Silica gel cat litter: pros, cons and recommendations for choosing

Today, almost every family has its own pet. Most often we are talking about a dog or a cat, although many prefer to keep more exotic animals at home. But be that as it may, getting into the house, almost all animals do not have the skills to properly go to the toilet, which is why we have to educate our smaller brothers. It should be understood that the animal must be comfortable to satisfy its natural needs. And if we talk about a cat, then silica gel filler for a cat's toilet is the best solution.

It should be understood that a material such as silica gel is a solid hydrophilic type sorbent that looks like a normal dried gel. Its production is carried out from a thoroughly dried gel of polysilicic acid. It has almost the same composition as sand. Excellent absorbency due to the fact that the gel filler has granules with a porous structure.

Note that silicate gel works so effectively that it absorbs not only liquid, but also excess moisture from the air masses.

In general, it should be noted that fillers based on silicone and silicates contain up to 98 percent of this substance. In their normal state, these are round balls or transparent crystals, which change color depending on the color and properties of the absorbed liquid.

Now let's talk about the advantages and disadvantages of this category of fillers. First, let's talk about the strengths of the product in question.

• Silicate filler for cats has a rather large porosity, which makes it possible to absorb liquid quite easily and reduce the humidity around the tray by about 40 percent.
• The material under consideration belongs to the group of chemically inactive, and is also not exposed to fire and high temperatures.
• Mold and bacteria do not appear here.
• In the room where there is such a tray with a filler, there will be no unpleasant smell.
• Granules do not stick to the feet of the pet and the floor remains as clean as possible.
• Granules have the highest chemical resistance and high mechanical strength.
• Balls or crystals absorb a fairly large amount of liquid, which makes it possible to change the contents of the tray less often. That is, a standard 4-kilogram package is enough for a pet for about half a month.

But despite the advantages described, this type of tray filler has a number of disadvantages.

• This filler is harmful if the kitten has eaten it or wants to do it. Eating can cause stomach problems, which is why it is better not to use this type of gel for cats that are prone to this.
• In no case should such granules be flushed into the toilet. Their disposal should be carried out exclusively with household waste.
• The filler should be mixed every day, due to the fact that when they are fully saturated, a puddle forms in the tray, and the animal simply does not want to climb there.
• If the filler is made in the form of solid crystals, then they can injure the tender legs of the animal.
• When a substance absorbs moisture, it emits a hiss and a crack, which can frighten the animal. Also, noise may come from him when the animal begins to dig it.

In general, this type of filler has both strengths and some weaknesses.

It should be said that there are varieties of fillers that differ in nature and composition. If we talk about the composition, then there are 4 main categories:

• woody;

• corn;

• clay;

• silica gel.

The woody version can both clump and absorb. The material is quite environmentally friendly, which can even be flushed down the toilet. Best suited for kittens. But the minus will be that the sawdust can be distributed to the animals in the room.

It should be mentioned that fillers are divided into two categories by type of activity:

• clumping;
• absorbent.

The first option is interesting in that when moisture gets into this area turns into a lump. The second can absorb liquid and odor, but its consistency will not change because of this.

If we talk about the varieties of it is silica gel filler, then emit flavored and not flavored. It can also have a different shape - round large or in the form of crystals.

Now it will not be superfluous to give a rating of the highest quality fillers of the type in question. Arriving at the store, you can see that there are many manufacturers of such goods. But which one to choose? We will try to make a rating based on customer reviews.

In their opinion, one of the best solutions on the market is silica gel called Snowball. This is a white solution made in the form of medium-sized crystals. It has antibacterial properties, perfectly absorbs bad odor and belongs to the budget category. It also has a fairly economical expense.

A number of buyers note the main disadvantage of this product is its high dust content. “Snowball” is probably the most budget option for a cat's toilet. It has to be changed about once every 1.5 weeks. A 4-liter bag lasts about 2-3 applications.

Another interesting option is called "Our Brand". This is an absorbent type silica gel filler. Made in the form of white and blue granules of medium size. This manufacturer also produces similar products, but with various kinds of aromas.

Another option is called CatStep. It is a silica gel based filler that has white and blue crystals. The manufacturer claims that its products are an excellent solution that will help protect against unpleasant odors. It is also claimed that thanks to this filler there will be no dust, and all liquids will be absorbed quickly and easily. In addition, the material is completely hypoallergenic. But this solution has its drawbacks, namely the fact that its crystals are very hard and sharp and can injure the pet's paws.

Another interesting option is called the Siberian Cat. This silica gel based filler has green, pink and blue granules. Its distinguishing features are:

• lack of smell;
• lack of dust;
• non-stickiness to cat's paws;
• hypoallergenicity.

Many users believe that this is almost the best filler in this category.

Next, consider a filler option called Smart Cat. This filler is also hypoallergenic, does not stick to the feet of a pet, is environmentally friendly and easy to use. The manufacturer offers customers flavored solutions: with the aroma of apple, orange or lavender.

Another alternative to the options described above is called Sanicat. This is a silica gel filler of a clumping type, which has various colors and can be either without aroma or flavored. An important advantage of this solution is that the balls are suitable even for kittens, and the risk of damage to the paws will be zero.

Another filler that will be of interest to cat owners is called No. 1. This is a premium filler that is sold at an affordable price. It should be noted its special antibacterial properties, which allows it to stop the reproduction of various organisms after the cat has satisfied its needs. It should also be said that it is completely safe for kittens and young cats.

It is impossible not to mention the products of such brands as CCC and Lenta. By properties, the fillers of these companies repeat the rest, but are of high quality and have earned excellent customer ratings.

Now let's talk about how to choose the product in question. In general, it is quite simple. If you decide to give preference to just such a solution, then you should pay attention to the following points when purchasing.

• There must be a minimum amount of silicate dust inside the pack with filler. It is best then to acquire fillers, which consist of the largest crystals of silica gel.
• It is best to use white silica gel due to the fact that its toxicity is practically zero. The fact is that to give a color to the granules, the manufacturer can use various substances with a certain toxicity. An example is cobalt chloride.
• Before buying the products of a particular manufacturer, you should familiarize yourself with the products of competitors and find out what features the products that they offer have.
• The mass will also play a role.For example, if you buy immediately 50 kg of filler, then it may be more profitable, from a financial point of view, than to buy it for several kilograms.

As you can see, choosing a high-quality silicate filler for cats is easy.

Now it is necessary to tell how to use the considered type of filler. Note that despite the apparent simplicity, some users require instructions.

The use process itself is very simple. It is enough to pour a few centimeters of the substance into the tray, which should be dry and clean. It should be said that different manufacturers indicate different amounts of silica gel. But, most often, users agree that the layer should be at least 5 centimeters.

About once a day, silica gel, which is in the tray, must be mixed. This is necessary so that the crystals that have already used up their resources do not become the cause of the appearance of slurry.

The filler should be replaced as part of the recommendations given by the manufacturer. Usually a 4-liter bag for one cat lasts for about a month. If the cat breed is large, then the replacement of the filler should be carried out more often.

It’s easy to train a cat to such a filler. You can simply mix silica gel with the filler that is being used and gradually increase its presence until you use only it.

If we talk about reviews, then most of them can be called positive. For example, a number of users write that for fastidious cats who will not go to the same filler twice, this is an excellent solution, because granules that absorb moisture and odor make it possible to continue to use the filler, which saves it. Also, users say that the smell in the room will be significantly less than when using similar fillers.

Some cat owners point out the not always affordable price of such a filler, but write that its efficiency does not raise questions, as well as the fact that it is really convenient to use both the pet and its owner.

A number of users write that cats are afraid when silica gel begins to hiss, and it’s difficult to get used to this phenomenon.

Of course, there are a number of negative reviews, but there are not so many, which suggests that in general the product in question was appreciated by the owners of cats.

An overview of Cat Step silica gel excipients can be seen in the video below.