Hello, I’m Dr. Karyn! Read my introduction to study extra about me and meet my 5 hilarious cats: Clutch, Cyril, Alex, Zelda, and Zazzles.
Final week we had been speaking about how to decide on one of the best meals on your cat (you’ll be able to read that column here), and that one of many methods we will inform how effectively your cat’s meals is working for them is by wanting within the litter field.
“In case your cat farts lots, poops greater than a few times a day, and clears a room after they use the litter field, it’s an indication that they aren’t digesting their meals effectively.”
Not solely is that this indicator of your cat’s well being and meals high quality, for me, it is a vital consideration as a result of the cat litter trays are situated in my house workplace. So on the subject of meals and cat litter, I spare no expense. However does that imply I’m paying ridiculous quantities for my cat provides? No, and also you don’t must both.
What’s Meals Bought To Do With It?
One of many factors I made final time was that though larger high quality meals are dearer, their excessive digestibility signifies that you find yourself feeding as little as half the quantity of a less expensive model.
The opposite good thing about this, aside from the plain advantages to your cat’s well being, is that your litter field takes much less punishment too. In case your cat’s poops are giant, unfastened, and frequent, you might be scooping out extra litter extra usually.
In terms of my feline’s bowel actions, I’m scooping one small poop per cat per day. This implies much less wasted cat litter, much less mess in my litter field, much less work for me and a way more nice work surroundings!
I’m extraordinarily lucky that my cats have shaped fairly a cohesive group, and can really share litter trays. Ordinarily, I like to recommend a minimal of 1 tray per cat plus one additional, however over time, I noticed that my cats weren’t even utilizing all of the trays, which is uncommon in a gaggle of unrelated felines!
One issue that has presumably influenced that is the small measurement and diminished odor of their poop, and the way effectively the litter covers it.
What Are My Choices?
You’re in all probability conscious that there are fairly just a few completely different forms of cat litter, making it robust to know which one to choose. Very similar to with cat meals, you typically get what you pay for, in that a budget and cheerful non-clumping clay litter will do the job, however you’ll undergo it a lot faster than you’ll a clumping sort. As a result of it doesn’t bind the urine, there’s minimal odor management, and also you’ll have to fully change out the litter each couple of days.
For years there was concern voiced over clumping litter, and whether or not its cohesive properties pose a danger to the internal workings of our cats’ digestive system. Nicely, you is perhaps stunned to study that there’s nearly no scientific proof to assist this concern. In truth, the alternative may even be true.
Cats get hairballs because the hair swallowed throughout a grooming session steadily accumulates of their digestive tract. With nothing substantial to maneuver it alongside, it builds up over time till it varieties a strong clump. The addition of some cat litter particles into this equation would possible assist push the hair alongside the intestines.
There’s the flamboyant silica gel litter that traps urine, and its odor, and the one factor it’s essential scoop out is feces. If I used to be a single cat family, that is in all probability the one I’d go for, however with this many cats, it isn’t probably the most price efficient choice for me.
Then there are the assorted eco-friendly litter choices similar to paper, wooden, wheat or corn. I would really like to have the ability to say that I put the surroundings earlier than my very own private wants, however these supplies simply don’t reduce it on the subject of odor management.
For my clowder, I go for a advantageous clumping clay litter. It’s not stupidly costly, however it’s a bit pricier than among the extra fundamental clumping litter. The advantageous particles maintain liquid extra successfully and permit my cats to dig and canopy their poop extra successfully, all of which equates to excellent odor control.
Which Litter Is Greatest?
Am I telling you that advantageous particle clumping litter is one of the best cat litter choice for everybody? I’m not. One of many annoying options of one of these litter is that it tracks. Regardless of having high entry litter containers, I nonetheless discover litter particles on my desk, laptop computer, window sill, couch…and that is perhaps a deal breaker for some. For me, whose precedence is odor management, it’s a suitable disadvantage.
If I might tuck the litter containers in a special a part of the home, I’d in all probability rethink my choices, and take into account a extra eco-friendly materials. If I had only one or two cats, the silica gel can be a robust contender, though it’s the worst when it comes to the surroundings.
However right here I’m making all of it about me. Not solely am I fortunate that my cats all get alongside, I’m additionally fortunate that all of them appear to be pleased with the litter I’ve chosen, as a result of that’s not all the time the case. You may do your analysis, decide, solely to search out that your cat received’t contact it. That is extra widespread with the little silica gel balls or wooden or paper pellets, as some cats don’t like the texture of them underfoot. So the opposite factor you want to concentrate on, and ready for, is your cat’s private preferences.
Identical to we did with our cat meals dialogue, on the subject of selecting cat litter, one of the best product for you and your cats, won’t be what’s finest for the cat subsequent door.
One factor I’ll say is that in case you’re wanting to avoid wasting {dollars}, don’t do it by shopping for that big bag of non-clumping clay. You don’t must go high of the road, however spending a little bit bit extra on a good clumping cat litter might be value it; belief me.
