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We have reviewed this guide from top to bottom, and we still think this is the best cat litter you can buy.
If you have the right litter, the smelly, sometimes slimy mess left by the cat in the litter box is easier to deal with. After two years of testing on 17 cat litters, we think that Dr. Elsey’s Ultra has done the best in making the housework of the litter box easier, because it can well cover up odors, clumps and keep dust in at the lowest limit. In addition, it is cheaper than many other options-this is an important factor, considering this is something you will use frequently throughout your cat's life.
We judge the competitors of cat litter by the ease of lifting, carrying and dumping of the container.
We sniffed the degree of odor control of each recipe by adding a mixture of sulfur-flavored spices and ammonia to each pan.
We tested the removal, agglomeration, and the ability to clean the bottom of the pan.
We prefer the trash that produces the least dust when refilling or scooping out dirty trash from the pot.
This kind of cat litter forms strong clumps and effectively controls odors. It is one of the cheapest options.
No brand of cat litter can beat Dr. Elsey's Ultra's combination of solid odor control, eradication and low dust distribution-all at an affordable price. This is the only cat litter we have found that can completely absorb the odor of cat feces. Its neutral odor is easier to digest than the fruity scent of some cat litter, which conflicts with the smell of the litter box. Dr. Elsey’s particles are moderately sized, so cats are unlikely to track trash throughout the house. This kind of litter will also quickly clump when wet, and when you scoop it up, these litters will hold their shape better than most other litters. Dr. Elsey also produces less dust than half of the brands we tested. When you pour fresh garbage into a pot or scoop out cat food for a day, the dust will not overwhelm you. But this kind of garbage is sold in a huge plastic bag, which is bothersome to carry and dispose of. Like most litter we tested, Dr. Elsey’s particles are likely to stick to the bottom of a dirty litter box and make it difficult to clean deeply.
This cat litter does a good job of controlling odor, and it does not leave a slimy mess on the box like the other cat litters we tested. But per pound is more expensive than our first choice.
*At the time of publication, the price was $15.
No trash can control odors so well that it can replace conventional scooping and strategic box placement. However, if you are very sensitive to the smell of rubbish or hate having to constantly clean the surface near the rubbish bin, please consider using Arm & Hammer Cloud Control Clumping Litter. It does a good job of catching the smell, and it smells more neutral, not as fruity as some of the other cat litters we tested, so your nose is easier to scoop out time. This kind of trash has fine sandy garbage particles that form tight clumps that will not stick to the bottom of dirty trash trays-but these fine particles do track more trash throughout the home than our main choice. The low-dust nature of this cat litter means you will not cough uncontrollably when dumping, scooping or deep cleaning the litter box. Arm & Hammer Cloud Control is generally a good piece of garbage, but the price per pound is usually about 30% more expensive than Dr. Elsey's Ultra, and most people (and cats) won't get more value from it.
This large, easy-to-hold spoon makes heavy housework as pleasant as possible.
Of the five spoons we used during our testing, DurAnimals DuraScoop Original Cat Litter Scoop is the spoon we bought for ourselves. This is the only spoon that was not serious at the end of the test, with minimal urination and rubbish crusts on the edge, and no rubbish stuck in the mesh. The large size and sturdy structure of the shovel allow you to easily rake through the bin and grab everything. Although DuraScoop costs more than other spoons, it is a one-time purchase that can make the more unpleasant parts of your day better and keep your trash can clean.
This kind of cat litter forms strong clumps and effectively controls odors. It is one of the cheapest options.
This cat litter does a good job of controlling odor, and it does not leave a slimy mess on the box like the other cat litters we tested. But per pound is more expensive than our first choice.
*At the time of publication, the price was $15.
This large, easy-to-hold spoon makes heavy housework as pleasant as possible.
I am a pet writer at Wirecutter, and I cover everything from the best automatic litter box that no one should buy to our favorite litter pad. I am also a lifelong pet owner and animal shelter volunteer. She handled her cat poop. I was determined to find the best way to control the smell of the litter box without making the situation of cat residents become worse. Worse.
Shannon Palus is the senior author who wrote the original version of this guide. She interviewed Alexandra Medley, a veterinarian who recently graduated from Ohio State University (now working at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention), and asked her to investigate the veterinarians in her network to find the trickiest trash to Wirecutter The answer. Shannon also consulted with ASPCA’s veterinarian Michael Lund; Brooklyn Bridge Animal Welfare Alliance Chairperson and Brooklyn Cat Cafe Manager Anne Levine; and Church & Dwight Home R&D Vice President Ray Brown, who owns Arm & Hammer (which sells a variety of cat litters) . She tested the best-performing cat litter at the Brooklyn Cat Cafe, where dozens of cats provided their, uh, input.
Cat litter was invented in 1947 by a man in his 20s named Edward Lowe to help a neighbor who had no sand (people put sand in the trash can if they let their cat in). Luo gave the neighbor some dry clay that his father used to help clean up the grease spilled from the factory. He called it Kitty Litter, as explained in the 1984 "People" story about Lowe.
Lowe's career has been selling Kitty Litter (including the enduring Tidy Cats name) under a few brands. The terms he coined became universal, and the number of garbage options proliferated. Today, you can also buy bedding made from corn, pine, silica or recycled newspaper. Clay is still the most common type of garbage, and this is what we will focus on in this guide. “Based on my experience with my own cats and cats from the clinic, most cats do a good job with clay caked litter,” said Michael Lund, one of the veterinarians we interviewed. (If you prefer non-clay litter, we provide some suggestions at the end of this guide.)
Clay litter is inexpensive and can produce solid clumps, making it easier to scoop. You don't need to add baking soda or changing pads to make it work. And because clay litter dominates the market, it has a variety of odors and particle sizes. If you and your cat are picky, it is easy to find a slightly different breed without having to completely replace the litter.
Clay is still the most common type of garbage, and this is what we will focus on in this guide.
In addition, cats like clay. As the veterinarian Alexandra Medley pointed out, clay is similar to soil in consistency, so putting in clay litter will feel natural to your cat. When we tested the litter at the Brooklyn Cat Cafe, these cats-they usually get loose particles during the day because they are not easy to track-used it so excitedly that they jumped into the box and we dumped them Begin to poop garbage.
If you doubt whether the soil-like quality of clay is important, consider the anecdote of Ray Brown, vice president of Arm & Hammer garbage manufacturer Church & Brown. About ten years ago, the company tried a silica sand made of marble-sized white spheres. Not only does about a third of cats reject it (because it feels weird to step on it, Brown thought), but it also doesn't wear well. "When you put it in the litter box for the first time, honestly it looks great, but after the cat starts using it, it doesn't look so good," he said. To put it bluntly: On a white background, pee and poop stand out.
Our initial requirement is simple: clumps of clay waste.
When your cat urinates on it, the clumped garbage will form a block, allowing you to scoop out the waste without having to replace the entire plate. It is made of a special clay, sodium bentonite, which sticks to itself when wet and absorbs some odors.
Unless you have enough cats to fill the adoption center (so you need to throw out the entire litter box every day), you will get the most miles from the mess. Most of the agglomerated garbage we found averaged 58 cents per pound, but the cost per pound could be as high as 78 cents. Digging out clumps means you can reduce the frequency of replacing the entire box. Lund and other veterinarians recommend a thorough replacement of cat litter about every two weeks to remove the accumulation of ammonia that may cause irritation to the cat (if you often scoop the litter box, you may be able to avoid replacing the entire litter box).
The rubbish you buy will most likely promote yourself as more than just "clay caked rubbish." But what do these terms mean, and do any of these extra features actually work? Here is a guide to other things you might find on the side of the bag:
Medley said there are some horror stories about cats eating clumps of garbage and causing them to form clumps in their stomachs, but this is not something most people need to worry about. If your cat eats garbage, take them to the vet: this may be a sign of anemia or pica, craving for something that is not food. In addition, a small amount of sodium bentonite is not dangerous to animals-it is even an ingredient in some animal feeds.
Some people are particularly worried about kittens eating clumped garbage, because kittens have smaller stomachs and may be more curious. Although some brands recommend using non-clumping cat litter before your kitten is about 4 months old, other brands (such as Cat's Pride) please note that there is no evidence that sodium bentonite actually causes damage to kittens; this is a Supported conclusions by veterinarians Medley and Lund and everything we found while browsing the literature and reading many Internet forums. "In my 7 years of veterinary experience, I have never seen kittens swallowing litter with clumps of clay," Lund said. (He points out that for kittens under two weeks old, clay litter can usually be a problem-younger than their usual adoption age-if they are put in a crate near the litter box Your cat mother.) If you are worried and still want to use clumped clay litter-I do! ——Monitor your kitten’s behavior. If there is something wrong, check with your veterinarian.
In order to reduce waste, we converted 14 x 11 x 3¼-inch storage containers into temporary litter boxes, and filled each box with 2 inches of cat litter. We depend on the ease of carrying and dumping of containers, dust and odor, their ability to cover alternative odors (ammonia mixtures and hinges, a fragrance that smells like sulfur), the scooping properties of liquid waste, and the degree of clumping. The sand is graded for hardness, and how easy it is to clean the clumpy mess at the bottom of the pan. Cat litters that performed poorly in multiple categories were eliminated.
For the early version of this guide, we will bring the four cat litters that performed the best in the aforementioned tests-Elsey's Ultra, Cat's Pride Natural, Fresh Step Simply Unscented and Boxiecat Premium all natural unscented agglomerated clay sands to Brooklyn Cat Cafe, there are dozens of rescue cats and kittens (including kittens that are several weeks old you can see nestling on the 24/7 kitten camera). We pay attention to the effect of each brand of cat litter in covering up the peculiar smell of the litter box, collecting pet feces and preventing the litter from being scattered. We also rely heavily on the anecdotes of the cat cafe staff to determine which brands of cat litter cats usually like.
We also brought five different spoons-they are highly rated on Amazon, or recommended by other sources-went to the cat cafe with us, and recorded the ease of holding each spoon, each The effect of a spoon in collecting clumps and how much rubbish sticks to the spoon.
This kind of cat litter forms strong clumps and effectively controls odors. It is one of the cheapest options.
For your money, Dr. Elsey's Ultra forms tough clumps and does an excellent job of capturing smells. It also produces less dust and is much cheaper than many other cat litters we tested.
In the test of liquid waste, the clumps formed by Dr. Elsey's Ultra were in the middle of the package in terms of hardness, and on the flat side, making them less likely to stick to the bottom or sides of the litter box. Wirecutter staff reported that these clumps stayed well during the shoveling process and sometimes broke into large pieces if they were dug from a corner or side. "They will never be forgotten," said Kimber Streams, a senior writer at Wirecutter, whose cats have been in use for six years.
Our long-term testers say that Dr. Elsey's Ultra does a good job of masking waste odors. The cat litter itself smells neutral, not as overwhelmingly fruity as Purina Tidy Cats 24/7 Performance. In our control test, Dr. Elsey's Ultra was able to cover up the smell of odorous ammonia and pungent smell so well that when the trash substitute was only partially covered by trash, we could only smell the smell of clay trash.
Although it is difficult for us to conduct tracking tests in cat cafes, Dr. Elsey's Ultra particles are larger, which means that its tracking volume should be lower than some competitors. The long-term waste test experience of our employees proves this point. "It's a bit tracking, but not as bad as the other junk I've used," Streams said.
When Dr. Elsey is poured into the pot, it does raise some dust, but it is not as much as other cheaper options—even some more expensive items—and the dust settles faster than the competition. In our latest round of testing, only Arm & Hammer Clump & Seal Litter and Arm & Hammer Cloud Control Clumping Litter performed better than Dr. Elsey's Ultra in terms of dust control.
Dr. Elsey's low price ensures that this litter of garbage is our first choice. Its average cost is 48 cents per pound, while most litter we reviewed averaged 58 cents, or as high as 78 cents per pound. During your pet's lifetime, you will buy a lot of trash; we think most people will like this trash at half the price of many other trash on the market. As Streams puts it, "I won't pay a lot of money for fancy poop stones."
The most obvious shortcoming of Dr. Elsey's Ultra is its container. Although this kind of garbage is sometimes sold in small boxes, the 40-pound plastic bags offered by Amazon have the lowest price. Of all the containers that garbage enters, plastic bags are the most difficult to seal, and they are not as easy to store as boxes or plastic boxes.
That 40-pound plastic bag is twice as much as other garbage. Other garbage is packed in 20, 30, or 40-pound cardboard containers, which are easier to lift and store. Pet owners with low arm strength may find it difficult to pour Dr. Elsey’s Ultra into a pan, so we recommend putting some rubbish into an easy-to-dump container (such as the one used by Wirecutter editor Tim Barribeau) or using a large coarse grinder You store it in a bag. Or, you can buy one of Dr. Elsey's 18-pound bags for an extra 7 cents per pound.
In our cleanability test, Dr. Elsey's Ultra is located in the middle of the package because it will leave a slimy mess on the bottom of the pan. Its average size particles are not as tight as the smaller particles in the Arm & Hammer Cloud Control Clumping Litter, so more water can reach the bottom of the trash can. Dr. Elsey’s Ultra performance is as good as the two cheaper cat litters we tested: Arm & Hammer Super Scoop Clumping Litter and Frisco Scoopable Cat Litter. If you are willing to pay extra for harder clumps that will not stick to the bottom of the dirty disk, please try our other option, Arm & Hammer Cloud Control Clumping Litter.
This cat litter does a good job of controlling odor, and it does not leave a slimy mess on the box like the other cat litters we tested. But per pound is more expensive than our first choice.
*At the time of publication, the price was $15.
We like Arm & Hammer Cloud Control Clumping Litter because it does a good job of capturing odors and its cat litter particles are better than most of the cat litter brands we have tested. In addition, Cloud Control padding does not stick to the bottom of the pot and hardly generates dust. But those tiny particles may be tracked throughout the home, and the traditional cardboard container of Cloud Control trash may be difficult to carry and open.
Although Dr. Elsey's Ultra has the best odor control, Cloud Control cat litter does the best at making tighter, clearer cat litter blocks, and is the easiest to scoop and clean in our tests.
In our test, Cloud Control cat litter captures odorous ammonia and sulfur-like odors better than competitors. When we sit next to dirty cat litter, only a faint odor is left; only Dr. Elsey’s Ultra passes completely. Capturing the smell beats it in this respect. If your cat often buries excrement, Cloud Control cat litter can quickly eliminate the odor, but if your cat is rude and never hides it, the odor will take a few minutes to dissipate.
Although Dr. Elsey's Ultra has the best odor control, Cloud Control cat litter does the best at making tighter, clearer cat litter blocks, and is the easiest to scoop and clean in our tests. Like every cat litter we tested, using Cloud Control cat litter, after about 20 minutes, the clumps are still wet, but it is the only cat litter that we can scoop up repeatedly without breaking the perfect mound. . We found that clay litter with finer particles (such as Cloud Control litter) produces tighter clumps than litter with average-sized particles (such as Elsey's Ultra), which tends to break into more compact lumps during the scooping process. Large fragments. (Cat's Pride Total Odor Control Unscented is a brand with similar-sized particles, broken down into smaller pieces that are more difficult to scoop.) Cloud Control trash is also the only trash pan that does not leave sticky trash at the bottom of the trash. The cat litter slides out effortlessly, leaving only a small amount of dust. Compared with the sticky patches left by other cat litters (including Dr. Elsey's Ultra, Arm & Hammer Super Scoop Clumping Litter and Fresh Step Simply Unscented), it is more Easy to deep clean.
"After using Elsey's for my two cats for about a year, the switch to Cloud Control was actually a revelation," said Michael Hession, Wirecutter's Director of Photography and Video. "I have been working hard to scrape the clay waste from our boxes, and Cloud Control makes the shoveling faster and less labor intensive. I also found that it can last longer without becoming rough. It costs more than Elsey’s is higher, but it seems that I have been making longevity money."
The nickname of Cloud Control lives up to its name. It is one of the two brands that do not produce dust when we dump and scoop cat litter (the other is Arm & Hammer Super Scoop Clumping Litter). Cloud Control's extremely small dust profile means that nearby surfaces can be kept clean for longer, and if you or your cat are allergic, this brand of garbage should be easier to tolerate. (And, as Medley said, if your cat is breathing with its mouth open, take them to the vet immediately.)
The small particles of Cloud Control cat litter are easier to shovel and clean, but these small spots are also more likely to stick to the cat’s paws and be tracked throughout the house. Buy high-quality cat litter pads, such as Easyology high-quality cat litter pads, which capture fine particles better than any mat we have seen.
Finally, the Arm & Hammer Cloud Control cat litter comes in a cardboard box with a plastic handle, which is easier to hold and store compared to Dr. Elsey’s Ultra packaging (although it is not as comfortable to carry as Cat’s Pride’s plastic jug). When we first opened a box of Cloud Control trash by punching a hole in a cardboard label, sometimes trash particles would fly up. (Life Tip: Use a box opening knife to remove the top of the cardboard box, so that it is easier to shovel out the trash with a coarse shovel.)
This large, easy-to-hold spoon makes heavy housework as pleasant as possible.
Among the five scoops we used to scoop garbage at Brooklyn Cat Cafe, DurAnimals DuraScoop Original Cat Litter Scoop is the only scoop that does not have urinary and garbage on the edges, or that has no debris stuck in the trash can. net.
This shovel is deeper and wider than the competition and can easily scoop up a large chunk or rake over the trash to pick up anything you missed. Its sturdy edges allow you to easily remove any clumps that may stick to the edge or bottom of the pan.
Chuck Firth, the inventor of DuraScoop, aka "poop spoon" when he signed his e-mail, said that he invented this spoon in 2003 because he was tired of using plastic spoons that are easy to bend. DuraScoop fits his intentions, and its rubber handle is easy to grasp and won't bend or stick into your hand.
Overall, DuraScoop makes unpleasant housework as easy as possible, and this fact is reflected in the spoon’s impressive 4.8-star rating on Amazon. One critic said, “After 30 years, 4 cats, and countless plastic spoons, I bought the metal DuraScoop. Finally freed.” Another said, “I can’t believe I fell in love with a trash spoon!” It It is also a favorite of Wirecutter employees.
DuraScoop is more expensive than the competition, but we think that around $13 is still a small price and can easily clean the pet’s litter box.
The large size of this spoon makes it impossible to fit some spoon holders, such as the one on Litter Genie. Some comments complained that DuraScoop's holes were too large, allowing smaller clumps to fall. We did notice this in the new round of testing, so if your cat litter is very fragile, you might prefer a cat litter scoop with a narrower sieve. Finally, if you use a dustbin liner, the metal edges of DuraScoop may hang on the plastic.
Our experts say that most cats like to use clay litter, and we think that clay block litter requires less experimentation and less expense for most people. However, if you are looking for a different setting (either out of personal preference or because you have a provocative cat), here are some personal suggestions from the Wirecutter staff.
Wirecutter writer Gregory Han swears by the odor absorption properties of silicone pads. He has used So Phresh Scoopable Cat Litter for nearly ten years. "Guests said our apartment doesn't smell like the usual small space, pet-rich residence, and most importantly, cats seem to like sodium silicate the most," he wrote in the apartment treatment. Han pointed out that silicone pads are often not tracked outside the trash can like some of the clay pads he has tried. For one of his cats, it spent a lot of time scraping on the dustbin, and dust on the clay was also a problem. Han admitted that So Phresh is expensive (it is more than three times the price of our preferred choice), and he said that adding a layer of baking soda to the bottom of the litter box works best (another cost). Unlike silica which has larger crystals or pearls, So Phresh silica is small enough to cover poop well, although it does turn yellow due to cat urine.
Several Wirecutter staff have joined the Tidy Cats Breeze system, which makes it easy to get rid of cat urine. Special pine wood pellets are placed in the box, and there is an absorbent pad under them. In addition to scooping, you can also replace it. So you scoop it every day, change the mat about once a week, and all the pellets once a month. It's more expensive than the regular setup-a little more than 2.5 times our preferred trash-but Breeze advocates say its convenience is worth it (you can reduce operating costs by using ordinary pine pellets sold in bulk as horse bedding , Instead of Tidy Cats special particles). However, if your cat doesn't like it, you can spend money to buy a new litter box and a bunch of special mats and pine cat litter particles.
In the process of writing this guide, we have heard people say again and again that the best cat litter in the world is made of corn. We ordered some for testing, just to see what's all the fuss about. It smelled like a farm, objectively speaking, it formed a soft mushy mass. But those who like it mainly like it because the company claims that the trash can be washed away (and the company says it has conducted tests to ensure that the trash does not block pipes and sewer systems).
However, throwing your garbage into the sewer can cause harm to local wildlife. As we wrote in the dog poop bag guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency classifies pet feces as pollutants, which introduce excess nutrients and harmful microorganisms (such as parasites and coliforms) into rivers, streams, and Groundwater. A particular problem with cat excrement is toxoplasmosis, a parasitic infection carried by cats that can cause serious complications during human pregnancy and in people with weakened immune systems. In California, there is evidence that toxoplasmosis caused by cat feces is associated with increased mortality of sea otters, which prompted legislation to put a flushing prevention notice on cat litter bags. As a health operations manager told the New York Times (Wirecutter’s parent company) about the issue of wipes, it is said that wipes can also be washed: "I agree that they are washable. Golf balls can be flushed, but this is not a good one. idea."
If your cat is using a litter box, and the cat litter you are using is reasonably priced, clumps well, and does not smell bad when scooped frequently, please continue to use the litter you are using. Even our favorite garbage can only do so much.
It is common for approximately 2% to 4% of cats to reject any given litter.
Cats are known for being picky about trash, but if there is room for improvement in your trash, then your cat is likely to change. According to Ray Brown of Church & Dwight, Arm & Hammer's parent company, it is common for approximately 2% to 4% of cats to refuse any particular litter. Ease the transition by mixing some new trash with old trash for a week.
If you are not satisfied with the current cat litter settings-it is difficult to make small animals shit where you live! -Before or in addition to replacing the cat litter, there are several other solutions you can try.
Shovel your trash at least once a day. When we went to the Brooklyn Cat Cafe to test the cat litter, we were ready for the place to smell like a farm. It doesn't. That's because the volunteers in the cafe are always digging, usually within a few minutes of the cat's business. Although Church & Dwight's Brown told us that the litter formula has been tested for clump integrity and odor control for up to three days (in case you miss a day or a lump), you still need to try to scoop it every day.
If you have trouble handling cat litter, you can try a partially enclosed litter box. Or try a mat that can catch trash, such as Easyology's high-quality cat litter mat, which collects trash better than any mat we have tested.
Several Wirecutter staff also found that the personal litter box with the Litter Genie Plus cat litter treatment system was very happy nearby. This is a trash can that allows you to scoop the trash into a small front hall and put the lid on, and then throw the trash into a larger compartment; this way, every time you add new dirty trash, your nose Will not be bombarded by a week of dirty garbage.
Changing the trash will not solve the health problem. Veterinarian Alexandra Medley said that if you find that your cat is eating garbage in the litter box or has breathing problems, this may indicate an underlying health problem, so please take the cat to the veterinarian as soon as possible . Veterinarian Michael Lund added that if your cat does have asthma, switching to odorless or clay-free cat litter may help. If your cat also defecates or urinates frequently elsewhere, this may be a sign of a health problem rather than a litter problem. Cats usually look for a comfortable and safe place when they are in pain-let them squat under your bed instead of using their box. In addition, if a cat associates their litter box with pain (which can happen if they are infected), they may start to avoid it.
We re-tested the Arm & Hammer Clump & Seal Litter. It does a good job of masking odors, it is easy to scoop out, and it produces almost no dust. But it smells a bit fruity and sticks to the bottom of a dirty pot better than our equally excellent choice, Arm & Hammer Cloud Control Clumping Litter.
Arm & Hammer Super Scoop Clumping Litter generates a lot of dust. In addition, when we scoop up dirty trash, it will shatter, and these clumps really stick to the bottom of the dirty trash tray.
Cat's Pride Total Odor Control Unscented and Frisco Scoopable Cat Litter do a poor job of masking odors. They are dusty and their sticky clumps are difficult to remove from the bottom of a dirty litter box.
Fresh Step Simply Unscented cat litter was also a great choice before, because it is good at controlling odor. But it is really dusty, has an average caking effect, and sticks to dirty garbage trays more than most competitors.
Boxiecat's premium all-natural fragrance-free agglomerated clay bedding has flat-top™ (yes,™) clumps. The clumps are indeed flat. This function works well when we test with fake trash; flat clumps are easy to shovel because they do not require any excavation. However, when we brought Boxiecat litter to the Brooklyn cat cafe, we found that the flat clumps were also easy to break when the cat stepped on them.
Among the three scented cat litter we tested, Arm & Hammer Slide did the best in removing ammonia. The fine particles do not generate dust and may be less than our first choice. However, it smells like Starburst candy, and we don't think it will appeal to most people.
Ever Clean Unscented Extra Strength cat litter works well. However, these lumps are a bit fragile and expensive compared to our first choice.
Fresh Step Lightweight Simply Unscented is a lightweight version of the previous fragrance upgrade option, and its clumps are slightly softer than the regular version.
Purina Tidy Cats 24/7 Performance is packed in a bucket with a long handle, which is very inconvenient to hold. The clumps were relatively soft and formed in the pot. The smell of the litter is fruity and does not eliminate the tingling of ammonia.
We once recommended Cat's Pride Natural as an upgrade option. It is more expensive than the other garbage we recommend, but it is packed in a container that is easier to pour out, and it tends to form stronger clumps compared to all other garbage we tested. Unfortunately, it is no longer available.
If your cat is using a litter box, and the cat litter you are using is reasonably priced, clumps well, and does not smell bad when scooped frequently, please continue to use the litter you are using. Even our favorite garbage can only do so much.
According to Ray Brown of Arm & Hammer’s parent company Church & Dwight, it’s common for about 2% to 4% of cats to reject any given litter - but if your litter has room for improvement, your Cats are likely to follow changes. Ease the transition by mixing some new trash with old trash for a week or two, or follow the transition instructions on the box (if they are different).
Cats like to do business in quiet, clean places, just like humans. It is best to place the litter box in a quiet room with limited traffic, and place it against the wall, so that the cat will feel safe when using it. If the litter box is too hard to reach (on a high platform) or too far (on the other end of the 2,000 square foot house), your cat may not be able or even willing to go there. A box near noisy appliances can make your pet feel uneasy.
Any cat litter dumped into the sewer may be harmful to local wildlife. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency classifies pet excrement as a pollutant, which introduces excess nutrients and harmful microorganisms (such as parasites and coliforms) into groundwater, rivers and streams. In addition, cat excrement can cause toxoplasmosis, a parasitic infection carried by cats. In humans, it can cause serious complications during pregnancy and people with weakened immune systems. In California, there is evidence that toxoplasmosis caused by cat feces is associated with increased mortality of sea otters, which prompted legislation to put a flushing prevention notice on cat litter bags.
Most cats prefer a clear view of the surrounding environment, so it is best to choose an open litter box. And because the closed lid can capture odors, it may also create an unpleasant environment for your pet. We like the open Nature's Miracle High Sided Litter Box because it is cheap, has a low entrance, but has a high side, there are debris inside, and the inside is smooth and easy to clean. You can read more about it in our guide to the best litter box.
Many cat litter manufacturers use the terms "scoopable" and "clumping" interchangeably when discussing clay cat litter. Scoopable can remove cat excrement, whether it is urine or feces, with a litter scoop. Caking refers to cat urine being absorbed or dehydrated by clay or silicon-based garbage particles, forming hard lumps that are easy to scoop out. There are some types of cat litter that can only be scooped and cannot be agglomerated, such as pine wood litter and recycled paper litter.
Toxoplasmosis is an infection caused by the parasite Toxoplasma gondii-as many as half of cats may be present in some areas, most commonly in pets spending outdoors. Most people come into contact with parasites when eating uncooked or contaminated food or water, when gardening in an infected flower bed, or when they are in close contact with cat feces (for example, touching the mouth after cleaning the litter box) . The CDC pointed out that the infected person may be asymptomatic, but the parasite can survive in the host for several years. Pregnant women may pass it to their children, where it can be fatal; people with weakened immune systems may experience severe symptoms.
Currently, when you are near a cat, litter box, or surface that may have been in contact with feces, the best way to prevent infection is to wash your hands thoroughly before touching your eyes, nose, or mouth. If you are pregnant or have a weakened immune system, it is best to ask someone else to take over the cleaning of your litter box. If you live alone, please clean the trash can, wear disposable gloves and wash your hands every day. (Please note that parasites do not become contagious until 1 to 5 days after they enter cat feces.) You can also keep your cats indoors and feed them only commercially available canned food or dry cat food to limit their exposure to parasites insect.
An interview with Ray Brown, Vice President of Home Furnishing Research and Development at Church & Dwight
Lori Huston, DVM, what is the best cat litter? Non-clumping and agglomerating garbage, Doctor of Pet Medicine, July 6, 2012
Preventing the Trash Can Problem, The Humane Society of the United States
Choose the right cat litter (PDF), move SPCA
Why is the smell of cat urine so terrible? , Vet Depot, September 13, 2016
Jacqui Neilson, Thinking Outside the Box: Elimination of Felines, Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery, February 1, 2004
Kaitlyn Wells is a full-time writer covering all pets and styles. She had never met a pet she didn't like, although she couldn't say the same to the shoes. Her first picture book "A Family Looks Like Love" tells about the love that a puppy learns, not your appearance, which is part of a family.
Authors: Mark Smirniotis and Kaitlyn Wells
Nature's Miracle high-side litter box has ample internal space, high walls that are easy to enter and prevent from being scattered, which is everything a cat needs in a litter box.
Self-cleaning bins are expensive and the workload exceeds its value. Litter-Robot III Open Air is the worst, but we do not recommend it.
After testing 17 litter pads with 15 cats, we found that Easyology high-quality litter pads are best for most cats.
Compared to any gift you buy, your cat may prefer cardboard boxes. But you can still try it! This is our favorite gift, even the most discerning cat.
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