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Untidy bathroom habits ... are the number
one reason why domestic cats are surrendered to animal shelters.
Cat litter may not be the most interesting of topics ...
but it does deserve some attention.
Common considerations are product safety
and the use of added chemicals or fragrances
(which affects the health of all family members and other
pets).
Other features are odor control, ease of cleaning
and value for your money. Flushable litters are absolutely
convenient but many plumbers recommend you don't flush.
The final say is usually awarded to your cat.
If your cat doesn’t approve,
he or she simply won’t use the litter box.
When choosing kitty litter do bare in mind that cats lick
their paws when grooming and can swallow any traces
of litter that remain on their paws after a visit
to the litter box.
Scented litters are meant to appeal to us.
They can overwhelm your cat's powerful sense of smell and
might even cause your kitty to avoid the litter box entirely.
Sprinkling baking soda on the bottom of an empty box, before
you refill it, will help control odors.
Kittens should not be exposed to clumping
cat litter until eight weeks of age.
With increased focus on going
green and maintaining good health, you can
now choose from many environmentally friendly types of litter.
Some of the many products available are discussed below.
Yesterday's News Litter
This litter really does embrace the concept of recycling
and is made from recycled newspapers. In pellet form, it is
an almost completely dust free, tends not
to get tracked all through your home, and is three
times more absorbent than clay.
It is available in two textures, original and softer. The
softer texture tends to resemble sand, which is appealing
to cats. Yesterday's News is also recommended by veterinarians
for cats recovering from surgery.
... this biodegradable litter is plant based (trees)
and is a renewable resource.
Cat litter review
We used the pellet type. You definitely need to scoop the
soiled pellets at least daily. They can be a bit difficult
to see because of the pellet's dark color. If you don't
scoop, this litter can develop a powerful ammonia like smell
within a few days.
Silica cat litter … also
known as crystals or pearls
This product is not plant based but made from a dried silica
gel. The main ingredient is sodium silicate,
which is an extremely absorbent material.
It effectively controls odors and can last a long time.
Sodium silicate has many industrial uses. It is used in the
little silica packs that are put into pill bottles and shoe
boxes to absorb moisture.
These packs usually come with warnings,
such as "do not swallow."
Concern does exist that ongoing exposure to silica dust is
associated with pulmonary (functioning of the lungs) difficulties.
... sodium silicate is in its natural state so it does not
decompose. It is a non-renewable but plentiful resource.
Silica cat litter review
I tried the silica litter some time ago. It controlled
odor well but with five cats I found this litter to be a
bit too pricey for me.
When the pearls cannot absorb any more moisture the next
delivery of urine will become a puddle on the bottom of
your litter box. Should any pearls escape from the box they
roll around all over the place.
Feline pine cat litter
This litter uses kiln-dried pine sawdust. The pine oils have
been removed and the pellets are sterilized. The manufacturer
states one 20 pound bag (9 kg) of Feline Pine will
outlast a 60 pound bag (27 kg) of clay litter.
Over time the pellets break down into a sawdust and can get
tracked through your home. Feline pine is earth friendly and
has a pleasant pine scent. There are two kinds, original and
clumping.
Some house cats may need to get used to or will simply not
like the texture of the pellets. My cats don't give a hoot.
… a biodegradable and renewable resource
Pine litter review
We use the original, unclumping litter. We find it to be
less work than a clumping litter which needs constant scooping.
The fresh pine pellets absorb the urine but also dry out
so there is no unpleasant odor for several days (dependant
on how many cats you have).
The pellets do eventually break down causing a tracking
problem. At that point, the litter also becomes stinky and
needs to be replaced.
Cat on a budget tip !
If you live in a rural area you
may be able to buy bulk cat litter. Look for large bags
of pine pellets that are used for horse stall bedding ...
and save a bit of money.
World’s Best Cat Litter
Made from whole kernel corn, this earth
friendly product offers the convenience of a clumping
kitty litter for you and also poses no threat to your cat’s
or kitten’s health. However, the manufacturer does advise,
“Do not expose kittens to litter before they are 8-weeks
of age.”
Odor is controlled by protein molecules in the corn. World’s
Best contains no chemicals, perfumes or binding agents. If
your kitty does ingest the litter it should pass safely through
your cat’s digestive system.
The clumps can be scooped and the manufacturer states that
the litter outlasts traditional clumping clay litters by about
40 percent. It also comes in an extra strength formula designed
for households with multiple cats.
Some manufacturers of self cleaning litter boxes
recommend this brand because it does not have a gummy
texture and will not clog the machines.
Many cat owners love this brand even though it does cost
more than most.
… a biodegradable and renewable resource
World's Best Cat Litter review
We had a tracking problem with World's Best Cat Litter. It
clumped well but did not offer outstanding odor control. In
our minds, it was comparable to Swheat Scoop. Our cats had
no problem adjusting to it.
Swheat Scoop Natural Wheat Cat
Litter
Secondary grade wheat is given a new life when naturally
processed into an earth friendly cat litter with clumping
properties. When exposed to moisture the natural
wheat starches begin the clumping process. Wheat enzymes do
their bit and help to neutralize unpleasant odours.
Swheat cat litter is chemical and fragrance free
and described as safe and non toxic for cats
and kittens should they swallow some while grooming.
… a biodegradable and renewable resource
Swheat Scoop litter review
We found this litter to be a bit messy and somewhat dusty.
Unless you use liners, it can get gummy and stick to the litterbox.
We found SWheat and World's Best Cat Litter to be somewhat
alike. Both litters were available to our cats and they had
no preference.
Arm & Hammer Cat Litter
Their Essential Clumping Cat Litter is also
a corn based litter. Combined with baking
soda to control odors, it is a powerful but gentle combination
that is earth friendly. Good for your cat, good for your family.
It absorbs twice as much moisture as clay litters and has
a soft texture which cats prefer.
(Arm & Hammer also produce clay based litter products.)
... corn is biodegradable and a renewable resource.
Clay based cat litter –
available as clumping and non-clumping
The granddaddy of cat litters is clay litter. This litter
has fine sand-like qualities which cats like. Clumping is
the most popular … and can be easily scooped along with
the poop.
However, there are concerns that the chemical that makes
it clump, sodium bentonite, may cause serious
health problems for pets and notably very young kittens. That
seems pretty logical given that sodium bentonite hardens (clumps)
and expands up to 15 times when it comes in contact with moisure.
In spite of that, some authorities claim clay litters pose
no risks to a kitten's or a cat's health.
Given the growing concerns about the safety of our food
and the alarming discovery that children’s toys contain
toxic materials … I would be very inclined to play
it safe … and use one of the many alternative litters.
After all, a kitten or a cat must stand
in the litter and all cats lick their paws. (Cats and people
inhale the dust.)
If the clumping and expanding properties of sodium bentonite
are enough to plug up a toilet (been there
- done that) what is the likelihood of it simply slipping
right on through a kitten’s tiny digestive system
with no adverse affects?
One wouldn’t want a curious toddler anywhere near
clumping clay litter. And pet dogs have been known to nose
around in a litter box to
grab a quick “snack.”
Some cat owners have marveled when symptoms of poor health
disappeared, once the clay litter was replaced with an alternate
litter. They are not experts, just ordinary consumers who
observe and know their cats.
However, clay based clumping kitty litter remains popular
and many cat owners are quite happy with it.
… clay is in its natural state and therefore does not
decompose. It is a non-renewable resource.
Clay cat litter review
We used clay litter once, a few years back. The only thing
I really remember about the clumping clay litter is my daughter
scooped and flushed the litter down the toilet. At some point
it expanded and plugged a pipe. When I was done with the plumber,
I was done with the litter.
If you change your brand of kitty litter, do so gradually
Cats are very much creatures of habit and don’t adjust
quickly to any sudden changes. Over a period of a few weeks,
add some of the new to the old type. Start with about one
part new on the bottom of the litter box with four parts of
the old cat litter on top. Continue to adjust the portions.
If your cat becomes sick, do give some thought to which type
of litter you are using. It might be helpful to let your vet
know too.
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