What are the Best types of Cat Litter? — Elite Veterinary Care

You've probably noticed entire aisles committed to kitty litter at your local pet store. With so many brands claiming to be "the best", it's difficult to know which type of litter is the best for you. To help you in your search, this article will break down the difference between clay, silica, and natural types of cat litter.

Types of Cat Litter

Clay Litter

The most common and available type of cat litter is clay litter, of which there are many variations. Clumping clay litter absorbs the urine and forms a scoopable clump for removal. Non-clumping litter is formulated to absorb the urine without needing to turn wet and cement-like. Non-clumping tends to come in large particles.

Clay litter is also available in low dust and low tracking formulations. Low tracking helps by providing litter that sticks less to your cat's paws and gets fewer particles outside of the litter box. Clay litter is notorious for being dusty, especially when dumping. Companies offer low dust versions to help prevent inhalation while pouring and scooping to keep both you and your cat healthy.

Silica Cat Litter

You might have seen advertisements for "crystal" litter. Crystal Litter is actually made from silica gel and prides itself on being extremely absorbent of liquids and odors. Silica is the same substance inside silica packets you find in bags and shoes. Some brands even have color-changing crystals to help notify the owner of potential illness since cats are great at hiding that they're sick.

Silica gel litter works by absorbing the liquid and odors instead of clumping, so only solids need to be sifted out. This means you'll need to change the litter completely after four weeks instead of just scooping. Silica cat litter tends to be more expensive than clay, but most pet owners find it lasts longer. And cat owners use just as much. Silica litter also has no dust, so there are no concerns about you or your cat inhaling any airborne particles.