Not too many households with one or several cats are without litter box. Even if your cats are allowed outside, as a “safety” precaution for the time the animals spend inside the house (mostly nights), a litterbox will be provided.

Looking at this 700 million dollar business it is a given that the cat litter industry constantly tries to come up with new, so called improved, products. Sometimes the need arises when you have to switch brands, even you and your cat are happy with the product used. Quite frequently a litter might be discontinued or replaced by an improved formula. Changing cat litter can be disturbing for some cats. If possible, do it gradually by adding part of the new brand to the “old” brand and slowly increase the amount until you have fully switched.

You might have found a litter you like, but keep in mind that your cat has to like it too. Odor control is certainly one factor the both of you will agree upon, but the both of you might not have the same sense of smell. The consistency, sand-like or larger gravel-like is another factor. Some cats tend to throw lots of fine sand out of the box, when covering their “business”. Price is certainly another factor, especially if you have several cats.

These litters are normally cheaper than sand-like/clumping litters but remember that you have to dump the whole box, meaning you need more. Many of the gravel litters are not odor absorbent.

Sand litter is made from very absorbent clay mixes and is ground to a smaller size than gravel-like litter, resulting in a finer product that absorbs better. When the cat’s urine comes in contact with this litter it clumps into balls that can easily be removed. Instead of dumping the whole content of the litterbox you can just scoop the clumps and the dried feces every day and add a fraction of fresh litter to the original fill. These products are a little pricier but you might need less.

Some manufacturers offer a “flushable” litter that can be disposed in the toilet. Please be careful to read the instructions on the box to avoid bathroom disasters! Not all sand-like litters are flushable, and some toilets can’t take the flushable litter either. When you have a septic system don’t flush at all!

Most clumpable litter contains clay and some breeders insist that this litter is not advisable for kittens. Kittens that ingest this litter (while grooming, or in general because they are still very curious and tend to eat and play with everything) have experienced digestive problems. There is no proven data, just statements from breeders and some veterinarians about rare cases. To be on the safe side, try to not use clay litter for your kittens or young cats. If your cat experiences problems and you think it could be due to the use of clay litter, take it to the veterinarian. A test can prove if litter was ingested.

If you have a cat with allergies, use litter that produces no or very little dust.

Odor control is a big factor, especially in households with several cats. As a general rule it can be said that sand-like litter often leaves puddles of urine at the bottom of the box that then evaporates and gives up bad smelling gas and can act as a host for odor-generating bacteria. Clumping litter soaks up the urine and fewer odors is set free.

Some manufacturers are adding scents to their cat litter. If your cat refuses to use the litterbox, one of the reasons might be a heavy scent it absolutely dislikes. Change the brand in that case and try to use less scented or unscented litter.

Whether you use clumping or non-clumping litter, a thorough cleaning of the litter box with disinfectant frequently.

Silica gel litter is a porous granular from sodium silicate and has the highest absorbency rate of any litter. It has excellent odor and moisture control. Some people swear by it, some don’t like it. The problem with this litter is that it does not show when the absorbency is exhausted and the urine will then sit at the bottom of the litterbox. Silica gel litter is manufactured as small beads (that have the tendency to roll all over the place and under furniture) or as lumps. Some cats do not accept these though.

Biodegradable litter materials are pellets made of recycled paper, wood shavings, wood, corncobs, or wheat bran. These litters are fully “flushable”, even when using a septic tank.