Do Cats React to Kitty Litter?

Does your Cat sometimes do their business outside their litter box, in a corner or somewhere hidden out of place? Other words, anywhere but where they are suppose to?

Has it happened that your kitty begins to sneeze after using their box or have you felt like sneezing while refilling your cat’s box with regular litter?

Does the litter box that you use, accumulate a build up on the bottom after a period of time? Darkened and hardened crusty areas that are hard to scrape off and you wonder if you’re changing it enough. Odds are that you are changing it appropriately and keeping things as hygene as possible, so why does this occur?

While most regular kitty litter producers state that their product is “99%” Dust Free – think again. The dust is so hard to detect with the human eye because it is so tiny in modecules that the only way you know it’s there, is if you or your cat happens to sneeze every once in awhile during litter changes or shortly after. Direct sunlight reflections will show the dust that floats in the air when refilling the box, so beware.

The build up on the bottom of the litter box, is in fact a residue from the dust that’s in the product.

Cats are specifically clean creatures. IF they are not pleased with the litter, they will most definitely go elsewhere!

Remembering how small they are in comparison to us, dust up the nose, is most uncomfortable and doesn’t always make one sneeze. It can and does accumulate, forming a hard like mucas that is irritable and hurts the inner nostrols. They can’t blow their noses like we can, so instead, dust builds up and will come out if your cat develops a seemingly sinus problem, gets a runny nose and develops a respiratory infection or has nose bleeds.

Dust between the toes also means that your cat cleans them self more often and the dust that they clean off their toes, goes into their digestive system – again not good for your cat’s health.

If the litter has deoderizors, then all the more concern should be adhered to your pet’s health.

Clumping Litter

While some people find this litter to be most convenient, there are dangers that perhaps one isn’t aware of.

To simplify things, this litter clumps when moisture is added, so when your cat cleans themself, the moisture from their tongue attracts the litter. When swallowed, especially over a period of time, the litter lays heavy in your cat’s digestive system and could induce stomach problems or the worst case scenerio – kidney failure.

I personally don’t recommend clumping litter for this reason and clean ups of the litter box, is not always easy. Over time, you will see a build up of a hard residue on the bottom of your box when cleaning. This residue comes from the dust particles within the litter’s product.

Some have told me that their litter lasts them – forever – because they clean clumps on a regular basis so that the litter is always clean, however, while it may appear to be clean, there are lingering bacterias that accumulate over time. These bacterias may not make you sick, but could induce viruses and other illnesses to your cat.

Keeping in mind that regular litter and clumping litter have served their purpose and have been used for what seems a century, new discoveries and products have been invented with biodegradeable processing kept in mind. AND they are hygenic to the point that they benefit your cat’s health.

Recycled Paper Litter

This type of product is still somewhat expensive, yet it lasts a long time because less is needed to fill the box. (too little will not give enough weight to regular litter boxes and can sometimes be over turned by your cat)

The product is in pellet form, so that when it is exposed to mositure, it bloats soaking up excess or clinging to feces.

This product hinders odors because it is so absorbant and covers what needs to be covered.

There is no dust in this type of product, so there is no worry that you or your pet will have any effects and when your cat cleans themself, there is less concern about what is being digested.

Plus, your litter boxes will last you forever! There are no build ups. No crusty like residues to scrape or concern yourself with what so ever. When litter changes are done, you empty the box, do a rinse, quick dry and you’re ready to refill! Over time, your box will stay like new (with exception to a few scratch marks maybe).

Natural Wood Pellets

This is the type of product that we use at the shelter – just because we deal in mass quantities, we need to be sure that we get the most for our money and that it is the most hygenic product we can use, considering the numbers we have in care.

Natural Wood Pellets are sold for Wood Pellet Stoves in any local large hardware chain stores, so they are easy to obtain. I recommend that if you try this type of product and wish to continue on with it’s use, ask your local chain store to carry it for you all year round so that you’ll be sure to have access to it when needed. (in case they take it off the shelves from spring to fall)

Wood Pellets are also sold for animal bedding, this type of pellet will also suffice. Large chain stores and Livestock Suppliers sell it year round.

The product is usually a Pine Wood by-product, so it’s a soft wood that absorbs quickly and there is a scent of pine! If the pellets get too absorbed, they break down into particles, that at least you can see with the naked eye and if they happen to get outside the litter box, they are easily swept up or vaccumed.

I suggest the purchase of a 40 lb (or 18.1 Kg) bag – price ranged anywhere from $4.75 to $6.25 (cheaper than regular litter of that quantity) as a bag of this size will last you anywhere from a month to 6 weeks! (with one or two cats)

Economic, extremely efficient, hygenic, practically odorless due to the natural wood scent, dust free and biodegradeable! Wow – how can you lose?

Some of our litter boxes are 5-6 years old and are still as white as the day they were bought. Not once has the vet claimed that the critters have residue buildup in their digestive systems nor have any experienced respitory problems due to dust infections.

Because the particles are somewhat large, they do not stick to your cat and there is less concern about digestion.

Cats like the all natural wood pellets because it keeps their litter areas – cleaner.

Some don’t like the feel under their paws, so I suggest that adding some regular litter to the wood pellets to begin with, will help them adjust.

If you haven’t as yet tried products like the Recycled Paper Litter or all Natural Wood Pellets, consider it. You’ll enjoy the length of endurance with regular scoopings and you’ll be able to detect the area that needs cleaning, hindering odors and bacteria – much unlike regular litters and clumping litters.
You’ll notice a cleaner scent in your home and less dust build up on furniture too!

The cleaner the better and the happier you and your cat(s) will be!

I hope you consider it and leave a comment as to whether or not it works for you!

Bye for now! Visit us sometime!