I’ve read and heard various opinions on the types of litter to use for cats but is clay…

One of the frustrating aspects of veterinary medicine and pet ownership is all the opinions that fly around out there regarding every subject from litter to vaccines to toys. There have been many "reports" of animals having problems after ingesting litter but in the veterinary community, there is very little confirmation of actual cases of this. I, myself, have never seen a cat present with an obstruction or GI problem due to litter ingestion. Of course, with this said, anything eaten can have the potential to cause stomach upset and litter is not meant to be a dietary supplement. It is more likely to be an issue in kittens, due to their small size and in dogs who tend to ingest litter along with the yummy tootsie rolls in the box. Some cats may exhibit pica, or eating/licking strange objects, when they are ill so it is always worth noting. When starting any new litter, watch your cat to make sure she or he is not ingesting the litter. In general though, I myself use clumping litter and have no concerns in recommending it to my clients and patients.