Will Kitty Litter Kill Grass?

Cat litter can be one of the most frustrating substances to clean up on the planet. There are also many kinds of cat litter and several may have you wondering, “Will kitty litter kill grass?” as you attempt to scrape it out of your lawn. The short truth? Some varieties won’t and others will.

Will Kitty Litter Kill Grass?

No, most basic kitty litters, including clay-based “clumping” cat litters are harmless to any plant including grass unless the kitty litter is being used to smother that plant. There are 3 exceptions to this rule: silica gel cat litter, cat litters with citrus oils applied for fragrance, and cat litters containing baking soda will all kill your grass.

Will Any Cat Litter Kill Grass?

Basic bentonite clay cat litter just adds a bit more clay to your soil. It’s completely harmless and shouldn’t interact with the grass at all. However, other specific kinds of cat litter can be harmful to your lawn. Below you can find a list of specific types of cat litter, the effects they may have on your lawn, and what to do about it.

Related Article: What Kills Grass?

Will Citrus-Scented Cat Litter Kill My Lawn?

Yes, any cat litter with real citrus oils in it can harm your lawn. Do check the label to see if the cat litter contains these oils or is only “citrus-scented” in a non-harmful way. The citrus oils may cause grass to “burn” or develop brown spots if it comes into contact with this type of treated kitty litter. The best way to handle this is to scoop up the litter as best you can and wash the remaining particles away with some very mild, soapy water. Be sure to use real, oil-based soap and not a detergent.

Will Cat Litter with Baking Soda Kill Grass?

Yes, kitty litter containing baking soda will kill grass. Cat litter with baking soda can contain up to 20% sodium bicarbonate by volume. As with any cat litter, clean up as much dry cat litter as possible. Then, because of the baking soda, it’s important to water the area where the cat litter made contact to dilute as much of the baking soda as possible. This can help prevent pH issues in your lawn as well as the development of burnt, brown spots due to the baking soda.

Will Silica Gel Cat Litter Kill Grass?

Silica gel cat litter will not kill grass and, in small residual quantities, may improve the resilience of your lawn. Still, it’s best to clean up as much as possible as too much of a good thing can still be problematic for the health of your soil. Any residual silica gel should be diluted with water and spread out, if possible.

Will Pine Litter Kill Grass?

Pine cat litter should not kill grass. Pine shavings, litter, and sawdust are sometimes spread on lawns after seeding to provide cover. As with clay litter, remove what you can and spread out any residual pine litter.

Does Paper Kitty Litter Kill Grass?

Paper cat litter, if not cleaned up before it becomes damp, is likely to mold or attract fungus to your lawn. This type of cat litter should always be cleaned up right away. Due to the size of the pellets, it is often fairly easy to rake or sweep up paper or pellet-type cat litters.

Will Plant-Based Kitty Litter Kill Grass?

Walnut shells, corn cobs, and even grass seed are all types of traditional clay cat litter alternatives. The good thing about these litters is that they are more biodegradable than clay litter and cause less of a mess when wet. As long as you spread out any spilled litter or attempt to sweep up large chunks, none of these plant-based kitty litters should harm your lawn.

Is Cat Litter Good For Grass?

There is no reason to put cat litter on grass unless there is something that needs to be cleaned up. For example, if you spill oil or laundry detergent on your lawn then covering this spill with cat litter before cleaning up the area could help save your lawn. Beyond that, there are no nutritional or soil-amendment-related uses for cat litter when it comes to grass or lawns.

How to Get Cat Litter Out of Grass

The best way to get cat litter out of grass is to use a broom, rake, or shop vacuum. There is no trick to it. Avoid getting the cat litter wet, if possible. If the cat litter proves too difficult to remove, spreading it out evenly can help it break down faster over time and minimize the effects the litter may have on your lawn and soil.

The one exception to this rule pertains to any cat litter containing baking soda. If the spilled cat litter contains baking soda, make sure to sweep or vacuum up as much as possible and then do attempt to water down the area. This can help ensure that your lawn does not end up looking burnt where the baking soda made contact.

Is Kitty Litter an Effective Herbicide?

While some people have reported having success applying kitty litter to certain plants like poison ivy or creeping ivy, no cat litter has herbicidal properties. The reason some may attribute the ability to kill poison ivy to some clay-based cat litters is that bentonite clay is found in many topical creams and poultices used to treat poison ivy. The plant itself is not likely to die if this type of clay is applied to it. However, baking soda or cat litter containing baking soda can, as described above, kill any type of plant.

Cat Litter Doesn’t Belong On Your Lawn

Does cat litter kill grass? No. While not a helpful substance for lawn care, cat litter often won’t hurt your lawn, either. Further, as plain clay-based cat litter is so absorbent, it could be used to clean up spills that otherwise might harm your lawn. Either way, if any type of kitty litter does end up on your lawn, attempting to vacuum, sweep, and rake it away is your best clean-up option. The residual is usually nothing to worry about.