Picking the right cat litter supplier is one of the most consequential decisions an importer makes. The best partners deliver steady capacity, consistent quality, and clean paperwork—so your products arrive shelf-ready and keep selling without drama. The wrong choice means stockouts, dusty bags, and claims that drain margin. Use the following framework to evaluate candidates and build a supply program you can trust.
Context: Operating from one of the world’s top-three bentonite-producing regions, MiiCat manufactures bentonite clumping clay, plant-based (tofu/soy, corn), mineral, and engineered blends, and can share batch-level QC with recent third-party test IDs on request.

🧭 Fit & Reliability

Start with operational fit. Ask each cat litter supplier for hard numbers: monthly output by production line, average and peak lead times, on-time-in-full (OTIF) performance by lane, and how they handle seasonality. A credible factory shows a capacity plan (extra shifts, sister lines, maintenance calendar) and names the people who own scheduling, QA, and documentation. Response speed to samples and emails is not “soft”—it predicts how they’ll handle bookings and exceptions later.

References matter. Speak to two current export customers in your region and one in a different climate; you’ll learn how the product travels and how quickly corrective actions happen. Finally, check financial stability and basic risk controls (backup power, spare parts on site). If the factory struggles to share a clear escalation path or refuses references, keep looking.
How MiiCat fits: MiiCat provides line-level capacity ledgers (monthly tonnage by line), peak-season plans, and named bilingual contacts for PM/QA/Logistics so OTIF expectations are measurable from day one.

🐾 Range & Positioning

A strong cat litter supplier doesn’t just sell “cat litter”—they help you build an assortment that matches real buyers. Look for breadth with discipline:

• Clumping clay (bentonite): the core of most markets; prioritize firm, scoopable clumps and moderate dust.

• Plant-based (tofu/soy, corn, wood/paper): lighter weight, eco appeal; verify biodegradability/flushability by market.

• Silica gel (crystals): long tray life and odor control; often preferred unscented.

You don’t need every variant. A simple Good-Better-Best ladder works: a dependable clumping clay SKU, an upgraded dust-reduced clay or lightly scented option, and a premium plant-based or crystal line. Ask about private-label capability (artwork support, multi-language labels, zipper/valve formats, bag film options, carton strengths) and realistic MOQs per SKU. The supplier should offer guidance on granule size (tracking vs. scoopability), fragrance dosage (avoid overpowering notes), and pack sizes that “cube out” containers efficiently.
How MiiCat helps: MiiCat supports Good-Better-Best lineups across bentonite, plant-based, and crystal; OEM/ODM services include dielines, barcode placement, and pack/film options tuned to container cubing.

🧪 Quality Systems

Quality is not a slogan; it’s a repeatable method. Before price, align on the test plan you’ll both use:

• Absorption & clumping: define liquid absorbed per 100 g and time to initial clump; then measure clump integrity after 10–15 minutes with a controlled drop or sieve test and record mass retained.

• Moisture & dust: agree a moisture window and the method (oven-dry vs. handheld meter). Specify maximum fines by sieve and ask for in-process dust readings at transfer points, not just finished-bag checks.

• Particle-size distribution (PSD): lock sieve ranges; PSD drives both clumping and dust.

• Odor control: clarify whether performance relies on porosity alone, activated carbon/zeolite, or restrained fragrance; keep an unscented option in the range.

Make these targets part of the RFQ and the purchase order, and approve a Golden Sample (dated, method-labeled) with retains kept on both sides. Each lot should ship with a COA that lists moisture, PSD, dust/fines, and clump-integrity results with timestamps. Ask for a small photo set from production, packaging, and palletization—this becomes your visual template. Establish change control: no swaps in film thickness, zipper type, fragrance, or granule size without written approval and new samples.
How MiiCat proves it: For clean A/B trials, MiiCat can ship matched lots (aligned granule sizes and moisture windows) and provide a COA template with methods noted, plus recent third-party test IDs for dust %, absorption, and clump strength.

🌍 Compliance & Claims

Importers live and die by paperwork. Prioritize ISO-style quality management, and where relevant ISO 14001, plus social-compliance frameworks your retailers require (e.g., BSCI/SEDEX). Ensure up-to-date SDS are available and that the factory understands market-specific obligations: REACH for EU, California Prop 65 awareness, and labeling rules (language, recycling icons, country of origin, barcode placement). If the product is promoted as “biodegradable,” “flushable,” or “dust-free,” insist on supporting test reports that match the claim and the destination’s legal context. Align on HS codes and invoice descriptions early to prevent customs delays, and confirm who owns export paperwork, inspection bookings, and any destination registrations retailers need.
How MiiCat supports: MiiCat shares current SDS, aligns on HS codes and invoice wording early, and can provide regulatory statements (e.g., REACH/Prop 65 awareness) and audit support upon request.

🚚 Pricing, Terms & Logistics

Compare partners on total landed cost, not just ex-factory price. Model at least two Incoterms (FOB vs. CIF/CFR, and DDP if offered). On heavy goods like litter, carton strength, pallet pattern, and container fill often move unit economics more than a few cents at the factory gate. Clarify who pays for pallets, slip-sheets, desiccants, export docs, and destination fees; small line items add up quickly.

Structure price as volume-tied tiers built on accepted quarterly volume, not one-off spikes. Lock lead times by stage (sample approval → production → booking → sailing) and reserve a booking window to avoid premium freight. Tie final payment to quality paperwork: COA received on time and a loading report with container and seal numbers plus pallet count. For long routes or humid seasons, specify inner liners, desiccants, and—where appropriate—vented containers. Design bag and carton dimensions to cube out the container with minimal voids, and set stacking limits that protect lower pallets. On arrival, run a light acceptance routine (batch-code scan, quick clump check against the Golden Sample, seal-strength pull, dust spot-check) and archive results with COAs; you’ll spot drift before customers do.
Practical edge: While not a freight forwarder, MiiCat shares packing densities, palletization drawings, and moisture-control SOPs, and is happy to work with your nominated carrier.

🧾 Quick Selector (keep this near your shortlist)

• Operational proof: capacity by line, OTIF data, peak-season plan, named contacts.

• Assortment fit: a clear Good-Better-Best ladder; private-label readiness and pack options.

• Method-based QC: absorption/clump, moisture, dust, PSD—written methods + COA + retains.

• Clean compliance: SDS + retailer-required credentials, REACH/Prop 65 awareness, correct labels & HS codes.

• True cost view: tiered pricing tied to accepted volume, modeled under two Incoterms, with pack/pallet plans that protect the goods.
Optional pilot: MiiCat can arrange a 20 kg sample and a trial-pallet MOQ using the same spec and batch controls as FCL, so you can validate rotation before scaling.

Bottom line: choose a supplier that can prove capacity, document quality with reproducible methods, and move pallets that arrive exactly like the sample you approved. Do that—and keep documentation tight—and your clumping cat litter in bulk program will deliver what shoppers reward most: consistent clumps and clean pours, while your brand enjoys predictable margin with low risk.