Cat litter?
Saturday, March 6th, 2010 at
7:08 pm
Which cat litter is best? I have always used the regular clay kind but i noticed that they have more varieties like crystal kind and wood based ones..
Are these other types more clean or efficient?
Filed under: Cat Litter
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The wood/paper kinds are great, but not all cats approve of the switch.
Personally, I use Tidy Cats "Small Spaces". It works perfectly fine for my one cat.
My parents use Feline Pine for their indoor cat. I just don’t think my cat would accept the switch.
The wood based ones aren’t very good for cats. Or so I’ve heard. I use the crystals. Tidy cats. It works really well. I have 3 cats. And It clumps really nice and doesn’t let any stink out.
Clay litters suck, in my opinion. They don’t clump, they get mushy when wet, so that makes it harder to clean, and the clay litter often hurts/irritates the cat’s paws. Other than that, it is kind of a learning process.
Yeah clay cat litter is the worst! I use tidy cats (the one that is light blue not red). It clumps really well which makes cleaning the litter box easier and faster. It also really helps with the smell.
We’ve used the wood based ones for years and had no problems. We like them because if the bag breaks when we go out to the trash, or it’s been sitting waiting for trash day, the wood dust just blows away and rots in the grass.
Over the years our vets have advised us to stay away from the clumping kind, especially when our cats were young. The kittens tend to lick their paws after and the litter can clump in their stomachs. Being so young they can’t pass it as easily as older cats can.
I’ve always been leery of the crystals. They just always seemed expensive but then again we have 3-4 cats normally.
All I’d say is find one type that works for you and most importantly, your cats like, and stick with it.
Our cat has always prefered to do his business outside, naturally, how cats should.
I like the Arm and Hammer kitty litter, because it really does neutralize the odor very well. My cats like to dig and bury, so I don’t think they’d appreciate the wood kind very much. Honestly, though, they’re just as happy using dirt (I tried to keep them indoor cats, but they kept finding ways to get outside).
I am a huge fan of the fresh step crystal litter. About 3 months ago I switched from using a Littermaid automatic cat box with the clumping clay litter, to the Scoop Free by Fresh Step. I love this litter. Virtually no smell, unless you stick your head in the cat box, less mess (not as much tracking), easy clean up, and easy to change. One bag of litter last me for a month @ $11 a bag. I recommend the Fresh Step Crystals 110%. If you are in the market for an automatic cat box and think you want the Scoop Free look into getting a permnant tray. The disposable trays they advertise with the system don’t last as long as they say. Even using the crystals in a plain litter box would work fantastic too!
today it may be your personal preference, based upon research, your house, the number of cats, and the ease in which you like to maintain a litter box.
I’m sure the more organic ones such as the wood, pine or recycled paper are much better in some ways, yet in small spaces they need to be cleaned often.
Clumping litter or litter with crystals would remove odor more efficiently I’d assume and be the choice for those with more cats, or less time to scoop.
Clay litter is a basic for fast disposal, as only the poop is scoop-able, and the urine odor and residue remain behind unless you throw the whole thing out. Used in vet offices where they throw away every dirty litter pan, no matter whats in it.
So, give a try on the brands you are interested in, if you want to remove all the deposits, then clumping types, if you don’t’ mind residue, then its non clumping!
Lots of luck!
Tidy cat crystal. It is more expensive but lasts a lot longer. I tried cheaper litter and was not happy with it.
WOOD STOVE PELLETS! Not only do they totally remove the urine odor but they absorbs the moisture, dump out dry and the best part? You can buy a 40 pound bag for around FOUR OR FIVE DOLLARS! It’s the same compressed pine sawdust pellets as Feline Pine so anyone using that stop wasting your money!
You can find them at Home Depot, Lowes and another homestores and most grocery stores like the Safeway, Fred Meyer and Albertsons stores here in the Northwest US during the colder months and year round at farm/feed stores.
The best is FiberCylce.
Clay litter gets stuck to your cats paws, it licks it off and can cause clay lumps in its tummy.
The crystals just turn yellow and don’t really do much.
FiberCycle is 100% recycled newspapers that otherwise would go to landfill, it is biodegradable and a naturaly traps the oder.