Cat Litter Discussion

Just as premium healthy cat food is better for your cat or kitten, so are certain types of cat litter better for the health of your feline friend.

Additionally, the discussion should include your cat's preference, your cat's health, the effects on the environment, and the cost of the litter.

Types of Litter

There a many types of cat litter to choose from. You may have preferences for certain litters based on environmental or economic factors, but your cat's preference should come first. You may need to experiment to find something your cat likes.

One quick way to find out is to put out two or three cat litter boxes with different types of litter and see which your cat prefers. This may be a bit of a hassle for you, but it could prevent or put an end to litter box problems.

Stay away from the dustier cat litters (those that create a little cloud after you pour them into the box). Your cat breathes in the unhealthy dust as she kicks the litter to cover her waste. Dust-free cat litter is definitely best for your cat's health.

Many cats do not like deodorized litters. In their cat litter discussion, the ASPCA recommends an unscented, fine-grained, clumping style litter. If you stay on top of your cat box cleaning duties, you shouldn't need a deodorized litter to cut down on odor. If you feel you must deodorize your cat's litter box, try sprinkling some baking soda or kitty litter treatment in with the litter to help absorb the odor.

I don't recommend flushable cat litter. Most do not effectively flush (actually, I've never found one that does completely flush without sticking to your toilet bowl) and they are not very good for your plumbing or for the environment.

There are a number of natural cat litters on the market that are cost effective and environmentally friendly, if this part of the cat litter discussion issue is important to you.

I use Swheat Scoop Natural Wheat Litter for my two cats. They love it. It doesn't harm the environment too much and it controls odor naturally.

Changing Your Cat's Litter

If you're bringing your cat home from another home, try to use the same litter (and litter box) she is used to. If desired, you can later change the type of litter your cat uses. While changing the type of litter, you can either use two boxes with the two different litters and when your cat seems to be reliably using the new litter, you can remove the old one.

Depending on the types of litter, you can also try mixing the two types and gradually use more of the new litter until the transition is complete. If possible, when you find the right litter, try not to make a change.

How Much Cat Litter to Use

And of course, a cat litter discussion has to include how much litter to use. You'll need a layer of litter about two inches deep in the cat litter box. Only the soiled portion and feces need to be removed every day. After cleaning, add a little bit of litter as needed to keep the level at about two inches.

Once a week, dispose of all the litter and wash the box thoroughly with unscented soap and hot water.

From Cat Litter Discussion to My Healthy Cat home