Lightweight, highly absorbent compositions including clay aerogels are suitable for use in the home as well as in industry and have particular suitability for use as animal litter. The compositions can further include components, for example as part of the mixture and/or as a coating on a surface of the clay aerogel component, that have properties, for example, that aid in malodor reduction, clumping, or the like, or combinations thereof. Also, clay aerogel polymer composites, formed from various types of clay and (co)polymers, which are relatively low density materials having myriad applications are disclosed. Numerous methods for preparing the clay aerogel polymer composites are disclosed.