What's The Best Cat Litter For Your Cat - Part 2

In Part 1 we covered the history of cat litter and some general points to consider when choosing a litter type. In Part 2 we will begin our coverage of litter types starting with clay cat litter.

Clay Cat Litter

Clay cat litter comes in both clumping and non-clumping varieties. Clumping litter is a relatively new litter type having been invented in the mid 80s. It is made from a specific type of clay and has a fine texture which forms little clumps or balls when it gets wet.

This clumping action makes it very easy to remove cat urine along with any solid waste with a slotted scoop. Since only part of the litter is removed you just need to add a little more after each scooping session to keep the box "topped off".

A big advantage with clumping litter is you don't have to clean the litter box as often as you do with the non-clumping type. Figure on a thorough cleaning about once a month if you use clumping litter and only have one cat.

Non-clumping litter has a more sandy or granular texture and does not produce clumps that can be scooped when the litter gets wet. You can still scoop out solid waste but any cat urine is absorbed by the litter.

This can cause an odor build-up after a few days and because of this you need to clean the box and replace it with fresh litter at least once a week to keep urine odors in check. You can buy non-clumping either scented or unscented but most experts recommend not buying scented as some scents can irritate a cat's nose.

Supposedly there has been a lot of research done on finding an odor control that a cat does not find offensive but the bottom line is either your cat will like the litter scented or they will not. You just have to experiment with different brands to see what works best for your cat.

Dust is the main problem with clay cat litters and despite manufacturer's claims that their products are dust-free all clay contains silicon particles that have been shown to cause respiratory problems in both cats and humans. This dust gets tracked through your house as it clings to your cat's paws and fur and can end up everywhere.

A disadvantage with clumping cat litter is that not all brands can be flushed down the toilet as the litter can swell and clog your pipes. This means it has to go into the trash which could cause an odor problem for you. Note: Always read the label on a clumping litter to see if it is flushable before trying to flush it down the toilet.

When deciding which type of litter is more economical remember that non-clumping litter must be replaced at least once a week while the clumping variety only needs to be completely replaced once a month.

As you can see there are many factors to consider when choosing a clay based litter. You have to weigh things like convenience with costs and possibly health concerns. I myself would put the health of my cat and family before convenience but that's just me.

In part 3 we will take a look at other types of cat litter currently on the market.

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