Best Cat Litter Buying Guide

Cats are one of the cutest pets, and most people prefer to have them in their homes. Their cuteness is more related to the fact that they try to remain clean. Even wild cats will try to hide their litter from sight. So, cats never want to expose their litter and cause problems for others.

If you want to keep a cat as a pet, the first thing to purchase for her is a litter box. Cats are selective when it comes to litter, and they want a specific place for their waste. Thus, buying the best cat litter will save you from future problems. A specific litter box also means that you are safe from issues.

Why Do I Need a Cat Litter?

If you have an open place in your home, you may avoid using a cat litter box. You can train the cat to use the outdoor space whenever she needs it. However, we know that most homes in our cities have no access to a garden or sandy patio.

Cats would never like to drop their waste here and there as it is bad for hygiene. So, you must arrange the best cat litter for your cute pet. It will also become easier for you to clean the litter box while your home remains clean.

Types of Cat Litter

So, we found that a cat litter box must have an object when you are keeping a cat as a pet. But which type of cat litter box prefer? Well, it comes in different types, and you must know about the best one.

Silica

The first type of cat litter in our list of the best cat litter is silica litter. We ranked it in the first spot because it is one of the best ones. Silica can absorb a lot of urine in it before it starts to smell, and you must clean it.

When your cat finishes using it, you must remove solid waste from the box. Silica will absorb a lot of liquid waste for a longer time. Only once in a while, you must clean the whole box and replace it with new silica. Thus, you will ensure cleaning and good hygiene.

Silica also makes less dust. So, it is very healthy for cats and humans alike. However, the downside is that it costs a lot. You must be ready for cost when you are buying a silica cat litter. If you change the silica too often, you will end up spending even more.

Clumping Clay

A clumping clay cat litter is a good option if you need an easy-to-scoop litter. It is also very affordable as you must remove only solid clumps. Thus, the litter will remain inside the box, and there is no need to change it.

However, we will never recommend you use clumping clay cat litter. The reason is that there are some dangers when using clumping clay which we should never ignore. It is dusty, and your cat won’t like it. This clay is also sticky and will stick to the paws of your cat. Not only will her paws become dirty, but she will also spread the dust at home.

This clay has sodium bentonite in it, which is a harmful substance for ingestion. When the cat carries it with her, she can spread it in the whole home. If the cat licks her foot, she will ingest it. If there is a baby in the home, he may also get it. Just a simple attempt to save money will cause severe health problems.

Non-Tracking

To tackle the issues that we saw in the previous version, the non-tracking cat litter works the best. It is very soft since it is made up of grass granules. The best feature of this litter is that it won’t attach to the paws of your cat. Thus, she won’t spread the dirt around your house. As a result, your house will remain clean.

It is also from scents. Most cat owners prefer to use non-tracking cat litter. Since it doesn’t spread any dirt, you don’t have to clean the house from time to time. They are straightforward to use, and managing them is also simpler.

Pine Cat Litter

If your cat can handle the smell of pine, then this one will become the best litter for her. This litter has a strong smell of pine without using any scents. So, it will cover the smell of urine and will spread freshness in your house.

Scented

The last type of cat litter includes scented litter. It would help if you took special care before buying the best cat litter of this type for your cat. Since it comes in different scents, its good smell will mask the bad smell of a cat’s urine.

You must check strictly that if your cat likes this smell or not. Cats won’t like scents in most cases. So, if the cat doesn’t like the scent you purchased, she will stop using the litter. She may also start to pee in other places. Thus, when you decide to purchase it, you must take special care.

Important Factors for Buying a Cat Litter

So, we already saw some of the common types of cat litter. We somehow discussed the factors that matter when you are buying the best cat litter. Let us discuss in detail the factors that matter when you are buying a litter for your cat.

Familiarity

The first thing to consider is the familiarity of the cat with any litter method. In most cases, people buy cats from a store. These cats already know some litter types and are happy with them. The best thing is to continue that method if it is not risky.

Changing her method is not a wise decision unless it has some serious cons. If you want to change it, you must give her the proper space and time to learn. Train her with patience and let her explore the benefits of a new litter.

Age of Cat

The age of the cat and her maturity level also plays a key role in your decision. As we discussed that clumping litter has so many cons. They are bad for your young cats, as they don’t know how to save them from the bad effects. They don’t know that ingesting it is bad for their health. So, give your younger cats the safest litter.

On the other hand, your adult cat is not aware of different setups. She knows what to ingest and what to avoid. If you want to do cost-saving, you can use clumping litter for her. However, it would be best if you took special care of the cleaning.

Weight

Whenever we talk about weight, we say that less weight is better. However, when it comes to the litter box, the heavier it is better. Your cat shouldn’t be able to move the box. She might feel bad when she keeps moving during litter. In some cases, she may even overturn the litter box from her weight. So, the heavier is better.

Allergy

Cats are susceptible to most kinds of smells. They can’t tolerate and avoid such items that have smells. The allergy of every cat differs from one another. So, it is a must to check your cat’s allergies before you buy her a litter. Different litter has different smells or even parts that are not good for your cat. She may be allergic to corn, grain, grass, or other items. You should also avoid using dusty litter.

Cats love cleanliness and always dig the surface before dropping their waste. Thus, they ensure cleaning. However, if the litter is dusty, they will get respiratory problems when digging. Thus, you must check different types of allergies and give your cat the best cat litter. The best that you can give her is an unscented and non-dusty litter.

Odor

We already stressed some importance of how crucial it is to check the odor of litter. In types of litter, we saw different types had different odors. There is a major mistake that most cat owners make. They will select the type of odor that they like and ignore the cat.

However, the best thing is to check what smell your cat likes and what odors are bad for her. An odorless litter may spread the smell of feces. So, we will recommend you invest in natural odors. Your cat will never dislike it. If you want to buy her other types of odors, make sure to check her first.

If you make a slight mistake here, your cat will deny using this litter. She can’t wait for a replacement to come and will start littering anywhere she likes. To avoid this, you must be careful about the type of odor you buy.

Pellet Size

You must be very careful when deciding the pellet size of the litter. The reason is that each one has cons and pros. Your cat will love to sit on small and soft pellets. However, she will most likely spread them in the whole house. On the other hand, she may not feel good sitting on larger pellets. However, they are difficult to carry, difficult to ingest, are safe and clean for the house. So, it would help if you decided which thing to prefer in your case.

FAQs

When Should I Change a Cat Litter?

There is a general rule to change the cat litter twice a month. If you fail to do so, it will start smelling and spread other diseases. However, it differs from a different type of cat litters. So, read the manual and follow the guidelines of your litter type.

Should I Flush the Cat Litter in My Toilet?

When it comes to changing the old litter with the new one, most people find it easy to flush the used one in their toilet. It may seem easy, but it has many cons as It is solid waste and may be stuck in your waste pipes. Also, it may clog pipes, or in some cases, damage the whole septic system. So, flushing the cat litter in the toilet is a bad idea.

How to Keep My Place Safe From the Litter?

When your cat uses it, she may spread dust in the whole house with her paws. While the house is unclean now, it may also become bad for people’s health in the house. On the best way is to place a piece of carpet or a small mat in front of the litter box. Thus, your cat will clean her foot after using the litter box.

Where to Place a Cat Litter Box?

If you have a large house, then you can find plenty of calm spaces inside the house. However, the main problem arises if you have a small house. Most people recommend place a cat litter box in their washroom or around their toilet. It would be best if you kept the toilet door open to lower the smell, and this method works the best. The place that you select for your cat litter should be quiet, have privacy, and fewer people should come there.

Is It Wise to Keep the Cat Litter Box in My Bedroom?

Keeping the cat litter box in your bedroom is never a good idea. The litter remains there for weeks and spread the smell in the whole area. You and your cat will eat food, sleep, spend time in the bedroom, and the smell from the litter box will make it unbearable for you to spend time there. Germs will also spread in the house. So, prefer some open space or your toilet for placing your cat litter box.