Purina’s Yesterdays News Cat Litter is made from compressed pellets of recycled newspaper. It is considered environmentally-friendly since its biodegradable.
It also absorbs well, and is often recommended by vets for use by post-surgical cats, since it doesn't cling to paws or fur like clay or other clumping litters.
What are the advantages of pellet litter versus traditional clay granules?
For one thing, since they’re pellets they don't get tracked around the house. Worst-case, a few dry pieces will get flung out of the litter box, but they are easy to see and clean up.
Since it’s not a granule, it’s a good choice if you have hardwood in your house; it won’t be prone to getting scratched due to tracking like traditional clay litter.
It's also a great option for very young kittens who are just learning how to be litter box trained.
It doesn't get stuck in their paws, so it won't be licked off and ingested. (Clay litter can be hazardous when consumed.)
One of the most popular reasons why people choose Yesterdays News cat litter, is it’s dust and fragrance free (many cats can't stand the perfume of clumping varieties, and dust can exacerbate upper-respiratory issues.)
It’s also very absorbent: absorbs 3 times more moisture than clay, however it doesn’t clump.
So what are some pitfalls of this litter?
For one thing, it may not control odor as well as clumping litters unless you clean it frequently or you purchase the newer scented variety.
Yesterdays News pellets are also dark in color, and it can be difficult to find the bits of feces if the litter box is in a poorly-lit room.
The pellets also cannot be used with automatic litter boxes.
Many reviewers recommend against using the Tidy Cats Pellets that come with the Breeze litter box, as Yesterdays News works much better.
As mentioned too, it won't stick together like a clumping litter. Since the soiled pellets are on the bottom, lifting the "clean" pellets with it can seem like a waste.
However, this nuisance can be remedied by using a sifting litter box like the Tidy Cats Breeze Litter Box.
This litter box helps separate the used pellets from the "clean" ones, since it's made for larger pellets and is easy to scoop.
Plus, it has an odor-absorbing pad under the sifter to catch the urine. This pad gets tossed every few days (depending on the amount of use) so the solid waste is only part you need to scoop out daily.
Pros
Environmentally-Friendly
Non-Tracking
Dust-Free
Non-Toxic/Non-Ingestible
Won't scratch wood floors
Affordable
Unscented*
Cons
Won't clump like clay
Must be scooped daily or more to control odor
Can be difficult to scoop from a non-sifting litter box
*Purina has released a scented variety of Yesterday’s News, which could be worth a try if odor-control is more of a priority to you than keeping your litter perfume-free.
1) Keep it shallow, (around 2 or 3 inches) or it will be harder to scoop up the mess since it absorbs urine from the bottom, and less will be wasted during cleaning.
2) Using a wide-slotted scooper designed specifically for pellet litter can help the dry pieces fall back into the box when cleaning.
3) A "softer texture" variety is now available for more sensitive paws, as some cats find the traditional pellets to be too firm.
You may be able to switch your litter over completely, and your easy-going feline will think nothing of the sudden switch.
Some cats need a little time to adjust to a new litter however, so you may want to err on the side of caution and introduce Yesterday’s News gradually to save money on the litter and reduce the possibility of your cat doing “his business” outside the litter box.
If your cat has a scheduled surgery, transitioning him or her ahead of time is a really good idea. Recovering from a surgery is stressful enough for cats, so a familiar litter will only help (plus reduce the risk of mishaps!)
The following is a sample transition schedule, according to Purina’s Yesterday’s News website:
First week: mix 1/3 Yesterdays news with 2/3 current litter
Second week: mix 1/2 yesterdays news with 1/2 current litter
Third week: 100% yesterday's news.
Make sure to add clean litter each week, and disinfect the litter box at least once per month.
If you don't like dust, a gravelly mess, and you don't mind cleaning the litter box(es) frequently, then it's worth a try.
You can phase in Yesterday's News as described above in multiple litter boxes, or you can just change one box over to it completely to see if your cat/cats will use it.
Just be sure they have the other box or boxes with the stuff they're used to during the trial period.
If they still try the Yesterday's News and like it, and you like it to, then you have a winner!
If it's not right for you, then the worst case is that you sacrificed the $9 to $11 you spent on the bag--definitely affordable compared to other litters.
Of course if you have a lot left over, you can see if your local humane society or animal shelter will accept it as a donation.
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