Cat litter: types, choice, pros and cons

If you have a cat in your home, it’s time to think about creating the right conditions for keeping it. In addition to food and a place to sleep, your pet needs a toilet. In apartments and houses, special trays with fillers are successfully used to solve the issue of hygiene and maintain cleanliness in the living space. The store offers a large selection of these compounds, distinguished by different criteria.

In this article we will look at how to choose the right litter for a cat litter box, a description of litter options, their positive and negative sides.

Which cat litter is best to choose?

In earlier times, boxes and other containers filled with sand or paper were used to create a litter box for a domestic cat. However, these compounds did not cope with their task very successfully, required constant replacement and spread the unpleasant smell of cat urine.

To eliminate all the disadvantages of the available “filler”, manufacturers of pet products began to produce special formulations that imitate the natural environment. Artificial litters are well accepted by cats and effectively absorb the smell of feces, keeping the house clean and hygienic.

The assortment includes different types of fillers. Let's take a closer look and determine which composition is best to choose for the cat's litter box.

Homemade homemade litters

The first of the known ones is what is called “grandfather’s method” - ordinary torn paper or sand. Thousands of thousands of cats around the world willingly relieve themselves in such litter for their trays, there is no problem with that. But there are significant disadvantages.

Firstly, having gotten used to paper, a kitten or an adult animal has every right to claim any paper parcel, newspaper or magazine as a toilet area, which you are unlikely to like later.

Secondly, pieces of smelly paper will invariably stick to the cat's paws and be carried around the house. Also “no ice”!

Thirdly, newspaper paper does not have the proper absorbent qualities. This means that a cat with wet paws after visiting the litter box will walk across the carpet, jump on the sofa, settle on your lap, leaving drops of its urine where it walked, jump, and settle down. Gradually, aromas accumulate and naturally turn into scent marks. Result - be prepared that at some point the cat will pee on the carpet, sofa, or your thing.

Almost the same applies to sand toilets. We can only add that attempts to pee in a flower pot (dry sand or greasy peat - the cat doesn’t care) will result in the death of the potted plant - cat urine is poisonous for green indoor plants. No, sand is not really an option at all!

And there’s no escape from the smells! Even if you use a tray without any filler, just a mesh, the odorous fluids will eat into the furniture, into woolen and pile fabrics, and will follow you even on the street (your clothes are also made from various fabrics). The smell from the tray can be neutralized with some chemical. method, but guarantees that the cat will be loyal to such intervention and will want to use the tray, which stinks of carbolic acid or chlorine, for its intended purpose. In addition, caustic substances can be dangerous for the animal itself!

You'll have to train your cat to go to the toilet or shell out for factory-made litter!

Absorbent cat litter

The absorbent mineral filler does not change its structure after use and quickly absorbs liquid. Made from natural raw materials that are safe for animals. The composition may include sawdust, corn, pulp and special types of clay. To improve the characteristics of the filler, some manufacturers add activated carbon, soda or silver ions to the base composition.

Popular types of absorbent filler:

• FRESH STEP triple odor protection;
• HOMECAT without additives;
• Tail;
• Zoonic;
• Barsik effect/standard/alpine freshness, etc.

pros

Absorbent litter for the tray has its advantages.

Pros:

• absorbs odor well;
• does not require regular replacement;
• affordable price.

This composition is chosen by owners who have several cats in the house.

Minuses

You can replace the litter once every 7-10 days, but some cats refuse to go to the toilet again, even if the litter is only partially soiled. No obvious deficiencies in the composition were identified.

Other famous brands

Below is a comparative table with a list of equally well-known and popular brands. Having studied their composition and main features, you can choose the optimal brand for yourself, which will be environmentally friendly, safe, inexpensive and satisfy all the requirements of the animal, refresh, and keep the house clean.

Clumping filler

Clumping litter is the most popular granular composition made from a clay material with excellent moisture absorption properties. The main composition may include wood, paper, various fragrances and some substances that change the color of the granules after contact with urine.

Popular brands of clumping litter:

• HOMECAT standard, ecoline, etc.;
• NEO LOO LIFE (waste can be flushed down the drain);
• CAT'S BEST SMART PELLETS (clumping wood composition).

pros

Let's look at the advantages of clumping cat litter.

Advantages of the composition:

• absorbs the unpleasant odor of feces well;
• environmentally friendly material is absolutely safe for cats;
• can be used for small kittens;
• convenient cleaning with economical consumption of granules.

Minuses

Disadvantages: Requires daily cleaning of the tray. After going to the cat's toilet, the owner needs to remove the crumpled granules with a special spatula. If you don't do this cleaning, she will spread wet, crumpled granules around the house with her paws.

Not suitable for owners with several cats in the house.

Herbal toilet

The name speaks for itself. The filler is truly environmentally friendly; it is essentially granulated grass. Cats are attracted to this smell, which helps them quickly get used to the grass litter box.

Pros of herbal filler:

• granules are made from meadow grass;
• the filler does not cause allergies, it contains no chemicals or flavors;
• it is convenient to use and clean;
• washed down the drain without consequences.

The main disadvantage: in Russia, such cat litter is very poorly distributed, despite the fact that it was developed by a St. Petersburg company.

Wood filler

Wood filler is created from sawdust compressed into pellets. The contents of the tray can be flushed down the drain. Environmentally friendly composition for animals.

Popular brands of wood filler:

• CAT'S BEST ORIGINAL/ SMART PELLETS / UNIVERSAL;
• HAPPY PET;
• HOMECAT standard/green tea, etc.;
• Tail;
• NEO LOO LIFE.

pros

Let's look at the advantages of wood fillers.

Advantages of the composition:

• ecological natural material;
• well accepted by cats;
• suitable for small kittens;
• complete replacement of the filler – once every 5-7 days;
• can be flushed down the drain.

Minuses

Disadvantages:

• small particles can be carried throughout the house;
• does not absorb urine odor particularly effectively;
• Daily cleaning of the tray is required.

Sand toilet

Let's start with the simplest one. Sand is the most basic, natural filler material. Pour sand into a tray - this is a method proven by grandmothers. Cats enjoy going to the sand litter and feel great. The choice is, in principle, not bad. Sand itself is cheap and safe for the animal. Cats feel essentially at home in their natural habitat. They dig in the sand with great pleasure: they dig holes and bury them. Sand does not get trapped under the claws.

However, among the main disadvantages of such a toilet, the following should be noted:

1. Sand doesn't hold the smell. It is advisable to change this litter for cats more often, and preferably immediately after the cat’s “doing”.
2. When the cat digs, sand flies in all directions, and the floor will need to be constantly washed.
3. Not everyone can find easily accessible sand, because they do not take it from the sandbox on the playground, but in special building materials stores, and order it at bases. This is inconvenient for many.

Silica gel filler

Silica gel cat litter is made from a natural component - silica, processed using special technology. A product with zero humidity and a highly porous structure effectively absorbs large volumes of liquid.

Popular brands of silica gel filler:

• FRESH STEP CRYSTALS;
• FLAMINGO SILICA CAT LITTER;
• MIMI LITTER;
• CC Cat;
• Khvostun et al.

pros

Silica gel composition is the most expensive, but at the same time very economical. The filler in the tray is replaced 1-2 times a month. There are other advantages of this filler.

Advantages:

• safe environmentally friendly composition;
• quickly absorbs moisture;
• effectively blocks the unpleasant odor of urine;
• pathogenic bacteria do not multiply in this filler;
• does not spread throughout the house.

Minuses

There are also some disadvantages of silica gel filler. These include the crunchy sound of the granules, which can scare away the cat, and a fairly high price.

Every day

1 kg of pressed wood (coniferous) granules of cat litter “Every Day” absorbs up to 5 liters of liquid, and also eliminates unpleasant odors, prevents the spread and proliferation of bacteria, and does not stick to the animal’s fur. In addition, the product is absolutely safe and does not cause poisoning if it enters the stomach of a pet.

There are 2 types: mineral and wood. The product is universal: it can be used not only for cat litter, but also for rodents (rabbits, decorative rats).

When used correctly (distribution under the grid of the tray), the filler lasts for several months. There is no unpleasant smell near the pot. When liquid gets in, the granules swell and form a lump, which can be easily removed with a suitable spatula.

The packaging has easy-to-carry holes that you can put your fingers through. But what’s most pleasing is the cost of the pellets – only 52 rubles.

The only drawback that consumers noted was the inaccessibility of the product - the filler is sold exclusively at Auchan.

See also:

5 Best Cheap Toothpastes for Gums That Really Work

What other types of fillers are there?

The range of pet products also includes other types of cat litter. Let's look at them.

Types of fillers:

1. Mineral – consists of granular minerals with a porous structure. The natural composition absorbs odors and liquid well. Consumption is economical. You can remove spoiled granules using a special spatula. Among the disadvantages: it cannot be washed down the drain; it can emit an unpleasant odor if wet lumps are not removed for a long time.
2. Corn is a hypoallergenic composition that has a similar structure to wood filler. Can be used for small kittens. Allowed to be flushed down the drain. Excellent odor neutralization and water absorption. Among the disadvantages: sawdust can be carried around the apartment on the cat’s paws.
3. Clay - small granules from certain types of clay, resembling sand in shape. Pros: economical consumption, convenient removal of lumps using a spatula. Disadvantages: the composition is quite dusty, remains on the animal’s paws, cannot be flushed down the toilet.

The best option for cats is a litter with a good structure that does not injure the paws or pollute the fur. The composition should have a natural odor, not contain toxic or allergenic elements and not create unnecessary garbage in the apartment.

Corn toilet

Few people have even heard of the corn toilet. And, by the way, it’s difficult to say how much it differs from wood filler. It is made from corn cobs. This toilet:

• holds odor;
• absorbs well;
• does not clog the sewer;
• As a rule, it does not cause allergies.

However, there are two negative points. Corn needs to be grown and processed. This is a labor-intensive process; corn does not grow in all regions: either it grows, but in small areas, or the weather does not allow it to be grown at all. Thus, it turns out that the corn toilet is not so ideal:

1. it is a little more expensive than wood;
2. it is much lighter than wood, that is, it will not just spread, but fly around the apartment.

Murchik economy

“Murchik Economy” is a hygienic litter for cat litter, costing 45-55 rubles per 5 kg. In terms of quality, it is absolutely in no way inferior to expensive fillers.

The granules perfectly absorb moisture and odor and form a tight lump when exposed to liquid. This simplifies cleaning and saves on unused granules.

The filler consists only of natural ingredients - kaolin clay, bentonite. Depending on the cat’s preferences, it can be purchased in different factions:

• small (1-3 mm);
• medium (3-5 mm);
• large (5-7 mm).

The product is packaged in thick plastic bags with an easy-to-carry handle. It is impossible to ignore the original packaging with the image of a cat on a golden toilet.

Myaudodyr

The Myaudodyr filler consists only of pressed granules of natural origin (coniferous wood), which are safe for animals and the environment. The product perfectly adsorbs moisture and prevents the unpleasant smell of cat litter from spreading in the room.

A package weighing 10 kg costs only 126 rubles. Excellent price for a filler of this quality.

As practice has shown, inexpensive hygienic litter for pet trays is not inferior in quality and efficiency to more expensive analogues. Therefore, it is not necessary to pay more to ensure cleanliness and maximum comfort for your furry pets.

comparison table

For the purpose of visual comparison of the presented funds, we use the comparison table below.