Cats Health Training

Kitty Litter Facts – Lets Talk Cat Litter Do’s & Don’ts

Kitty Litter Facts – Lets Talk Cat Litter Do’s & Don’ts – 6 Litter Facts you need to know. Not the most exciting cat supply product to talk about, but a very important one. Do your homework before choosing the right litter for your kitty. Some kitty litters on the market are not safe. Some cause cat allergies. Natural litter does not always equal good. Don’t judge a book by its cover when picking litter. Don’t choose the prettiest packaging. Don’t settle for a well-known brand. Never settle for the most expensive. This article breaks down the simple facts about cat litter. We know it will help you choose the right litter.

Some cats like to do their business with complete privacy and others are not so picky, get to know your cats habits and provide the right litter box and corresponding litter.

Here are 6 Cat Litter Facts:

Some well known cat litters on the market are not safe – yes, you read it right. They are actually unsafe for cats and for people. You might think litters made with clay or contain silica are safe, but they are not. Mined from the earth, they produce a dust when mining and when moved around that has cancer causing properties. Don’t take our word for it, OHSA did the research and Crystalline Silica, also known as cat litter dust, is harmful to humans and animals when inhaled. The dust is what you should avoid, so choosing a litter that produces the least dust is your best choice. Many clay litters produced a lot of dust and dry litters made from silica are best avoided.
Scented cat litter will cover up urine and solid waste odors – while they may mask the odor temporarily or smell good in the bag, most scented litters don’t actually hinder pet waste odors. They key to reducing odor is finding the right litter that clumps and covers the waste reducing the odor. Many cats are also allergic to scents and while you many not realize what is causing health issues with your cat, it very well could be the scented litter.
Cats can be allergic to their cat litter – if you see any changes to your pet’s health, sneezing or scratching, consider changing the cat litter. All natural cat litters, scented cat litters or dusty cat litters can all cause health issues in your pet. Buy a small bag of any new kitty litter so you can test it with your cat. If you see changes, not the ingredients, scents and other details about the litter to make a change what works for you and your cat.
Cats like clumping litter the best – we all know that cats are clean creatures and that goes for their bathroom habits. Choose a clumping litter that allows kitties to cover up their business with pride. Your kitty will help you reduce the waste odor if you give them the right litter to get the job done.
Self-cleaning litter boxes are better for the environment – reducing the earth’s carbon footprint is one of the best contributions we can make to improve the world around us. Tossing unused cat litter into the garbage, when cleaning out the litter box is a waste of valuable resources and will fill up our landfills much faster. Investing in a self-cleaning or electric litter box lets you dispose of least amount of unused litter. Choose reusable options for all self-cleaning litter boxes when possible.
Kittens should not use the same litter as older cats – most people do not realize that you want to choose a non-clumping litter that will not ‘stick’ to paws and have a higher chance of being ingested when your kitten cleans their paws.

While it is fun to jump on the latest trend of glitter kitty litter, colorful particles or all natural options, you want to be sure to read the ingredients, manufacturing process and reviews from those who have used it, so you are very aware.

Now that you know these 6 cat litter facts, we hope you are encouraged to do more research and find the right cat litter and litter box for your kitty or your clowder of cats.

If you are adopting a rescue or stray kitten or cat, their litter preference may be different. Outdoor kitties are often more private, picky on their potty environment and have not been exposed to the smell and texture of kitty litter. You will want to start with a smooth litter that most resembles sand or natural elements. Once they are used to the experience, you can experiment with what works best for you and kitty.