_________________
"Never compromising with public taste."

_________________
"Never compromising with public taste."

Thanks for the alert! It is worth noting that there are two different forms of silica that are often confused with each other. The harmful type (the stuff that can cause silicosis and cancer) is amorphous silica dust composed of silicon dioxide (SiO2). The other type is silica gel which is manufactured from sodium silicate (Na2SiO3), comes in granules and is hydrosorbent (takes up water). Hydrated silica gel is considered harmless and you're probably brushing your teeth with it every day - it's one of the ingredients in tooth paste.

In terms of kitty litter, amorphous silica (harmful dust) is sometimes found in clay litters as "diatomaceous earth" (also called kieselguhr or celite). "Silica gel litter" should contain the other, harmless type. However, looking at an example for a silica "crystals blend" cat litter things look a bit more complicated:

65-90% Bentonite (the clay that makes clumping litter clump)
15-65% amorphous silica (diatomaceous silica, SiO2)
1-50% hydrated silica (silica gel)
0-50% Montmorillonite (clay)
5-15% Quartz
0-15% Silicic acid, aluminum postassium salt (Feldspar)
0-15% Kaolin clay
etc.

There could actually be as little as 1% silica gel in this one, with the majority of the product being clays and amorphous silica! I guess this is another thing where it pays off to carefully read the ingredient labels on the bag.

_________________
"Never compromising with public taste."

I work for a company that is doing silicagel litter and although I'm not a chemist I can say ours is harmless. It's 100% silicagel, no blue crystals or anything else.

I guess it just depends on the type of silica used, but in France we've got only silicagel and I didn't hear of any problems reported.

Sorry I couldn't help

I ve used silica before, won't be using it again

_________________
Carolinexx

I've had problems with my previous cat being allergic to clay litters, and I've worked at a petstore that carried the silica stuff (we at first thought it was amazing, and then found out it was carconogenic and although management did not want to publically announce it, we still quielty informed the customers) and now I use FELINE PINE, which is a totally green, totally natural, nothing-but-pine shavings litter that is recycled (!)pulled from the floors of woodchipping mills and tripple pressure cleaned, compressed into little granules.. the cats love it, It has no dust for inhaling, and can be used in a compost heap in the backyard!
It solved my allergy problem, and is easy to clean. They'll even send you a free litter scoop! also; a free bag once you buy 10.

They're awesome, and it solves the problem of hazardous chemicals in your litter.

Plus, it's good for the planet!

_________________
"Be the change you wish to see in the world". Ghandi