Cat litter: which option is better for the cat and for the owner’s apartment

Cats are inherently cleaner than dogs and make keeping them in an apartment much easier than keeping “man’s friends”. In addition, cats do not need to be walked, unlike dogs, because they easily get used to going to the toilet in a specially designated place.

All cats tend to prefer a litter box. Today, a huge number of manufacturers produce different fillers for cat litter. They are all different, but which one is better?

Previously, the owners of furry pets used newspaper scraps or sand from a nearby sandbox. But now the need for this has disappeared, because special fillers for trays have appeared on sale.

A toilet without it has the only advantage – it is price. As for all other points, then this option:

• does not take into account the animal’s need for instillation;
• requires the owner to constantly clean and wash the tray after the cat goes there. After all, if you do not regularly clean the cat litter box, then especially clean cats can refuse this tray and go “past”.

What kind of litter will a cat like?

The cat will like the composition, which is convenient to step on with its paws, as well as in it should be comfortable to dig. If it is dusty, then the cat will obviously not like it. The toilet should not smell of extraneous odors. A good filler should not cause allergies – this manifests itself in the form of cracks on the pads. It must be absolutely safe for your pet.

What kind of filler will the owner of the cat like?

It should retain the “aroma of cat affairs” and should not be carried by the cat’s paws throughout the house, and when the owner fills the tray with it, it should not dust. Also important ease of cleaning. Safety for the animal is important not only for the cat itself, but also for its owner. Due to the fact that the filler is a consumable material, it is necessary that its consumption be economical.

Almost every moment ideas about the ideal toilet and the owner, and the cat match. Cost alone doesn’t matter to a purring creature. At that time, a flavored composition that the owner will like is unlikely to please the cat.

These were the general nuances regarding the cat litter, and now consider the different types of filler.

All of them are divided into two types:

• absorbent;
• clumping.

Absorbent filler

This toilet at the time of absorption of moisture does not change its structure. It will need to be completely replaced with a new one when all the granules are saturated with liquid, otherwise, the tray will begin to “smell” with an unpleasant odor.

Since the cat at the moment of burying “its traces” mixes the soaked filler with the new one. Therefore, it will not work to keep the tray clean by adding a new portion of the filler there – it will have to be changed completely. This type of toilet is suitable for one or two cats. And if it is supposed to be used by a large number of animals, then it will need to be changed every two to three days. Of course, this option is not distinguished by its economy. In addition, at the time of cleaning the tray, you will have to inhale all the aromas that the filler had previously held.

Filling filler

In this type of toilet, at the moment the liquid enters, small lumps, which are quite easy to remove from the tray. With this option, you can remove “bad” lumps and solid waste every day and add new filler. For economical and productive use, it must be poured into the tray in a layer, not less than 8-10 cm. Ideally, you should purchase a filler with a margin of at least 2 packs. The first should be poured immediately, and the second should be used to update the tray. By the way, this option is ideal for a large number of cats:

According to the material from which the fillers are created, they are:

• clay;
• woody;
• silica gel;
• from grain and corn;
• from cellulose.

Cats really like the clay version, as it is most similar to her innate ideas about what a cat litter box should look like. The quality of this filler depends on clay.

Bentonite is considered the best material from which cat litter is made. This is a type of clay that swells when liquid enters it. Clay cat litter can be both absorbent and clumping.

To create a wood filler, sawdust of coniferous trees is used. These sawdust is pressed into pellets.

Since it does not contain chemical additives, it is considered environmentally friendly. Wood filler granules absorb moisture well and retain an unpleasant odor. But it happens that these granules, as the liquid is absorbed, begin to crumble into sawdust, stick to the cat’s paws, and spread around the house. But woody, unlike other types of cat litter, can be flushed through the sewer. In addition, the composition of coniferous sawdust is cheaper than the same bentonite toilet.

Most often, woody options that absorb. Although there are manufacturers who create clumping fillers .

Silica gel filler

It is made from dried gel polysilicic acid. Silica gel has excellent absorbent (sorbent) properties. Therefore, it began to be used for the production of cat litter. In order for this composition not to lose its qualities, it must be stored in a tightly closed state. This is necessary so that it does not absorb the moisture contained in the air.

These cat litter boxes are made exclusively absorbent. As for its cost, it is more expensive than other types, but manufacturers claim that it is more economical. But more economical is the one that comes in the form of old and opaque balls. But those that have a translucent appearance are saturated with liquid much faster and have to be changed.

Cats don’t always like this cat litter box:

• stepping on it is not very pleasant;
• the pellets sizzle when liquid hits it.

Despite the fact that the silica gel composition for cats is created from natural raw materials, it can still cause a chemical burn. This may happen because acids are used in the production of silica gel. If the granules get on the mucous membrane, then this can lead to such consequences. Cats can taste it, especially small kittens. Therefore, a silica gel toilet is not the best option. In addition, silica gel belongs to substances of hazard class 3 (moderately hazardous substances).

Grain, corn or cellulose fillers

These cat litter boxes are not as popular as others and their advantage lies in the low price and they can be disposed of through the sewer.

Summing up and concluding which filler is best suited for the cat’s toilet, we can say that the best characteristics are clumping clay toilet.