment than many alternatives in the market. Pretty soon, you will understand through the comparison we’ll take you through, but the summary is that silica gel is more accessible and sustainable than most popular cat litter products. Of course, this is in comparison with non-biodegradable options. 

Pretty Litter is not bad for the environment in terms of sustainability and environmental impacts. Let’s start with sustainability. 

Cat litter that is nonbiodegradable is often made from sodium bentonite clay. To extract this natural and non-renewable resource, a portion of the environment, the upper layer of soil, must be scraped off. 

This creates exposure that deprives some aspects of biodiversity of their natural habits. For instance, worms are essential members of the ecosystem, and we cannot continue to displace them for fear of extinction. 

If bentonite is extracted without caution, best to believe that the environment may be in danger, in the long run, considering the amount utilized yearly in the cat litter industry. And that is not all bentonite is helpful for. 

In contrast, sand, limestone, and soda ash are abundant in the environment. It is doubtful that we could ever run out of our supply. But again, biodegradable products always win; they are the best options whenever possible. 

cat-in-cat-litter-box

Is Pretty Litter Compostable? 

No, you cannot compost Pretty Litter because it is not organic waste. In addition, silica gel has an adsorbent structure, which means contact with your compost pile will likely be detrimental. A compost mix requires enough moisture, even though it should not be in excess. However, silica gel will absorb the water until it attains a capacity where it cannot swell anymore. 

By then, there is almost every certainty that your compost mix will have lost a considerable amount of water. 

When disposing of your cat litter, there can be questions and confusion about the best place to put it. But even when using a biodegradable option, best believe that proper disposal is advised because of the components of a cat’s poop. 

Apart from the odious smell of feline fecal matter, it also contains a toxic organism called toxoplasma gondii. You don’t want this parasite on your vegetable beds or garden. 

But even if cat poop does not contain this pathogen, the composition of silica gel, which is the base material for manufacturing Pretty Litter, makes it impossible for your pet’s litter to do well in a compost pile

Is Pretty Litter Safe for Kittens? 

Yes, Pretty Litter is safe for kittens. Naturally, given that clumping litter contains bentonite clay, a material that clumps when it contacts water, you would be worried about the safety of your precious feline baby’s cat litter. Bentonite clay has been known to cause digestive problems for cats and not kittens alone. 

Bentonite clay forms clumps and swells when wet. This is to enhance moisture-absorbing capabilities, which is a natural attribute of this material. When absorbing your pet’s pee and poop, that is a good thing. 

But as you know, our feline housemates are neat creatures that love cleaning up after themselves. Perhaps they are ashamed of their poop or want to spare you the odor that emanates from it, but we can say that they love to cover up their fecal waste. 

In the process, they may catch some of the clumping clay underneath their paws, and given how much they love to groom themselves, chances are they will lick the remnants off their claws. 

When it enters the digestive system, it expands as it should. This becomes a problem when there is an accumulation and may lead to an intestinal blockage. 

Therefore, the best option for your pet is Pretty Litter. It contains silica gel granules that help your pet clean up after herself properly without endangering her life. If silica crystals get into her system, nothing will happen. 

But even then, the chances of ingesting the granules are slim because Pretty Litter brings an ultra-fine quality to your doorstep. 

In addition, it lacks the characteristic dust usually found in cat litter. 

Is Pretty Litter Flushable? 

No, you should flush no cat litter except in dire situations. And even then, you should avoid flushing those that are non-biodegradable, like Pretty Litter. Pretty Litter can cause drainage problems because of the characteristics of silica gel. 

Do not flush Pretty Litter down the drain, no matter how pressing the situation is. However, the fecal matter from your cat will contain some solid forms you can scoop and flush. 

How to Dispose of Pretty Litter? 

The best way to dispose of Pretty Litter is to bag it and throw it into the trash can. It will be sorted out at the landfill by experienced workers with a suitable disposal system that is also better for the environment.

You cannot flush or compost Pretty Litter because it is not a biodegradable material. Therefore, your best bet, and the ideal choice for the environment, is scooping the waste into a plastic bag and throwing it into the garbage can. 

Conclusion 

Pretty Litter is a good choice for adult cats and kittens. It is also great for the environment compared with other non-biodegradable options. 

But the greatest selling point is its ability to tell whether your pet needs a vet’s attention through the crystals’ changing colors. 

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About Rinkesh

A true environmentalist by heart ❤️. Founded Conserve Energy Future with the sole motto of providing helpful information related to our rapidly depleting environment. Unless you strongly believe in Elon Musk‘s idea of making Mars as another habitable planet, do remember that there really is no 'Planet B' in this whole universe.