Choice of cat litter might sound like a simple task among the list of tasks cat owner have to do. However, one should not overlook the importance of this task as it could be a great influence towards “toilet training”! You would not wish to have the world cutest cat which pee or poop at any or every corner of the house.
What Is The Best Cat Litter For Odor Control
So how does one decides which cat litter to choose? Perhaps the following pointers which are based on cats’ preference studies could aid in your decision-making process.
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Clumping vs non-clumping
There are two main types of cat litters which you can find in the market – clumping litter and non-clumping litter. Both types of cat litters are usually made of clay materials which are highly absorbent. So what is the difference between the two?
Clumping litter is usually made up of sodium bentonite while non-clumping litter is made with calcium bentonite. Sodium bentonite is a natural clay, inert and non-toxic substance that swells to fifteen times its natural size when exposed to liquids. Hence allowing one to easily scoop out the clumps leaving behind a clean litter box! However, do keep in mind that sodium bentonite usually turns into a hard cement-like clump which is not safe to be flushed away. Doing so may cause clogging of the plumb in your house. Also, been a powerful binding agent, there are concerns of the cat suffering possible respiratory damage from ingesting such litter when they lick his fur and paws, possibly ingesting sodium bentonite dust. However, most veterinarians believe that this is not a common problem and that there is no cause to be concerned about any health risk.
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Scented vs non-scented
I do not know about you. But for me, choosing scented option seems to be a no-brainer decision in selecting cat litter as I would prefer nice scent in the house. But to my surprise, most cat prefers non-scented cat litter! I will highly recommend you to put your cat’s preference with priority in this area as you will not like your cat to end up avoiding the cat litter. Anyway, if a clumping cat litter is used, you can dispose of the urine or feces as required, keeping the litter box odorless.
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Texture, Granularity or coarseness
In general, most cats seem to be appeal towards cat litters that have a soft, sandy texture. Moreover, according to clinical observation, cats generally preferred fine particles. This means that clumping litters would be the preferred choice over non-clumping litters.
Having understood what are some of the factors influencing one’s choice of cat litter, it is still so tough to pinpoint which particular cat litter to choose right? There are just so many choices in the market! Following are some recommendations which you may like to consider.
Purina Yesterday’s News Fresh Scent Paper Cat Litter – 4 Bag
Are you an environmentalist? If so, you would love this cat litter which is made of softer-texture recycled paper yet it feels more like regular clay! Best of all, this eco-friendly product is three-times more absorbent than clay, and 99.7% dust free, so you can breathe easy. It’s made for everyday use and is tough on odors as it smashes odors and replaces them with clean, fresh scent. This product will guarantee to keep your home odor and tracking free. Help put a positive impact on the world around you with this Yesterday’s News cat litter formula!
Pros
- Softer texture pellets made with recycled paper
- Low-tracking formula keeps your kitty from leaving traces of his potty-time wherever he goes
- Absorbs 3x the moisture by mass than traditional clay-based litter
- Utilizing recycled paper makes this formula 99.7% dust-free—so you and your kitty can breathe easy!
Cons
- Lightweight pellet’s nature may result in messiness when one’s cat starts digging
- Hard to distinguish when used by the cat as product color is dark. Hence potentially more litter is waster when cleaning litter.
sWheat Scoop Fast-Clumping All-Natural Cat Litter, 25lb Bag
sWheat Scoop is an all-natural cat litter made from naturally renewable wheat. The natural wheat enzymes neutralize odor on contact, and wheat starches clump firmly for easy scooping.
So how is natural cat litter different from the traditional cat litter? Traditional clay litter, particularly clumping clay litter, is obtained through strip mining, a process that scars the landscape and damages the natural ecosystem. It’s not biodegradable and is environmentally damaging.
Moreover, these clay contains chemicals like sodium bentonite and crystalline silica whereby there are some concerns of it been a health hazard due to it’s ability to swell several times with contact to liquid. If your cat consumes clumping clay litter – through grooming, due to a nutritional deficiency, or out of curiosity – it can lead to intestinal blockage. Conversely, sWheat Scoop is farmer grown, ground up and then bagged for purchase.
Pros
- Clumps fast
- Powerful odor control
- Biodegradable
Cons
- Does not clump well; it falls easily apart, leaving lots of tiny little urine-soaked clumps all over the box
Purina Tidy Cats Free & Clean With TidyLock Protection Clumping Cat Litter – Two (2) 20 lb. Jugs
Next in the list is Purina Tidy Cats Free & Clean with TidyLock Protection clumping cat litter! For pet owners whom prefer unscented litter, this might be one product which you may like to get your hand on. This litter solution is free of fragrances and dyes yet it does not compromise on odor control. This is made possible with their TidyLock technology that locks away odors to leave your home smelling fresh and inviting. On top of the TidyLock technology, this cat litter is formulated with activated charcoal to help absorb odors – double control, don’t you think so?
Pros
- Unscented formula for a litter made without fragrances and dye
- Features guaranteed TidyLock technology coupled with activated charcoal to offer uncompromising odor control
Cons
- Does not clumps well resulting in many small clumps