Cat Litter Guide
Cat litter is an essential supply needed when raising a cat. It is used by cats to bury its urine and faeces, but some owners have preferences for what type of litter to use. When cat owners are choosing litters, they often choose it based on five major factors, these include price, odour control, amount of dust, absorbency, how well it clumps, etc.
If you are trying to find the best cat litter in the world through this article, you are probably in the wrong place. Among the cat litters of the same category, we may be able to evaluate which cat litter is more outstanding at what properties, but in the end, depending on your needs, you may prefer one property of the cat litter over another. The remaining of the article will be introducing and analyse several common cat litters that are available in the market, revealing advantages and disadvantages of each type. Hopefully, it will provide a little help to you in choosing the cat litter most suitable for you!
Paper Cat Litter
Paper cat litter is a popular option for cats with paw injuries. It can be made from processed or recycled paper material, and it is absorbent, produces little to no dust, has no fragrance, and is softer than clay litters. However, it does not clump, nor does it control odors emitted from cat waste, so it is only used for short-term purposes.
The advantages of paper cat litter are that it is environmentally friendly and flushable, low tracking, dust-free, and scent-free. Its disadvantages include its inability to control odor and its higher cost compared to clay litter.
Tofu Cat Litter
Tofu cat litter is one of the most preferred cat litters in the market due to several of its characteristics. Unlike clay cat litter, it is completely made from biodegradable materials such as pea fiber, allowing it to be chemical-free and flushable. It creates no dust, thus preventing cats or owners from breathing in dust particles. It can absorb more than four times the amount of urine that traditional cat litter can absorb and neutralizes strong odors on contact.
Yet, some people think tofu cat litter on urine absorption is not good, fragile, and sticky, making cleanup inconvenient. However, this may be because the quality of the chosen tofu cat litter is not good.
Clumping Cat Litter
Clumping cat litter is made from bentonite clay. This type of clay swells up to 15 times its original volume when it comes into contact with liquid, making it an excellent cat litter substrate. The particle size is moderate and difficult to bring out, keeping the area around the litterbox clean and tidy. The odor control is also acceptable, which can provide up to little or no smell.
However, occasionally some manufacturers do not handle it well, and there will be a problem of greater dust.
Crystal Litter
Crystal cat litter is made up of solid granules made from silicate. These granules are highly porous and so absorb a great deal of moisture. Not only is it great in water absorption and odor control, but due to the material it’s made from, it is also dust-free. However, the drawback of crystal litter is more obvious. When crystals become saturated, the urine tends to pool in the litterbox, causing the litterbox to be less hygienic. Secondly, some cats find the rough shape of the crystals painful on their paws, making them less likely to use the litter. Lastly, the cost for this type of litter is more expensive than traditional clay litters.
Clay Cat Litter
Clay cat litter is one of the most popular choices amongst cat owners in terms of purchasing. Part of the reason is that it is one of the most well-established and easy to come by cat litter on the market. The cat litter can come in large or finer clay particles, scented or unscented varieties. They absorb the urine