Mačji pijesak je danas mokar, ali je inače suh.

Literally, mačji pijesak means cat sand:

• mačji = cat / feline
• pijesak = sand

Yes, this is a normal and common Croatian expression for cat litter. Even though pijesak literally means sand, in this phrase it refers to the litter material used in a cat’s litter box.

Because mačji is an adjective meaning cat-related, feline, or of a cat.

• mačka = a cat
• mačji = cat’s / cat-related

Croatian often uses this kind of adjective where English uses a noun before another noun. So:

• mačka pijesak would be wrong
• mačji pijesak is correct

This is similar to how Croatian says things like dječja soba = children’s room / kid’s room, where dječja is an adjective.

They are adjectives agreeing with pijesak, which is:

• masculine
• singular
• nominative

So the adjective forms must also be masculine singular nominative:

• mokar = wet
• suh = dry

If the noun were feminine, neuter, or plural, the adjective would change. For example:

• masculine: mokar pijesak
• feminine: mokra mačka
• neuter: mokro mlijeko
• plural: mokri podovi

So mokar and suh are the correct forms because pijesak is masculine singular.

Because Croatian has no articles. There is no direct equivalent of a or the.

So Mačji pijesak can mean:

• cat litter
• the cat litter

The exact meaning depends on context. In this sentence, English would normally use the cat litter, but Croatian does not need a separate word for that.

Because the sentence has two clauses, and each clause needs its own form of to be:

• Mačji pijesak je danas mokar
• ali je inače suh

The subject in the second clause is not repeated, but it is still understood to be mačji pijesak.

So the full logical structure is:

• Mačji pijesak je danas mokar, ali mačji pijesak je inače suh.

Croatian usually leaves out the repeated subject when it is obvious, but it still keeps the verb je.

Here inače means normally, usually, or in general.

So ali je inače suh means something like:

• but it is normally dry
• but it is usually dry

In other contexts, inače can also mean otherwise, so you have to read it from context. In this sentence, the meaning is clearly normally / usually.

Because je is a clitic, and Croatian clitics usually go in the second position of the clause.

In:

• Mačji pijesak je danas mokar

the first unit is Mačji pijesak, so je comes right after it.

Croatian word order is fairly flexible, but clitics follow special placement rules. That is why the sentence may look a little unusual from an English perspective.

Other orders are possible, but they change emphasis. For example:

• Danas je mačji pijesak mokar. = emphasis on today
• Mačji pijesak je danas mokar. = neutral

Yes. Both are possible and natural:

• ali je inače suh
• ali inače je suh

The difference is mainly one of emphasis and rhythm.

Why both work:

• If ali is treated as the first element, the clitic je can come right after it: ali je...
• If inače is placed first inside that clause, then je follows inače: ali inače je...

For a learner, both are worth recognizing. The version in your sentence is completely correct and natural.

Often, yes. In everyday Croatian, mačji pijesak is a standard way to say cat litter.

But pijesak by itself still primarily means sand in general. So context matters:

• pijesak na plaži = sand on the beach
• mačji pijesak = cat litter

So the phrase is important. The word pijesak alone does not automatically mean litter.

A helpful approximation is:

• mačji ≈ MACH-yee
• suh ≈ sooh, with a clearly pronounced final h

A few key sounds:

• č sounds like ch in church
• j sounds like y in yes
• h is pronounced, unlike in many English words where it may be weak or absent

So mačji has a consonant cluster that may feel awkward at first, but it is normal in Croatian.

Yes, it sounds natural.

It is a normal way to contrast a temporary situation with the usual one:

• danas mokar = wet today
• inače suh = usually dry

A very similar natural variant would be:

• Mačji pijesak je danas mokar, ali inače je suh.

Both versions are fine.