Litterboxes are a necessity for all indoor cats. Cats naturally prefer to bury their waste in litter boxes, but you are the one who chooses the cat litter for your feline friend.

While historically, only clay kitty litter was available, various alternatives now serve the same purpose of absorbing urine while enabling a cat to engage in its biological activity of burying waste.

You and your cat may have different preferences for litter based on cost, odor management, dust level, absorbency, clumping ability, fragrance, and availability.

You may be tempted to use whatever you can get your hands on as a kitty litter replacement until you can get the proper pet supplies. Many other materials have been tried, including sand, moss, sawdust, wood shavings, pet chicken feed, and even dirt and sawdust from the backyard. These products may seem like a quick fix for your cat, but they cause more issues than they solve due to their inability to control odors, dust, and parasites.

Last but not least, you should think about whether or not your cat likes and uses the litter you are thinking about buying. It is common for felines to avoid using the litter box altogether if it contains a certain kind of litter. Of course, this is not good for anybody, so your cat's preferences should be the decisive factor when picking out a litter box. If you wish to know more about this topic, let's discover which types of kitty litter people usually buy and which cats typically prefer.

1.     Clay Cat Litter

For several reasons, including its long history and widespread availability, clay cat litter is the most commonly used for domestic cats.

There are scented and unscented, as well as low-dust and dust-free alternatives. While the clay in some litters is coarse and in others it is more delicate, both types of kitty litter take on a similar soft, wet cement consistency when exposed to pee. Even clay litters are available with added attractants to encourage even the most stubborn feline to use the litter box more frequently.

You may choose between clumping or non-clumping clay litter. Many cat owners choose pet supplies for clumping litter because removing pee waste from litter boxes is easier. In contrast, others prefer non-clumping litter because of its lower cost and because they are willing to discard the whole litter box's contents as required.

Clay litter has some drawbacks, such as being harmful to the environment, attracting a lot of dust, being cumbersome to use, and leaving a mess in the home. Still, many people who keep cats choose to use clay litter due to its low cost and wide availability. Buy from big businesses or online shops for a better deal on pet supplies because they usually have discount codes and gifts available for your pets.

2.     Pine Litter

The popularity of pine cat litter may be attributed to its inherent ability to mask odors. It is softer than clay litter, absorbs moisture well, is gentle to the touch, and is good against the cold since it is formed from pine trees.

Some pet owners prefer it over clay litter since it is safer for the environment and can potentially reduce odors more effectively. In this regard, you may choose between clumping and non-clumping models. Unlike clumping pine litter, which is finely powdered and resembles sawdust, non-clumping pine litter comes in the shape of spherical pellets. If you think your cat is more comfortable with this kind of kitty litter, you should make it your priority in terms of pet supplies.

3.     Silica Gel Litter

Many manufacturers now provide silica gel cat litter, which is gaining popularity. Companies often claim that their silica gel is less dusty than clay litter, that it may absorb pee without the need to shovel the litter, that it can regulate odors better than clay litter, and that cats may even prefer it.

Although a bag of silica gel litter will cost more than a clay litter bag of the same weight, some pet owners do not mind the cost and want to have it as one of their pet supplies because of how long the litter lasts. Some silica gel litters have color-changing indicators to assist in keeping tabs on your cat's urinary tract health.

4.     Corn Litter

Corn litter is an all-natural alternative for your cat. Even though it has a pleasant fragrance, it is still environmentally friendly since it decomposes. It is made of dried maize kernels, which makes it lighter than clay litter and clumps and absorbs the urine. Some varieties of corn cat litter even include catnip to entice feline users.

Mold development, especially aflatoxins, since maize can readily create this sort of toxin, and diminished clumping ability are two issues with corn litter. While most pet owners report no problems using maize litter, some do so out of concern for their dogs' safety from aflatoxins. Corn litter's lesser clumping has been debated among cat owners, although most still find it compelling. So, if you think this is the right match for your cat, go for it. A good tip when shopping for your cat is to get all the pet supplies from the same place because it is more convenient, and you can also get great discounts, especially on online shops.

5.     Paper Litter

Paper litter, which may range from processed paper material to recycled paper material to just shredded newspaper, is often used for cats with paw injuries. These litters are soft and absorbent, like clay litter, but they do not leave behind any clumping dust and do not have any added odors. Such litters are often only used temporarily because of their poor clumping and odor control abilities.

Do you Need other Pet Supplies?

If you are a responsible pet owner, you should think of your cat as you would think of a baby. Both have needs and do not know how to tell you what they want. Getting your kitten accustomed to the litter box is crucial, so cat litter is essential in this process. Also, some other pet supplies are a cat scooper for when you need to clean the litter box, a mat that may prevent the spread of the kitty litter, and bags for throwing away their waste. Although the list may continue, it is good to think of the safety and well-being of your pet and buy all the necessary items for a happy life.

Publication: 24/10/2022 08:22