Plant-based cat litter and mineral-based cat litter are currently the two major types of primary cat litter in the domestic pet marketwith plant-based cat litter gradually being accepted by most cat-owning households due to its water absorption and clumping properties not being inferior to mineral-based cat litter and its sustainableenvironmentally-friendly characteristics
As time progressesthe selection of materials for cat litter also changesand on the basis of tofu cat litterfactories & brands discovered another plant-based material for cat littercassava.
Cassava, with its high starch content, is known asthe King of Starch.
Cassava originates from Brazilbut unlike other cropsthe cassava plant is toxic in its entiretywith the fruit and root being the most toxic partsHowever, despite being toxiccassava is considered the world's sixth staple cropfeeding over 600 million people worldwideIn Chinacassava is widely planted in GuangdongHainanFujianYunnanHunanJiangxi and other provincesbut it has a high starch content. reaching around 70%-80%earning it the titlethe King of Starchand its starch is an important raw material for many pharmaceutical and food industriesas well as a key material for developing biomass sources. Abroaddata shows that 65% of the world's total cassava production is used for human consumptionmaking it a primary food source for low-income households in tropical wetlandsMost of the cassava in Africa is used as a staple cropwhile in Latin America, 40% of cassava is used as daily foodand in Asia, countries like Indiaand Indonesia consume cassava as a major stapleprimarily in its fresh form.
Currentlyindustrial products made from cassava number over 2000such as the “pearlsin bubble teamade from cassava starchas well as processed cassava products like cassava puddingcassava juicecassava coconut cakescassava friescassava dishescassava dumplingsand cassava chips, are all primarily made from cassava or cassava starch.
Smooth particle surfacesknown assand on the beach cat litter
At the 2023 Asia Pet ShowJinan-based iPet brands VameterZiqiand Maoya introduced cassava cat litterwhich at the time didn’t gain much market attentionHoweverover timebeginning this yearcassava cat litter quickly gained popularitybecoming a new favorite in the pet supplies marketwith more brands announcing the launch of their cassava cat litter seriesThis trend owes to the unique advantages of cassavaCassava has a high starch contentparticularly a high ratio of amylopectin compared to other plant-based starchesthis characteristic allows cassava cat litter to quickly form a tight network structure upon water absorptionresulting in tight clumpingand less sticking to the bottomSome consumers have even said that cassava cat litter can be molded into “cakeswith water using molds
To further enhance the deodorizing effect of cassava cat littermany cat litter brands add various high-efficiency deodorizing ingredients to their basic formulassuch as plant enzymesbaking soda, and SAP polymer materialsthese additions not only effectively enhance the odor absorption capacity of cassava cat litterbut also extend its lifespanIn additionthe smooth and delicate surface of cassava cat littercan provide cats with a beach-like foot feelgreatly improving their usage experienceThis soft texture not only makes cats feel comfortable and at easebut also encourages them to engage more willingly in daily excretion and digging behaviorsreducing the chances of cats refusing to use the litter boxAdditionallythe gentle texture of cassava cat litter does not irritate cat’s pawsmaking it suitable for cats of all ages and sizesproviding a more cat-physiology compliant option for pet owners when choosing cat litterMore importantlyas a natural plant-based materialcassava is environmentally friendly and biodegradable
As global environmental awareness continues to risethe green attributes of cassava cat litter have become one of its key selling pointsCompared to tofu cat littersome cassava cat litter brands have stated that cassava cat litter should not be flushed directly down the toiletas it may cause blockageshoweverothers claim that cassava cat litter can also be flushedrecommending small amounts be flushed multiple timesthe question of whether cassava cat litter can be flushed down the toilet still requires further consideration
The rise of cassava cat litter highlights the continuous innovation in the pet industry material marketAs pet owners increasingly focus on healthy and environmentally-friendly productsthe pet industry is actively exploring higher qualitysafer materialsand the use of cassava as a cat litter material demonstrates the enormous potential of the pet industry in terms of innovation and green development
With the future application of more new materials and technologies, pet products will further emphasize sustainable development, meeting the diversified needs of pets and their owners, and propelling the industry towards a new phase of high-quality development.
