This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Sam's Club. All opinions are 100% mine.
If you’re a new cat owner, do you know how to pick the best cat litter for your cat? Back when I was a tween, I wanted a kitten more than anything. We had a couple dogs at the time and for several years, we’d have a stray come by and adopt us almost every summer for a few months. They weren’t really “our” cats, though, so I wanted to adopt one of my own to keep indoors. Back then cat litter choices were pretty simple. You had crystal or clay litter and could choose scoopable or not.
These days there are a ton of cat litters out there from the traditional to biodegradable. I don’t think any cat owner enjoys scooping the dirty, stinky and downright icky litter box. I know I sure don’t! It’s easy to sumbcomb to a new litter that seems to be a bit more efficient for us as cat owners, but it’s not something our cats always appreciate.
How to Pick the Best Cat Litter for Your Cat
So, here’s a bit of information on how to pick the best cat litter for your cat. While all of the following attributes are important in your final cat litter decision, do keep in mind to always choose a litter your cat prefers instead of choosing one for your own reasons. A natural cat litter sounds good to us humans, but it kind of defeats the purpose if Cat doesn’t want to use it, right?
Toxicity
While most cat litters are non-toxic from being touched, some can be toxic if ingested, like clay litters. I personally am a fan of clay cat litters and it’s what my cats use, but they also don’t eat their litter. Some cats can also have allergies, so always be aware of the ingredients in the cat litter you use and how it affects your cat.
Texture
I’m willing to bet that most of us don’t exactly enjoy walking on shards of glass (crystal litters) or wet mud (non-scoopable clay litter). Most cats don’t either! Keep this in mind when trying various cat litters with your cat; if they don’t use it, it may be a matter of texture. This is especially important if you happen to adopt a cat that has been declawed. I personally do not at all advocate declawing a cat unless it is an absolute must for the health of either the owner or cat. One reason is that it can lead to sensitivity issues and thus what cat litter is comfortable for the cat; wheat or corn litters may be less painful for the cat.
Dust
Again, just as us humans, cats can also have allergies. You know how dusty some cat litters can be when you pour them, so if your cat is sensitive, I can only imagine how horrible that can be when trying to cover your business. If you or your cat have dust sensitivities, you may want to check out natural litter which is usually dust-free.
To Clump or Not to Clump
Having multiple cats, I’m a huge fan of clumping litter. We tried non-clumping once to save a few bucks and I said never again. I think our cats prefer the clumping litter as well as it allows them to more easily cover up their waste. If you have a single cat, though, non-clumping may be an okay alternative as you can just dump it all at once.
Odor Control
Odor is pretty much the biggest concern for us all as cat owners, right? None of us want to constantly be chained to the litter box to scoop and immediately get rid of any odor, so I like to go for a cat litter that can at least help in the odor control section. This is another reason I prefer clumping litter - it’s much easier to go after the clumps of urine instead of wasting litter that may not have been soiled. Some cat litters also have added scents, but I often find them to be pretty hit or miss.
One interesting cat litter I did recently see at our local Sam’s Club is Tidy Cats with Glade™ Tough Odor Solutions. Tidy Cats® is one of the brands of cat litter we commonly use and Glade™ is hands down our air freshener of choice, so I’m eager to try this new cat litter and see how it works with our cats.
Check out this video for more information: