Cat litter should be made from sustainable raw materials and have strong absorbency as well as be able to bind odours very well.
What is particularly important with cat litter?
It is particularly important that the liquid has good and strong absorbency. It is also crucial how well and long-lasting the cat litter can bind the odours so that it does not start to smell unpleasant. It is also a great advantage if the wet litter clumps together and can therefore be removed from the litter tray more easily. There is also the advantage that only a small amount of cat litter needs to be refilled, which saves time and money.
The cat litter should not be perfumed or made of chemical agents, as cats have a very sensitive sense of smell.
Also, the carrying weight of the cat litter should not be too high so that it can be transported easily. Cat litter should ideally be made from sustainable raw materials and be biodegradable.
What types of cat litter are there?
- Silicate litter for the cat toilet:
This is made of silica gel, a dense material that can absorb a lot of urine. It has a pleasant scent for us humans and can absorb urine very well. Another advantage of silicate litter is that it does not create dust and has a lower transport weight.
The special thing about silicate litter is that the silica gel combines the urine and the odours in such a way that the liquid urine can evaporate and thus the litter remains dry. This has the advantage that it does not have to be constantly replaced.
However, you should make sure that your cat does not swallow the granules, as they are very toxic for cats.
- Mineral litter for the litter tray:
Mineral litter is very widely used and consists of various clay minerals. It has the great advantage that it can absorb and bind much more urine than sand. It is also very popular with cat owners because it quickly clumps together. This makes it very easy to remove the used cat litter and only a small amount of cat litter needs to be refilled. This saves a lot of money and time for the owner.
Unfortunately, the disadvantage of mineral litter is that it cannot bind the urine odour as strongly and it can smell more unpleasant. Also, mineral litter is very heavy to carry and it can get very dusty when refilling.
- Natural fibre litter for the litter tray:
Natural fibre litter is usually made of wood or plant fibre. These bind unpleasant odours very well and clump together very quickly when damp, so a lot of time and money can be saved. Natural fibre litter is also very suitable for transport, as it has a light transport weight. The ecological aspect of natural fibre litter is particularly important. The cat litter is very biodegradable and made from sustainable raw materials.
However, due to its light weight, the cat litter can easily stick to the cat’s paw and the cat can spread it around the house.
How much cat litter must be filled into the litter tray?
This always depends on the type of cat litter. An approximate guideline is usually given on the package insert. In any case, the cat litter tray should always be filled with sufficient cat litter so that there are no damp spots on the toilet floor.
The amount of cat litter also depends on the behaviour of your cat. If your cat likes to stay in the litter tray for a long time, you should adjust the amount of cat litter.
If your cat easily buries the wet cat litter after doing its business, it is advisable to fill a little more cat litter into the litter tray. Otherwise, unpleasant odours may occur on the toilet floor.
Which cat litter is good for kittens?
Cat litters made of quartz sand and lime are especially good for small kittens. These are particularly suitable for sensitive cat paws and can bind odours and liquids very well.
You should not use mineral cat litters, as they clump together very quickly when wet and can easily be swallowed by kittens when grooming. This can lead to serious digestive problems.
Is it bad if my cat eats the cat litter?
If your cat eats the cat litter often, it can lead to serious health problems. In particular, it can cause irritation of the stomach, as well as insufficient fluid intake by the organs. It can also lead to very serious intestinal disorders, as the clumps of cat litter can damage and block the intestines.
You should observe whether your cat eats the cat litter only out of boredom or out of stress. If this is the case, you should provide more variety for your cat and change the cat litter to a non-hazardous vegetable variety.
However, eating cat litter can also be a sign of mineral deficiency and the cat will try to compensate for this by eating it. Diabetes or a tapeworm infestation can also be a reason for eating cat litter. You should definitely seek veterinary advice.
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Summary – What should I look for in cat litter?
It is particularly important that cat litter is highly absorbent so that urine can be soaked up quickly. Odour binding and clumping are also of great advantage to the cat owner. But also a dust-free and light weight for transport is important for a good cat litter.
There are different types of cat litter. The most commonly used cat litter is mineral litter. This binds the liquid and odour very well and can be removed very easily due to the clumping, so that only little cat litter needs to be refilled.
Silicate litter, which is made of silica gel and has a light weight and very little dust, is also very popular with cat owners.
The latest trend is natural fibre litter. These are made of wood or plant fibre and are biodegradable as well as made from sustainable raw materials. However, due to the light weight of cat litter, it can stick to the cat’s paws and be spread around the home.
The cat litter tray should always be filled with sufficient cat litter. The filling usually depends on the needs and behaviour of your cat. The information on the package insert is usually used as a guideline.
Cat litters made of quartz and lime are particularly suitable for kittens, as these are very good for their sensitive paws and can bind urine and odours very well. Cat litters made from minerals should not be used for kittens as the clumps can easily be swallowed by kittens through grooming.
If your cat eats its cat litter regularly, it may be due to boredom or a lack of minerals. Causes for eating cat litter can also be diabetes or a tapeworm infestation. Seek veterinary help as eating cat litter can cause health problems in cats.