Since the earlys, cat lover and, oh yeah, biochemist Thomas Nelson discovered that a particular type of clay, bentonite, formed clumps in the presence of moisture, and voila… clumping kitty litter.
Because bentonite can absorb up to ten times its own weight, it is able to bind and hold water or urine firmly in place, resulting in that tight clump.
Bentonite is dug up from the ground and processed into either granules or a powder form, and apparently we cat lovers are using a lot of it. According to a U. Geological Survey, approximately , metric tons of this clumping clay was mined in for cat litter. Popular stuff, right? Remarkably, the Bureau of Waste Management estimates that approximately 8 billion pounds of kitty litter fills landfills each year.
This clumping litter is much better than the clay stuff, in my opinion. Second, clumping litter is more environmentally friendly than the clay stuff. I only harp on this because when owners bring in their cat to the ER for urinary problems, I quiz them on their kitty litter habits. That said, many sea otter deaths reported in the northwestern United States recently have been linked to toxoplasmosis, a bacterial infection shed in cat feces.
Is it worth it? A thin layer of baking soda placed on the bottom of the box will help absorb odors without repelling your cat. Sign up to receive our exclusive e-book full of training techniques, problem-solving and important information about caring for your pet.
Most people tend to place the litter box in an out-of-the-way spot to minimize odor and prevent cat litter from being tracked throughout the house. But if the litter box ends up in the basement next to a creepy appliance or on a cold cement floor, your cat may be less than pleased, so you may have to compromise.
To meet the needs of the most discriminating cat, you should scoop feces out of the litter box daily. How often you actually replace the litter depends on the number of cats you have, the number of litter boxes and the type of litter you use. Twice a week is a general guideline for replacing clay litter, but depending on your circumstances, you may need to replace it every other day or only once a week.
If you clean the litter box daily, you might only need to change clumping litter every two to three weeks. If you notice an odor or if much of the litter is wet or clumped, it's time for a change. Scrub the box every time you change the litter.
Use mild dish detergent to clean it, as products with ammonia or citrus oils can turn a cat off, and some cleaning products are toxic to cats. Box liners are strictly a convenience for the owner; supposedly, the liner can be gathered together and tied just like a garbage bag, but the truth is that most cats shred it to bits while scratching in the box.
However, it might work if your cat doesn't work too hard to bury their waste. Most cats won't use litter that's more than about two inches deep. In fact, some long-haired cats actually prefer less litter and a smooth, slick surface, such as the bottom of the box. There's really no such thing as "litter training" a cat in the same way one would housetrain a dog.
You actually don't need to teach your cat what to do with a litter box; instinct will generally take over. You do need to provide an acceptable, accessible litter box, using the suggestions above.
It's not necessary to take your cat to the litter box and move their paws back and forth in the litter. If you move to a new place, however, you will need to show your cat where the box is. If your cat begins to go to the bathroom outside the litter box, your first call should always be to your veterinarian. Many medical conditions can cause a change in a cat's litter box habits. If your veterinarian examines your cat and gives them a clean bill of health, your cat may have a behavior problem that needs to be solved.
The absorption power of various types of bentonite is determined by which cation is present and in what amount.
Because sodium ions have a larger hydration sphere than calcium ions do, sodium bentonite can absorb more moisture than its calcium counterpart, explains clay scientist Shobha Parekh of Wyo-Ben , a bentonite mining company in Billings, Mont. Sodium-rich bentonite is therefore the material of choice for clumping cat litter, she says. Recently, "crystal" cat litters that promise improved odor control have entered the market.
The silica gel used to make these crystals is chemically similar to that used in desiccants. The silica gel crystals in such litters are dotted with tiny pores, allowing the crystals to absorb cat urine, then slowly allow the water to evaporate off. Some cat lovers fear--unnecessarily, cat litter manufacturers say--that their cats might harm themselves by ingesting superabsorbent clay litters if they lick their paws after doing their business in the box.
In response, a number of companies are marketing plant-derived alternatives made of wood pulp, corn, wheat--even peanut shells and orange peels. In addition to being safe to eat, Swheat Scoop and other plant-derived alternative litters are biodegradable and can be used as mulch or even flushed down the toilet. Swheat Scoop founder Mike Hughes estimates that more than , tons of nonbiodegradable cat litter ends up in municipal solid-waste landfills each year.
Despite this vast array of choices--both clumping and nonclumping litters made of clay, silica, and plant-derived alternatives--most cat lovers still think that cleaning the litter box stinks. Contact the reporter.
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