Your small but adorable little fluffball is the veritable star of your family. Loving, independent and also surprisingly clean, your kitty cat is more than just a pet. It’s a veritable member of your household, that has conquered your heart and made your life a bit better.
Cats are less trouble than dogs; they require fewer financial resources to take care of, they don’t need daily walks or frequent interactions with members of the same species, and, to be perfectly honest, they are more suitable for apartment living or for the restricted square footage characteristic of newly-built Australian homes.
You Need to Take It Seriously
Do you need an animal companion, and you don’t have the energy levels required or the free time necessary to properly handle the needs of a pup? In that case, like millions of other Australians before, you have probably considered adopting a cat. But it will not be a walk in the park.
While they are amazing and affectionate little pets that can make our day better, cats will also require quite a bit of involvement from your part, and in order for them to develop nicely, you will need to invest in certain accessories and consumables, such as clumping cat litter or cat litter crystals.
Why Cat Litter Is a Must-Have?
This one is quite easy to answer. Unlike other pets who need an ample process of potty training before you can reliably leave them alone in your house, cats have an innate instinct to bury their waste. Cats don’t just randomly choose to use a litter box. In nature, they bury their poop because it is a way to hide away their scent from other, bigger predators and conceal themselves from smaller prey who might otherwise be aware of their presence.
In their natural environment, cats have a hunting success rate of no less than 32%, which is actually quite impressive. But your home is not exactly the epitome of your fluffball’s natural setting. The only thing that’s worth hunting in your dwelling is your grandma’s favourite drapes, or that new pair of slippers you just bought from IKEA.
Why Not Make Your Life a Little Bit Easier?
Not investing in cat litter crystals or clumping cat litter can be a grave mistake. A cat without a litter box will probably get stressed and start misbehaving. Do you want to make your life a living nightmare? Then try to live with a cat that is always on edge. Ask me how I know.
Plus, if we are being completely honest, one of the main reasons for investing in a litter box is for hygienic purposes. Cats are clean animals who spend a significant percentage of their day grooming themselves.
It’s a blessing in disguise, as realistically, nobody wants to spend time with a pet that’s, well, stinky. But the faeces and urine of cats have a strong scent, and no matter how clean your kitty is, without a litter to absorb these smells, you will sense them, and you will also increase your risk of catching parasites, such as Toxoplasmosis.
Why Invest in Clumping Cat Litter?
Now, when it comes to purchasing cat litter, it’s really all about your preferences. Personally, I always went for conventional, clay-based clumping cat litter because I can’t name one single thing I hate more in this world than trying to scoop up my cat’s waste and it just falling apart. Actually, scratch that, I hate doing my taxes more, but still, non-clumping cat waste is easily in my top five.
Clumping cat litter is great for odour control, as the smell of the waste gets trapped inside the clay, and the texture is familiar to most cats, so they get used to it relatively quickly. Clay-based clumping cat litter is widely available, it’s quite cost-effective, and you have to replace it less often, as realistically, you will only scoop the part with waste in it. It also has downsides, that’s true.
Clay-based litter produces more dust, and the clay is more likely to stick to the paws of your kitty. Plus, it’s not exactly flushable. But, personally, for me, as someone who lives in a small apartment, it’s probably the best choice around.
What About Cat Litter Crystals?
Clay-based litter is a great all-around option for most cat owners. But what if you are trying to diversify your options a bit? Top-shelf cat litter crystals are characterised by superior odour control, and they are fantastic at absorbing large amounts of moisture. Plus, they are long-lasting, they produce no dust, they are lightweight, and they are unlikely to get stuck to the paws of your cat. Now, are they an ideal option for you? Well, that depends on whether you care about clumping.
Even if it’s technically contained, the waste of your kitty will not be as easily scoopable with crystal litter as is the case with clay-based litter. Plus, some cats might have issues with the somewhat hard consistency of crystal litter.
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It Depends on The Preferences of Your Kitty
My friend’s cat, for example, absolutely hates it, while my sister’s kitty has no problem with it. So, it’s a bit of a mixed bag. For urine containment, crystal-based litter is truly excellent, and if your kitty has trouble with dust allergies, silica-based options are a thing to consider.
They are, however, a bit more expensive than clay-based litter. Or at least that’s usually the case (exceptions can still happen). What would I choose if I were in your shoes? Honestly, it depends on the preferences of your kitty. For me, clumping is pretty much non-negotiable, while for others, it might not even be something to consider.
The default choice for most cat owners is clay-based clumping litter. However, if you are looking for something with a bit less maintenance involved, and you simply like the smell of silica-based gels a bit more, you should choose cat litter crystals. There’s no wrong answer if we’re being honest. The only way you can actually mess this up is by not investing in litter in the first place.
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