Cats instinctively inhume their waste product , which make it round-eyed to introduce sign of the zodiac cats to litter boxes . Most cat are happy to go to the bathroom in their litter boxful , as long as you offer a near spot to determine up their box ( many cats prefer privateness ) , use a litter that your cat wish , and keep the boxwood clean .
As a ecumenical rule , you should have at least one bedding box per computed axial tomography in your household , plus one spear carrier . The boxwood should be space out in dissimilar areas of your home rather than grouped together so computed axial tomography have privacy to use them . Solid thriftlessness should be scoop up daily , and the litter box should be thoroughly cleaned once a week .
The type of computerized tomography bedding you utilise is paramount — cats might not expend their litter box if they do n’t like the bedding inside . Take a amble down the big cat litter aisle of any favourite store and you will find a sea of cat bedding material to pick out from , including litters made from many different substance , such as clay or paper , scented and unscented cat litters , and special formulation . For household with more than one big cat , there are even multi - cat bedding material .
With so many option , it can be tough to know the best type of CT litter for your pussycat . Read on to learn all about the dissimilar case of cat litter , including materials , texture , and scents , plus get helpful point and advice .
Cat Litter 101: An Overview
When choosing a type of cat litter , it ’s helpful to infer the following key features :
Clumping vs Non-Clumping
One of the biggest consideration is whether a bedding material is clumping or non - clumping . clump cat litter , which is commonly made of clay materials , clumps together when wet , allowing you to scoop pee from the corner as well as solid waste . With daily scooping , clip-clop mud cat litter live on longer than non - clumping bedding . Non - clumping litters made from clay , silica , paper , wood , and other materials quickly become saturate by urine , so you have to dump and clean the entire box more ofttimes .
According to Emily Swiniarski , DVM , medical manager of the Anti - Cruelty Society in Chicago , Illinois , kittens younger than 4 month former should start with non - clumping litter . “ Very young kittens try everything , which could include kat litter , ” she say . “ Clumping litter could constellate inside of kittens ’ tummies , and could create a blockage . ”
Scented vs Unscented
Scented cat litter helps control olfactory sensation in the litter box . Although human beings might prize a scented true cat bedding material , many cat dislike strong perfumes in their bedding material box and favor an unscented intersection . If you need to give scented bedding material a endeavour , calculate for one with a light scent so as not to overwhelm sensitive kitty noses .
Weight
Some bozo litters weigh more than others . ponderous cat litter can pose a problem for citizenry with mobility or health issues because the weight makes it unmanageable to buy , carry , fill the bedding material box , and dispose of the bedding . as luck would have it , there are lot of lightweight cat bedding material to opt from in both clumping and non - clumping diverseness , some weigh up to half as much as traditional cat bedding material . Lightweight clip-clop cat bedding material are very porous , giving them an supererogatory soft smell that most cats love . Litters made from alternative material like soybean , hemp , and silica crystals are also lightweight .
Dust Level
Many cat owners care about litter junk affecting their cat ’s airways . Dr. Swiniarski say you do n’t need to strain too much about litter dust , especially if you choose a low - debris cat litter . “ Dust from cat litter does n’t detain in the air long , and most suite are large enough or have enough airflow that this is not a long - term concern , ” she tell . “ Cats naturally fag , so the best room to prevent dust is pick a bedding material that is designed to limit it . ”
Tracking
Most cats favour fine - textured litters , but these tend to stick to a qat ’s paws and scatter outside the bedding material box . If you ’re hoping to reduce down on the mess , many intersection , even soft clip-clop litters , are designed to be low - tracking . course low - tracking cat litters include pelleted litter , like those made of paper or Grant Wood .
8 Types of Cat Litter
Cat bedding is made from dissimilar substances . Most cat owners are familiar with traditional clay cat litter , but you may also purchase litter made from alternative material like corn , pale yellow , grass , and coconut palm stalk .
“ These [ alternative stuff ] litter are no better for cats than standard litter , but they could be expert for the environment , ” Dr. Swiniarski enunciate . “ In the very rare cases of cats that like to eat [ traditional ] litter , these alternative materials would be necessary . ”
Some common types of cat litter available admit :
Clay
The longest - used type of cat litter , clay cat litter is the most democratic and generally the most low-cost . Clay cat bedding can be clop or non - clumping , and arrive in many formulas , include low - dust , depleted - trailing , multi - cat , lightweight , and unscented .
Crystal/Silica
Made from silica gel , crystal cat litters are non - clumping but they suck up urine and trap odors . Some quartz glass bedding material are rough - textured , which CT might not wish , but others are designed to be ultra - soft . This case of litter is very lightweight .
Paper
computed axial tomography litter made from newspaper pellets does not clump but it ’s very absorbent . Many firebrand use recycled theme to make this type of bedding material . report bedding material is naturally low - tracking , but not all cat like the texture of pelleted litters .
Wood/Pine
Ellen Price Wood - based cat bedding may be clumping ( soft ) or non - clumping ( pellets ) . Pelleted Natalie Wood litter is exchangeable to paper litter but is made from wood shavings , such as pine . forest / pine African tea litters are very absorbent and have a pleasant , born smell .
Wheat
Made from wheat , this type of cat litter is soft and clumps for easy cleanup .
Grass
This clip-clop bedding material is made from Gunter Grass but has a mild grain like sand .
Walnut
This flaccid , clop bedding material is made from natural walnut tree shells .
Corn
Cat litter made from corn meat or corn cobs glob for easy cleanup and is flushable .
How to Choose Cat Litter: Other Considerations
In general , most cats like a easy , unscented cat litter , but individual cats will have specific preferences . If you have multiple cats , look for litter articulate for multi - cat family , which often contain excess odor - control ingredients . If you or your cats prefer low or unscented products , look for a litter that expend other odor - crusade technologies , such as activated oxford gray .
You might need to do a little trial and error to recover a litter that makes both you and your cat felicitous . If you want to throw your cat ’s bedding , offer two type in unlike litter boxes to see which one your cat prefers .
Another method acting for shift your kat ’s litter is to gradually mix the old litter with the new litter in increasing ratios over one workweek . Do this in a new bedding box , while also keeping your khat ’s old box seat with the original litter so it still has your cat ’s familiar scent .
“ If your cat halt using the changing litter box , you had good not make the switch ! ” Dr. Swiniarski says . “ If your computerized tomography continues to use both litter box with the same oftenness as before , step by step shift the second box as well . ”
If you are findingpeeandpoop outside the litter box , it ’s potential that you are not clean house the boxwood frequently enough . verify you ’re scoop solid waste and thump at least once a day ( more often if you’re able to ) , and changing all the litter and clean the box seat once a week .
“ Many cats will pee or poop immediately next to the litter box if they do not care the cleanliness or eccentric of hombre bedding , ” Dr. Swiniarski says . “ Some computed axial tomography will urgently attempt to use the litter box while touching the litter as small as potential , scrunch on the very boundary of the box with only two paws in the litter . ”
Underlying medical problems can also do a cat to go to the bathroom outside the litter box , so talk to your veterinarian to rule out any likely health concern .
If you ’re keep the box very clean , your cat has a clean bill of health , and they still wo n’t use the litter box , the problem could be that your cat does n’t wish the bedding material you ’re using . In this case , try introducing a young litter using one of the method account above . Once you recover a litter you acknowledge your cat loves , stick to it ! qat are creatures of habit with very specific penchant — the less you change things in their life , the happier they will be .
