Things to Consider Before You Choose Your Next Cat Litter

MB: After you decide what texture to consider, how do you decide what cat litter material to try?

TR: I find that material type is primarily customer preference. I always ask if anyone in the house has any sort of allergies if I’m asked for advice. Sometimes pets will have grain or corn allergies, which makes these litters not a great option. Sometimes, we as people have really bad dust allergies, and clay litters can aggravate them. I have a grass allergy, so I avoid grass litters.

Odor plays a big role in what litter people choose. My roommate switched to a different litter that he likes. He has noticed that he needs to clean the litter box more regularly or he notices a smell.

It’s good to think about the type of odor the litter itself creates. Material types smells vary, and some litters can smell quite pleasant. If you want a litter with very little scent, walnut and clay litter are both good options.

After that, litter choice is really about preference. I will have one customer rave about how wonderful one litter is, and I will have another customer will immediately switch away from it. I always tell customers to pick a litter and try it out. And if you don’t like it, use our return policy and exchange it for a different litter to try.

MB: Many cat owners look for good ways to prevent litter from escaping the litter box. Do you have any words of wisdom for people who want to reduce litter tracking?

TR: First, you should look at the litter box you’ve chosen. If the litter box is uncovered, get a top to prevent your cat from kicking litter out of the box. There are plenty of covered litter boxes to choose from if you would like to switch away from the one you already have. You can also try a top-entry box, so your cat has to jump on the box top first. That can catch some of the litter before it goes onto the floor.

If you still need help preventing tracking, you can try litter mats. Some are smaller and made to fight right outside the door of a covered litter box. Some are larger so that the surround the entire litter box.

If your problem is still not solved, you would need to try switching to a new litter. Pelleted litter, especially heavier pellets, don’t track as bad as a sandier clumping litter.

But unfortunately, especially with clumping litter, there’s always going to be some level of tracking. Some litters will track less than others, but there’s always going to be some tracking. But as long as you vacuum regularly, it won’t be as noticeable if you follow my suggestions.

MB: For cat owners that want to change litters, what do you recommend to make the cat litter swap easier for your cat?

TR: Just like you should transition between foods, you want to transition between litters. This is crucial if you’re changing textures. Transitioning between one clumping litter to another clumping litter is usually simpler because the texture is the same. Cats feel the change in the litter when they walk on it. So, if the feel is different, you may want to take a full week for a slower transition.

I recommend cleaning out the litter box completely and pouring a small amount of the new litter on the bottom and then pouring the old litter on top. When your cat is digging around, your cat will mix the two litters for himself. He’ll discover the new litter underneath the old litter, which increases the chance it won’t upset him.

Every day or so, clean the litter box, making sure to mix in a bit more of the new litter afterward. Keep some of the old litter on hand, if you feel the transition is happening too quickly, feel free to add a bit of the older litter as well. By the end of that week, you should only be using the newer litter to top it off, and you will be well on your way to phasing the old litter out completely.

MB: Do you have any advice for people who are concerned their cats won’t want to change litter types?

TR: Some cats are very sensitive to changes, while other cats are more easy-going. All animals have preferences. There are going to be some cats that really prefer one litter to another. If your cat has a distinct preference, and you switch their litter too quickly, they may stop using the litter box. For a picky cat, switching a litter too quickly can also hurt your chances of a smoother transition down the line, even if you do it properly the next time.

A very slow transition is the best for a picky cat. The slower the transition, the better the chance that your cat will accept the new litter. Unfortunately, some cats won’t accept any change, no matter what. In this case, you may be stuck using the litter they like. It depends mostly on the cat, but sometimes the process.

Attractants are an option that can help some cats, but there’s no guarantee your cat will like it. If it doesn’t work for your cat, use our return policy. I tend to recommend attractant to cat owners who have tried a variety of different litter box training methods that haven’t worked, but it’s fine if people want to immediately start with pairing an attractant with a litter.***