Tofu cat litter is one of the newest types of cat litter and is quickly gaining popularity among cat parents for its minimal tracking, low dust, and eco-friendly nature. But is it the best choice for you and your cat? In this article, we'll give you all the information you need to make an educated choice.
Here at tuft + paw, we are cat experts. We've spent countless hours determining which litter features are most important to cats and cat parents alike. The information in this article is based on consultation with a cat behaviorist, veterinarian, online research, and our own experience as cat parents who have created a tofu cat litter.
Tip: Our list of best tofu cat litters can give you a good sense of which tofu litter brands are standing out from the rest.
Pros & Cons of Tofu Cat Litter
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What Is Tofu Cat Litter?
Tofu litter is made from the fiber left over from processing soybeans for soy milk and tofu. The pulp is usually separated from the milk and then thrown out, but tofu litter repurposes this food-grade material to create a non-toxic, 100% natural alternative to conventional clay litters. The pulp is dried and compressed into cylindrical pellets that are lightweight, non-tracking, and virtually dust-free. The highest quality tofu cat litters are unscented and incorporate some kind of deodorizer (e.g. baking soda, charcoal), but some brands add scents and colors to their litter.
The Benefits of Tofu Litter
Let’s go over some of the biggest benefits of tofu cat litter to help illustrate why it's becoming a popular option for cat families.
1. Tofu Litter Is Dust-Free and SUPER Low Tracking
Because tofu pellets are larger than most litter kernels, it doesn't stick to cats' paws and fur as much. As such, it's extremely low-tracking, meaning you won’t find pieces of it spread throughout your entire home. It's also one of the least dusty litter types on the market, especially compared to clay.
2. Tofu Litter Is Safe for Cats and Humans
Tofu cat litter doesn’t contain any harmful toxins or synthetic materials (assuming you’re buying unscented, uncolored tofu cat litter, which we recommend). Clay cat litters contains crystalline silica dust, which is a known carcinogen when inhaled and can cause respiratory issues in both cats and humans. This is NOT the case with tofu cat litter.
Another concern with clay litter is that it can cause GI blockages if ingested. Tofu litter does not pose this problem. It's made from food-grade ingredients which are safe to ingest (although we don't recommend eating it). On the off chance your cat ingests tofu litter, the pellets will dissolve in their tummy and be easily passed through the digestive system.
3. Tofu Litter Is Super Easy to Clean
Tofu cat litter can be flushed down the toilet for easy disposal. It fully disintegrates in water so you don't need to keep a nasty garbage bag to store the waste. Cleaning the litter box is no one's favorite chore, but with tofu cat litter the process becomes much easier. If the convenience of flushability is a big deal for you, our list of the best flushable cat litters might be worth a read.
Important Note: Flushing cat litter is illegal in California. Always check your local regulations before flushing cat litter. Only flush cat litter if your cat lives indoors and eats commercial food to avoid the risk of spreading toxoplasmosis.
4. Tofu Litter Is Eco-Friendly
More cat parents are realizing the harmful effects that clay cat litter is having on the planet and looking for alternatives. Clay cat litter is harvested by strip mining, which destroys habitat and pollutes the water, air, and soil. After use, clay litter ends up in the landfill where it swells when exposed to water. This means clay litter can take up even more space in landfills, which is concerning if you think about how many cat owners are dumping their cat litter into the trash.
Tofu cat litter is made from the leftover pulp of soybean processing, which would end up as food waste if it wasn't repurposed. Soybeans themselves are a renewable crop, and a plant-based material which is completely biodegradable.
For a direct comparison between two eco-friendly litters, check out tofu litter vs wood pellet litter.
Drawbacks of Tofu Cat Litter
While tofu litter has many benefits, there are certain considerations that cat parents should know about before deciding if it's the best litter for their needs.
Price
Tofu cat litter is generally more expensive than clay cat litter, and is comparable to other premium litter types like crystal. The improved performance in tracking, dust, and cleaning is worth the price for many cat parents.
Natural Spoilage
Tofu cat litter is made from natural organic ingredients, so it is susceptible to mold if stored in damp conditions. The solution is simple: Store your tofu cat litter in a cool, dry, well-ventilated space. While tofu cat litter does have the potential to go moldy, if you store it correctly, this shouldn’t be an issue.
Flushing Concerns
There is concern about flushing cat litter for a couple reasons.
1) The risk of spreading toxoplasmosis gondii, a parasite which can infect cats and contaminate their feces. According to the CDC, indoor cats that do not hunt prey, and are not fed raw meat are extrememly unlikely to be infected with toxoplasmosis. Flushing cat waste is regulated on a municipal level, so check your local laws before flushing cat litter.
2) Plumbing issues. If done incorrectly, flushing cat litter can clog pipes and cause serious plumbing problems. In general, we would recommend avoiding flushing cat litter in homes with very old plumbing, as these systems may be more vulnerable to clogging. As long as your home has good plumbing, you only flush small amounts of tofu litter at a time, and you wait for clumps to completely dissolve before flushing, you should be a-ok.
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What to Look For In a Tofu Cat Litter
While tofu litter has many great benefits, not all brands are created equal. Here's what to look for when buying a tofu litter to ensure you get the best quality product possible:
- No added scents or colors
- Added deodorizers for odor control
- Good reviews
How To Transition Your Cat to Tofu Litter
When you've decided it's time to transition to tofu litter, follow these steps:
Step 1: Keep everything else the same
While transitioning, it’s important to keep everything else about the litter box the same. Don’t change the box, don’t change the location of the box, and don't do it if you've recently added another cat to the home. Everything else about the litter box and routine should remain the exact same in order to have the most success with the transition.
Step 2: Go slow
Slowly transition by gradually incorporating the new litter. For example, at first you can simply go for an 80/20 ratio, and over time, increase until your cat is exclusively using the new litter.
As cat people know, cats are smart, so they will likely notice the change. Be sure that the top layer of litter is composed of their old litter. This should help make the change less stressful.
Step 3: Positive associations
Save some of your cat’s feces from their old litter and add it to their new litter. Your cat will then associate it with their old litter. By bringing in feces from their old litter into the new one, you’ll signal to your cat that this is where they should do their business.
Step 4: Reward
Not every cat is going to respond to rewards, but if you have a cat who is food motivated, this may be a good option. When you see them successfully using the new litter, reward them with a couple of treats.
Where can I find tofu cat litter?
If you’re now on board with tofu cat litter and want to try transitioning your cat to this environmentally-friendly, safe, mess-free option, we have a recommendation.
Because we believe so much in this product, we launched our own Really Great Cat Litter and we think it's the best tofu cat litter available. We went with natural, unscented, and uncolored because we think that's overall a better option for both people and cats.
Below are the essential notes, but if you want to know everything about our Really Great Cat Litter, you can read our blog post.
Really Great Cat Litter is:
- Made from 5 compostable, clean ingredients
- Flushable for easy clean-up (dissolves 100% in water)
- Dust-free and *extremely* low tracking for a clean home
- Highly absorbent for an odorless litter
- Safe and non-toxic (for both you and your cat)
- Great for the environment
- Convenient: delivers to your door every month
- Our cat behaviorist will help during the transition
- Money back guarantee
We hope this guide helped you understand the benefits of tofu cat litter! Check out our guide on transitioning your cat to a new litter if you need help, or watch the video below to learn more about flushable cat litter!
