Content
- Types of litter for cats
- sepiolite
- Silica
- bentonite
- Biodegradable sands
- Tricks to improve cat litter
One essential material if you intend to adopt a feline as a pet, it is cat litter, which you must deposit in a litter box. The cat will urinate and take care of its needs. Therefore, this sand must have certain qualities to effectively fulfill its function. The main characteristics that said materials must have are the following: absorption capacity, be deodorants and, if possible, that they are economical.
Keep reading PeritoAnimal and discover the different types of cat litter and its main features.
Types of litter for cats
Basically, there are currently three types of cat litter on the market: absorbents, binders and biodegradable. Absorbent sands, as their name implies, absorb fluids and largely end up deodorizing. On the other hand, the agglomerating sands, agglomerate around the faeces and urine, creating clots or clumps that are easy to eliminate. And finally, biodegradable sands are produced using recyclable plant elements. In addition, there are types of mixed sand for cats (the most expensive), which combine several characteristics.
sepiolite
Sepiolite is a type of porous, soft and fibrous mineral (phyllosilicate), which in its highest qualities is also called sea foam, used to carve delicate pipes, cameos and other jewels. It is a class of sand clearly of the absorbent type.
In its normal quality it is industrially used as an absorbent. It is useful in marine oil spills, as it absorbs the crude and keeps it afloat, which facilitates its later collection. It is also used in car accidents to absorb spilled oils and fuels, and can be swept away with a broom after application.
As cat litter it is the most economical and effective material whenever you move regularly. It is a material to use and throw away, simple and uncomplicated.
Silica
this sand it's very absorbing. As a general rule, it comes in silica balls, also called silica gel. It is an economic sand of the absorbent type.
this kind of sand mix the silica mineral with the zeolite, with which an extremely absorbent and deodorizing material is obtained. In addition, silica is one of the most widely used materials all over the world, that is, its price is usually reduced.
Sometimes this cat litter has scents. At PeritoAnimal we do not recommend this type of product with perfumes. There are cats that do not like the chemical essences used in these sands and end up urinating in other parts of the house.
bentonite
the bentonite is a fine grain clay with absorbing power. However, it is considered a sand of the binder type. This material sticks around the cat's urine and feces, making it easier to extract and prolonging the life of this cat litter.
Bentonite agglomerating sand is more expensive than silica and sepiolite.
Biodegradable sands
This type of cat litter is made entirely of plant materials such as wood, straw, recycled paper and vegetable waste. It's not as absorbent or odorless as other types of sand, but its low price and the fact that it's 100% recyclable is interesting.
With this type of sand there is the convenience of disposing of them using the toilet. They can also be thrown into the organic waste container.
Tricks to improve cat litter
A simple trick to improve the quality of cat litter, whatever it is, will be pour it in a colander beforehand and shake a little into a garbage bag. The dust will pass through the holes of the strainer and will end up in the garbage bag, leaving the sand free of this uncomfortable dust. With the sand completely clean, you can now pour it into your cat's litter box without worrying that it gets its paws dirty and leaves footprints along the way.
Your cat doesn't use the litter box? If it's your case and you don't know what to do to remedy it, don't miss our article where we tell you why your cat doesn't use the litter box and how to solve it.