LOOKING FOR THE PERFECT CAT LITTER?

Life used to be so simple. If you had a cat, you used cat litter. There was clay litter or there was clay litter. Definitely an improvement to sand or dirt, now you and your cat have many options to choose from: clumping, non-clumping, crystals, clay, corn, newspaper, pine, wheat, all in various textures and aromas. How do you find the litter that will satisfy both you and your cat(s)?

Clay Cat Litter

Still a widely used cat litter, depending on the quality of the clay, it can absorb between 75% to 300% of its weight in moisture. Drawbacks include:

  • It is heavy.
  • It is not scoopable.
  • Some cats don’t like stepping on wet litter.
  • Needs to be completely changed twice a week, more often if you have multiple cats.
  • It can be dusty. If your cat has allergies or asthma, try to find a low-dust variety.
  • It smells bad when it’s wet.
  • Though it is a natural product, it is a nonrenewable resource and is not biodegradable.

Scoopable, Clumping Cat Litter

This type of litter is very popular for both cats and owners. The cat’s urine causes the litter to form clumps; you just scoop once or twice daily and add new litter to keep a depth of 2-3”. Most cats like the sandy texture. Most owners like the ease of cleaning and handling. Both cats and owners like the cleanliness and odor control.

Some litters do clump better than others. Clumps in the less expensive ones tend to break apart easily, making it harder to scoop them out. A better quality litter is easier to scoop and tracks less. Though it may appear more expensive than clay, there is less waste so it lasts longer. Various options include multi-cat, less tracking and the addition of baking soda or activated charcoal for extra odor control. Made of various materials, some are labeled as flushable, however this may be a problem with some systems.

Clumping litters can be dusty, so if allergies are a problem, consider a low dust variety. While extremely rare, there are some concerns about this type of litter forming clumps in the intestines of cats who groom it off their paws. It is a good idea to monitor your cat’s paws and help kitty clean them if needed.

Natural, Biodegradable Litter

Cat litter made from earth-friendly plant materials is becoming more popular. These are usually made from wheat, alfalfa, oat hulls, pine, corn, peanut hulls, or recycled newspaper. Some popular ones are:

  • Swheat Scoop, made from non-food grade wheat
  • Feline Pine, manufactured from recycled pine scraps
  • World’s Best Litter, made from whole-kernel corn
  • Cat Country, special blend of wheat grass fibers

Silica Gel Litter

Made from porous sodium silicate, these crystal beads have the highest absorbency and odor control of any cat litter. Litter should be stirred daily and feces scooped out. When litter turns color, dump, rinse pan and replace with fresh litter.

Specialty Litters

  • Veterinarians often recommend pelleted litter for post-surgery to help keep wounds and incisions cleaner.
  • Litter box issues? Try CAT ATTRACT with attractants added to encourage litter box use.

While some cats will tolerate a scented litter, most cats will avoid scented litters. It may take some experimentation, but with a little trial and error you will find a litter both you and your furry friend find acceptable.