Cat Litter Options For Your Pet
by Ned D'Agostino

If the idea of house training a pet is enough to keep you from getting a companion for your home, then a cat just might be the perfect pet for you. There's very little training involved. All you need is some cat litter and a litter box, and you now have a pet that can stay inside all the time.

Many kittens are already litter trained by their mother so there's really not much for you to do. Once you are sure he knows where the box is, you rarely need to worry about him going someplace else. But you will have to make a decision, and that is deciding what type of litter will work best.

There are an increasing number of options available, so it's good to know a bit about each type before you run out and buy a bag.

Cost will always come into play, and clay litter is probably the cheapest you can buy. It's also been around a very long time. But clay does present some problems. It absorbs liquids and odors, which is good, but it will need to be changed more often than most litters. Surely you don't want your home to have that foul cat waste odor. Clay can also cause problems if your kitten has allergies. When your cat scratches in his box, the dust will fly everywhere.

The most popular litter right now is probably clumping cat litter. That's because the litter combines with the moisture in the waste to form, as the name suggests, clumps. These clumps are easy to scoop away, meaning there is no need to change out the entire box. Once you scoop the waste, just replace the missing litter with some new litter. And the scents this litter is available in will do a decent job of hiding the smell, although it won't get rid of the odor all together. The biggest problem with clumping litter is that some cats will actually eat the clumps. Watch your pet carefully.

Silica litters are some of the newest on the market. Silica has been used for years in the small packets you see in pill bottles or in your new pair of shoes. It's used because it is a great moisture absorber, and silica crystals in your cat litter work much the same way. They are mixed with sand and water to easily absorb any liquids in your cat's waste. You still have to scoop out the solid waste, and because it does not clump, it can be a bit messy. Another plus is that this litter is biodegradable, and simply returns to a sandy base when it decomposes.

Paper litter is also biodegradable, making it a popular choice among those considered more "green." Recycled paper or pellets are used to make this absorbent litter. It is also very light, making it easy to carry around.

Another litter quickly gaining in popularity is litter made from wood. It too is biodegradable. Pine is the most frequent wood used, primarily because of it's ability to naturally absorb odors. But really, all softwood litters are good at both liquid and odor absorption. The result is a more natural litter because no chemicals are added.

Once you decide on the type of litter you want to use, your cat will undoubtedly let you know if he agrees with your selection. Some cats for example don't like the smell of pine litter. Others won't use silica because the crystals don't feel good on their paws. In either case, your cat will tell you whether or not he approves by either going or not going in his box.

The key is to become as informed as possible about all the different options. Then you can make an intelligent selection. Of course you'll still have to run it by your cat to see if he approves.