Cat litter is essential for your cat's hygiene and that of your home, and is very important when it comes to training your ARITOGATO. On the market, you can find several types of litter to fill your cat's litter box: clumping, silica, mixed, or other ecological options such as corn cobs, recycled newspaper, or wood shavings. For litter to be optimal for cats, it should clump well, be easy to sift, and have odor-elimination technology.
Let's analyze the different types of litter currently available on the market to make your choice easier:
It is a natural option and contains no chemical additives, so it poses no health risk to people or cats.
Cost: Affordable
Duration: Limited; it needs to be changed frequently to combat odors.
Advantages: Low cost and easy to find
Disadvantages: Not very absorbent; it is difficult to clean up waste without completely changing the litter box.
Joaquín Albadalejo, certified in feline medicine (Ronda Sur Veterinary Clinic) points out that this type of litter is not recommended for various reasons: “It does not absorb properly, it is more difficult to keep truly clean (urine seeps down), cats dislike its texture (it has sharp edges), etc… We see quite a few behavioral problems associated with cats that urinate and/or defecate outside their litter box, and these problems are often related to various aspects of the litter box, with the type of litter being one of them.”
Cats tend to like it because the box stays clean longer. Removing the dirt also minimizes odor problems.
Cost: Affordable
Duration: It lasts much longer. Simply replace the discarded material daily. A thorough cleaning is recommended at least once a month.
Advantages: It makes it much easier to keep the litter box clean, as it forms solid clumps that are easier to locate and clean. Perfect for completely neutralizing odors.
Drawbacks: Many of them are scented, which your ARISTOCAT may reject. Some clumping litters can produce dust, which may cause some cats and owners to reject them.
“Clumping litters are the most suitable and offer the best value for money because, although they are generally somewhat more expensive, at least compared with sepiolite litters, they last longer and therefore the cost is spread over time”(Joaquín Albadalejo, certified in feline medicine)
It is a synthetic sodium silicate litter, also known as crystal litter because of its shape and color.
Cost: The cost is high compared with other types of litter.
Duration: If waste is removed daily, it can last up to 30 days.
Advantages: Highly absorbent, neutralizes odors very effectively, and does not produce dust. Biodegradable material that is very pleasant to the touch. When the cat urinates on it, its white color turns yellow, making it easy to detect when it is dirty
Drawbacks: Silica has been linked to lung diseases. Critics of clumping litter also argue that the dust released by this type of litter is harmful to the respiratory tract. To minimize this, we recommend using a covered litter box.
Minerals that generate respirable crystalline silica are hazardous in occupational environments. RCS is carcinogenic. Our minerals do not present this problem. Recently, EUBA conducted tests under extreme conditions simulating household use of all types of litter, and the results indicated that the levels were so low that they were well below the detection limit (Luis Vacas, National Account Manager at SANICAT)
Eco-friendly litter is relatively new on the market, but it is a very good option because it does not harm the environment at all, either during its manufacturing process or when it is disposed of.
Cost: It is expensive compared with other types of litter.
Duration: You may need to dispose of more litter than usual because it is more difficult to separate the waste than with clumping litter, and your cat may initially reject it because of its smell.
Advantages: Lightweight and easy to transport. It is biodegradable, so you can flush it down the toilet without any problem. Environmentally friendly.
Disadvantages: It is not as effective at eliminating odors, and its absorption capacity is usually lower. It can also create more mess by sticking to cats' paws.
You already know that cats are creatures of habit, so if you are thinking of changing your cat's litter, introduce it into their routine little by little. For example, you can start by mixing it with their old litter and give them time to get used to it.
The litter box should always be clean, not only for obvious hygiene reasons, but also because your cat is very likely to reject it if it is not clean. Check the litter box about twice a day and remove any waste you find; this will ensure that it stays clean. From time to time, you will need to completely replace the litter in the box, but how often you need to do this will depend on the type of litter you are using.
These are the types of litter you can choose from for your cat. Which one would you choose? Tell us which one is your favorite and why on our social media.