Disclaimer: This post is sponsored by Pioneer Pet. We received a jug of Smart-Cat® lightweight, clay-coated litter free of charge in exchange for our honest review. The opinions expressed are entirely our own and not influenced by Pioneer Pet or any of its representatives.
In April, Kitties Blue reviewed SmartCat® plant-based litter from Pioneer Pet. I thought it was the Best Cat Litter Ever and titled the post just that. You can read that review here. Unfortunately Kitties Blue did not agree with me. Only Astrid and Calista Jo used it.
While at the BlogPaws conference I spent quite a bit of time talking to the Pioneer Pet representative about the SmartCat® litter. She shared with me at the time that a new litter was in production and promised to send it to us to try when it became available.
This new SmartCat® product also is a lightweight (50 percent lighter than regular clay litters), clumping litter. It has an all-natural grain core with a clay coating. Unlike the original SmartCat®, all Kitties Blue went right too it without hesitation. I attribute this to the clay coating. As we normally use a clay litter, it felt familiar to them when they stepped in the box and covered their deposits.
Pioneer Pet claims that this new litter has multi-cat odor control. As with the original plant-based litter, the clay-coated litter is supposed to absorb liquid so quickly (forming a hard clump) that odor does not have the chance to be released into the air.
Though this new litter does clump, it did not make the “rock-hard” clumps like the original, and thus the odor is not controlled as well. This is mostly evident when scooping the box. By just walking into the small room where this box is located, I am not assaulted by the over-whelming ammonia smell so many other litters emit.
Though I may get some odor when scooping this litter, I am not engulfed in and gagging from clouds of dust. Pioneer Pet claims this litter is 99 percent dust free and that is not an exaggeration. After several days of use, there is a light layering of dust on the items in the room, which I would expect.
It’s light weight does make it easy to scoop. And the kitties do not track this out of the box as they do with some other brands, which makes me very happy.
The litter comes in a jug weighing 10 pounds. It took an entire jug to fill a litter box measuring 13 X 16 X 7 inches to about a depth of three inches.
If I had my choice, Kitties Blue would be using the original SmartCat® plant-based litter without the clay coating. As a good cat guardian, however, I have to give them what they like and will use. And they are very happy with the SmartCat® lightweight clay-coated litter.
A jug of this litter will sell for $12.99 when available.
You gotta watch out with the light litters. They may stick in the cat’s furs and get licked up. That said, we’re having a hard time with litter these days. The Precious Cat litter makes my pee stick to the side of the box like glue. It breaks into little pieces when scooped.
We wonder if we would like that kind of litter? Meowmy would, we know, MOL?
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That sounds like a good litter.
The new litter sounds like the way to go. This clay feeling would be more up Shoko’s alley. However, she refuses to use anything but MAXX cat litter non clumping.
Kali
We didn’t like the plant based litter either. But we’re supposed to get a sample of this new litter to try.
We’re in the middle of a trial run of the Smart Cat regular litter. So far we’re actually using it which is a shock to our mommy since we’re usually picky! We didn’t know they made a lightweight one so we liked your review!
We used to use clay litter all the time but several months ago mom switched us to a natural litter. She spent a few days switching us over just to be sure but we are not very picky about our litter — on that it is clean! This litter sounds like a good compromise for those kitties who are super picky and only like clay.
First time we are hearing of this brand. We are not picky with litter here as well.
Thanks for the info…we hadn’t heard of this brand.
Have a super duper week…
Noodle and crew
Sounds like good litter. Like Summer, we aren’t picky litter users and will use whatever is in the box, so we are sure we would use this litter too! Thanks for a great review, furiends. Don’t forget to stop by our blog to enter our giveaway for a Raindrop fountain – only a few more days to enter!!
Sampy sends Astrid a kiss for every grain of litter in the world, and we all send lots of love!
We had not heard of that one and it doesn’t sound too bad. A few of my sisters (nameless at this time) are a bit litter picky.
Thank you for the review. We are not too fussy about our litter. We even use the newsprint pellets but mom is always looking for litter that controls oder.
Purrs to all and of course kisses to my sweetie Ms Lisbeth,
Scout Charles
I’m a bit picky about my litter – go figure – but Mom says she’s just happy at my age to have me still get IN the box to go potty no matter WHAT! Thanks for the info on this brand and type though. It’s always good to know what’s out there!
Hugs, Sammy
I wish I could use a litter like that, it is so much better for the environment, but I have one cat (guess which one) that will poop outside the box if everything is not to his liking.
Glad yous found a litter everypawdy can agwee on. Mommy sez she be so fankful dat she stawrted us on natural litter. Weez not like clay. Have a gweat day.
Luv ya’
Dezi and Lexi
We are not that picky about litter here, so we get whatever my human thinks is the most eco-friendly and the easiest to clean.