What types of kitty litter are there and what else can be ...

There are a wide variety of litter options available for cats, although the availability of specific choices will depend on where in the world you are.

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What to consider when choosing cat litter

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Non-clumping cat litter can be good at removing the smell of cat urine because it can absorb a relatively large amount. However, as it becomes saturated, the urine can start to pool in the tray; and it isn't possible to remove soiled litter without changing the whole tray. If you choose non-clumping litter (with some exceptions) you must be prepared to change and clean the tray weekly (or more often in a multi-cat household). Non-clumping litter tends to be cheaper to purchase than clumping litter, but can be less cost-effective overall because it must be replaced more often.

Materials used in commercially-available cat-litter

Commercial cat litter is made from four types of material:

1. Clay

Clay-based litter is made from clay that has been processed into a variety of granule sizes and then dried. It can be clumping or non-clumping. It's heavy to transport and often dusty (although low-dust formulations are available). It’s the most common commercial cat litter material in use.

More recent processes for making clay litter can produce smoother, lighter particles that are more absorbent and more expensive.

Clay-based litters are prone to sticking to cat's paws, and getting tracked around the house. Litter with larger/sharper granules can be uncomfortable for a cat to walk on, but are less likely to be tracked.

Clay-based litter is not bio-degradable.

Although clay-based cat litters have been in use since the 1950s, clumping varieties are a more recent development. There are some anecdotal reports that the sodium bentonite used in some of these can cause serious health problems for cats when ingested (and anecdotal reports contradicting this) -- see Sodium bentonite cat litter dangers. No scientific studies have been done on the subject, but many cat breeders delay using clumping litters with kittens until they are past 3 months of age (and so less likely to try to eat the litter).

2. Silica crystals

Silica or crystal litter is made from silica gel that is dried into granules. It is not a clumping litter, but because it adsorbs and retains urine very well (it can adsorb up to 40 times its own weight) and pulls the moisture out of faeces, it is good for controlling odour and needs to be changed as infrequently as clumping litters (as long as solids are scooped at least daily and the remaining litter stirred.)

It is light-weight and almost dust free (although with some brands dust can be an issue when changing the tray). It is more expensive to buy than other types but can be cost-effective because of the reduced frequency of tray changes. Some cats don't like the sharp edges of the crystals.

This litter does track, but not so much as the clay types of litter, and doesn't get trodden in to the carpet so easily.

Silica litter is not bio-degradable, but is less voluminous than clay.

Be aware that silica cat litter is toxic when eaten. In addition, at least one study (here) suggests that silica cat litter is a possible' trigger for sarcoidosis so buy low-dust formulation if you choose to use this litter. (Note: the dust from clay-based litter also contains a lot of silica.)

3. Other minerals

Other cat litters are available based on different mineral combinations, e.g. Chalk/quartz sand, but will not be covered in detail here. They generally claim to be lighter-weight/more absorbent/longer lasting than the clay alternatives.

4. Bio-organic materials

Some cat litters are made of environmentally friendly, renewable, bio-degradable materials, such as:

• corn or wheat: Effective litters, but corn and wheat are some of the common food allergens for cats so you may want to avoid these.
• recycled paper turned into pellets or granules: dust-free (other bio-organic types are not).
• pine cedar and other wood-based litter: natural scent may help control odor but may not appeal to your cat.
• other alternatives such as walnut and grass.

Most bio-organic materials can be clumping or non-clumping (depends on manufacturer and formulation, so check what you're buying carefully). Most bio-organic materials are less dusty and less likely to track around the house than clay-based litters.

These types of litter tend to be more expensive than clay-based litters, and don't have such good odour control as the other types, so the tray will need to be scooped more often.

Home made or low cost litter alternatives

You may choose to make your own cat litter, either because appropriate materials are available at low cost or in an emergency. However, all these alternatives have disadvantages -- notably, they are easily tracked through the house and/or have poor odour control. They will all need changing very often so you must have access to a steady supply of raw material for regular use.

• Soil/dirt/sand/ashes (This is what was used before commercial cat litter was invented). Most of these do not absorb fluids well, have poor odour control, do not clump (except sand), track everywhere in the house and can introduce bacteria and parasites.

• Sawdust and/or wood shavings/pellets Absorbs fluids well, is light, you don't need to use a lot and it has some anti bacterial effect. Avoid treated wood, as the chemicals involved may be bad for you and/or your cat. Sawdust tracks; shavings and pellets less so.

• Shredded paper Absorbs fluid and is lightweight. You need to use a larger amount of it for it to be effective. You can also soak it, mix it with baking soda and air-dry it to create a scoopable litter but this is very time-consuming.

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