If there’s one thing that’s difficult about buying necessities for your – it’s finding the best type of . If you were to walk into a pet supply store, you’d be greeted by so many choices, and it can be totally overwhelming. How do you know which type of to get? Of course, you want to get a that’s perfect for your , but you also want one that works for you too, which means not being able to smell anything- including the itself. is the answer to all those questions and concerns you have. This guide will help you understand the different types of , all the advantages of using , how to use properly, and all of picks we have for you.
Different Types of
Before we talk about why using is good for both you and your , let’s take a look at all of the different types out there.
Also known as , is one of the most popular litters you’ll see when you’re browsing the section at your local pet store. Made from a known as bentonite , it clumps together when hit with liquid (like your ‘s urine) making it easy to scoop out. One advantage of is that it’s relatively easy to clean out of your ‘s – because it clumps! It is also relatively inexpensive, which makes it a good choice for the that is on a budget.
However, it tends to make a big mess quickly when your leaves the . If you opt for a option, you’re going to want to put a pad or towel down outside the to try and contain the mess as well as possible. is also prone to creating lots of – so if you or your have respiratory issues, you may want to choose another option of .
Non-
Non- is another type of . There is still a base of , but other additives may be used such as charcoal or baking soda to help conceal any odors that may exist in the . The biggest advantage to this is that it is safe for many types of cats (and humans!). It’s also inexpensive, making it another good option for those who are on a budget.
However, because it is non-clumping , you’re going to really need to be on top of your game. If you don’t regularly change the , you run the risk of messes being tracked everywhere as well as the inevitable smell of too much urine-stained .
Silica
Also known as just , silica is the third type of on the market. It’s composed entirely of beads, making for a very absorbent option for both urine and the produced by . There’s also no produced by , making it an excellent option for those that have respiratory issues. You also won’t need as much as you may other types of because of how absorbent it is.
One potential downside to , however, is that it may be a little more expensive than other types of . This is due to the premium materials and quality of the crystals themselves. If you’re not concerned about the price of a , this choice is excellent for you.
Pine-Based
Pine-based is made from wood pulp that’s ground up into shreds, pressed, and finally sanitized. Pellets are made from this mixture and packaged into bags of . The way this type of works is relatively simple. When your urinates in the , the pine pellets break down and absorb all of the liquid. There’s also a natural pine scent released, making it resistant.
However, this type of doesn’t really clump as well as does. If you choose this type of , you’ll want to pay close attention to its state so it doesn’t smell too bad or get tracked everywhere once it’s used.
Paper-Based
Similar to pine-based , paper-based is made from recycled paper materials. It is packed together into little pellets, some of which have added -resistant materials added to them. Paper-based is an excellent option for people who have respiratory issues (or if your has a respiratory condition) because it leaves virtually no trace of . It’s also non-allergenic, making it a good choice for people or cats that have sensitivities or allergies to other ingredients.
However, one downside to paper-based is that it isn’t necessarily good at controlling odors unless another controlling product is added to it. It’s also not as easy to find and can be expensive, so if you’re going to use a paper-based , it is recommended that you keep a stock of it or know many places that sell it so it doesn’t run out.
Grass Seed
Grass seed is one of the most natural options available. It’s completely biodegradable, unlike some other heavily processed options like -based litters. It is made entirely out of grass seeds and clumps together easily when liquid comes into contact with it. It’s also a more lightweight option than some other types, because all it is is grass seeds!
However, because there are so many tiny seeds in the , it can track outside of the easily. If you’re going to pick this option, we recommend putting a mat or other type of pad that can gather all the extra on it when your steps outside of the . There’s also an inherent allergy risk if you or your are allergic to grass. If either of you are, then you’ll likely want to look for another type.
Wheat-Based
Wheat-based is made from one of two things. Either it is made from different types of wheat that aren’t suitable for cooking (but are great for ) or made from wheat grasses. The most common is the first option, which is good for in many ways. The starches in the wheat have good absorbent properties that not only absorb liquids but trap odors in their place. It’s also completely biodegradable and relatively harmless to both humans and cats.
The biggest downside to wheat-based is that it can easily be tracked throughout the house if not paid close attention to. We recommend placing a pad or other mat outside of your ‘s to collect all the extra particles if you decide to choose this type of .
Walnut
As you may guess by its name, walnut is made entirely from the shells of walnuts, making it a biodegradable option for those who are concerned about the environment. Chemicals in the walnut shells also naturally repel many odors and have been known to absorb up to three times as much liquid as -based .
Although many walnut litters absorb liquid at a great rate, the properties aren’t as strong as other types of . If you choose this type of , you’ll want to be gentle when cleaning your ‘s so the clumps don’t break apart.
Corn-Based
Corn-based is one of the most popular types of natural on the market. It is made from, you guessed it, compact chunks of corn! Corn-based is highly absorbent and messes inside the litterbox don’t spread around quickly. It is also great at together when your urinates on it and has trapping properties that make it a good option for those who are concerned about smells.
Despite the fact that corn-based is absorbent, you’ll really need to pay attention to how long the sits in a moist state. If left sitting for long enough, a deadly mold called aflatoxin can form, posing a great health risk to both you and your .
Why Using Is Best
There are many reasons why is regarded as one of the best types of to use. That’s not to say you can’t use a different type of , but these advantages of are why we believe is the best on the market.
- It’s a safer option. Some of the other types of can be consumed by cats (such as ) or release toxins if left sitting long enough (such as corn-based ). has none of those risks, as it’s 100% safe for both humans and your feline friend.
- It’s a cleaner option. Many other types of can be tracked all over the place or not clump together properly when urinated on. However, if you simply stir the every day and remove solids from it, you won’t have to worry about messes being tracked everywhere.
- It’s not smelly. The absorbency factor of the crystals allows for a high absorption rate of both liquids and odors. is especially -resistant if other natural chemicals are added to the , such as baking soda.
- It’s lightweight. The crystals that are used in are lightweight and porous, even when saturated with urine, making it an option that’s easy to clean and that’s lightweight.
How To Use Properly
Every is intended to be used differently. Here are our top tips on how to get the most out of your :
- Don’t overfill the with . Many companies recommend that you don’t fill the litterbox with more than 1.5-2 inches of . If you put too much in, your may kick it all over the place.
- Empty when you notice it. As soon as you see in your ‘s litterbox, you should empty it into the trash. If you let it sit, you run the risk of the waste being tracked all over the outside of the litterbox.
- Stir the crystals daily to allow for maximum absorption. In order to prevent the same from being saturated with urine over and over again, we recommend you stir your once daily.
- Change the regularly. Of course, if you notice a lot of that’s a dull color, looking heavier than usual, or emitting any smells, we recommend that you change the to be fresher.
Our Top Picks
Here are our top picks for and all the reasons why we like them.
Alpha Paw Genius
Alpha Paw Genius is one of our top picks of for good reason. Not only does it provide the same benefits as regular , but it also provides health indications for your (or cats, if you have ). When your urinates on this , the can turn either yellow, blue, green, orange, or red depending on the health of your ‘s urine (yellow being normal and no conditions detected). Alpha Paw recommends taking your to a veterinarian if you notice consistent color changes with this . This unscented 6 pound bag of can be found on Amazon for $24.99.
Pearls Micro Crystals Unscented
Pearls Micro for cats provides many benefits to both health and human health. It is unscented (as opposed to ), so you and your won’t be smelling any funky in the that could potentially be harmful. Additionally, Pearls has an added Odorbond ingredient to block all the smells of your ‘s waste from going in the air. The Odorbond is so strong that this brand’s guarantees a 30 day control, so you’ll be good to go for a long time without having to worry about any smells. This 7 pound bag of can be found on Amazon for $16.59.
Premium
comes with 2 4.5 pound bags of that lasts for up to two months with one ! If you have though, you’ll go through it a little faster. This is one of our top picks because it is fast-absorbing, resistant, and is tracking resistant (so your won’t track it everywhere). This is also 99% free, so there’s no need to worry about polluting the air with harmful . This bundle can be found on Amazon for $23.70.
Fresh Step Crystals
Fresh Step’s is made with an ultra lightweight formula that works even better than normal . In fact, Fresh Step claims that one 8-pound bag of this is equal to using 28 pounds of competing brands normal . It is 99% free and incredibly easy to scoop out and change when need be. This also comes with a 30 day guarantee, so you won’t be smelling any of your ‘s waste anytime soon. You can find 16 pounds of this for $35.36 on Amazon.
is a little different from our other choices we’ve listed here so far. This , contrary to many other types, is made with a premium formula for easy cleanup and scooping . Made with lightweight, non-toxic crystals, this is soft on your and is not a which is great for sensitive cats. This also doesn’t have a lot of as a result from being used, making a mess-free and healthy environment for both you and your . You can find this 5lb bag of for $14.24 on Amazon.
Conclusion
We understand you might be overwhelmed with trying to find the perfect for you and your feline friend. However, through talking about the different types of and why talking about how specifically is the best option, you’ll be better informed when going to purchase your purrfect .
