Wheat cat litter, huh?? What’s made into flour and bread, so what’s it doing in my cat’s litter box?
Skye Blake here, back at it again… this time finding out about wheat cat litter for you.
The information here is for general knowledge… always see your vet with questions about your cat’s individual needs.
Who Is Skye Blake?
Skye Blake, Cat Info Detective, is a curious cat researcher (not a veterinarian) who sniffs out expert, reliable sources about cats, studies their information, then passes it on to you!
Sometimes there’s not enough evidence for easy answers, so Skye gives you all sides, explains the situation as thoroughly and clearly as possible, and links you to experts on each page.
Sources are given at the bottom of each page so you can do more snooping.
Isn’t Wheat a Food Grain?
Yes, wheat is a type of grass grown for its seeds (discover more at “Grass Cat Litter“).
There are different types of soft and hard wheat used for different purposes.
Most are used worldwide as a staple for bread and pastry flour, brewing, cereal, and many other food products.
Wheat stalks are used as straw (after the seeds and chaff are removed) for many things, … “including fuel, livestock bedding and fodder, thatching and basket making”.1“Straw”, Wikipedia
Wheat is another biodegradable cat litter that’s beneficial because it clumps easily, controls odor, creates little dust and is low tracking.
Some veterinarians recommend it for kittens and post-surgical cats.
However, as with all clumping grain-based litters, there can be problems with cats eating it (especially young kittens).
They can get intestinal blockages and dehydration, which are life-threatening emergencies!
Can Bugs & Mold Affect Wheat Cat Litter?
Grain litters can also attract bugs and rodents, mold and bacteria if not properly stored.
This can occur anywhere in the production and distribution process, as well as in your home.
Store any grain products in metal or tough plastic airtight containers to keep mice and bugs out.
Wheat Allergies
Another thing to consider is if you or anyone in your household has wheat or grain allergies that can be triggered from breathing or handling the litter (not just eating it).
If you’re unsure, talk to your doctor.
It might be better to find a different type of litter.
Wheat Litter Brands & Reviews
Below are some wheat cat litter brands with a few reviews.
Brands and products on this page are for your information and convenience only… I make no money from them.
These are available at some pet stores, Walmart, and online suppliers like Chewy and Amazon.
Smart Cat® Clumping Corn & Wheat Cat Litter
Smart Cat® litter is a soft, lightweight mix of corn and wheat, good for single or multi-cat households.
It’s a clumping litter with no fragrances added and is non-GMO and biodegradable.
It’s not safe for septic systems, so is not flushable.
Smart Cat® is available at Chewy and only has a few reviews so far.
Check the details and reviews carefully to decide if this is what you want.
sWheat Scoop®
This is the main wheat litter currently on the market.
It’s been around for over 20 years and comes in five different versions.
sWheat Scoop® uses secondary wheat (not usable for food) and enzymes for long-lasting odor control.
It’s low-dust, low-tracking, compostable, lightweight, and soft on your cat’s paws as well as your feet.
Wheat starches clump quickly and firmly for easy scooping.
This litter contains no silica dust, sodium bentonite or chemicals of any kind.
Fast-Clumping Unscented (blue bag)
The majority of reviewers loved this litter.
They liked that it’s good for the environment, clumps well, and is easy to scoop.
Some also mentioned it lasts much longer than clay litter.
There was disagreement about dustiness and tracking.
Some found it had very little dust and didn’t track, while others had dust everywhere and tracked a lot.
Previous users said this litter is dustier than it used to be, with smaller, more sand-like bits, which they didn’t like.
Some reviewers felt odor control was good as long as the box was cleaned daily. Others said the smell was horrible even after a few hours.
A few had trouble with their cats eating it.
One person tried it in his Litter Robot® and it didn’t work… smell was awful, and the clumps had disintegrated into a mess.
Don’t use any litter in an automatic litter box unless the box says it’s for that use.
You can contact any manufacturer, as well, and ask about it.
Multi-Cat Unscented Litter (green bag)
This multi-cat version has strong long-lasting odor control and clumps quickly.
It has no additives or fragrances and is completely biodegradable, flushable and compostable.
Reviewers mostly loved this litter and were satisfied with clumping, absorption, and odor control.
Some said their cats took to it right away. Those who didn’t like it said it smelled bad and didn’t control odor.
A few mentioned it tracked too much and went everywhere.
Here are a couple videos about the multi-cat version…
Premium+ Clumping Litter (orange bag)
sWheat Scoop® Premium+ is unscented and has more powerful odor control than the original version.
It also has faster, firmer clumping for easy scooping.
The majority of reviewers had positive things to say. They loved that the premium made solid dry clumps and was easy to scoop.
They said it controlled odor well and liked that it’s flushable.
(Always test with a small amount when flushing and be sure it’s allowed in your area.)
Most people felt it controlled odor very well but a few said it didn’t.
There was no indication of how long people left it in the box before cleaning.
The negatives were that some found it was very dusty and tracked too much.
Some also thought it was too expensive for multiple cats.
A couple people had trouble with bugs, which, along with rodents, can be a problem with any grain product.
Store it in airtight metal or tough plastic containers with tight lids.
Fresh Linen Scented Clumping Litter (purple bag)
This version is basically the same as the original but has 100% natural fragrance in it.
It clumps quickly for easy scooping, is low-dust, flushable (always test first) and biodegradable.
Easy Maintenance Unscented Clumping Litter (yellow bag)
This litter is a combination of wheat and corn.
The starches in both make the clumping ability 3 times stronger than the original formula, good at controlling odors, and extra-absorbent.
Related Pages of Interest
Curious about other types of cat litter and boxes? Discover more at “Supplies for Cats“.
Having trouble with your cat peeing or pooping outside the litter box?
Find some answers to fix the problem and clean up the mess at “Behavior“.
Sources
Sources used on this website are either primary or secondary.
Primary sources are always preferable and have the most reliable information because they’re original and directly referenced.
Scientific abstracts and data are good examples of primary sources.
Secondary sources are weaker because they usually consist of opinions or articles that give no sources of their own.
However, sometimes they refer to primary sources.
When I use secondary sources, most are those with some authority, such as veterinarian or cat behaviorist books and articles.
List of Sources
“5 Best Types of Natural Cat Litter”, by Amy Livingston
“The Benefits of Natural Litter”, by Jackson Galaxy
“The Best Biodegradable Clumping Litter”, by Susan Leisure
“Best Cat Litter for Kittens”, by Mallory Crusta
“Cat Litter”, How Products Are Made
“Kitty Litter”, by Amanda Yarnell, Chemical & Engineering News, Volume 82 Issue 17, p. 26, What’s That Stuff?, Issue Date: April 26, 2004
“Straw”, Wikipedia
“What Is In Cat Litter? Understanding Clay, Silica and Biodegradable Cat Litters“, by Lorie Huston, DVM, PetMD
“Wheat”, Wikipedia
Product Information and User Review Sources
Amazon, Chewy, Petco, Petsmart
Updated July 13, 2023