The technical spec deep-dive for sodium bentonite cat litter — every axis a B2B buyer should benchmark against, with the Cat Global specification floor and the typical-competitor comparison.
Looking for the buying workflow? See the bulk B2B buying guide. For the sodium vs calcium bentonite grade comparison, see the sodium vs calcium bentonite guide.
1. What is sodium bentonite cat litter?
Sodium bentonite cat litter is clumping cat litter made from sodium-rich bentonite clay — 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 12–15× their dry volume, locking the liquid into a rock-hard clump that the owner scoops.
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 ≥ 12× before production.
2. The 8 specification axes that matter
2.1 Clumping strength (g/cm²)
The headline number for any clumping bentonite cat litter SKU. Tells you how much weight the clump can hold before breaking.
| Band | Clumping strength | What it means for the owner |
|---|---|---|
| Below minimum | < 200 g/cm² | Clump disintegrates during scooping. Single-use only. |
| Household minimum | 200 – 290 g/cm² | Survives gentle scooping. Multi-cat OK with regular full-box change. |
| Cat Global specification | 290 – 480 g/cm² | Survives aggressive scooping and 24-hr box turnover. Multi-cat OK. |
| Premium / private-label floor | 400+ g/cm² | Rock-hard. Owner can scoop 5-day-old clumps with no breakage. |
Cat Global bentonite spec: 290 – 480 g/cm². Typical competitor: 90 – 97% (relative scale — equivalent to ~ 200 – 350 g/cm² absolute).
2.2 Dust content (%)
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.
| Dust band | Implication for owner + cat |
|---|---|
| 3 – 5% | Visible dust cloud when pouring; owner wipes box weekly; cat sneezes occasionally. (Value-tier bentonite) |
| 1.5 – 3% | Moderate dust; owner wipes box bi-weekly. (Standard bentonite) |
| 0.5 – 1.0% | Minimal visible dust; owner wipes box monthly. (Premium bentonite) |
| ≤ 0.5% | Essentially dust-free. Preferred by asthmatic owners and multi-cat households. (Cat Global low-dust grade) |
Cat Global bentonite spec: ≤ 0.5% (low-dust grade). Typical competitor: 0.8 – 1.5%.
How dust is measured: 100 g sample is poured through a 200-mesh sieve (75 μm aperture); the fraction passing through is weighed as dust %. Cat Global samples are tested both in-house and via SGS third-party per batch.
2.3 Deodorisation rate (%)
Bentonite’s deodorisation comes from its high cation-exchange capacity (CEC) — the clay surface locks ammonia (NH₃) and trimethylamine (the fishy odour) onto cation sites. Higher CEC = better deodorisation.
Cat Global bentonite spec: 88 – 92% deodorisation. Typical competitor: 75 – 85%.
The 4–6 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.
2.4 Swelling index (×)
Bentonite’s unique selling point — the dry pellet can absorb 12–15× its own volume of liquid and lock it in. Cat Global bentonite spec: 12 – 15× dry volume. Typical competitor: 8 – 11×.
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 — the swelling index means the owner uses less per scoop.
2.5 Granule shape and size
Three standard shapes ship from Cat Global:
| Shape | Talla | Ideal para |
|---|---|---|
| Round | 1.6 – 2.5 mm smooth sphere | Kittens, short-haired cats, low-tracking preference. Standard in EU + NA eco-tier. |
| Ball | 2.0 – 3.0 mm irregular crushed | Multi-cat households, classic “odd shape” look. Standard in ME + SA. |
| Crushed / odd | 1.5 – 4.0 mm chunk | Heavy-clumping feel, traditional look. Preferred in Gulf. |
Custom granule sizes available for OEM programs above 5 MT per SKU. The OEM customisation workflow is covered in the bentonite manufacturing process guide.
2.6 Bulk density (g/ml)
Cat Global bentonite spec: 0.75 – 0.88 g/ml (heavy). Typical competitor: similar band — bentonite is heavy by definition.
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.
2.7 Moisture (%)
Cat Global bentonite spec: ≤ 10% moisture. Typical competitor: ≤ 12%.
Higher moisture = shorter shelf life + risk of pre-clumping in the bag during storage. Cat Global’s ≤ 10% moisture spec gives the 36-month shelf life listed on the spec sheet.
2.8 pH (cat-safety)
Cat Global bentonite spec: 8.5 – 9.5 pH (typical bentonite range · cat-safe). Industry comparison: bentonite is naturally alkaline; pH 8.5 – 9.5 is the standard range across the category.
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 – 9.5 is mild enough not to irritate paw pads or respiratory tracts.
3. Heavy-metal limits (SGS verified per batch)
Cat Global’s bentonite is tested per batch by SGS for the four heavy metals that matter for pet safety:
| Heavy metal | Cat Global spec | International benchmark |
|---|---|---|
| Lead (Pb) | ≤ 5 mg/kg | EU REACH toy standard (cat litter is not a toy but the limit is conservative) |
| Arsenic (As) | ≤ 2 mg/kg | FDA feed-grade benchmark |
| Cadmium (Cd) | ≤ 1 mg/kg | EU REACH toy standard |
| Mercury (Hg) | Not detected (SGS LOD 0.01 mg/kg) | Not regulated for cat litter; reported as ND |
The SGS test report ships with every Cat Global order. If a buyer requests tighter limits (some EU private-label buyers demand ≤ 1 mg/kg lead), Cat Global can source lower-mineral-content bentonite for a small per-ton premium.
4. Fragrance load tuning
Cat Global bentonite ships with 8 stock fragrances and tuneable fragrance load:
| Fragancia | Stock | Recommended load band | Ideal para |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unscented | ✓ | 0.00% | Asthma / sensitive cats; regions where fragrance labelling is restricted |
| Apple | ✓ | 0.10 – 0.20% | Family households, value-tier |
| Lemon | ✓ | 0.10 – 0.20% | Kitchen-adjacent litter box placement |
| Lavanda | ✓ | 0.15 – 0.25% | Calming positioning, premium tier |
| Rose | ✓ | 0.15 – 0.25% | Middle East, premium tier |
| Green Tea | ✓ | 0.10 – 0.20% | Asia positioning, eco-tier |
| Coffee | ✓ | 0.20 – 0.30% | Strong odour-masking for multi-cat |
| Baby Powder | ✓ | 0.15 – 0.25% | North America mainstream |
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 – 0.30% band is the sweet spot for most markets. Custom fragrance profiles (ocean breeze, white musk, jasmine) available above 5 MT per SKU.
5. Packaging and shipping specs
| Pack size | Ideal para | 20FT container capacity | 40FT HQ container capacity |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 kg pack | Value-tier shelf, multi-cat households | ~ 18 – 20 MT | ~ 26 – 28 MT |
| 10 kg pack | Mid-tier shelf | ~ 19 – 21 MT | ~ 26 – 28 MT |
| 20 kg pack | Bulk / wholesale, breeder / shelter | ~ 20 – 22 MT | ~ 26 – 28 MT |
| 5 L / 10 L / 25 L pack | Mid-tier shelf, traditional look | ~ 14 – 18 MT | ~ 22 – 26 MT |
| Custom OEM pack | Private-label programs | Depends on pack weight | Depends on pack weight |
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.
6. Shelf life and storage
Cat Global bentonite shelf life is 36 months in sealed bag, dry storage. Storage conditions: cool (≤ 25°C ideal), dry (≤ 70% relative humidity), avoid direct sunlight. Bentonite is hydroscopic — once the bag is opened, the litter should be used within 6 months for best clumping performance.
7. Spec compliance documents that ship with every order
- COA (Certificate of Analysis) — per-batch clumping, dust, moisture, fragrance load, heavy metals
- SGS test report — third-party verification of dust + heavy metals + biodegradability (OECD 301B where applicable)
- MSDS (Material Safety Data Sheet) — required for customs clearance
- COO (Certificate of Origin) — for tariff preference (China-GCC, China-MERCOSUR, China-ASEAN)
- Health Certificate — issued by China Inspection and Quarantine (CIQ)
- Fumigation Certificate — when palletised
- Packing List + Commercial Invoice — for customs declaration
Regional add-ons: ANVISA registration documents for Brazil, MERCOSUR labelling for South America, GSO / GCC conformity for Gulf, FDA Philippines labelling.
