Can clumping cat litter pose a danger?

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By Dr. John Koch

Question: The other day someone told me that clumping kitty litter could be dangerous if ingested by a cat. Is this true?

Answer: Eating to much of anything could cause a problem. However, if eating small amounts of clumping cat litter is a potential for danger, I am not aware of it. You are not supposed to flush clumping litter down toilets because it can stop up plumbing. Because of this some people have worried that, if ingested, it could also stop up an intestine. The difference between plumbing and a cat's intestine is that a pipe can not expand to pass an object. Within reason, an intestine can expand. Intestines also contract in a rhythmic fashion to push food and other contents along the way.

Several of the clumping litter companies caution not to use their product with very small kittens. Kittens should be at least six to seven weeks of age before using clumping litter, although the chances of problems in younger felines is still rather small. The only problem I have encountered was in a very small kitten that had a clump of dried litter stuck to the outside of its anus. The owner thought it was a tumor, and brought it in to be put to sleep. Removal of the "tumorous" kitty litter clump with a little warm water did wonders for the kitten's disposition, and the owner was elated to have a happy ending.

Cats that are not feeling well will sometimes eat cat litter in much the same fashion a dog eats grass when it is not feeling well. Owners witnessing this behavior often mistakenly think that eating the litter is what made the cat sick.

The industry sells approximately $500 million per year in litter. Clumping litter now makes up close to 48 percent of that market. With that amount of litter being sold it is difficult to imagine a problem without someone being aware of it. If you are using clumping litter, relax, you should be on pretty safe ground.

Dr. Koch is a Cape Girardeau area veterinarian.