Rake and drum machines need firm, fast clumps
A rake has to lift a clump intact. Slow-setting soft clay is dragged through the bed and blamed on the machine.
Crystal machines take crystals only
They dry waste rather than clumping it. Clumping clay in a crystal machine is the single most reliable way to jam one.
Plant litters are lighter and not universal
Tofu clumps well and weighs less; PetPivot excludes plant litters entirely and others exclude them from warranty.
Test with a small bag
The cat has a veto. Finding that out with 4.5 kg (9.9 lb) is better than with 10.8.
This does not replace your machine’s manual. Sensor thresholds, cycle delays and temperature limits differ between models, and the manufacturer’s instructions for yours take precedence over anything written here.
The questions owners ask
Can I use tofu litter?
In several machines yes, and several manufacturers exclude it from warranty because the grains swell. Both statements are true at once — read your own manual, because a jam in a drum is a jam full of waste.
How do I change litter safely?
Gradually. A quarter new for a few days, then half, then most. Cats object to sudden substrate changes more than to the substrate itself, and a small test bag is the right first purchase.
Last reviewed 2026-08-17