With so many cat litter options available on the market, choosing the right cat litter can become difficult. There are so many varieties of litters that are available and each are made from varying materials such as clay, sand, silica crystals, corn, soft wood and grass, just to name a few! There are also various sizes, scents and and textures to choose from - overwhelming, right?
Cats are notorious for being picky creatures, so if your cat is having difficulty with using a litter tray or you are introducing a new kitten into the family, then making the right choice for your cat, as well as your family is essential. Although the choice of cat litter should be the right fit for your cat, it is essentially up to you on what is the best fit for your household.
We have compiled a list of the different types of cat litter to help you make the best decision!
Non-Clumping Cat Litter
Non-clumping cat litter can be a great environmentally conscious choice as most varieties of this type of litter is either made from clay or biodegradable materials, such as corn, wheat, pine and recycled paper.
Some prefer to use non-clumping cat litter because it is often the more affordable choice and some cats may prefer it, however, it is essentially at the owner's discretion to choose the type of litter.
Although non-clumping cat litter has a great ability to absorb large volumes of liquid, as the litter becomes more saturated, the urine may have the tendency to pool at the bottom of the tray. As a result, removing and cleaning this type of litter becomes difficult without changing the entire kitty litter box. It is recommended that when using non-clumping cat litter, that the tray is completely cleaned and changed at least once a week.
Clumping Cat Litter
Clumping cat litters are specially designed to make removing mess from your litter box easier, without having to empty and replace the entire box. This also means that less litter is used.
Most types of clay clumping cat litter incorporate a material that is known as bentonite. This material allows for the litter to form into clumps when liquid is absorbed.
As the litter is clumped together, it can easily and efficiently be removed from the litter tray - the soiled litter is simply removed from the box and is then replaced with clean litter and with this, the box can stay cleaner, for longer!
Although the litter tray doesn't have to be cleaned as frequently with clumping cat litter, it does not mean that your cat's litter tray should not be emptied and cleaned. This only means that this task can be carried out less often than with non-clumping options.
So, what is the best Cat Litter option?
There is really no definite answer as to which type of cat litter is ‘best’. It is a personal choice on what you and your cats prefer on whether you choose clumping or non-clumping cat litter. Although many cats seem to prefer clumping litter as it is easier for them to kick and move aside, cats ultimately want a clean and odour free litter tray.
When it comes to the dust that litters can sometimes produce, both the clumping and non-clumping litter options can be responsible for this, although there are formulations for both options that have been specially designed to decrease the amount of dust. Cats generally prefer low dust litters and it is often the desirable choice for their owners as it offers minimal handling, cleanup and reduces odours.
Even though your cat may have its own preferences and habits on the type of litter that is in their tray, it is still okay to change the litter to suite your own needs too. Gently transitioning from one type of litter to another by introducing the new choice of litter on top of the existing litter in increasing proportions, you can make the move stress free for both you and your cat.
The combined preferences of your and your cat's choice of cat litter will determine what is the right fit for your household, and what you want to stick with.