Cat Litter - Get the Scoop on Your Choices For This Necessary Cat Product

The improvement of litter over the years is a big reason why people have more cats as pets than ever before. Before this absorbent material became widely used and accepted, sand and sawdust were used as cat litter. These did not help with the smell much, and were not easy to use, so more and more indoor cats became outdoor cats. But after modern litter became popular, there became an ever-increasing number of people who acquired indoor cats.

Here are some of the more popular choices for modern cat litters:

Clay Cat Litter
Invented a half-century ago, clay litter is credited as starting the current revolution and popularity of cats in households. It is still used today, and is one of the least expensive options, in terms of cost per pound, as any litter on the market. But you do need to use more clay litter because it needs to be completely replaced at least once a week to fight odors. Some brands have deodorizers in them to help with that issue. Some people believe clay litter is safest to the cats because it is an all-natural material.

Clumping Cat Litter
Clumping litter has grown into the largest of the litter products, with an ever-increasing popularity among cat lovers. Clumping, or scoopable, litter dissolves around the moisture from urine and feces, forming it into a lump that hold the mess all together. It can then be easily scooped or sifted out of the pan and thrown away, leaving the rest of the litter to continue doing the same thing. Because the clumps are thrown away, odors are minimized.

One of the drawbacks to clumping litter is the fact that when cats have wet paws, the litter tends to clump around those paws. The cat then tracks the litter around the house. But that is not a big issue with indoor cats because their paws rarely get wet.

Although more expensive per pound than clay litter, the clumping variety needs to be replaced less often. All you really need to do is replace the litter you scoop out, although the whole pan of litter still needs to be replaced occasionally.

Alternative Litters
There are alternative litters preferred by some cat lovers that are made from various recycled materials such as pelleted newspaper, corn cobs, and wood fiber. These do not have the odor-fighting capabilities but are preferred by some who are more environmentally conscious.