| Many types of cat litter are on the market. Most litters | | | | cement and may compromise your cat's health that |
| are disposable; some are even flushable. Clawed cats | | | | can be traced to sodium bentonite's properties. This |
| are not likely to care what type you use. Declawed | | | | clumping agent expands to 15 times its size when wet. |
| cats, on the other hand, are often challenged with litter | | | | When a cat steps in the litter box, some sodium |
| box issues. | | | | bentonite clings to his paws. Later on, the cat will lick it |
| Non clumping clay litters: Granulated pieces of clay litter | | | | off. Once it gets into his digestive system, this trace |
| are about the size of small-grain rice. 100% clay litters | | | | residue will expand. This results in an impaired immune |
| are natural, very inexpensive and available in every | | | | system, respiratory distress, and irritated bowel |
| grocery store, pet stores, and online catalogs. They | | | | syndrome. |
| have been on the market since 1945. Clay litters are | | | | Non clumping clay litters at least have larger granules |
| not biodegradable or flushable. The clay naturally | | | | that tend to fall off his paws. And they do not contain |
| contains silica dust which is a known carcinogen. | | | | this type of cement that gives scoopables their |
| Manufacturers say that the cat litter does not have | | | | "clump." Since manufacturers do not have to disclose |
| any more silica dust than sandy beaches. Even so, if | | | | ingredients on the litter's label, call them and ask if the |
| your cat has a sensitive health or behavior problem, | | | | clumping littercontains sodium bentonite. If it does, try |
| you may try biodegradable litters. Many are dust-free | | | | another brand. |
| and flushable, such as alfalfa pellets. Some clay litters | | | | Litter containing ingredients such as calcium bentonite |
| are scented with a deodorizer that absorbs odors or is | | | | and sodium bentonite may also ruin the plumbing in |
| activated when the litter is pawed at or stirred. Your | | | | your house. Some municipalities may fine you if certain |
| cat may or may not like the scent so try both kinds. | | | | clumping litters are found in your pipes or sewer. |
| Clumping litter: Also known as "scoopable," this type of | | | | Biodegradable litters: Biodegradable litters come from |
| litter forms a solid ball when urine penetrates a deep | | | | plants. These litters are made of alfalfa, corn cob, |
| layer of the litter. The urine hardens the litter which can | | | | aspen, citrus peels, pine and wheat. Most are flushable |
| then be scooped out in a hard ball. This litter lasts | | | | but call the manufacturer to be sure, or if you have a |
| longer and controls the smell of urine quite well. Some | | | | septic tank. New biodegradable litters are hitting the |
| declawed cats may prefer the fine texture and | | | | market almost every year. Some litters are finely |
| softness of clumping litters. Because clumping litters | | | | ground, others are pellet type. Some naturally clump |
| control the odor so well, they seem ideal at first, | | | | without sodium bentonite. Most are dust-free. |
| especially if you have more than one cat. But there is | | | | Newspaper litters: Litters recycled from newspaper |
| a serious problem to some scoopable/clumping litters. | | | | come in pellet form. These are found in grocery stores, |
| For clumping litters to work, they need a "clumping | | | | online catalogs, and pet stores. However, newspaper |
| agent." A popular clumping agent in many scoopable | | | | could be toxic to some cats or people because some |
| brands is sodium bentonite. This agent acts as a | | | | inks are toxic. Some do not control odor too well. |