Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

If you are a dedicated ailurophile searching for a cat litter that leaves a small carbon footprint, is free of anti-microbials, clumps well, masks odors, is virtually dustless, will not sicken you or your cats, and is gentle on paws, then Okocat Cat litter may appeal to you. First of all, I swore off clay and silicate type litters years ago due to the carcinogens from sodium bentonite...so if you use and love your clay litter this review is not for you. If you are using a plant based litter such as corn or wheat and you are concerned about the dangers of aflatoxins but feel you've run out of eco-friendly choices, keep reading. So what type litter remains? We're left with wood, paper, and crushed nut shells, with formulas and textures ranging from fine sawdust to pelletized in both clumping and non-clumping formulas. The paper is usually non-clumping only and best recommended for kittens, immuno-compromised cats, and cats with allergies. The crushed nut shells, although a very good option, is difficult to keep clean because the litter is dark brown and it's very dusty. I first heard about OKOcat through a cat fancy website proclaiming the clumping wood and odor control superior to other wood litters on the market. My experience with the `other' wood litters was abysmal so although skeptical, I felt it was worth a try. As soon as my order arrived, I filled a clean box with 2 inches of Swheat Scoop and topped it off with another inch of OKOcat litter. The wood scent was very faint and I wondered how it would control odor. My cats didn't care how it performed and seemed happy to use the new litter. Pros: **Clumping ability is good. I scoop what lays on top and then I tilt the box to one side to expose the clumps. I was pleased that the clumps of urine did not fall apart as soon as I scooped. **Very little dust. I have yet to find a non-clay litter that does not produce some. But OKOcat does not cling to the walls like clay and plant based litters. **No fragrance. Just a very faint scent of wood and NOT like a hamster cage as one reviewer claimed. **Texture and Ease of scooping. OKOcat is similar to wood pellets but tumbled, so it feels softer than the pellets you find in other wood litters. This is a big consideration for declawed cats because their paws are so sensitive. As for scooping, my scooper is a commercial stainless steel blunt nosed slotted spoon. It's ideal for clay and plant based litters but not so great with Okocat due to the litter size. It's not a deal breaker for me because I only pick up what's spent and do not like to shake contaminated litter back into the box. (see Cons for tracking issue). **Odor Control. Superior to Swheat Scoop and World's Best. It doesn't leave a strange barn scent, in fact the only time I notice any odor is when my my IBD cat does his job. In his case I would rather know than not know if he used the box, due to his illness. Cons: **Price. I spent approximately $1.12 per pound for an 18lb box. This can be costly if you have multiple cats and boxes. One 18lb box lasted 3 weeks for one litter box shared by 6 cats. Don't worry, I have 2 other boxes but this one gets the most use. **Not trackless. I keep a stick vacuum nearby for quick cleanup even though the box is in a bathroom. So if you have limited space and keep your litterbox near a common area, you may want to keep a vacuum handy or stick to a litter with less visible tracking. **OKOcat is a UK product and is not readily available yet. Amazon is carrying it but sometimes they have a long backorder. So if you decide you like it be sure to plan ahead and keep extra on hand. **Flushable. It's a bad idea to use this as a selling point. Cat litter should never be flushed because their feces contains a parasite that remains in our water supply and sickens aquatic animals. It causes blindness in sea otters and sea lions too. This is a bad idea no matter how convenient. After five weeks of use, I can honestly say I am pleased with the performance of OKOcat cat litter, well enough to continue using it.