Hey there, cat litter crazies! Skye Blake here again, checking out yuca root (a.k.a. “cassava”) in cat litter… mixed with things like corn and sugar cane!
What will they think of next???
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.
What is Yuca?
Yuca (YOO-ka) (Manihot esculenta) is the root of the cassava plant… not to be confused with the yucca (YUHK-a) ornamental plant.
Cassava is a woody shrub from South America.
People use yuca root (cassava) worldwide as a staple carbohydrate food similar to potatoes.
It’s similar in size and shape to yams.
Yuca is used in many dishes… tapioca, cassava cake, savory cassava pie, bread, fries, just to name a few.
It’s especially popular in Latin American and Asian cuisines.
“Cassava is predominantly consumed in boiled form, but substantial quantities are used to extract cassava starch, called tapioca, which is used for food, animal feed, and industrial purposes.”1“Cassava”, Wikipedia
Dealing with Toxins in Yuca (Cassava)
There are sweet and bitter varieties of cassava, with an important distinction between them… sweet are safer to eat than bitter.
Neither variety can be eaten raw, but sweet varieties are eaten after peeling and boiling.
Bitter takes much more preparation to be eaten safely due to high concentration of toxins.
This is true for both people and animals.
“… improper preparation of cassava can leave enough residual cyanide to cause acute cyanide intoxication,[7][8] goiters, and even ataxia, partial paralysis, or death. In its prepared forms, in which its toxic or unpleasant components have been reduced to acceptable levels, it contains an extremely high proportion of starch.”2“Cassava”, Wikipedia
Bitter cassava roots are peeled and grated, then soaked for a long time in water.
This “allows leaching and fermentation to take place, followed by thorough cooking to release the volatile hydrogen cyanide gas.
Cutting the roots into small pieces, followed by soaking and boiling in water is particularly effective in reducing the cyanide content in cassava.”3“Cyanide Poisoning and Cassava”, by Ms. Joey Kwok, Scientific Officer, Risk Communication Section, Centre for Food Safety, The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Food Safety Focus (19th Issue, February 2008)
Companies who make cassava-based products like flour and tapioca, process the cassava until there is a very low, safe cyanide content.
Farmers use yuca (cassava) tubers and hay for animal feed, a good source of roughage.
Various parts of the plant are also used for biofuels and other products.
Cat litter is a newer product made from it and it’s typically mixed with other ingredients as a starch for absorbency and clumping.
Will Yuca Cat Litter Poison My Cat?
Some people have concerns about yuca (cassava) in litter since cats can eat it or lick it off their paws and fur.
This article explains more about the issue: “Cyanide Poisoning and Cassava”.
It says processed products made from cassava (yuca) are accepted as having such low amounts of cyanide that they’re no longer dangerous.
I have not yet uncovered any scientific data about yuca affecting cats.
The cat litter manufacturers claim it’s safe to use.
As with anything else, you can decide based on your comfort levels and knowing your cat’s behavior.
If your buddy tends to eat food-based litters or digs excessively, creating clouds of dust, you may want to err on the side of caution and use clay or silica litter.
It’s best not to use yuca litter for young kittens since it’s a clumping type.
Kittens will eat litter and can get intestinal blockages and/or dehydration from it.
Both are life-threatening situations!
Yuca is Not Yucca
Yucca (YUHK-a) is “a genus of perennial shrubs and trees in the family Asparagaceae, subfamily Agavoideae“44“Yucca”, Wikipedia.
It has long, stiff, spiky leaves and is commonly in desert and semi-desert landscapes.
The yucca flower is the state flower of New Mexico.
Yucca has edible flowers and stem tips, but the root cannot be eaten.
Its main use is in landscaping as an ornamental plant and is not related to the yuca (cassava) plant.
I make a small commission on some of the links below… and I get to share profits with qualified cat rescues!
Check descriptions and reviews carefully for any products you wish to buy… quality, sizes, colors, etc., can’t be guaranteed by anyone but the manufacturer.
Yuca & Corn Litter
“Corn, (Zea mays), [is] also called Indian corn or maize, [a] cereal plant of the grass family (Poaceae) and its edible grain.”5 “Corn – History, Cultivation, Uses & Description“, Encyclopedia Britannica
See “Corn Cat Litter” for more about corn and yuca (cassava), and two litters currently available, Garfield Clumping Cat Litter and Sustainably Yours Natural Cat Litter.
Yuca (Cassava) & Coffee Cat Litter
A newer combination of ingredients for cat litter is cassava and “upcycled” coffee.
Alfred Cassava Black
Yuca & Sugar Cane Litter
Sugar cane (Saccharum Andropogoneae) refers to “… several species and hybrids of tall perennial grasses… that are used for sugar production. Sugarcanes belong to the grass family Poaceae, an economically important flowering plant family that includes maize, wheat, rice, and sorghum, and many forage crops.”6“Sugarcane”, Wikipedia
Earth’s Finest™ Four Paws Cat Litter
Earth’s FINEST™ Cat Litter is currently the only litter with yuca and cane that’s available in the U.S.A.
As of March 2022, only the 3.6 lb. bag is available and is expensive.
It’s unknown if and when larger amounts will be available.
This litter uses the starch in yuca that bonds very well and creates good clumps that don’t fall apart, making the litter last longer.
One 3.6 lbs. bag = 9.5 lbs. of clay or 7 lbs. of corn litter.
Cane is fibrous and used for its excellent ability to absorb liquid.
The combination of yuca and cane makes the litter extra-absorbent.
It soaks up to 5 times more liquid than clay and 2.5 times more than corn litters.
Earth’s FINEST™ litter ingredients are farm-grown, renewable and biodegradable.
It has very good odor control even in multiple cat households.
More Litter Options
If you need more info about what’s “best” for your cat, discover more at “What Are the Best Types of Cat Litter?” and “What’s the Best Cat Litter Box?“
Or follow these trails if you’re curious about other litters…
Related Pages of Interest
If you’re dealing with inappropriate peeing or pooping outside the litter box, take a look at “Why Is My Cat Peeing Outside the Litter Box?” and “Why Is My Cat Pooping Outside the Box?“
Of course, if you have a cat peeing outside the box, you’re probably frustrated about cleaning it up.
Discover what you need to know at “Cleaning Cat Urine” and “Enzyme Cleaners for Cat Urine“.
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
“Cassava”, Wikipedia
“ Corn – History, Cultivation, Uses, & Description“, Encyclopedia Britannica
“Cyanide Poisoning and Cassava”, by Ms. Joey Kwok, Scientific Officer, Risk Communication Section, Centre for Food Safety, The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Food Safety Focus (19th Issue, February 2008)
“What Is It? Yuca (Cassava) Root”, Lakewinds Food Coop, March 29, 2016
“Yucca”, Wikipedia
Product Information and User Review Sources
Chewy, JacksonGalaxy, Petco, Sustainably Yours
Updated March 12, 2023