Which is the Best Cat Litter?

Clumping Cat Litter, Environmental Cat Litter, or Silica Cat Litter

Oct 20, 2009

There are many different types of cat litter on the market, the commonest being Fullers Earth or clay cat litter, and biodegradable wood based litters. So which is best?

There is a huge variety of cat litter types on the market. Cat owners can choose the one which is most suitable for them and their lifestyle, and also the type which their cat or cats prefer. Here are some details of the most common types.

Clay Cat Litter or Fullers Earth

The earliest types of cat litter were made of sand or clay, and Fullers Earth cat litter developed from these. It is the cheapest and probably most commonly used type of cat litter, and is marketed under various names and types. The ones made of the finest clay are the most absorbent and tend to be softest on the cats’ paws. Fullers Earth will quite easily form clumps which can be removed, meaning it is unnecessary to change the cat litter too frequently. However, it will not clump as readily as types marketed as ‘clumping cat litter’, which often contains other materials too. Clumping cat litter of any type should not be flushed down the toilet, since it can easily form blockages, but should be disposed of in some other way.

Biodegradable Cat Litter

Various types of biodegradable cat litter are available. They are made of plant based material, usually wood pellets or recycled newspaper. They are often preferred by owners as they can be disposed of down the toilet or in the compost bin, and therefore do not contribute to landfill. There is a lot to be said for having flushable cat litter. However, they are lighter than Fullers Earth cat litters, and can be more easily tracked around the house. Also, the relatively large pieces are disliked by some cats. And most wood based cat litters do not form clumps, so need to be changed quite often.

Silica Gel or Crystal Cat Litter

These more modern types of cat litter are very absorbent, and can be used for up to a month without changing. However, opinions about them are divided among cat owners. Many owners find them very useful and practical. However, they are expensive, and it is not possible to know by looking at them how much liquid has been absorbed, so that when the litter is saturated, there can suddenly be a puddle at the bottom of the litter tray.

So which is the best cat litter? It depends very much on the owner and the cat and their own personal preferences. But once the owner has found a type of cat litter that she and her cat like, it is best to stick to it.

The copyright of the article Which is the Best Cat Litter? in Cat Care is owned by Helen Krasner. Permission to republish Which is the Best Cat Litter? in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.