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You tried the old shredded-strips-of-newspaper trick, but it looked like your cat was “constantly throwing a kitty ticker tape parade” by dragging the strips around on her paws. Here’s a better way to save money with homemade kitty litter.

Allie, of tipsite Allie’s Answers, shares how to make a two to three week supply of homemade kitty litter in about half an hour:

1. Shred newspaper in a paper shredder. I collect the shredded paper in an unused litter box.
2. Soak the paper in warm water mixed with a few squirts gentle, biodegradable dish soap (like Ecover). The shredded paper takes on a cooked oatmeal consistency. The paper won’t come completely clean, but the water will turn grey.
3. Drain the water (an old colander works wonders) and repeat the soaking process minus the soap.
4. Sprinkle baking soda liberally on the wet paper. Knead it in to the mixture (you might want to wear gloves to avoid getting ink on your hands).
5. Squeeze the remaining moisture out until it’s as dry as you can get it.
6. Crumble over a screen and leave to dry (it takes a few days)

The benefit of using Allie’s method over store-bought kitty litter is that you’ll save money and use a more eco-friendly product without dealing with inky paw prints or an impromptu parade. According to her, this kitty litter even works better than a store-bought solution.

Do you use a homemade kitty litter? Where do you hide the litter box? Earn your gold star by sharing your experiences and tips in the comments below.

Make Your Own Kitty Litter [Allie's Answers]