Using Cat Litter To Enhance Traction On Ice.

Ah, winter. A season full of hot cocoa, cozy sweaters, and… slipping on ice. Ugh. We’ve all been there, right? You’re just walking along, minding your own business, and then – whoop! Down you go. So, what can you do to avoid this icy pitfall? Some folks swear by using cat litter on ice. Yes, you read that right. Cat litter. But does cat litter work on ice? Let’s dive into it.
The Scoop On Cat Litter On Ice
So here’s the deal with cat litter on ice. It’s super absorbent. That’s why it’s good for, well, you know, its intended purpose. The idea is that it will soak up the moisture on the ice and make it less slippery. Makes sense, right? Well, yes and no. While cat litter on ice can provide some traction, it doesn’t actually melt the ice. Plus, it can turn into a sludgy mess as it absorbs water. Not exactly what we’re going for.
Thinking About Mother Earth
And hey, let’s not forget about the environment. Cat litter on ice isn’t biodegradable. So, when it turns into sludge and washes away, it can clog storm drains and cause other problems. Not cool.
A Better Way: Walk On Ice
Okay, so cat litter isn’t the magic solution we were hoping for. But don’t worry, there’s a better way: Walk On Ice. This stuff is the real deal. It provides instant traction on all icy surfaces. And unlike salt and ice melt, which take their sweet time to work and can leave the road all slippery, Walk On Ice works instantly. Oh, and it even works on black ice.
How Does Walk On Ice Work?
Walk On Ice is super handy. It comes in a bag that fits in your glove box or bag. And it’s 100% natural and safe for pets, people, and your property. The suckers in Walk On Ice absorb the liquid layer of water on the ice, and the grippers lock into the ice, creating a stable, non-skid surface. Magic, right?
Using Walk On Ice is a piece of cake. Just sprinkle it evenly over the ice, and voila! It starts working instantly, absorbing the liquid layer and allowing the grippers to lock in. No more slipping and sliding.
Beyond Cat Litter: How To Get Traction On Icy Driveway
Now, if we step away from stairs and sidewalks for a second, let’s talk about driveways. Because if there’s one place where slips and skids are most stressful, it’s right outside your garage. You’ve probably wondered how to get traction on icy driveway conditions without creating a bigger mess.
Sure, some people toss cat litter to melt ice, but here’s the thing—it doesn’t actually melt anything. All it does is add grit. Once the pellets soak up water, they can freeze into little clumps and sometimes make things slipperier. Plus, when your car tires roll over it, the litter can scatter down the street, leaving you back at square one.
This is where traction-specific agents step in. Unlike kitty litter or sand, they’re engineered to give you an instant, stable grip so your boots or tires don’t go sliding around. It’s like the difference between improvising with a dull kitchen knife versus using the proper tool for the job—you get faster, safer results.
Kitty Litter To Get Out Of Snow: Helpful Or Hype?
Another big question that pops up every winter: does kitty litter really help if you’re stuck in snow? The short answer is—kind of. Tossing some litter under your tires might give you just enough grit to get moving, but it’s not always reliable. Smooth, packed ice underneath your tires will often cause the litter to just scatter out instead of staying put.
And here’s something else: cleaning up after using kitty litter outdoors isn’t exactly fun. If you’ve ever wondered how do you clean non clumping litter off your driveway, you already know it’s a hassle. Non-clumping types break down into fine dust once wet, which sticks to shoes, tires, and even garage floors. By the time spring rolls around, you might still be sweeping up the remnants.
So yes, kitty litter can work in a pinch for traction, but it’s not a long-term or low-maintenance fix. For those icy mornings when you’ve got to get to work quickly, relying on something like Walk On Ice gives you a cleaner, faster, and safer solution.
Why Cat Litter Fails As An Ice Melt
Here’s where a lot of people get confused: thinking cat litter to melt ice works the same way salt does. Unfortunately, it doesn’t. Salt lowers the freezing point of water, actively breaking down the ice. Cat litter, on the other hand, just sits there—it doesn’t have any melting properties at all.
That means if the goal is to actually clear your driveway of ice, litter isn’t the tool for the job. You’re still left waiting for the sun or a proper ice melt product to do the heavy lifting. And in the meantime? You’re dealing with mushy pellets, more sweeping, and a surface that may still be slick.
When you think about it, cat litter is better suited for emergency use—like keeping a bag in your trunk in case your tires get stuck. But for daily ice management, especially if you’re worried about how to get traction on icy driveway surfaces, a traction agent is simply the smarter choice.
The Better Balance: Walk On Ice For Everyday Use
If you’re tired of experimenting with temporary fixes, Walk On Ice really changes the game. Unlike kitty litter, it doesn’t break down into mush or scatter away. Instead, it actively creates a skid-free, non-slip surface by locking into the ice itself.
That means no messy cleanup, no worrying about pets tracking it into the house, and no wasted effort. Plus, since it’s 100% natural, it’s safe for wooden steps, asphalt driveways, and even newer concrete where corrosive products like salt or chloride melts could cause damage.
The best part? It works instantly. You don’t have to wait 20 minutes for melting action—you just sprinkle, step, and go. Whether it’s walking your dog down slick wooden stairs or pulling your car out of a patch of driveway ice, Walk On Ice gets you moving safely.
Get ready for winter with Walk On Ice instant traction on snow and ice
Conclusion: Smarter Winter Prep For Less Stress
So, while tossing kitty litter to get out of snow might save the day once or twice, it’s hardly a perfect system. It doesn’t melt ice, it leaves behind a mess, and figuring out how do you clean non clumping litter after it’s been ground into your driveway can make you question if it was worth it in the first place.
If your real concern is how to get traction on icy driveway surfaces day after day, you’ll want something that doesn’t just give you a temporary patch but a reliable solution. Walk On Ice does exactly that—fast, safe, and without the environmental headaches. And when you compare it to sand or kitty litter, the difference in convenience and performance is obvious.
This winter, don’t let icy driveways, slick steps, or snowed-in tires slow you down. Keep kitty litter as a last-ditch emergency tool in the trunk if you want, but for everyday safety, make Walk On Ice your go-to. It’s one of those upgrades that makes you wonder why you ever settled for messy quick fixes in the first place.
Other Ice Melt Products
Safe Paw
The Original and #1 Selling Pet and Child Safe Ice Melt for over 20 years. Guaranteed environmentally safe – will not harm waterways and sensitive wetlands. All products are made in the USA.

Safe Thaw
Imagine an ice melt you can put down and never worry about. It won’t harm pets, kids, and your property. That’s Safe Thaw. Unlike anything else on the market, Safe Thaw can change how winter affects our planet.


