Caring for a cat has its obvious costs like food, grooming, and vet bills. You most likely use a litter box if your furry friend is an inside cat. Do you purchase the cheapest litter brand you can? Do you pick up whatever cat litter is on sale at the supermarket? The cost of the litter for your cat is much more than the actual litter you put in the box.
Most people don't know how much they actually spend on cat litter and associated items per month. Items like litter liners and garbage bags, among other things, need to be considered when calculating litter cost. This all adds up. I’ll break it down to show you the real cost of having a cat litter box.
Felines like to hide their personal business by covering it up. This is a natural instinct that comes from the wild when it was necessary to hide their tracks in order to stay safe from predators. Our indoor cats have kept this behavior and that is why we provide a safe place for them to do their business in.
Cat litter comes in a variety of options and your cat may or may not be finicky about which you provide. Here is a list of the most common cat litters used by cat owners.
What you spend on your cat's litter box per month is more than the bag of clay. There are several extra items that you need to purchase to keep the litter box and your home clean. Traditional clay litters don't last very long and they need to be replaced often because of its limited ability to absorb liquid and to suppress odor. You will probably also need some sort of perfume or substance as an odor mask. Because they’re not flushable or compostable you will need to purchase litter liners or garbage bags to dispose of it.
With traditional cat litter, you may have to splurge on an expensive hooded cat litter box to keep the odors from wafting throughout your home (though this is not in the best interest of your cat). Mats, scoopers, and a dedicated garbage pail and vacuum are also items to be considered and can bump up the monthly total of your cat litter expenses. These are usually not purchased every month but do need to be replaced from time to time.
But you need to think of more than just the monetary price of litter box care. If you’re concerned about your cat’s long term health or about reducing your carbon footprint, it may be time to switch your cat litter. As you’re probably well aware, traditional clay and crystal litters are detrimental to the planet in addition to being a health hazard for both you and your cat! You can read all about it here: The Environmental Impact of Cat Litter: How Eco-Friendly is Your Cat’s Litter?
Natural cat litters are emerging onto the market and providing an excellent option for cat owners who want to save in the long term, who are concerned for their cat's health, and also the environmental impact of owning a cat. Maybe you’ve pondered switching your kitty litter to a natural brand but thought that it was too expensive or complicated. You may be surprised when you calculate all the monthly costs involved with the traditional cat litters in addition to the non-monetary costs. Luckily, I’ve done it for you! It’s time to break down the financial and hidden costs involved when purchasing kitty litter.
As you can see by my calculations, the actual costs of maintaining a cat litter are much more than the simple (and heavy) bag of litter you drag home from the supermarket. When you add it up, the total cost of the extras needed to keep the cat litter box (and your home) clean and the environmental destruction of traditional litters far outweighs the costs of a more premium, all-natural cat litter like TofuKitty. The outdated thought that natural cat litter costs a lot more than traditional cat litter has been debunked!