The Main Reasons for Investing in Clumping Cat Litter

We all require companionship from time to time. A bundle of joy who can make our day brighter and the nights more comfortable. A friend who will be next to us during tough times and act as a shining light in the moments of our lives when we need guidance. Cats, for many Australians are special, affectionate animals who can provide comfort and help relieve the stress of daily living. Plus, kittens, for as fierce as they are in nature, can transform, for the right owner into some of the most joyous and affectionate bundles of happiness in the animal kingdom.

Why should you get a cat? There are many reasons. For one thing, they are independent animals who can easily adapt to our routines and integrate themselves into our family without special effort. Secondly, cats require lower maintenance than dogs, they are much quieter, they have no problem with living indoors, and they are one of the cleanest pets one can get, as they groom themselves almost as much as they like to nap. But in order to ensure your cat can also follow its natural tendencies and live a stress-free life, you will need to invest in accessories, such as clumping cat litter, or toys that will help embrace her natural hunting instincts.

Why Should You Invest in High-Quality Kitty Litter?

A couple of reasons. Kitties, like a plethora of other animals have a natural tendency to bury their waste. Which is a good thing if you are not too keen on potty training your pet, but bad news if you have a favourite flower pot. Clumping cat litter is not only a purchase you make for convenience purposes. It can be something that will directly impact your cat’s behavioural traits, and aid with its training. Cats are picky about cleanliness or textures and might stop using their designated pooping place if the litter they are using is proving to not be to their liking.

When manufactured by reputable manufacturers like Pure, Catsan, Max’s or Fussy Cat, kitty litter is universally accepted by the vast majority of felines, and it has the added benefit of helping with odour control and making it easier to collect your cat’s dropping without risking making a mess everywhere. Litter is simply the most convenient way to make scooping easier for owners, encourage your kitty’s natural instincts, and reduce the unpleasant side effects of a pet doing its business indoors.

Yes, you can use other materials like sawdust or shredded paper for your kitty’s business, but the results will not be the same, as other materials do not have the same level of absorbency as clumping cat litter. Nor do these materials make it easier to mask smells or scoop your kitty’s droppings. The better the litter is, the cleaner the air in your house and the more likely your kitty will be to use its litter box.

What Kitty Litter Should You Choose?

Really, it depends on your preferences, budget and the clues presented by your cat. Perhaps the most popular option in Australian pet shops is represented by Bentonite, also known as clay-based clumping cat litter. The main benefit of this type of litter is that it forms solid clumps every time your kitty uses its litter box, so the waste is much easier to scoop. Plus, since the droppings are well covered by the sand, this type of litter is excellent for odour control, while also being relatively cheap.

Another option to consider is non-clumping kitty litter, which presents the same absorbency levels as Bentonite, but doesn’t clump in a similar manner. This type of litter is cheaper than the clumping variant, but it’s harder to clean, and it typically has worse odour control. Do you want something superior to both? Then, silica gel litter is the option to consider, as silica can absorb liquids into crystals, is lightweight, produces no dust, and controls odours surprisingly well. That said, silica is more expensive than conventional clumping cat litter, and its texture might also not be to the liking of some cats.

Why Do Cats Bury Their Waste?

Strong smells can attract predators, make prey aware of your presence, and even signal to other rival cats that you are currently present inside their territory. Cats bury their waste in order to mask their scent and protect themselves from the potential repercussions of an unforeseen encounter with a bigger animal. This doesn’t apply to all felines, though. Tigers, lions and jaguars often leave their waste uncovered as a way to mark their territory. But small kitties do not really have this option, as they will be unmatched in the case of a conflict with a bigger predator.

Sure, your living room is not exactly the new Serengeti, but your fluffball doesn’t know this, and she still carries those burying instincts with her, even though she is far removed from any resemblance to her natural territory. Plus, unlike other animals, cats have a natural tendency to clean themselves regularly, and prefer to keep waste away from their sleeping habitat, for hygienic reasons. Cats do not have predators at home but usually they still feel the same instinct to bury their waste. And typically, once they start doing their business in a litter box, they will get ingrained to it, and become slightly aggressive if someone is messing with their box.

You can use this to your advantage, though. Litter boxes can be used to redirect the unwanted behavioural traits of your kitty into a specific spot and reduce marking in areas that were previously affected by your kitty’s dominant nature. Potty training for kittens is much faster than it happens with dogs or other types of pets, and even for rescued cats, the process of adjusting to a litter box should not take more than a month. But the type of kitty litter you buy might make all the difference.