Many cat owners prefer felines over dogs because the former tend to need less maintenance in general. That\u2019s because cats instinctively know how to clean after themselves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
You can help your feline friends along by providing them with a litter tray. Cats will naturally relieve themselves on the litter because it mimics how their ancestors used to do it in the wild. That is, take a dump in the sand and cover it up to mask the smell.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n However, if your cat doesn\u2019t like his litter tray due to the smell, texture, or some other reason, he will go to the loo elsewhere in your house. Which isn\u2019t good, of course.<\/p>\n\n\n\n That\u2019s why, as an owner, one of the most crucial decisions you need to make it what cat litter to use. If your cat takes a liking to them, they will use it every time. You\u2019ll get a cleaner house with fewer cat droppings scattered about.<\/p>\n\n\n\n So today, we’ll help you along by going through some of the best cat litters in the UK you can purchase for your pet. Choosing the perfect cat litter for your feline friend boils down to two main things you need to consider. The first is the type of cat litter, and the second is what type of ingredient the cat litter is made out of.<\/p>\n\n\n\n We\u2019ll discuss these more below.<\/p>\n\n\n\n However, one thing you need to realize is that there is no one \u201cright\u201d cat litter for all cats. Your feline friend will be partial to one type or the other. Unfortunately, there\u2019s no easy way to find out except to try and experiment!<\/p>\n\n\n\n Aside from that, there are also some cat litter considerations for you as an owner. For example, is being environmentally friendly vital to you? Then you want to get something that’s biodegradable. There is also cat litter that minimizes odours, so that would be a deal-breaker if bad smells are a big problem for you. Cat litter can be grouped into two main categories, each with a further two subcategories to form four different variables.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Clumping refers to the way some cat litter form into a big mass that can be quickly scooped. Clumping cat litter<\/strong> makes cleaning the litter box effortless and economical because they tend to form into these scoopable balls.<\/p>\n\n\n\n When your feline friend urinates on one part, the wet part clumps together so you can easily throw it away and replace it with fresh litter. This also tends to trap the smell of urine, reducing bad odours from forming.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A minor danger with clumping litter is that it might be an attractive thing for kittens to chew, which can cause digestion problems. For younger kittens below five months old, it’s better to use the non-clumping variant.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Non-clumping litter <\/strong>cannot form balls when wet, so they’re not as easy to clean. But they do have the advantage of being much more absorbent than the clumping type.<\/p>\n\n\n\n What this means for you is that you don\u2019t need to change out litter as often. However, this can leave urine smell sitting on the litter box for longer. Good non-clumping litter brands should have some kind of odour control to mitigate this limitation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n So to recap, clumping cat litter is better for reducing smells, while non-clumping cat litter requires less maintenance. What you choose, of course, depends on what your preference is.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Some cat litter is scented to help mask the bad smell from the litter tray. If you’re using a non-clumping type and odour is becoming an issue, using a scented variety can help make things more manageable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n However, some cats are bothered by scented litter, so you might need to swap them for an unscented type if required. The good news is that some unscented litter can provide odour control using natural ingredients like carbon or plant extracts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In your quest to find the perfect cat litter, you\u2019ll inevitably try a few brands or types before you get to one that your cat really likes. Switching, however, is tricky. Your cat might not like the new litter and avoid her tray entirely.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The key is to do a slow transition. Fill the tray with the new litter gradually over a week or so. This is especially true if the texture or scent is a radical change.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You can also invest in a few extra trays and lay out different brands of cat litter in each. Observe your cat, see where they often go, and you’ve found your winner!<\/p>\n\n\n\n There are many, many different ingredients used in cat litter. Each would have their unique properties, as well as advantages, disadvantages and best situations to use them. For example, some are naturally clumping, while others have odour control properties. Of course, there are more environmentally-friendly choices than others.<\/p>\n\n\n\n We\u2019ll list down some of these common cat litter ingredients and their pros and cons.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Clay<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Best for: owners who want to change cat litter less frequently<\/p>\n\n\n\n Clay is a typical cat litter ingredient that can form quick clumps, so cleanup is relatively easier than most. They have excellent odour control properties, even in their unscented form. A scented clay litter can add even more smell masking ability.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The big drawback of clay is that it\u2019s a non-biodegradable material, so you need to take extra care when disposing of them. It also creates lots of dust particles, so it might not be ideal if you have people with asthma or allergies living with you. For people who want to live an environmentally-friendly lifestyle, clay might not be a perfect cat litter to have. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Silica Gel<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Best for: minimal litter maintenance over the long term<\/p>\n\n\n\n Silica is a common ingredient that you\u2019ll often see included in food packaging and electronics. It\u2019s a highly absorbent material, which is superior at keeping moisture off your litter tray. Dust-free and trackless, it’s ideal for people with respiratory problems.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Silica can be successfully reused for up to a month, so it can be an economical even if the upfront cost tends to be expensive than other cat litter. However, silica can cause indigestion if your cat accidentally swallows it, so that\u2019s something you need to carefully watch out for.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Recycled Paper<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Best for: cats recovering from surgery or injury<\/p>\n\n\n\n This is a very environmentally-friendly material made from recycled paper that\u2019s cut into small pieces. Paper is naturally non-clumping and creates no dust. It\u2019s also one of the cheaper kinds of cat litter, and one of the best litter for training since it creates no dust or particulates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The con of recycled paper is that it’s very basic, offering nothing beyond being absorbent. It has no odour control and might require frequent changing compared to other litters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Wood or Pine<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Best for: environmentally-friendly owners<\/p>\n\n\n\n Wood or pine is a by-product of leftover timber. It’s a versatile cat litter that can be used for more than just in your litter tray. You can also use it as mulch in gardening and landscaping. <\/p>\n\n\n\n As far as cat litter material goes, this is one of the most natural you can get. It’s a non-clumping biodegradable and environmentally safe. Its pine scent naturally deodorises your litter, and it’s dust-free as well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The only drawback is the pine scent, which some may find offensive. But if you can get past that, wood is a fantastic cat litter material.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Walnut<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Best for: reducing the smell of urine<\/p>\n\n\n\n This litter ingredient uses crushed walnut shells, which creates a highly absorbent bed for your litter box. It\u2019s available in both clumping and non-clumping variants, depending on your preference. It’s biodegradable and sustainable since it comes from a renewable source (walnuts). It also produces no dust or tracking.<\/p>\n\n\n\n One of the best advantages of walnut cat litter is its ability to eliminate ammonia, which is what makes urine smell so bad. It’s also low on maintenance, and you can leave it up to a month before it needs to be swapped.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The clumping version, however, doesn’t readily clump, unlike clay. So this is something you need to keep in mind.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Wheat<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Best for: owners who want a sustainable and naturally clumping cat litter<\/p>\n\n\n\n Wheat comes from the same starchy ingredient used in baking. It\u2019s naturally absorbent and naturally clumps when wet, forming dough balls. It\u2019s also a dust-free, biodegradable and sustainable litter material.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The problem with wheat is that it’s more susceptible to pests since it’s a food source. You have to be much more careful with storing these grains than any other type of cat litter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\nHow to Choose the Best Cat Litter<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\nTypes of Cat Litter<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Clumping vs Non-Clumping<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Scented vs Unscented<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Switching Cat Litter<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Cat Litter Ingredients<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\nBest Cat Litter in the UK<\/strong> 2022<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
World\u2019s Best Cat Litter<\/a><\/h3>\n\n\n\n\n