Providing our cats with proper cat litter is vital, as unmanaged cat waste can of course be dangerous to them and us – so here’s a list based on my experience dealing with these various litters to help you choose the right one.
✿ BIODEGRADABLE (CLUMPING) CAT LITTER
PRODUCTS
KIT CAT SOYA CLUMP | CAT’S BEST LITTER | BAMBOO CAT LITTER
These biodegradable litters are made from recycled material – be it wood fibres to soybeans and have this beyond stellar ability to absorb liquid.
Remember, tons of insoluble cat litter is chucked into landfills each year – making some cat poop actually outlive most of us. URG, just cringe! So if that statistic upsets you, then these are for you.
The SOYA CLUMP is our favourite, as it comes in a variety of refreshing scents and is still used in our humble abode today. Don’t get me wrong though, all three brands are revolutionary.
ADVANTAGES
- Soft on paws
- Environmentally friendly
- Odour control properties
- Absorbs large amounts of liquid
- Tight clumping formula (no breaking off of sections when scooping)
- Economical, as litter lasts at least a week before having to be changed (excl. daily poop removal)
- CAN be flushed (ALL three brands) and/or be disposed of as garden waste (excl. Soya Clump)
DISADVANTAGES
- Expensive
✿ BIODEGRADABLE (NON-CLUMPING) CAT LITTER
PRODUCTS
MARLTONS CAT LITTER | MARLTONS ECO LITTER
Again, biodegradable cat litter is all the rage, super absorbent, stupendous for the planet and loved by many.
These bags only require you to scoop the poop and not the liquid – making them last longer and thus low maintenance as well.
ADVANTAGES
- Soft on paws
- Great value for money
- Environmentally friendly
- Odour control properties
- Absorbs large amounts of liquid
DISADVANTAGES
- Not all cats love the texture
- More expensive than most silica litters
✿ NON-BIODEGRADABLE (CLUMPING) CAT LITTER
PRODUCTS
SMART CAT CLAY LITTER | MARLTONS HYGIENE CAT LITTER | REGAL CAT LITTER
Scooping and cleaning the inside of your litter tray will be a breeze, thanks to these tight clumping formulas. Liquid is actually prevented from sinking to the bottom of the tray and that’s pretty rad.
They’re also super-duper for cats who love to sit and dip. So if your cat loves to excavate paths to middle-earth – this litter is probably not the best choice.
ADVANTAGES
- Soft on paws
- Easy to scoop
- Odour control properties
- Absorbs large amounts of liquid
- More earth-friendly than silica litter
- Tight clumping formula (no breaking off of sections when scooping)
- Economical, as litter lasts at least a week before having to be changed (excl. daily poop removal)
DISADVANTAGES
- More expensive than most silica litters
- Less earth-friendly than biodegradable litter
- Only disposal option is your trash can – NEVER flush it!
✿ SILICA CAT LITTER
PRODUCTS
MARLTONS CRYSTAL LITTER | SCOOP-FREE LITTER TRAY | SCOOP-FREE CRYSTALS (REFILL)
Silica is super-absorbent and dehydrates poopies – making it especially fabulous to clean when Mr. diarrhea comes for a visit. It also helps prevent mould bacteria from living it up inside your cat’s litter tray too.
If you’re in the market for something sensational, then treat yourself to the SCOOP-FREE LITTER TRAY. It’s the hands-off and uber convenient approach to litter and life.
ADVANTAGES
- Absorbs large amounts of liquid
- Mould bacteria is less likely to grow in silica litters
DISADVANTAGES
- NOT environmentally friendly
- Some cats just don’t love the silica texture
- Not always a delight to clean, as the dust tends to stick on the sides of the litter box
- Easy to track the litter around the house (can get stuck between their toes)
- Some cats actually eat the crystals – especially kittens. If you’ve caught your cat in the crystal-eating act, this is NOT the litter for you. Ingesting silica could lead to serious medical complications and your cat runs the risk of becoming a litter-eating social pariah within the feline community as well
- The Scoop-Free Tray might put a dent in this month’s salary. BUT it’s SELF CLEANING!
✿ ODOUR BUSTERS
PRODUCTS
SOYA CLUMP CHARCOAL | CLOSED LITTER TRAY | ENVIROFRESH | LITTER FRESHENER
Most cat litters have odour suppressing super powers, however for double protection against foul smells, invest in a charcoal scented cat litter. Rumour has it that charcoal is a great tool to combat odours.
For triple protection, consider purchasing a CLOSED TRAY to help keep smells inside the box.
And if you still feel the hypochondriac inside of you crying out for attention, ODOUR NEUTRALIZERS and this incredible CAT LITTER FRESHENER work wonders too. So when your pet’s doo-doo is making you blue-blue, simply spritz and sprinkle those foul smells away.
✿ CONCLUSION
In the famous words of James Herriot, “cats are connoisseurs of comfort”, and therefore it is our cat-parental duty to make sure our cats are clean, happy and severely satisfied.
Happy choosing!
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