If the idea of house training a pet is enough to keep you from getting a companion for your home, then a cat just might be the perfect pet for you. There's very little training involved. All you need is some cat litter and a litter box, and you now have a pet that can stay inside all the time.
Many kittens are already litter trained by their mother so there's really not much for you to do. Once you are sure he knows where the box is, you rarely need to worry about him going someplace else. But you will have to make a decision, and that is deciding what type of litter will work best.
If you haven't been to the pet store recently, you may be surprised by, and even a bit overwhelmed with all the choices available to you. So let's take a quick look at some of the more popular products.
One factor you'll need to look at is the price. This is where clay litter has a big advantage. Clay was one of the first litters developed commercially and is less expensive than most of the others. The problem with clay is that it not only absorbs liquids, it also hangs on tightly to most odors. You'll need to change it frequently or the smell will permeate your home. Clay is also problematic if your cat has allergies because when he scratches in the box the dust will start to fly.
Clumping cat litter has quickly become the most popular. The litter works with the moisture in the waste, clumping up as soon as your cat goes. This is good for you because you don't have to change out the entire box, you simply scoop out the clumps, then add more litter to replace what you just cleaned away. And although it won't remove the smell, clumping litter does come in several different scents to help hide the odor. The problem here is that some cats tend to eat the clumps. You'll have to watch your cat carefully to make sure this is not an issue.
Silica litters use water, sand, and crystals to control the odor and moisture. You've seen those little packets in new shoes or some medicines. Those packets are there to absorb moisture and contain silica. Because of it's moisture absorbing capabilities, those same crystals are now used in cat litter. You scoop out the solid waste and the liquid is absorbed by the crystals. On the downside there is no clumping. On the plus side, this litter is usually biodegradable, returning to a sandy base when decomposed.
Another biodegradable litter is paper litter, which is becoming very popular with environmental pet owners. This litter is made from pellets or recycled paper. In addition to being biodegradable, it is absorbent and is easy to carry around because it does not weigh very much.
Wood litters, in particular pine cat litter, are also biodegradable and quickly growing in popularity. Softwoods are great at absorbing liquids and odors. No chemicals are needed to help with the process meaning you get a more natural litter.
Here's the concern; no matter what you think is best, your cat may wholeheartedly disagree. He may hate what you choose, and he'll let you know by not using it. Some won't use silica because the crystals can irritate their paws. Others shy away from pine just because they don't enjoy the smell. One good thing about cats is they will let you know what they don't like and what they do like without being able to speak.
There are other litter options available as well. And with so many choices now, it's important to know the good points and bad points of each one before you head to the store.
More Information:
For more details on these and other
cat litter choices go to CatLitterBoxesPlus.com. You'll also learn about different litter boxes including the
automatic cat litter box that makes clean up easy.
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