To Clump Or Not To Clump? A Look At Non-Clumping Cat Litter
Cat litter, like everything else in modern life, has evolved over time. In the past, pet owners filledcats’litter boxeswithtraditional litter. Everything from sand to ashes, which got the basic job done but didn't do much aboutcatlitter box odor or make thecatbox particularly easy to clean.
These substances gave way to modern clay litter products -- but even in this day and age, you still have to choose betweenclumpingvsnon clumping litter. Let's take a look at each of these options to see which of them might prove the smartest choice for your kitty's comfort, health, and preferences.
Clumping vs Non Clumping Litter
Non-Clumping Cat Litter: The Original Choice
Non-clumping litter, also called absorbing cat litter, served as the one and only commercial option for most cat owners for many years, starting in the 1940s. Some non-clumping litter is made from organic materials such as pine or wood, but most of it consists of a form of clay called bentonite.
Thenon clumping claylitter does a good job of absorbing both unpleasant odors andcaturine -- although once thenatural litter becomes saturated, you may end up with a puddle of it at the bottom of the litter box. Be prepared to changefreshlitter frequently.
Cats often like non-clumping litter because it behaves more likeasoiled litteror adirtthatthey would walk on in the wild. Owners often like it because it produces relativelylowdust, especially for those pet owners withmultiple cats.
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Clumping Cat Litter: Efficiency and Convenience
Clumping cat litter came along in the 1980s, leading to the use of silica gel litter that would react to moisture by binding to it . The great selling point of clumping cat litter is the ease and efficiency with which a cat owner can clean the kitty litter box.
A few scoops of the clumped-together material leaves the unusedclean litter, dry, odorless, and ready for future use, with no need to change the entire litter supply or clean pooledcaturine out of the bottom of the cat boxorlitter tray.
The downside of clumping litter is that it tends to kick up more dust than the non-clumping variety, and it can take on a sticky consistency that your cat may not like. It also costs more, although this disadvantage might be offset a little by the fact that you're throwing away less litter with each cleaning.
Health Considerations
Does your cat have a respiratory issue such as asthma? If so, you want to use the least dusty cat litter you can get your hands on. This usually means going with non-clumping cat litter instead of clumping cat litter.
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