Many cat owners take cat litter for granted but the truth is cat litter is a relatively modern invention and prior to its introduction many owners would use a box filled with dirt, ashes, sand or some similar material. This obviously had problems in both maintaining the litter box and keeping the house clean as the cat tended to track the litter all over the house.

In 1947 Ed Lowe gave some absorbent clay called Fuller’s Earth that he sold to manufacturing companies to a neighbor that had a cat to replace the litter they were using and it turned out to work very well. He began selling his kitty litter to local pet stores where it was an immediate hit and the kitty litter industry as we know it today was born. Further advancements in litter technology include the introduction of the Tidy Cat brand in 1964 and the world’s first clumping litter in 1984.

The way modern cat litter works is by absorbing cat urine and covering solid waste so bacteria will not grow and cause odors and can be made from anything that absorbs moisture like clay, sand, newspaper, grains and even wood chips.

There are two basic types of cat litter available today; clumping and non-clumping and they can be purchased either scented or unscented.

The advantage of a clumping litter is that moisture will make the litter stick together in little clumps or balls so it can be scooped out easily and disposed of. Because of this ease of use the clumping variety of kitty litter is the most popular.

Just as you might have your preferences for a given product a cat too will likely prefer one litter type over another. Finding the right cat litter can be a matter of trial and error but you will know pretty quickly if your cat doesn’t like the litter you are using as they will stop using their litter box.

It is not uncommon for homes with multiple cats to use several litter type as one cat might like a scented brand while another may prefer unscented. If you want to keep your cat happy and using their litter box regularly take the time to find a litter they like.

When picking a litter consider the following:

Does Your Cat Like It?

Many cats like litter that has a more sand-like texture as they can cover waste better than they can with pellet based or shredded litter.

Scented litter and litters that create dust can irritate your kitty’s nose.

Is It Easy To Use?

Can it be flushed down the toilet?

Does it create a minimal amount of dust? This keeps your cat from tracking litter all over the house.

Does it absorb urine well and clump easily together for scooping?

Does it control cat urine odor effectively?

Is it easy to clean out the litter box or does the litter stick to the box?

Is it affordable?

Is It Environmentally Friendly And Safe?

Is it biodegradable?

Is it non-toxic?

Does it contain any harsh chemicals or dyes?

In the next article we will talk more about cat litter and the different types available.

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What's The Best Cat Litter For Your Cat? – Part 1