Views: 0 Author: Site Editor Publish Time: 2025-03-25 Origin: Site
If you are welcoming a new cat or kitten into your home or have noticed things getting a little more funky smelling around your current cat’s litter box, it may be time to research the best cat litter for your feline friend’s needs.
Finding the right cat litter can help ease feline stress and prevent litter box issues like urinating outside of the litter box. Easy cleanup and odor control are among the rewards for the humans in your household.
Cats can have strong opinions about litter, so don’t be afraid to experiment with different types and textures to find the best match for your cat or kitten. Let’s break down your options so that you can make an educated decision about which cat litter to use in your household.
Cat litter comes in a range of types, textures and scents. Finding out which litter works best for your cat and home may require some trial and error.
Litter comes in both scented and unscented varieties. Scented litters are designed to mask litter box odors, but some cats dislike strong scents and prefer unscented litters.
Unscented cat litter brands rely on ingredients such as carbon and natural plant extracts to help absorb odors from urine and feces and reduce litter box smells, keeping both you and your cat happy.
Cat litter can also be clumping or non-clumping, which impacts how pet parents clean and empty the litter box. Clumping litters form scoopable, solid masses for quick and easy waste removal.
Clumping cat litters generally provide good odor control and need to be fully replaced less often than their non-clumping counterparts.
What it’s made of: Carbon and plant extracts
Scented or unscented? Available in both varieties
Clumping or non-clumping? Quick clumping
Non-tracking? No
Lightweight? Most varieties are lightweight
Dust-free? Available in both varieties
Natural? No
Clay cat litter is one of the most common types of litter among cat parents due to its clumping properties. Clumping helps making cleaning the litter box easier and typically means you have to change out the litter less often. However, it typically creates more dust, which is a big downside for cats and humans with respiratory issues.
What it’s made of: Corn!
Scented or unscented? Scented (naturally or artificially)
Clumping or non-clumping? Clumping
Non-tracking? Low tracking
Lightweight? Yes
Dust-free? Yes
Natural? Yes
You’ve made your decision, and now it’s time to make the switch. Most cats will adapt to a new litter without incident if you commit to a slow transition.
Add small amounts of the new litter to the old over a seven- to 10-day period until you have switched over completely. This is especially important if you are changing litter forms, as a new texture may cause your pet to alter their litter box behavior.
If your cat or kitten is avoiding their litter box, try giving them a simultaneous selection of different litter types to choose from. Put down three or four boxes with different litters in each one and see if your cat has a preference.
Note: If your cat starts going to the bathroom outside of their litter box, your first call should always be to your veterinarian. Many medical conditions can cause a change in a cat’s litter box habits.
