{"id":2391,"date":"2026-09-18T07:43:30","date_gmt":"2026-09-18T07:43:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/py-catglobal.com\/?p=2391"},"modified":"2026-09-18T08:08:16","modified_gmt":"2026-09-18T08:08:16","slug":"sodium-bentonite-spec-guide","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/py-catglobal.com\/ar\/sodium-bentonite-spec-guide\/","title":{"rendered":"Sodium Bentonite Cat Litter \u2014 The 2026 B2B Spec Reference"},"content":{"rendered":"

The technical spec deep-dive for sodium bentonite cat litter \u2014 every axis a B2B buyer should benchmark against, with the Cat Global specification floor and the typical-competitor comparison.<\/p>\n

Looking for the buying workflow? See the bulk B2B buying guide<\/a>. For the sodium vs calcium bentonite grade comparison, see the sodium vs calcium bentonite guide<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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\"Sodium<\/p>\n

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1. What is sodium bentonite cat litter?<\/h2>\n
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Sodium bentonite cat litter<\/b> is clumping cat litter made from sodium-rich bentonite clay \u2014 a naturally occurring volcanic-ash mineral with a platelet structure that swells dramatically when wet. The clay is mined (most premium cat-litter bentonite comes from Wyoming, USA, or similar sodium-rich deposits), crushed into granules, dust-extracted, fragrance-loaded, and packed. When the cat urinates, the sodium ions in the clay absorb water and the platelets expand 12\u201315\u00d7 their dry volume, locking the liquid into a rock-hard clump that the owner scoops.<\/p>\n

Sodium bentonite is the dominant substrate for clumping cat litter globally because of three unique properties: (1) extreme swelling index, (2) hard clumping strength, (3) ammonia lock via cation exchange. Cat Global sources Wyoming-grade sodium bentonite screened for swelling index \u2265 12\u00d7 before production.<\/p>\n

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2. The 8 specification axes that matter<\/h2>\n
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2.1 Clumping strength (g\/cm\u00b2)<\/h3>\n

The headline number for any clumping bentonite cat litter<\/b> SKU. Tells you how much weight the clump can hold before breaking.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Band<\/th>\nClumping strength<\/th>\nWhat it means for the owner<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
Below minimum<\/td>\n< 200 g\/cm\u00b2<\/td>\nClump disintegrates during scooping. Single-use only.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Household minimum<\/td>\n200 \u2013 290 g\/cm\u00b2<\/td>\nSurvives gentle scooping. Multi-cat OK with regular full-box change.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Cat Global specification<\/td>\n290 \u2013 480 g\/cm\u00b2<\/td>\nSurvives aggressive scooping and 24-hr box turnover. Multi-cat OK.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Premium \/ private-label floor<\/td>\n400+ g\/cm\u00b2<\/td>\nRock-hard. Owner can scoop 5-day-old clumps with no breakage.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Cat Global bentonite spec<\/b>: 290 \u2013 480 g\/cm\u00b2. Typical competitor<\/b>: 90 \u2013 97% (relative scale \u2014 equivalent to ~ 200 \u2013 350 g\/cm\u00b2 absolute).<\/p>\n

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2.2 Dust content (%)<\/h3>\n

The single biggest driver of consumer complaints. The dust fraction is the smallest particles that escape the granule and become airborne during pouring, scooping or even the cat’s digging.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Dust band<\/th>\nImplication for owner + cat<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
3 \u2013 5%<\/td>\nVisible dust cloud when pouring; owner wipes box weekly; cat sneezes occasionally. (Value-tier bentonite)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
1.5 \u2013 3%<\/td>\nModerate dust; owner wipes box bi-weekly. (Standard bentonite)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
0.5 \u2013 1.0%<\/td>\nMinimal visible dust; owner wipes box monthly. (Premium bentonite)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u2264 0.5%<\/b><\/td>\nEssentially dust-free. Preferred by asthmatic owners and multi-cat households. (Cat Global low-dust grade)<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Cat Global bentonite spec<\/b>: \u2264 0.5% (low-dust grade). Typical competitor<\/b>: 0.8 \u2013 1.5%.<\/p>\n

How dust is measured: 100 g sample is poured through a 200-mesh sieve (75\u00a0\u03bcm aperture); the fraction passing through is weighed as dust %. Cat Global samples are tested both in-house and via SGS third-party per batch.<\/p>\n

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2.3 Deodorisation rate (%)<\/h3>\n

Bentonite’s deodorisation comes from its high cation-exchange capacity (CEC) \u2014 the clay surface locks ammonia (NH\u2083) and trimethylamine (the fishy odour) onto cation sites. Higher CEC = better deodorisation.<\/p>\n

Cat Global bentonite spec<\/b>: 88 \u2013 92% deodorisation. Typical competitor<\/b>: 75 \u2013 85%.<\/p>\n

The 4\u20136 percentage points between 88% and 92% is meaningful: in a multi-cat household, 92% deodorisation is the difference between a noticeable odour at 24 hours and a noticeable odour at 72 hours.<\/p>\n

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2.4 Swelling index (\u00d7)<\/h3>\n

Bentonite’s unique selling point \u2014 the dry pellet can absorb 12\u201315\u00d7 its own volume of liquid and lock it in. Cat Global bentonite spec<\/b>: 12 \u2013 15\u00d7 dry volume. Typical competitor<\/b>: 8 \u2013 11\u00d7.<\/p>\n

Higher swelling = less litter used per week = lower monthly cost per cat. This is why bentonite is the per-ton cost-low option for high-urine multi-cat households despite the higher per-ton handle than some substrates \u2014 the swelling index means the owner uses less per scoop.<\/p>\n

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2.5 Granule shape and size<\/h3>\n

Three standard shapes ship from Cat Global:<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Shape<\/th>\n\u0645\u0642\u0627\u0633<\/th>\n\u0627\u0644\u0623\u0641\u0636\u0644 \u0644\u0640<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
Round<\/b><\/td>\n1.6 \u2013 2.5\u00a0mm smooth sphere<\/td>\nKittens, short-haired cats, low-tracking preference. Standard in EU + NA eco-tier.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Ball<\/b><\/td>\n2.0 \u2013 3.0\u00a0mm irregular crushed<\/td>\nMulti-cat households, classic “odd shape” look. Standard in ME + SA.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Crushed \/ odd<\/b><\/td>\n1.5 \u2013 4.0\u00a0mm chunk<\/td>\nHeavy-clumping feel, traditional look. Preferred in Gulf.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Custom granule sizes available for OEM programs above 5 MT per SKU. The OEM customisation workflow is covered in the bentonite manufacturing process guide<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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2.6 Bulk density (g\/ml)<\/h3>\n

Cat Global bentonite spec<\/b>: 0.75 \u2013 0.88 g\/ml (heavy). Typical competitor<\/b>: similar band \u2014 bentonite is heavy by definition.<\/p>\n

Practical impact: heavier granules = less tracking out of the box (the granules fall off the cat’s paws back into the box). Lighter substrates (tofu, cassava) tend to track more.<\/p>\n

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2.7 Moisture (%)<\/h3>\n

Cat Global bentonite spec<\/b>: \u2264 10% moisture. Typical competitor<\/b>: \u2264 12%.<\/p>\n

Higher moisture = shorter shelf life + risk of pre-clumping in the bag during storage. Cat Global’s \u2264 10% moisture spec gives the 36-month shelf life listed on the spec sheet.<\/p>\n

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2.8 pH (cat-safety)<\/h3>\n

Cat Global bentonite spec<\/b>: 8.5 \u2013 9.5 pH (typical bentonite range \u00b7 cat-safe). Industry comparison<\/b>: bentonite is naturally alkaline; pH 8.5 \u2013 9.5 is the standard range across the category.<\/p>\n

For the cat owner: bentonite is not edible, but it’s not toxic if a small amount is accidentally ingested during grooming. pH 8.5 \u2013 9.5 is mild enough not to irritate paw pads or respiratory tracts.<\/p>\n

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3. Heavy-metal limits (SGS verified per batch)<\/h2>\n
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Cat Global’s bentonite is tested per batch by SGS for the four heavy metals that matter for pet safety:<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Heavy metal<\/th>\nCat Global spec<\/th>\nInternational benchmark<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
Lead (Pb)<\/td>\n\u2264 5 mg\/kg<\/td>\nEU REACH toy standard (cat litter is not a toy but the limit is conservative)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Arsenic (As)<\/td>\n\u2264 2 mg\/kg<\/td>\nFDA feed-grade benchmark<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Cadmium (Cd)<\/td>\n\u2264 1 mg\/kg<\/td>\nEU REACH toy standard<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Mercury (Hg)<\/td>\nNot detected (SGS LOD 0.01 mg\/kg)<\/td>\nNot regulated for cat litter; reported as ND<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

The SGS test report ships with every Cat Global order. If a buyer requests tighter limits (some EU private-label buyers demand \u2264 1 mg\/kg lead), Cat Global can source lower-mineral-content bentonite for a small per-ton premium.<\/p>\n

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4. Fragrance load tuning<\/h2>\n
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Cat Global bentonite ships with 8 stock fragrances and tuneable fragrance load:<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
\u0627\u0644\u0639\u0637\u0631<\/th>\nStock<\/th>\nRecommended load band<\/th>\n\u0627\u0644\u0623\u0641\u0636\u0644 \u0644\u0640<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
Unscented<\/td>\n\u2713<\/td>\n0.00%<\/td>\nAsthma \/ sensitive cats; regions where fragrance labelling is restricted<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Apple<\/td>\n\u2713<\/td>\n0.10 \u2013 0.20%<\/td>\nFamily households, value-tier<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Lemon<\/td>\n\u2713<\/td>\n0.10 \u2013 0.20%<\/td>\nKitchen-adjacent litter box placement<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u0627\u0644\u062e\u0632\u0627\u0645\u0649<\/td>\n\u2713<\/td>\n0.15 \u2013 0.25%<\/td>\nCalming positioning, premium tier<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Rose<\/td>\n\u2713<\/td>\n0.15 \u2013 0.25%<\/td>\nMiddle East, premium tier<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Green Tea<\/td>\n\u2713<\/td>\n0.10 \u2013 0.20%<\/td>\nAsia positioning, eco-tier<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Coffee<\/td>\n\u2713<\/td>\n0.20 \u2013 0.30%<\/td>\nStrong odour-masking for multi-cat<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Baby Powder<\/td>\n\u2713<\/td>\n0.15 \u2013 0.25%<\/td>\nNorth America mainstream<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Fragrance load is the dial that drives repeat-purchase on shelf. Too little fragrance = “doesn’t smell like anything”; too much = cat avoids the box. The 0.10 \u2013 0.30% band is the sweet spot for most markets. Custom fragrance profiles (ocean breeze, white musk, jasmine) available above 5 MT per SKU.<\/p>\n

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5. Packaging and shipping specs<\/h2>\n
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Pack size<\/th>\n\u0627\u0644\u0623\u0641\u0636\u0644 \u0644\u0640<\/th>\n20FT container capacity<\/th>\n40FT HQ container capacity<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
5 kg pack<\/td>\nValue-tier shelf, multi-cat households<\/td>\n~ 18 \u2013 20 MT<\/td>\n~ 26 \u2013 28 MT<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
10 kg pack<\/td>\nMid-tier shelf<\/td>\n~ 19 \u2013 21 MT<\/td>\n~ 26 \u2013 28 MT<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
20 kg pack<\/td>\nBulk \/ wholesale, breeder \/ shelter<\/td>\n~ 20 \u2013 22 MT<\/td>\n~ 26 \u2013 28 MT<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
5 L \/ 10 L \/ 25 L pack<\/td>\nMid-tier shelf, traditional look<\/td>\n~ 14 \u2013 18 MT<\/td>\n~ 22 \u2013 26 MT<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Custom OEM pack<\/td>\nPrivate-label programs<\/td>\nDepends on pack weight<\/td>\nDepends on pack weight<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Standard pack material: PE inner bag (moisture barrier) + Kraft paper or woven PP outer (mechanical protection). Optional fumigated pallets + shrink-wrap available for shelf-ready delivery. Custom artwork on the outer is the OEM customisation step.<\/p>\n

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6. Shelf life and storage<\/h2>\n
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Cat Global bentonite shelf life is 36 months in sealed bag, dry storage<\/b>. Storage conditions: cool (\u2264 25\u00b0C ideal), dry (\u2264 70% relative humidity), avoid direct sunlight. Bentonite is hydroscopic \u2014 once the bag is opened, the litter should be used within 6 months for best clumping performance.<\/p>\n

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7. Spec compliance documents that ship with every order<\/h2>\n
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