Your Cat Litter Choices

If the idea of house training a pet is enough to keep you from getting a companion for your home, then a cat just might be the perfect pet for you. There’s very little training involved. All you need is some cat litter and a litter box, and you now have a pet that can stay inside all the time.

Mother cats are great about teaching their kittens how to use a litter box. Your job is simply to make sure your cat knows where the box is located. Once he learns this, it is unlikely he’ll do his business elsewhere. But that doesn’t mean there aren’t some decisions for you to make. And the first one is deciding what type of litter you want to use.

There are an increasing number of options available, so it’s good to know a bit about each type before you run out and buy a bag.

One factor you’ll need to look at is the price. This is where clay litter has a big advantage. Clay was one of the first litters developed commercially and is less expensive than most of the others. The problem with clay is that it not only absorbs liquids, it also hangs on tightly to most odors. You’ll need to change it frequently or the smell will permeate your home. Clay is also problematic if your cat has allergies because when he scratches in the box the dust will start to fly.

Clumping cat litter has quickly become the most popular. The litter works with the moisture in the waste, clumping up as soon as your cat goes. This is good for you because you don’t have to change out the entire box, you simply scoop out the clumps, then add more litter to replace what you just cleaned away. And although it won’t remove the smell, clumping litter does come in several different scents to help hide the odor. The problem here is that some cats tend to eat the clumps. You’ll have to watch your cat carefully to make sure this is not an issue.

Silica litters use water, sand, and crystals to control the odor and moisture. You’ve seen those little packets in new shoes or some medicines. Those packets are there to absorb moisture and contain silica. Because of it’s moisture absorbing capabilities, those same crystals are now used in cat litter. You scoop out the solid waste and the liquid is absorbed by the crystals. On the down side there is no clumping. On the plus side, this litter is usually biodegradable, returning to a sandy base when decomposed.

Another biodegradable litter is paper litter, which is becoming very popular with environmental pet owners. This litter is made from pellets or recycled paper. In addition to being biodegradable, it is absorbent and is easy to carry around because it does not weigh very much.

Another litter that is generally biodegradable is made from wood. Pine is the preferred choice because of it’s natural odor absorbency, but other woods are used as well. All softwood litters are absorbent with natural odor control capabilities. That means no chemicals need to be added, giving you a more natural product.

Once you decide on the type of litter you want to use, your cat will undoubtedly let you know if he agrees with your selection. Some cats for example don’t like the smell of pine litter. Others won’t use silica because the crystals don’t feel good on their paws. In either case, your cat will tell you whether or not he approves by either going or not going in his box.

There are other litter options available as well. And with so many choices now, it’s important to know the the good points and bad points of each one before you head to the store.