Back in February, I reported on cat litter made from tofu, a unique and absorbent material that seems to be indisputably superior — especially with the surprising health benefits for you and your cat. While it’s a little more expensive than traditional clay formulas, vets and reviewers swear it’s worth it at full price. Even better? Today, the very well-rated Fukumaru tofu litter is on sale for 25% off, dropping it from $27 to $20 for two bags (so, $10 a pop).
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Dr. Jennifer Taketani, veterinarian and medical director at Corona Del Mar Animal Hospital, a Thrive Pet Healthcare partner, explained all the benefits of tofu litter and they’re actually pretty convenient.
For starters, it isn’t actually made of tofu but what’s left over from its manufacturing — and it’s all-natural, non-toxic, biodegradable and even flushable.
The Fukumaru litter, in particular, is made from a standard blend of corn starch and pea fiber, two pet-safe materials that Taketani said absorb liquid and bind with natural starches to form a solid clump around urine or feces, which can then be easily removed, leaving cleaner litter and a reduced chance of conditions like urinary tract infections for your cat.
″[The] clumping ability seems similar to that of clay litter,” she said, adding that “Tofu litter claims to be better at odor neutralization than traditional litter, as it traps odors without strong artificial scents.”
Reviewers who have tried the Fukumaru formula, which comes in either a white tea or neutral fresh scent, say just how impressive its odor-diffusing abilities are.
“I decided to hold on scooping after switching just to see how the odor control was. By the third day, I still didn’t smell ANYTHING,” one Amazon customer wrote.
Another key benefit? Per Taketani, the tofu cat litter can improve the air quality for cats and their humans — a huge win, especially if either of you has allergies.
Taketani notes that it’s due to the “ultra-low dust, improving indoor air quality and respiratory health for cats and their people.”
Several reviewers noted that Fukumaru’s dust-free formula has indeed made breathing improvements for them and their cats. “Leaning over the litter box to do the daily clean up is much better than the usual stuff I use,” pet parent, Barney’s mom, wrote. “I don’t feel like I’m breathing in toxic fumes and dust so that’s a definite win.”
“I’ve been using it for about 6 months now and not only does my cat love it and has stopped sneezing but it has also stopped any allergies I, myself, was having with regular cat litter,” Adriano P also vouched.
Taketani attributes the reduced dust production to the shape of tofu litter, which typically resembles pellets rather than granules.
This also means no dusty paw prints tracked around the house.
“The big improvement, though, is the tracking. We barely get any outside of directly in front of the litter box. And no more stepping on errant crystals with my bare foot,” another Fukumaru fan said, who had previously been using crystal formula litter.
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Note: Not all tofu litters are compatible with automatic litter boxes however, this litter’s 2mm pellet size and clumping properties make it suitable for many automatic systems.
Discount aside, the Fukumaru tofu litter has a price that several pet owners say is well worth it. See what I mean in the promising reviews below before jumping on this deal while you can.
“Best litter!! Great litter. Clumps really well and makes litter box cleaning so much easier. Odor is virtually nonexistent. There is some tracking but minimal compared to other litters and we’ve tried them all; corn, walnut, clay, silica, etc. This is by far the best of any we tried. Highly recommend!” — RH
“I work in veterinary medicine. One day, a client said to me ‘I like tofu-based litter. It’s more expensive but smells better.’ I’d never heard of such a thing and decided to give it a try.
Y’all. I’m not even kidding, this is such a game changer. I have 2 cats, 2 litter boxes, and no central air, so if I don’t scoop every day it WILL smell like cat pee in my apartment. I decided to hold on scooping after switching just to see how the odor control was. By the third day I still didn’t smell ANYTHING.
I also ordered the tea scented variety just to see how strong the smell was, as every scented cat litter I have smelled is WAY stronger than most cats and migraine sufferers (like me) should be subjected to. The smell is very subtle and pleasant. I’m glad I finally have a litter for odor control that I can confidently recommend to clients.
The only thing that’s a bit different is that this litter doesn’t sift through the scoop as easily because of it’s shape; you have to shake the scoop around a lot more to get it to sift through (unless you want to go through litter VERY fast). I’m going to see if there are special scoops that work better for this purpose.
For me, this is absolutely worth the extra cost. I can finally hang out in the room where my litter boxes live again!” — Legumes“If you’ve never tried tofu litter before… this is your sign!
After switching, I honestly can’t imagine ever going back to clay litter.
The biggest thing I love is how incredibly low-dust it is. There’s barely any dust compared to traditional litter, which is better for both you and your kitty. It also tracks WAY less around the house, so I’m not constantly finding litter everywhere.
I know some people flush it (which is nice that you have the option), but we personally just keep a small trash can next to the litter box and toss it that way.
Yes, it is more expensive than regular litter, but in my opinion it’s absolutely worth paying more for. Less dust, less tracking, and an overall cleaner experience. I’ll gladly spend a little extra for something that’s better for both me and my cat.
Loyal customer here!” — Jamie
The experts consulted for this story do not necessarily endorse the products ahead unless otherwise noted.
Also, if you want to compare tofu litter options (and pricing), take a look at the three under-$20 options below from previous HuffPost coverage.
Four Paws cat litter, made from starch and pea powder (30% off)
Made with pea powder and edible starch, the Four Paws litter promises to be low tracking, lightwieght and it won’t stick to fur. The green tea fragrance contains tea polyphenols, catechins and other antibacterial and deodorizing ingredients, according to the brand, although it comes in several different scents. It’s safe for flushing but not compatible with automatic litter boxes. It’s 30% off right now.
A soybean litter infused with charcoal
Tuft & Paw’s litter, made from soybean byproduct, is designed for fast clumping and breaks down in water, so it’s 100% flushable. The low-dust and low-tracking formula is also infused with charcoal to offer even more odor control. Find it in unscented and a natural lavender scent.
A deodorizing tofu litter
In addition to low dust and strong and instant clumping, with a high hardness that won’t leave a gloopy mess at the bottom of your litter box, the Vetreska tofu cat litter features added 5% deodorizing beads to even more effectively neutralize odors. Made from corn starch and pea dregs, this litter comes in several scents, like this one featuring natural cherry blossom extract.
The Real Deal: We use deal trackers and commerce experience to sift through “fake” hike-and-drop deals and other deceptive sales tactics. Products will usually be rated at least 4 stars with a minimum 15% discount. (And when there’s an exception, we’ll tell you why.)
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