Eco-Friendly Care: Sustainable Litter and Toys for Big Cats#

A 20lb cat produces… a lot of waste.

If you use clay litter, you are likely throwing away 40-50 pounds of non-biodegradable clay into a landfill every single month. That is over 500 pounds of waste a year, just from one cat.

Maine Coon owners are uniquely positioned to benefit from eco-friendly swaps. Why? Because we go through supplies twice as fast as normal cat owners. Switching to sustainable options isn’t just better for the planet; it is often cheaper in bulk and healthier for your cat’s respiratory system.

Here is how to green-up your routine without sacrificing odor control.

The Litter Revolution: Tofu and Wood#

Clay is mined (strip mining). It is heavy to ship. It contains silica dust which is bad for asthma.

1. Wood Pellets (The Budget King)

What is it? Compressed pine sawdust. Often sold as “Equine Bedding” at tractor supply stores for $7 for 40lbs.
How it works: When wet, the pellets dissolve into sawdust. You use a sifting litter box. The sawdust falls to the bottom; the clean pellets stay on top.
Eco-Score: 100% biodegradable. You can compost the sawdust (for ornamental plants, not veggies).
Maine Coon Bonus: The pellets are heavy, so they don’t track as easily in toe tufts.

2. Tofu Litter (The Performance King)

What is it? Made from soybean fiber (a byproduct of tofu making).
How it works: It clumps harder than clay. It is flushable (in small amounts) and dissolves in water.
Eco-Score: Made from food waste.
Tracking: It comes in long “pellets” rather than sand, which stops it from getting stuck in paw fur.

Toys: Wool vs. Plastic#

Maine Coons destroy plastic toys. They chew them, crack them, and then we throw them away.

The Sustainable Switch:

Wool Felt Toys: Solid boiled wool balls are virtually indestructible. They have a natural lanolin scent that cats love. If they do get shredded, wool is biodegradable.
Sisal & Jute: Look for scratchers made of real wood and sisal rope, not cardboard and glue. You can replace the rope when it frays instead of trashing the whole post.
Matatabi Sticks: Instead of plastic wands, use natural Silvervine sticks. They are safe to chew and fully compostable.

Food: The Carbon Footprint of Meat#

Cats are obligate carnivores. We cannot feed them a vegan diet. However, we can choose how that meat is sourced.

Bulk Buying: Buying the biggest bag of dry food reduces packaging waste.
Recyclable Cans: Aluminum wet food cans are infinitely recyclable. Rinse them out!
Chicken vs. Beef: Chicken and Rabbit have a significantly lower carbon footprint than Beef. Since poultry is a more natural prey for cats anyway, stick to bird-based proteins.

A comparison of wood pellets, tofu litter, and clay litter in glass jars — Wood pellets and tofu litter aren't just eco-friendly; they track less and are dust-free—perfect for Maine Coons.

Conclusion#

You don’t have to be perfect. Just switching from clay litter to pine pellets saves literally half a ton of landfill waste over the life of your cat. It’s a small change with a giant impact—just like your cat.

Resources & Further Reading#

Scientific American. (2018). The Environmental Pawprint of Pet Food.
Treehugger. (2022). Best Eco-Friendly Cat Litter.