From Cat Litter Crystals to Biodegradable Alternatives, Which One Should You Use
We know that when it comes to your kitten, you want to give the little tiny ball of fur the best its little brain can ever dream of. From fluffy beds that they might (and will) ignore, to high-quality foods, funny toys and enriching scratch posts, you want to spoil your cat.
But one very important thing that you might not have taken into consideration is their litter and how big of a difference it can make in your cat’s life, and your, if you think about it. Read along to find how cat litter crystals, biodegradable litter or coconut husk litter can improve your pet’s mood.
Why is litter important for cats?
For cats, litter is essential because it mimics their innate tendency to bury waste. It provides them a healthy way to do so by giving them the opportunity and healthy, clean space. It reduces the danger of infections from unhygienic environments, helps manage odours, avoids messes, and promotes excellent health.
Having a safe, hygienic and especially designated space for their natural habits also promotes their mental health. You might also see that your cats act particularly interested when you’re changing their litter. That is because they are mentally invested in it, which makes it even more important that you ensure their litter is a clean and safe space for them.
There are many choices available on selecting the litter for your pet cat. From “traditional” options to futuristic alternatives, even environmentally friendly ones, the market for litter is rather large, providing you with multiple alternatives to meet your needs as an owner and, most importantly, your cat’s desires. In today’s article we are going to look over 5 types of litter and the benefits they provide.
Clumping Clay
Clay has been one of the oldest types of clay and one of the generally most used ones. Mimicking the aspect and particularities of sand, clumping clay is a special type of clay that clumps around particles of moisture. This makes it easy to scope, which is probably one of the reasons why it is one of the most widely-used options. With excellent odour-cancelation properties and located rather low on a price scale, this type of litter is a good choice when introducing your cat to litter.
Non-Clumping Clay
This type of clay is extremely similar to the aforementioned version, except it does not clump around moisture, making the need for complete replacement more prominent. Unlike its clumping alternative, you will not be able to scoop waste as easy as with the other option and you will have to empty the entirety of the litter in order to provide your cat with a clean and hygienic space.
This should be done at least once per week, though it might depend on how big the box is. If you observe your cat is struggling to find a suitable spot, you should immediately empty the box. While this makes the need to change the litter more often, it also makes it easier, as you can just dump it out, clean the box and fill it again. And do not be surprised if the first thing your cat does after you cleaned it is instantly use if again, they tend to do that to mark their space.
Silica Gel or Cat Litter Crystals
With great absorption properties and extremely efficient in eliminating odour, cat litter crystals, as they are often marketed as, are made of silica gel particles. Comparative to its clay alternatives, they do not create dust and do not stick to your cat’s paws as much as other options do.
They also last longer than regular clay and, because is easier to clean, they make for a convenient and efficient alternative. If you’re tired of the disturbing smell, switching whatever litter you’re using to cat litter crystals might just be the improvement you’re in need of.
And do not worry, it is entirely and completely safe for your cat to use specifically formulated silica gel as its litter. Just make sure you completely change it every four weeks or so, in order to ensure you and your cat enjoy all the benefits and all the properties provided by it.
Biodegradable Litter
This type of litter is usually made out of wood, or other nature-based elements such as corn, wheat, paper or even grass, materials that are biodegradable. They are environmentally-friendly, compostable and usually highly-absorbent. Certain types can also mimic the clumping offered by clumping clay, without leaving behind clay dust.
On the other side, however, they might not be as efficient in cancelation odour and, as eco-friendly alternatives usually are, they can also be quite expensive. However, due to their biodegradable properties, disposing of them will be easier than with other alternatives. Also worth noting, there are fully flushable options too.
Biodegradable options:
• Pine litter, made out of sawdust or wood pallets
• Coconut husk, made from crushed coconut shells or choir
• Grass-based, made from grass fibres
Reusable Litter
This type of litter has been specifically designed for those mechanical or self-cleaning litter boxes. Reusable litter, as opposed to conventional disposable litter, is composed of long-lasting, non-porous materials that can be cleaned and used repeatedly, cutting down on waste and long-term expenses.
Conclusion
You might think of litter as something you cat uses for its biological needs, something that serves no other purpose than to act as a toilet and be dumped outside but, in reality, litter plays a great role in your cat’s well-being, both mentally and physically. Not to mention that, since you keep the litter inside your home, you might want to know your options.
Whether you’re going for clump clay or cat litter crystals or even biodegradable litter to be more environmentally cautious, the choice is up to you and your kitten. Feel free to try multiple options and decide what options is the best.