After testing dozens of automated litter bins, I can say it has been troublesome to find out which is the very best cat litter (or fairly, if there may be one). Most individuals will need to search for a low-tracking, clumping cat litter that is appropriate with their litter field. However there are different components to contemplate, like allergens, materials, the litter field itself, and the way you may take care of the waste.
Lately, there have been leaps and bounds within the pet tech sphere as an entire—together with the place our cats go potty and what litter they go potty in. Up to now, the alternatives have been an absorbent clay whose principal compound was calcium bentonite, sawdust, or sand. Now, we have now high-tech crystal litter, which goals to point out well being points via altering shade; eco-friendly tofu litter; and all varieties of clumping clay litter between. After a 12 months of testing litter bins and scooping tons of cat litter, let me sift via (get it?) the choices so you possibly can decide the very best sort of cat litter for you and your furry good friend.
Desk of Contents
Ought to You Change Up Your Litter?
There are a lot of the explanation why you might need to change your litter. Your cat could also be like mine, with sensitivities to robust odors or smells that may trigger allergy symptoms or allergy-like signs like pink eyes or itching. Or perhaps your cat is long-haired, like mine, and also you’re uninterested in litter sticking to their fur.
If you wish to be extra eco- (and budget-) pleasant, a biodegradable tofu or wooden pellet litter could also be higher, however for these, you may must introduce the change slowly and oftentimes, you may have to alter the field you are utilizing. (Extra on that beneath.)
As a helicopter pet guardian who brushes their cats’ tooth and shaves their butts, I truthfully simply need to make sure that I’ve a litter that retains my cat (and me) comfy, giving them a protected house to potty and a neater time to scrub it for me.
I search for, and advocate of us do trial-and-error to seek out, a litter that has all of those parts:
- Clumping: Many manufacturers declare to clump successfully, however you may want to watch whereas scooping to see if they really are, or in the event that they’re leaving smaller bits that sneak via grates whereas cleansing.
- Scent-free or low scent: Cats can scent 14 instances higher than people, and robust odors can irritate their respiratory system and result in itching, watery eyes, and different signs, together with not wanting to make use of the litter field in any respect as a result of the scent is just too overwhelming.
- Low–monitoring: Similar as clumping litters above, many litters declare to be low monitoring, however I’ve discovered that one of the best ways to reduce litter monitoring round the home is to have a terrific clumping litter and add as a lot house between the field and the ground. Which means that along with clumping litter, add equipment like stairs (in case your cat is cell sufficient), a ramp, or a litter-trapping mat to extend the space between the field and your flooring, to cut back litter monitoring. Litters that purpose to be low-tracking are usually higher at mud management, which additionally assist with normal cleanliness and decrease irritants.
I’ve examined a number of varieties of cat litter from Boxiecat, and though expensive, they’ve all managed odor nicely, had low mud/monitoring, and scooped simply in clumps (and labored nicely with my automated litter field).
Evaluate the Most In style Varieties of Litter
As stated earlier than, there was super-limited litter choices, now there’s tofu, wooden, silica crystals, recycled paper, and even nut shells. Whereas one thing like wooden pellets is more-eco pleasant and cheaper, you may need to think about your litter field and whether or not your cat takes to the brand new litter. (Though gradual introduction is vital.)
- Clay cat litter: That is by far the most well-liked litter sort, and most intently resembles what cats can be utilizing within the wild. Clumping clay cat litter is what I like to recommend for most individuals, because it primarily makes use of a naturally absorbent bentonite clay. It expands when moist/dirty, making it “clump,” which is less complicated to scoop and customarily extra hygienic. Nevertheless, it is not as environmentally pleasant as a result of it is not biodegradable and might include carcinogenic silica mud.
- Tofu cat litter: This comparatively new litter is nice as a result of it is environmentally pleasant. It is made out of soybean fiber, making it naturally biodegradable, unhazardous, and approach much less dusty than conventional decisions. If purchased in pellet kind (the most well-liked possibility), they clump nicely and might even be flushed in the bathroom, though it may be expensive and might develop mould if in humid situations.
- Crystal cat litter: Such a litter is produced from silica mined from quartz sand and combined with oxygen and water to make tremendous absorbent pellets (akin to the absorbing powers of little silica gel packets discovered in lots of newly purchased gadgets). It is light-weight and has nice odor management. Crystal litter is expensive, not biodegradable or clumping (requires every day sifting), simply tracks, might be an uncomfortable texture for paws, and is troublesome for some cats to get used to utilizing. In style manufacturers like PrettyLitter really use a particular silica method that goals to trace well being adjustments via altering colours based mostly on urinary PH. Though I am barely cautious to make use of it due to critiques of the silica litter being ingested and harming cats and inflicting respiratory points due to the particle mud.
- Paper or Wooden pellets: Paper and wooden pellets are low-cost, have low mud and monitoring, and are eco-friendly as a result of they’re biodegradable. (Paper pellets are additionally nice for injured or post-operation pets as a result of the litter is low-dust and there is much less likelihood for litter to get caught in wounds.) Nevertheless, this does not management odor nicely, is non-clumping, and must be modified steadily (you may most likely want a sifting litter field). Wooden pellets are additionally typically fabricated from pine and might have an awesome scent.
- Walnut shell cat litter: Made out of crushed walnut shells, that is typically used as a a lot lighter, extra pure various to clay litter. It is light-weight and has the same texture to clay, and is biodegradable. Though it could monitor, spoil if in moist situations, and requires frequent emptying/cleansing.
- We do not advocate corn cat litter, as corn is vulnerable to a poisonous mould referred to as aflatoxin. This will trigger well being points for cats and in people who’ve bronchial asthma or COPD and are immunocompromised or aged.