Cats are not only fun and make great companions, compared to other pets such as dogs, but they also require less work. Because of their instincts, they are pretty much self-sufficient, including taking care of the number 1 and number 2 needs. For both indoors and outdoors cats, many cat owners chose to have a litter box at home to make it easier for their feline friends and themselves. Although cats can pretty much train themselves to visit their litter box when needed, it is important to consider what type of litter is actually used.
There are several considerations when choosing litter to fill in your litter box:
How well the litter can handle the odors and reduce smell in your home and your cat?
How easy is it to clean the little "presents" left by your cat?
How costly is the litter and how often you will end up changing it?
We took a look at three cat litter brands and summarized the pros and cons of each. We gave them a score on a scale of 10 (10 being the best!) and used the following criteria:
Odor control - 4 points, after all, if your house stinks you totally missed the point!
Clumping ability - 2 points, clumping makes it easy to clean and remove and makes the litter last longer
Cost - 4 points, no ones to break the bank, or walk around with an empty wallet!
Here is what we found:
Your best choice - Better Way Eco Fresh Clumping Cat Litter
Overall Score - 7/10
1) Odor control - 4
2) Clumping ability - 1
3) Cost - 2
This cat litter is the by far the best in controlling odor. In the past, the company said that the cat litter is flushable, however, with changes in CA and other states, it is no longer permitted to flush it down the toilet.
Even with this change, this litter box has very to no smell and absorbed more than 90% of the odor. My cat snow loves it too because it keeps him odor-free and happy.
On the downside this litter is EXPENSIVE! The cheapest we could find it online was in amazon.com (here is the link!) for around 15 dollars per bag (excluding taxes and shipping). With a prime account, you can save a few bucks on shipping in the long run.
Another caveat is clumping. The litter does clump, but the clumps are very soft and break down easily. This means that soiled litter will always remain in your box. With the excellent odor control, it is not a big deal unless your cat is as picky as ours and decides to go OUTSIDE the box.
Overall, this is the best choice we could find and will make it more than tolerable especially if you live in a small home/apartment and have more than one cat.
Your second-best choice- Vibrant Life Mini Crystal Unscented Cat Litter
Overall Score - 6/10
1) Odor control - 3
2) Clumping ability - 0
3) Cost - 3
This litter's biggest advantage is its cost. 4 LB back will cost you under 5 dollars and can last up to 2 weeks (depending on your cat or the number of cats you have). it is also very light and easy to dispose of even when it is wet. The crystals do a decent job in controlling odors and overall it performs well for its price. It is also scent-less, which absolutely love!
The best price for it is right now on Walmart.com (here is the link!).
One con it has is it does not clump. Because of its crystals, it is impossible to remove soiled litter after your cat decides to go. This means that your cat may find it less than appealing to continue visiting their litter box after just a few days. Another issue is its texture. The crystals are not sharp and will not cause injury to your cat, but it does feel like "walking on glass" to some cats which they resent.
This is our second best choice. It will do a good job of controlling odors in your house, but we suggest paying close attention to your cat's reaction when you first introduce it.
In 3rd place - Fresh Step Multi-Cat Extra Strength Scented Litter
Overall Score - 5/10
1) Odor control - 0
2) Clumping ability - 2
3) Cost - 3
Although this cat litter got the same score as our second choice it is very different. The most obvious advantage when getting it is CHEAP! A 25 LB box can cost as little as 14 dollars on Walmart.com (here is the link!). It will fill many many litter boxes if you have several cats. Also, because of its excellent clumping, you will be able to efficiently remove all soiled litter easily.
Despite the great price, this litter has two serious cons. First, it is horrible in controlling odors, and this really defies the whole purpose. Although it is loaded with Febreze scent, it actually makes things worst making your home and your cat smell like a combination of freshly scented urine. It also tends to stick to the cat's fur and paws, a serious issue for long-hair cats. Finally, it is heavy, especially when it is used as the urine and feces add considerable weight.
In summary, for those with many feline friends at home, this last option may be the most economical one. If you have a larger home (possibly with a basement), it would make sense to place the box there.
Caring for your cat is one of the fun things to do. But caring for your cat goes well beyond a cat litter. Cat health is affected by nutrition and disease, Two major viruses can affect your cat's health Feline Leukemia Virus (FeLV) and Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV). CatDX.com offer affordable testing with no need for blood collection or visiting a veterinarian. Learn more about our test here.