Cat litter: varieties and subtleties of use

Unlike most dogs, purebred cats are most often purely domestic pets. They spend almost their entire lives in four walls and do not go on regular walks. Because of this, it is impossible to make the animal meet its natural needs on the street, so there is a need to organize a cat's toilet indoors.

The task is not so difficult, because cats are clean animals, and they themselves are interested in not getting dirty the whole apartment, they just need to help a little, and therefore you can’t do without filler for the toilet.

The tray itself is just a container that does not at all provide cleanliness: it only determines the space for the latrine, but even the smell does not hide. For this reason, for the equipment of a full-fledged cat's toilet, some kind of filler is also needed. Despite the fact that cats have been living in the immediate vicinity of humans for several millennia, until recently, cat owners had to use improvised materials as fillers, which often turned out to be ordinary sand or cut paper.

Today they are not a productive solution. Since the late 40s of the last century, the industry has launched the production of artificial fillers, which have much more interesting characteristics.

Current cat litter are small granules that do not cause any negative reaction of the pet.Different materials can be the raw materials for the production of such granules, all of them have the ability to perfectly absorb moisture, and some successfully mask the smell. Anyway dirt does not stick to the pet and does not spread behind it throughout the house, which allows you to maintain a decent level of cleanliness.

A universal filler does not exist, at least granules differ in the size of individual particles. For small kittens or adult animals with hypersensitivity, small granules are usually chosen, whereas for pets with long hair, fillers of a large fraction are preferable. At the same time, the used filler from absorbed moisture can swell and stick together into lumps.

The mere fact of the existence of a wide variety of different fillers indicates that not all of them are equally good. Modern production is focused on the hygienic component: a typical moisture-absorbing filler must still be able to remove odor. But on practicality from a human point of view, the requirements for granules do not end there: it is necessary that the cat also considers your decision to be optimal. In particular, a lot depends on the habits of a particular individual.

For example, you took a kitten from a nursery, and there you already managed to accustom it to the tray. In the nursery, the filler was silica gel, and you preferred wood. Do not be surprised that before this, a former cultured cat will suddenly behave irresponsibly. The fact is that for an animal, the symbol of the toilet is not so much a tray as a filler. The new substance seems to him unusual, strange and inappropriate, because he is used to silica gel. Because of this, the cat simply will not associate your tray with the toilet and will look for a place whose texture is most similar to silica gel.

Since the animal is constantly in contact with the filler, it is important to ensure that it is completely safe from an environmental and chemical point of view. In production, granules are often additionally aromatized in order to more effectively hide an unpleasant odor, but for a kitten this may be an incentive to try the mass on the tooth. In addition, during digging, dust rising from the granules can penetrate the lungs of the animal and accumulate there. In the end, a strong aroma even by itself can be a problem if it causes an allergy.

An essential filler requirement is an adequate combination of cost and the necessary frequency of its replacement. Used granules must be thrown away, but much depends on the absorbency of the substance used: in some cases, the filled tray will last several times, in others it will have to be emptied almost immediately. For this reason the cheapest packaging is not always the most profitable purchase.

Granular filler, regardless of composition, is of two main types: clumping and absorbent. Their maintenance is somewhat different, because the first, absorbing moisture, is collected in lumps, and they immediately need to be thrown away, and the second, on the contrary, dries out and crumbles into dust over time, which does not require such a frequent replacement. We can make the erroneous conclusion that clumping options are not too good, but in fact they have a lot of advantages. These include:

• relatively low consumption of the substance;
• decent odor masking;
• ease of cleaning;
• environmental safety due to natural origin.

Among other things, most pets like such granules, and even for babies such a substance is not dangerous. There are not many reasons for criticism, but they are significant:

• firstly, the lumps do not dry so fast and can stick to the paws of the animal, which is why they are carried around the house;
• secondly, such a substance involves daily cleaning of the tray;
• among other things, a truly high-quality filler of this type will fly a catny a pretty penny.

Absorbent fillers act very differently. Despite the same useful result, they do not change their structure as they are used. Caring for a toilet with such a filler is noticeably easier, so it is chosen either by those who do not want to deal with the tray every day, or the happy owners of several cats at once. The advantages of this choice are obvious:

• relatively rare service;
• good neutralization of an unpleasant smell;
• low cost;
• the availability of special varieties for babies.

If the cat is only one, then a portion of the substance may be enough for a good one and a half weeks. You can even determine that it is time to change the granules by the cat’s behavior: the cat simply refuses to go to the tray if it does not seem clean enough to her. At the same time, the ability of the granules to absorb the smell decreases over time, and some very sensitive four-legged individuals still require replacing the composition when it is only half soiled.

The substance is made from various types of raw materials, which in each case provides its own advantages and disadvantages.

• Mineral filler is often called clay granular.. In fact, these are 2 different, albeit similar, substances. Both are made on the basis of clay, the cost usually starts from 70-100 rubles per kilogram. Such granules can be both crumpled and absorbent, and at the same time they are appreciated for their low cost and naturalness. But there are also disadvantages. So, mineral raw materials when used give too much dust, and it sticks to the wool and spreads around the house, and it is extremely undesirable to wash it off to the sewers. In addition, minerals are considered unsuitable for kittens.

• Wood filler refers to lumps, it is made from pressed sawdust of conifers. This option is not only environmentally friendly, but also hypoallergenic, it has a pleasant smell (both for people and pets), is suitable even for babies, and most importantly - it does not clog the sewer. At the same time, individual sawdust can be distributed around the house, but this is the only minus of cheap substance at 100 rubles per kilo.

• Silica Gel Fillers - a relatively new development, which is sold not in weight but in packs. On average, 4 kg will cost from 200 rubles. The characteristic white balls made from polysilicic acid are widely appreciated by pet lovers, as they are completely safe for pets, instantly dry and do not stick to the hair of cats, and do not contribute to the reproduction of microorganisms. Such granules not only effectively absorb moisture and odor, but can serve without replacement for a couple of weeks.

• Corn Filler - the substance is relatively rare, such granules cost from 170 rubles per 1 kg, are made from the core of ears. The natural product is completely safe and economical, and most importantly - very effective. But there are also disadvantages: a peculiar smell of granules and their too light weight, contributing to scattering.

In addition, as a marketing move or experiment, some manufacturers offer other, much rarer filler options.For example, soy, zeolite, cellulose, coal or from ocean sand. The most commonly offered product is zeolite. All these original solutions are not too popular so far, which may hint at their low performance indicators. But if you are prone to experimenting or know more about the average catnip about these materials, it might make sense to try.

Due to the fact that there are no universal options for the filler, and each catman just looks for a solution that most closely matches his requirements, a full rating cannot be made: when allocating seats, there can be no question of objectivity. Therefore, we are ready to offer readers An overview of some of the most popular mix options that are in high demand and that appeal to many consumers.

Since it would be foolish to compare fillers of different origins with each other, we decided to make separate short lists for the most popular types of raw materials: wood, clay and silica gel. If we talk about wood fillers, the most popular products among consumers were products of 4 brands, and here's why:

• Cat's Best Eko Plus they call the option “cheap and cheerful”, for the money it is an excellent solution to all problems;

• N1 Naturel Green Tea It has a pleasant smell that people like and does not scare away four-legged pets;

• Kuzya considered one of the most budgetary decisions among all wood pellets, however, it collected not so bad recommendations on the Internet;

• Clean Paws receives the audience sympathy prize as a mass, which is often characterized on the positive side, and the commentators mention its various advantages.

Among the clay options, there are 5 popular products.

• Fresh Step Extreme Clay will prove to be one of the best solutions in terms of instant removal of unpleasant odors. If the mass can no longer perform its functions, you will immediately understand it by its aroma.

• Barsik Standard. Granules are made from a mixture of wood and clay, which gives the product the best qualities of both materials.

• Pi-Pi-Bent Classic praised for maximum naturalness and texture.

• Ever clean fast acting famous for its carefully selected formula. The composition of these granules will definitely not cause your pet’s allergies.

• Zoonik different thought-out composition, which is comprehensively good: does not dust, does not provoke allergies and is effective.

Silica gel fillers are considered the best achievement of civilization in this area, but here there are both mediocre options and “stars”. Consider the best solutions:

• N1 Crystals most consumers describe it as by far the best filler in terms of a combination of advantages, since it is environmentally friendly, safe, absorbs a very large amount of moisture, while being liked by the animals themselves and does not require too frequent weight replacement;

• Siberian Cat Elite it is found everywhere in our country and collects almost exclusively positive reviews, which makes it very popular and raises to the level of a recognized bestseller;

• PrettyCat "Purity Crystals" proved to be the best in terms of hypoallergenicity: among other silica gel fillers that should not even cause allergies theoretically, it is the safest;

• Cat step It is highly appreciated by koshatniks for its cost-effectiveness: you will not spend time either on too frequent mass changes in the tray, or on constant trips to the store for extra.

If you have not had experience in the selection of filler for a cat's toilet, then the first time you are unlikely to be lucky to choose the perfect option.In this situation, it is best not just to read and listen to other people's recommendations, but to try different solutions and make your own opinion about them. The choice is pretty impressive, so you should know what to look for.

• Absorbent abilities. In terms of rapid absorption of moisture, clumping type mixtures manifest themselves best of all: the formed lump usually hardens and does not mix with the remaining dry mass. In terms of the amount of moisture absorbed per unit volume, silica gel is the absolute champion, while in terms of efficiency, wood and corn work in many ways no worse, but, alas, they absorb not so much and are able to crumble.

• Odor masking. The unpleasant smell from the cat's tray is not liked not only by people: because of it, even the pets themselves refuse to visit their usual place. In terms of masking aromas, natural remedies are much worse than synthetic ones, and the same corn filler even in its pure form has its own specific aroma.

• Flushing into the sewer. When replacing the filler in the tray, many owners of cats consider it completely unnecessary to fuss with garbage bags. Instead, they would gladly flush all the waste together with the pellets directly into the toilet. A similar option is available only if the substance is of natural origin and has the property of rapidly decomposing in water.

• Aromatic properties. Many manufacturers offer just to kill the unpleasant smell of the tray with a pleasant aroma, which is originally inherent in the filler. Such a decision is not always positively perceived by the four-legged: a predator should not smell at all, it’s even pleasant, therefore many cats simply refuse to visit a too aesthetic tray.

• Hypoallergenic properties. Like humans, cats may be allergic to various substances surrounding them, and the excipient may also contain allergens. Natural products in this case are considered the most correct, but if it is very dusty, it still will not be too good, especially for kittens. As practice shows, silica gel, although positioned as a completely safe substance, is still not as good as clay or wood.

• Profitability. If you look purely at prices per unit of weight or volume, then the mineral solution seems to be the cheapest solution, then wood mixtures come next, and silica gel and corn are already a kind of elite solutions. In this case, it is necessary to take into account the consumption of the substance, because silica gel lasts about 2 weeks without replacement, while wood pellets rarely last longer than 3 days.

It is generally accepted that mixtures created specifically for filling cat trays are difficult to replace with anything else without loss of effectiveness. However, some consumers still do not consider it necessary to spend money on such products, especially if there is an option to use improvised means in this capacity, which otherwise would be wasted. At a minimum, this approach is worthy of mention, so let's say a few words about popular substitutes for factory fillers.

• No filler. This decision can be safely called the most economical, since there will be no consumables at all. Some cats do not try to hide the results of their life, so a simple trellised container may be a good solution to the problem. In this case, the cleanliness of such a toilet will have to be monitored especially conscientiously: it must be washed and rinsed thoroughly daily after each use.

• Sand. A common and easily accessible material, good for its naturalness. It will not cause rejection in the pet.It absorbs moisture remarkably, but there will be small problems with the smell: such a filler will not be able to completely hide the aroma. When choosing sand, it is desirable to have a tray with high sides, otherwise individual grains of sand will inevitably crumble around. Such a mixture needs to be replaced every 2–4 days.

• Newspapers. Obviously not the best option: they resort to it only because the old periodicals still need to be put somewhere. For the convenience of using the tray, the owner will have to carefully chop the paper, there should not be large pieces. Due to the fact that newsprint quickly gets wet, you need to change it daily, in terms of masking the smell, it has practically no effect, so you will also have to wash the container regularly.

• Sawdust. This is perhaps the best of the number of popular options. It is quite good at absorbing moisture and masking odors. Until the filler gets wet throughout its thickness, unpleasant odors are usually not observed, so in some cases you can change the mixture even once a week. At the same time, such a rare service requires a full ten-centimeter layer of matter, as well as high sides. However, even the latter will not save from the fact that sawdust inevitably gives fine dust and stick to cat's paws, which is why they are spread throughout the apartment.

• Fuel pellets. In essence, this is the same as wood-based store products. Having become wet, granules simply crumble into ordinary sawdust. This option is quite productive in terms of hiding odors and absorbs moisture well, you can not change it after each use, but simply to top up. All these properties allow you to clean the container relatively rarely: once a week or a half.

Cat tray fillers are universally popular for the simple reason that they are very easy to use. Each box must have a detailed instruction that describes the correct algorithm for applying mass, however, in general, it is almost always the same: the container is filled with an even layer of granules about 5–10 cm thick.

Sometimes, for clumping mixtures, the manufacturer indicates the exact amount of the required mass, then compliance with the stated dosages allows the use of granules as efficiently as possible. This type of substance must be cleaned daily, removing solid waste and lumps formed.

The absorbent version of the mass lasts longer without replacement. Depending on the species, it is usually changed every 5-10 days. At the same time, the entire volume of the filler is removed and must be replaced; before falling asleep a new portion, carefully rinse the container.

Please note that it is very difficult to retrain an animal that is used to a certain type of filler, therefore, it is often necessary to take the choice of the first mixture for a kitten very responsibly. You can quickly accustom a kitten to a tray by catching the moment when it becomes restless after eating. At this moment, take it urgently and put it in a container, not letting go until it does its job.

An association in a baby will develop not so much with a location or tray as with a filler, therefore replacing the composition can make the pet understand that the toilet is no longer in this place. However, some cats are attached exactly to the place, especially if the replacement of one filler with another is smooth, and the smell and texture differ not so radically.

If you see that the selected mixture for some reason does not fit, it is worth trying something new.

The comments of the owners of the mustachioed tetrapods at various thematic forums show that the experienced cat-cat no longer focuses not only and not so much on the material from which the granules are made, but on the manufacturer. It is obvious that even pulp from coniferous wood can be made from different types of wood. In addition, the exact composition of the substance may vary if any foreign additives are included. The same applies to mineral or clay fillers, because the clay for their manufacture is also different - what can we say about synthetic substances produced in laboratories. Since the size of the fraction also matters, the ideal option sometimes has to be sought for a very long time.

Moreover, a universal solution for all life situations simply does not exist. The choice depends on too many factors, starting with the assortment available in your city, and ending with the features and personal preferences of the animal for which the tray is equipped.

For this reason, any recommendations for choosing a mass are rather conditional: not the fact that your cat will like the same thing that most of its relatives like it. However, if you are not completely familiar with the topic, it sometimes makes sense to read reviews on the forums in order to make at least an approximate list of products that you need to try first.

Please note that on the sites of manufacturers and sellers of fillers, comments of negative and critical content are never found. Often, such reviews are custom-made, or resource moderators simply delete unpleasant opinions. For this reason, during the selection focus primarily on your own observations, the opinions of acquaintances, as well as messages on independent Internet sites.

For information on how to choose cat litter, see the next video.