Cat litter: clumping or absorbent?

Clumping litter is made of clay, often bentonite, which forms a compact ball on contact with urine. You just remove the clumps and stools every day with a scoop, then top up with a little clean litter.

Since you only throw away the soiled part, a bag lasts a long time. It is also the fine texture many cats prefer. It comes unscented or scented: lavender, Marseille soap, aloe vera, baby powder, or activated charcoal against odours.

Absorbent litter, often clay or mineral granules, holds urine within the mass without forming clumps. You remove stools every day, but the whole litter needs changing more often, usually every week.

It is often cheaper to buy and suits kittens well, as they sometimes taste the litter: larger granules are harder to swallow than fine clay.

Eco-friendly litters are made of plant materials such as wood, corn or paper, depending on the brand. They are lighter to carry, often produce less dust, and some are compostable or can go with green waste: always check the packaging.

A cat used to clay may hesitate in front of a new texture. To switch, gradually mix the old and new litter over one to two weeks.

Use a layer of about 5 to 7 cm. Too little and urine reaches the bottom of the tray, sticks and smells. Too much and the cat scatters litter everywhere.

For one cat, a 10 litre bag of clumping litter usually lasts several weeks if you remove the clumps every day. With absorbent litter, plan a full change every week, so more volume over the month.

An open tray is simple, easy to clean and reassuring for cats that like to watch their surroundings. A covered litter box, with a lid, limits scattering and smells in the room, but also keeps the smells inside: it must be cleaned every day.

Choose a tray big enough for your cat to turn around easily. The common rule is one tray per cat, plus one, placed in quiet spots away from the food bowl and water.

Regularity is still the most effective:

• remove stools and clumps every day;
• empty the tray, wash it with hot water and mild soap, then dry it, at least once a month;
• avoid bleach and heavily scented products, which can put the cat off;
• keep the tray in a ventilated spot.

A sudden strong smell, or a cat that urinates more often, can also signal a urinary problem: talk to your vet.