Rating of the best fillers for cat litter. Which cat litter is better, consumer reviews

The rating of cat litter can be found in specialized magazines dedicated to pets. When compiling it, many important factors are taken into account: ease of use, method of disposal, economy and, of course, price. There are dozens of options on sale, which can be divided into several categories. Among them, it is easy to find one that is ideal for a pet.

The evolution of powder for the tray

More recently, the main filler for the tray was newspapers torn into small pieces, or sand collected at the nearest construction site. Both options were inconvenient to use, required frequent replacement, and gave off an unpleasant odor after the cat visited her litter box.

The only advantage of newspapers and sand could be considered their availability and cheapness. Then came the mineral filler for cat litter based on clay, but buyers were frightened by the price and complexity of recycling used waste.

The situation has now changed. On the shelves of supermarkets and pet stores are the most different types cat litter. They are sold packaged and by weight, bright packages have different prices. It is not easy for a beginner to understand this diversity.

Cat litter manufacturers are slow to advertise their products widely, and as a result, most pet owners only know a few of the most popular brands. Independent ratings compiled by statisticians, veterinarians and pet owners themselves will help you understand which product is better to buy.

Topics with titles like "Choosing cat litter" can be found on blogs and magazines. Before heading to the store, you need to read an independent review that allows you to get an idea of ​​​​the type of infills for trays and the materials from which they are made.

Types of fillers

All cat litters are divided into categories: clumping and absorbent. Both options have their supporters and opponents, and in both groups you can find more expensive and quite affordable brands.

Clumping filler resembles sand or very fine granules. The composition may vary. The principle of operation of the product is clear from the name. When liquid (cat urine) enters, the powdery substance forms dense lumps that are easily removed with a scoop. At the same time, the smell is adsorbed, sticky granules do not stick to the pet's paws and are not taken out of the tray. The height of the sides doesn't matter. A clumping product is more convenient to use in a toilet without a mesh.

The “toilet” issue is one of the most important and discussed among cat lovers. After all, it depends on him whether the cohabitation of a person and his pet will be comfortable. After you choose the most, you will need to think about the filler.


Why is litter so important, since some cats do just fine without it or are content with torn newspaper?

  • First, the smell. In cats, especially uncastrated ones, it is so strong that it instantly spreads throughout the apartment and hardly disappears. A good filler absorbs unpleasant odors and securely locks them in. In addition - and this is especially important! - most cats are very clean, and if the tray smells bad, they may refuse to use it, preferring, for example,. Few people will like to play the game “have time to clean the tray or look for where it smells from”.
  • Second, liquid. Paper does not absorb moisture well, and if you use newspaper instead of filler, the cat can wet its paws and tail, after which it will go for a walk around the house, leaving foul-smelling marks. The same applies to an empty tray without filler.
  • Third, convenience. If the cat is left alone for the whole day while her owners are at work, the litter will allow her to use the litter box several times, which means eliminating the need to bump into puddles here and there.

When choosing a filler for a cat litter, you need to pay attention to its following properties:

  1. High liquid absorption.
  2. Environmental friendliness, safety for an animal and for the person.
  3. No dust that can settle on the wool.
  4. Absence strong smell(you can often find flavored fillers that cats rarely like).
  5. Ease of use and disposal.

The material does not have to be natural, there are high-quality synthetic fillers. Consider the main varieties, noting their advantages and disadvantages.

wood filler

Wood litter is perfect for any cat.

The cheapest and very popular. It is made from compressed sawdust which flake and clump when exposed to moisture. It is a medium sized granules.

Advantages:

  • Eco-friendly and safe natural material. The only possible threat to the health of a cat is that they can very rarely come across large chips, which can cause injury. They are easy to spot and remove in time.
  • Ideal for any cat, even those with allergies.
  • Profitability. Compressed granules, when soaked, increase in volume; a thin layer of granules at the bottom of the tray is sufficient. Thanks to this, one pack of filler is enough for a long time.
  • Ease of disposal. Wood filler, unlike others, can be flushed down the toilet. (Attention! Do not wash off a lot of filler at once, otherwise you can make a blockage!)
  • The best choice for cat litter if it is intended for a kitten. Toddlers often gnaw on filler, it is very important that they do not get poisoned and do not harm themselves. Sawdust in this sense is completely safe.

Flaws:

  • Does not absorb odor as well as more expensive materials.
  • It needs to be replaced more often, since the sawdust cannot absorb a lot of liquid (sometimes indicated on the packages for a period of 3-4 days - publicity stunt actually it is better to change it at least twice a day).
  • Wet sawdust is easily scattered by a cat when digging in, so a tray with sides is preferable for wood filler.

Fillers from paper and grain waste are close to wood in their characteristics and material.


mineral filler


Mineral litter is only suitable for adult cats.

Made from bentonite clay different varieties and other minerals such as zeolite. A very easy-to-use option, suitable, however, only for adult cats (remember that kittens can gnaw on litter). When wet, it forms small hard lumps that are easily removed from the tray with a special spatula. Often used together with wood filler - sawdust absorbs liquid and eliminates odor, and clay granules poured on top prevent sawdust from flying out of the tray.

Advantages:

  • Very convenient to use.
  • Can quickly absorb a significant amount of liquid.
  • The mineral filler made of zeolite (unlike clay) perfectly retains odors.
  • Environmentally friendly material.
  • Mineral fillers are more difficult for a cat to scatter outside the tray.

Flaws:

  • The cost is higher than that of wood filler.
  • There is a lot of dust from clay fillers.
  • Bentonite clay does not hold odors well, and lumps of clay often get stuck in the pads of the cat's paws.

Silica gel filler


Silica gel filler is very practical, it can be changed once every 2 weeks.

The most modern and practical option, which is distinguished by its high cost, and, perhaps, this is the only reason it has not yet supplanted all the others. However, if there are several cats in the house, silica gel litter can be much more economical than other types, since it requires little, and it only needs to be changed every 1-2 weeks. It consists of white crystals, with the addition of special substances to eliminate odor.

Advantages:

  • Ideal for a home with multiple pets.
  • Completely eliminates unpleasant odors, while retaining a lot of liquid.
  • The shelf life of such a filler remains unsurpassed: it is enough to replace it once every 2 weeks, removing only solid excrement from the tray the rest of the time.
  • Economical due to the fact that only a thin layer is required.
  • Very hygienic and safe.

Flaws:

  • Very high cost.
  • Cannot be used in trays for small kittens.
  • Some cats are afraid of the crunch that this litter makes when stepped on.

Video with information about various types cat litter:

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Cat litter is optional, but extremely convenient, so if your budget allows, we recommend using it. After reading the article, you will be able to determine the best cat litter that is right for your pet.

CONTENT

Tray with filler: photo

What is the best tray filler?

The best cat litter is the one that suits your cat and you the most. There are no universal recipes here, as in the question of choosing a cat tray, but there are general recommendations.

If several cats in your house go to one tray, then silica gel filler, which lasts for a long time and which does not let in odors, will become indispensable.

If you or your cat is allergic to dust and chemicals, wood or corn litter is the safest option.

In the end, the pet itself can give an answer to the question of which filler is better for a cat tray: if you see that it misses the tray every now and then, it means that it may hint to you that you need to change the type of filler.

paper filler

The Soviet method of filling the tray is simply to cut paper and throw it on. Such a tray for a cat is a little more interesting than an empty one, since the paper partially absorbs water, and the feces can be buried. But newspaperpeople use filler less and less, because it is unhygienic, because the paper gets wet, and then it is difficult to remove it from the tray.

In addition, newspapers are usually allowed on the tray, and this is harmful to the cat due to printing ink. That is, if you are already using paper, then it should be clean. And in this case, no savings are obtained - and any meaning disappears in the paper tray.

clay filler

The most popular filler for trays is clay clumping filler (bentonite). It is made from clay or minerals opalcristoballites. The result is a mixture that, after contact with liquids, clumps and becomes solid. Hardened pieces of filler can be easily removed from the tray with a scoop. If you poured a sufficient layer of filler (from 3 cm), it will not allow moisture to pass to the bottom, so you will need to wash the tray less often.

There are clumping fillers different sizes: one has more grains, the other has less. The caliber is written on the package. If the filler consists of very large pieces, it can pass urine to the bottom and clump badly. Therefore, it is better to choose a smaller caliber. Although it still depends on the manufacturer: you need to try several brands and settle on the most suitable one.

Tailed cats love this type of filler most of all: it looks like earth, so cats are happy to dig holes and bury all their good.

But such a filler also has disadvantages: if the cat loves to dig too much, then the skin on the paw pads can become a little coarse.

In addition, sometimes kittens play with such a filler and eat it. If you see that this problem has become serious, then it is better, at least for a while, to change the type of filler to a more environmentally friendly one, because. eating clumping can result in intestinal obstruction.

Another nuance is that the clay filler, when scattered and digging, raises a cloud of dust, to which a cat may be allergic. Monitor your pet: if he shows signs of illness, such as watery eyes, try changing the litter and see if the symptoms go away.

Tray with wood filler

Wood filler can not be attributed to a number of the most hygienic, comfortable and loved by cats, but it is the most environmentally friendly type. It is a wood block - compressed sawdust granules. Churbachki smell pleasant, do not raise dust when poured, do not cause allergies.

But the filler also has disadvantages: logs do not crumple when moisture gets on them, but, on the contrary, break up into sawdust, so cleaning the toilet with wood filler is rather inconvenient. We recommend using wood filler only with a tray with a mesh (grid), so that all the logs that break down into sawdust seep through the grate into the pan, from where you can remove them.

Also in wood fillers occasionally there are sharp pieces of wood accidentally caught, and this is undoubtedly another minus.

The advantage of wood filler is its low price and ubiquitous availability. In these parameters, it competes with clay.

Silica Gel Tray Filler

Silica gel filler is a relative novelty on the market. It is artificially created white crystals of silica gel formed from silicic acids. These crystals perfectly absorb moisture, they do not even need to be clumped. This is how they differ from absorbent filler. Silica gel retains the smell perfectly. AT Everyday life we deal with this substance when we buy, for example, shoes: the package usually contains a bag of balls. This is silica gel.

Such a filler is available in pet stores and online stores, but it is not always available in supermarkets.The package costs several times more than a bag of clumping litter, but it is more economical: 5 kg is enough for 1 month for one cat.

The disadvantages of the filler are the high price, less love of cats for a toilet with silica gel: it hisses a little when it gets wet, which is scary, besides, silica gel does not look like earth. There is also a danger if it enters the gastrointestinal tract. The fact is that if silica gel enters the stomach and intestines in large quantities, it absorbs all the moisture, resulting in a blockage. That's why this species filler is strongly not recommended for kittens who like to play in the tray. Numerous cases are known when animals died.

Zeolite based filler

Zeolite is a volcanic substance and an excellent adsorbent, having a porous structure in which liquid and odor are trapped and from which moisture does not evaporate and, consequently, odors do not spread. But it is difficult to find such fillers in our latitudes.

The best filler for a kitten's toilet is wood, due to its environmental friendliness. But, on the other hand, cats like such a toilet less, and it doesn’t really keep the smell. Therefore, the owners often refuse it in favor of clay, which is an excellent alternative, although less environmentally friendly.

But the silica gel filler is generally not suitable for kittens, because, although they do not like to go into it when needed, they may love to eat it: we recall that if it gets inside, such a filler will absorb all the moisture it encounters and can lead to blockage of the gastrointestinal tract. tract. When eating clay filler, this can also happen, but only if the cat eats it in large quantities, and this is unlikely.

Litter for litter box training

People often search the internet for "kitty litter for litter box training". Separate type it does not exist specifically for accustoming to the tray, but clay can conditionally be considered as such. Why? It is he who is most liked by kittens: they jump into such a toilet with pleasure, rummage there, and walking in the tray becomes a kind of ritual and attraction - they rummaged, did their business and carefully buried it. Kittens, as a rule, love this process very much, because it helps to realize important instincts: in nature, cats bury their deeds.

But a tray without a filler will, on the contrary, be uninteresting to a kitten, so the beast for a long time can ignore it. If you have the financial opportunity, still accustom your pet to the filler - this will remove many problems.

How often to change the filler in the tray?

How often to change the litter in the tray will directly depend on the type of litter, as well as how many cats you have, what gender they are, and what is happening to them now.

So, for example, cats pee very often during estrus - and the tray must be removed as urine accumulates.

If the cat in the house is not alone, but the tray is shared, then no matter how good the filler is in it (except for silica gel), it will have to be changed every day. Not entirely, of course, but only the contaminated part.

In the usual case, when your cat or cat lives in splendid isolation and reigns supreme in the tray, most often you need to sort out the wood filler, because. it doesn't hold the scent. It is advisable to do this once a day. Clumping clay filler can be sorted out once every 2-3 days. You just need to sift the clumped part with a scoop and add a little new sand, that is, you don’t need to change everything. The silica gel filler lasts longer than the rest, which is changed about 1 time in 7 days, if there is only one cat, but everything needs to be changed entirely. That is, do not sort out the waste, but simply pour out the old and pour in the new.

So that the cat in the house or apartment does not go to the toilet anywhere, but is accustomed to the tray, you need to choose the best cat litter. Of course, you can use ordinary sand or paper, but it will be uncomfortable for the pet and inconvenient for its owners. The products presented in this rating, compiled on the basis of customer reviews, are of the highest quality, safest, most effective and good in terms of price. Check out their pros and cons and choose the one that suits you best.

Which brand of cat litter is better to choose

Such pet products of Japanese, Chinese, American, German and Russian production are very popular. The competition among them is extremely high, but they adequately withstand it, leaving behind other companies, the following brands and firms:

  • pussy cat is a brand owned by the Kis Pis Group, which sells hygienic pet litter. The company started its activity in 1987. Its products are environmentally friendly, recognized as safe for animals and are not very expensive.
  • Effem GmbH- in this rating it is represented by Catsan Ultra Plus cat litter. This is a German manufacturer that guarantees high quality, safety and ease of use of its products. It has excellent absorbency, which makes it comfortable for animals to use.
  • catsan- This is an American brand, whose products are made in Germany. In its assortment there are fillers of clay and mineral type- clumping and absorbent. They are available in cardboard boxes with handles, and are slightly above average.
  • N1 – premium cat litters at an affordable price, which are produced in Russia. The brand's assortment includes both absorbent and clumping fillers, mainly silica gel. Cats respond well to them, do not go past the toilet and do not carry its components around the apartment.
  • cat step- the owner of the brand is the largest manufacturer of pet products in the Russian market, Amma. Its products are created for hygienic use of the toilet by cats, to eliminate unpleasant odors in the tray and to eliminate them in the apartment. It is non-toxic, non-allergenic and non-stick to pets' paws.
  • Zoonic- the trademark attracts interest with a wide range of pet products, including for filling the tray. It is owned by the Oris company, one of the oldest in the Russian market. The range includes wood and silica gel, clumping and absorbent fillers. Most of them are available in small packages up to 6 kg.
  • Barsik- the trademark is registered by Intel, which has been operating in the Russian market since 1991. Its products are of high quality, hypoallergenic, safe and reasonable prices. They reflect the smell of cat urine well and do not allow it to spread around the apartment or house.

The most budgetary brands on the market are Zoonik and Barsik, while the quality of their products is not inferior to those that are included in the premium category.

Rating of the best cat litter

When compiling this TOP and in selecting good cat litter, customer reviews and opinions of veterinarians played a huge role.

Here are the parameters we also paid attention to when analyzing the characteristics of the product:

  • Type - wood, silica gel, corn, mineral or clay;
  • The volume in the package and its convenience;
  • Natural composition and safety of use;
  • The reaction of felines to raw materials;
  • Appearance - absorbent or clumping;
  • Ease of use - is it possible to flush into the toilet, is it easy to clean with a spatula, etc .;
  • Natural fragrance and urine odor protection;
  • Which cats are suitable for - by age and breed;
  • Economy of consumption and frequency of replacement.

A special selection criterion was the ratio of price and quality of fillers, the trade mark under which they are produced, and their availability on the market.

Best wood litter for cat litter

Here it is worth considering in more detail two fillers from well-known trademarks"Barsik" and "Zoonik".

Barsik is the best wood litter that pleases even the pickiest of cats. It is a small soft granules, comfortable for the delicate paws of the animal. The material is eco-friendly and does not harm four-legged animals, it is easily distributed over the tray, it absorbs cat excrement well and thereby reduces bad smell. Its prevention is also facilitated by the addition of special ingredients to the composition. Raw materials are safe for humans and nature, being biodegradable.

Advantages:

  • Cheapness;
  • High quality;
  • Can be flushed down the toilet
  • Does not clump;
  • Stays dry;
  • Suitable for small kittens.

Flaws:

  • Not sold everywhere;
  • Can be carried on the paws of cats.

Barsik Natural is sold in a large paper bag with a volume of 4.5 liters, it does not have the usual handle, so it is not very convenient to carry the bag.

I have been using this litter for more than half a year, it does not clog, it is suitable for different sizes of litter boxes and cats of all breeds ...

Expert opinion

This wood filler is in no way inferior to its predecessor in the ranking. Its use is comfortable for cats and the person himself, the granules perfectly absorb urine, have a pleasant aroma and interrupt its smell. It belongs to the premium class due to its hygiene and environmental friendliness, it is made from natural raw materials. The size of the granules is small, but at the same time they do not stick together and are not carried around the house. 5 kg are sold in one package.

Advantages:

  • Cats like to dig holes in it;
  • Carefully raked by paws, does not scatter to the sides;
  • Not compacted, which allows you to create volume;
  • Convenient, with handles packaging that does not get wet;
  • Inexpensive.

Flaws:

  • Sometimes there is a little "sawdust".

The best silica gel cat litter

Cat litter "N1 Crystals" is one of the best because of the environmental friendliness, safety and absorption of a large amount of moisture. Due to this, one load of the product in the tray lasts for several days, which saves money. It has a normal smell to which the animal responds well and does not repel them due to its softness. Silica gel granules do not stick to the pet's paws and fur and do not injure his tissues. Since it contains special components, the appearance bad smell in the house is excluded.

Advantages:

  • Economical in application;
  • Hypoallergenic;
  • Dust does not appear when filling the tray;
  • Easy to clean toilet;
  • Not toxic.

Flaws:

  • Cannot be flushed into the toilet;
  • Tough if the animal wants to chew on it;
  • Not suitable for small kittens.

This cat litter is regularly included in the ratings of the best among silica gel due to the optimal combination High Quality and cheapness. It is made from a specially prepared gel that is safe for adult cats. It can not be changed for a long time, as the raw material absorbs moisture well and suppresses the unpleasant smell of urine. Cats have no difficulty in burying their feces, but there may be some noise when the hole is created. Cat Step is made according to European technologies and is recommended for use by veterinarians.

Advantages:

  • Large volume - 15.2 l;
  • Convenient packaging;
  • Enough for a long time;
  • Easily removes dirt
  • Does not stain the coat and paws of cats;
  • Does not cause allergies.

Flaws:

  • Not sold everywhere;
  • For small kittens, it is better not to use.

The best corn litters for cat litter

This is one of the most environmentally friendly options that is completely safe for your pet. The animal reacts normally to it and quickly gets used to it.

This corn filler attracts attention with its low price, safety and ease of use. It is hypoallergenic, does not harm the health of animals and people. It can be flushed down the toilet without clogging the drain or damaging the soil due to the biodegradability of the raw material. It is made from environmentally friendly corn grains, soft to the touch and pleasant for the cat's paws. N1 Naturel does not spread around the house and does not require constant sweeping of floors.

Advantages:

  • A spatula with large holes is also suitable for cleaning in the tray;
  • Lovely, natural scent;
  • Natural composition;
  • Looks aesthetic;
  • Pleasant to the touch;
  • The remains can be used as fertilizer;
  • It flushes down the toilet with no problem.

Flaws:

  • Small volume in the package - 4.5 liters.

According to reviews, N1 Naturel corn filler can be changed only 1-2 times a month, which is very beneficial for the wallet and convenient for owners of cats and cats.

Best clay cat litter

This type of filler is inexpensive and can be used in the tray for a long time without replacement, but it retains the smell a little worse than wood.

This cat litter is highly rated for its ability to keep the house clean. When wet, the raw material does not stick to the paws of cats and does not spread across the floor. In case of ingestion of particles, nothing threatens the health of the pet, since the material is natural and does not cause intoxication. Wet lumps are easily removed with a spatula, there is no need to completely replace the contents of the tray. The composition of Catsan Ultra Plus is close to the most natural, so the four-legged stop walking past the toilet.

Advantages:

  • Small granule size;
  • Softness of raw materials;
  • When combined with water, they form compact pieces, which facilitates cleaning in the tray;
  • Natural composition;
  • Does not cause allergies.

Flaws:

  • Small volume.

The bag in which the Catsan Ultra Plus litter is packed is made of thick paper and is equipped with a convenient handle for comfortable carrying.

The Best Mineral Cat Litter

Such fillers are made on the basis of zeolite, they perfectly absorb moisture and the resulting lumps are easily removed from the tray.

This is the only scented cat litter in the ranking, ideal for adult cats. But for small kittens, it is not recommended to use it because of the possible blockage of the gastrointestinal tract if the particles are swallowed. It is interesting in terms of ease of cleaning, instant absorption of moisture, due to which the product remains constantly dry. It does not repel the pet and does not cause him to walk past the tray. It also allows you to clean it less often, which will save a little.

Advantages:

  • Reliable protection against the smell of urine;
  • Pleasant natural aroma;
  • Practical packaging with handles;
  • Convenient release form;
  • There is no sound when a cat creates a hole.

Flaws:

  • Do not dispose of by flushing down the toilet.

The key feature of Pussy-Cat is its antibacterial effect, which reduces the likelihood of infection of the animal.

Which cat litter is better to choose

For cats with allergies, it is better to buy wood or corn litters, which are natural and safe. They are also recommended for small kittens and for thoroughbred cats. For everyone else, the usual tools will do. In order to ensure comfortable use of the tray by animals, it should have a pleasant aroma and protection from the smell of urine, quickly absorb moisture and remain dry.

Depending on the situation, you can advise to choose the following options from this ranking:

  • For small kittens, Barsik Natural will be the most preferable.
  • Thoroughbred cats, especially if they suffer from allergies, will be completely satisfied by the Zoonic Tree.
  • For those who are just getting used to the tray, you should choose N1 Crystals.
  • If you need to leave the contents of the tray for a long time, it is best to choose N1 Naturel Corn or Cat Step Silica Gel.
  • For those who are looking for something with an antibacterial effect, perfect choice will be Pussy-Cat Oceanic.
  • If the cat goes to the toilet either on the street or in the tray, you can take a closer look at the Catsan Ultra Plus.

As you can see from this rating, for each case, you can name your best cat litter. Therefore, when choosing it, you need to focus on the age, breed and health of the pet, and only then look at the type of product.

Which cat litter is better - more efficient, safer and more economical to use? To choose the best option for yourself and your pet, the owner of the animal must know all the pros and cons of the products on the market for this purpose.

The main parameters that determine the quality:

  1. Adsorbent and deodorant properties - the ability to absorb moisture and stop odors. These properties depend on the composition of the material from which the filler is made and the technology of its production.
  2. Safety. It should be borne in mind that some types of fillers may contain substances that can cause allergic reactions in both animals and humans. If the litter is used for kittens, it should be safe if accidentally swallowed, the same if there are small children in the house.
  3. Ease of use and disposal.

Not unimportant link when choosing a filler is its price. The filler is a consumable material and therefore part of the monthly family budget will go to purchase it. Here it is important to choose an affordable price-quality ratio that will completely suit the owner.

Price

The price of fillers varies widely and depends mainly on the material used and the production technology used by the manufacturer.

The cheapest are fillers from sawdust, waste paper and grain industry.

The most expensive and modern are silica gel fillers. Silica gel is a mineral synthetic sorbent obtained by the interaction of sodium silicate ( liquid glass) and sulfuric acid.

The most famous and popular in the domestic market are brand fillers: "Pretty Cat", "Barsik", "Kotyara", "Kuzya", "Zoonik", "Siberian cat", "Pi-Pi-Bent", "Brava" "Clean paws", "CiC Ket" and others .

From imported popular: "Catsan", "Cat's Best", "Cats Choice", "Silicat", "Super Cat", "Fresh step", "Kat Step", "CleanyKat", "Ever Clean", "Ultra Lite", etc.

wood fillers

They are made from waste wood during the processing of pine, spruce and, less often, fir. They are granules that, when exposed to moisture, swell and crumble into small components.

Due to their low cost, wood fillers are in good demand and popularity. Many prefer this type of filler because of its naturalness. Wood litter is safe for animals, especially kittens.

The wood of pine trees contains resins that give the wood filler antiseptic properties. After use, the filler can be applied as a fertilizer.

It absorbs moisture quite well and stops odors, but these indicators are lower than those of other types of fillers, so the filler needs to be changed more often, it is consumed faster.

Another disadvantage is lightness. When digging in, a cat can scatter it around the tray, so you need a deep tray with sides rounded inward.

Scattering into small dust, sticks to the paws and spreads around the apartment.

If you prefer this type of filler, guided by considerations of naturalness, safety and cheapness, then it's a good idea to purchase a special closed toilet with a rug.

Walls closed toilet they will not allow the cat to scatter the filler around the tray, and the rug will clean the paws of adhering particles and prevent them from being dragged around the apartment.

When using this filler, a tray with a grate is also convenient, the whole granules will remain on the surface, and the used ones will be sieved through the grate into the tray.

Wood filler differs from other types of fillers in ease of disposal. It can be flushed down the toilet. To avoid clogging, rinse off the filler in small portions.

Wood filler: pros and cons

  • LOW PRICE
  • ENVIRONMENTAL PURITY
  • USE FOR KITTENS
  • EASY DISPOSAL
  • HIGH CONSUMPTION
  • STICKS TO PAWS
  • FREQUENT REPLACEMENT IS REQUIRED

Fillers from corn and paper are similar in properties and price to wood fillers.

mineral fillers

Mineral fillers are somewhat more expensive than wood fillers and are also in high demand.

The ability to absorb moisture and retain odors in mineral fillers is better than that of wood.

They are made from natural mineral raw materials - soft clay minerals and hard minerals of sedimentary and volcanic rocks. There are also artificial mineral fillers made from sibit.

Except source material mineral fillers differ in:

  1. Moisture absorption and retention– clumping and absorbent fillers;
  2. The size of the granules– large, small and medium granules;
  3. The presence of flavoring additives- Flavored and non-flavored.

The disadvantage of this type of fillers is their dustiness. Granules in
During transportation, they rub against each other, forming fine dust, which can cause allergic reactions.

Higher-quality fillers have a denser consistency and less dust.

What is the difference between absorbent and clumping fillers?

Absorbent fillers absorb moisture by the entire surface of the material from which the filler is made, without forming lumps. The absorbency is due to the porous structure of the mineral.

Such minerals include, for example, zeolites, which perfectly absorb moisture and isolate odors.

The activity of the absorbent filler is lost gradually. From time to time, it can be stirred, for uniform distribution more active and less active granules.

The replacement of the absorbent filler is carried out at once, that is, the used filler is completely removed, and a fresh portion is poured into the tray, in the amount indicated on the package.

Clumping fillers, have not only absorbent properties, its granules, when moistened, stick together in a lump, isolating the wet area from the rest of the filler.

A complete replacement of the filler is not required, it is enough to remove the formed lumps with a special spatula. The filler is poured into the tray as needed.

They are made mainly from bentonite clays of different composition. In the manufacturing process, to improve quality, they can be subjected to heat or chemical treatment.

Natural mineral fillers have antibacterial properties.

What filler better removes the smell of absorbent or clumping?

Both those and other fillers cope with odors approximately equally well, but they do it in different ways.

Clumping, enveloping the wet area lock the smell inside the coma. Absorbent, due to the porous structure, are able to absorb urine and neutralize its odor by ion-exchange reactions, then evaporating clean water.

Among those and others there are more and less high-quality, it depends on the composition of raw materials and production technology.

According to the results of the television program "Test Purchase", out of 10 popular brands of clumping fillers, the first place went to the Pretty Cat trademark. The second and third, fillers of trade marks "Chistye paws" and "Catsan".

Mineral filler: pros and cons compared to wood filler

  • ABSORBES LIQUID BETTER THAN WOOD;
  • BETTER ABSORBES ODOR;
  • MORE ECONOMICAL AND CONVENIENT USE;
  • DOES NOT BRING AROUND THE APARTMENT;
  • MORE EXPENSIVE;
  • DUST WHEN APPLIED;
  • DO NOT DISPOSAL THROUGH THE TOILET.

Silica gel filler

Silica gel litter is the most modern, highly effective and practical cat litter.

Important! This litter should not be used for small kittens.

Gel-silicone filler pros:

  • ECONOMIC CONSUMPTION
  • HIGH PRICE

What filler is better to buy a kitten?

For a kitten, natural fillers made of wood, paper or corn are suitable, without any flavors. They are safe to swallow and will not cause allergies.

In the future, you can easily accustom a grown-up kitten to any other type of filler simply adding, at first, the usual filler to a new one, not familiar to the kitten.

Best litter for Maine Coon

Maine Coon cats are the largest domestic cats in the world, therefore, they excrete the most urine of all cats in the world, therefore, they need the best litter in the world - silica gel.

But seriously, a Maine Coon cat, except for greatness other, does not fundamentally differ from its smaller counterparts, and all of the above applies to it.

For a kitten of this breed, it is better to use natural
fillers made of wood, paper or corn. It is good if the owner takes some of the used litter from the breeder and puts it in the kitten's tray, so he will quickly understand where his new toilet is now.

In the future, you can use any filler at the discretion of the owner and with the approval of the Maine Coon himself.