People can be picky about their own bathroom habits, so is it any surprise that cats will be picky about theirs? Choosing a kitty litter can be an important decision, since dissatisfaction with their litter can contribute to litter box-training problems that are difficult to correct. For best chances of pleasing your feline, make sure you know the information necessary to choose the right litter for her – and for you.

Traditional Kitty Litters

Most people are familiar with the traditional types of kitty litters: clumping and non-clumping. Are these litters obsolete now that there are so many alternative litters available? Not in the least! Just like the new-age varieties, traditional litters have their upsides and downsides. In general, most cats will be accepting of either of the traditional styles of litter, so the choice is entirely based on your preference.

Clumping Litter

Probably the most common litter used is clumping litter. The beauty of clumping litter is that rather than absorbing urine until the litter becomes saturated and smelly, the litter forms hard clumps around the urine. As a result, the litter box is easy to manage: just use a slotted scoop (available in pet stores) to remove clumps and feces, leaving the loose litter in the box for next time. As the level drops, just refill the box with fresh litter – no more struggling with bags and trashcans and heavy, smelly litter in order to change the box! The litter will naturally cycle out the old litter, staying fresh with little work on your part. Additionally, many clumping litters use baking soda or are otherwise chemically engineered to preserve freshness.

Despite its obvious advantages, clumping litter has several downsides. One downside is the dust. Every time you scoop or refill the litter box, an acrid dust will float free of the litter. A face mask or a bandana tied across the nose and mouth may be useful for those especially sensitive to litter box dust. Another downside is that the sand-like litter will get tracked out of the box on your cat’s paws; however, this is a downside to most litters, and can be remedied with a special mat or rug (available in pet stores) placed at the entrance to the litter box. Also, be aware that in rare instances clumping litter has been known to clump onto the cat’s genitals, causing medical problems. Be sure to check your pet occasionally and watch for abnormal bathroom habits. If your cat tends to squat right down to the litter, it may be best to avoid clumping litter entirely.

Non-Clumping Litter

Using non-clumping litter has its own unique set of advantages and disadvantages. Because it is designed to absorb instead of hardening into clumps, the rare medical problems caused by clumping litters are circumvented. Because the litter is larger and heavier, using the non-clumping type reduces the amount of litter tracked from the box. The larger granules also mean that the amount of litter dust released into the air is significantly lessened. However, changing the litter box becomes quite a chore with non-clumping litter. Feces still has to be scooped daily, but urine sits in the litter until it begins to smell, and the only way to clean the box is to dump it all out and replace it with fresh litter. If you wish to avoid juggling trash bags and heavy, smelly litter boxes, non-clumping litter may not be the right choice for you – or your cat, as you will inevitably put off changing the litter box.

Alternative Kitty Litters

Alternative kitty litters offer many advantages that the traditional types can’t. However, for cats unused to the vastly different look and feel of most alternative litters, the switch can be traumatic. If you decide to go with an alternative litter, be sure to ease your pet into the transition by mixing the old and new litters for a few weeks or a month before switching over entirely. If your pet still is not comfortable with the change, it may be necessary to return to the tried-and-true in order to circumvent litter box-training issues.

Absorbent Crystals

One of the first alternative litters available, absorbent crystals changed the way we look at litter. The crystals are chemically engineered to reduce litter box dust, neutralize odors, and last longer than normal non-clumping litters. However, some cats just can’t be convinced that crystals are cool. The dramatically different look and feel of the litter can make picky cats hesitate to use the litter box, even point of risking your wrath to leave their little “presents” elsewhere. If your heart is set on crystal, but your cat is holding out for something better, never fear – there is help for your relationship, in the form of crystal “blends,” litter that is half-crystal, half-traditional.

Flushable Litters

Every time you scoop the litter box, instead of leaving the waste to ferment in the trash can, why not send it to the same place yours goes? There are now a variety of flushable litters, formulated to be safe for most sewage systems. Some flushable litters even look, feel, and clump like traditional litter, in order to satisfy those picky felines and still make life easier for their owners. Flushing your cat’s waste may very well be the next best thing to toilet training her!

“Natural,” Recycled, Biodegradable, and Eco-Friendly Litters

The majority of kitty litter – whether traditional or alternative – are typically not made with the great outdoors in mind. You can change that, however, by supporting one of the several eco-friendly litters available. “Natural” litter is usually in the form of small pellets, made from compressed pine shavings, recycled paper, or another biodegradable substance. The litter is generally safe to flush in small quantities, so feces can be disposed of quickly and easily. The pellets will break down as the cats urinate into the litter; as the litter becomes dust, it is time to dump out the old and bring in the new. Of course, the form this type of litter takes can be slightly disturbing to some cats, so be sure to transition the cat over to the new litter by mixing it with the old for several weeks before converting her completely.

Creature Comforts

Your cat’s litter box experience goes beyond the type of litter that fills it. For cats that prefer privacy, covered litter boxes and litter box tents are available; however, if the box is not cleaned frequently, or if the litter is a particularly dusty type, picky cats may be deterred from using the box. For cats that are finicky about dirty litter boxes, a motorized or self-cleaning litter box may be the best way to go. The advantages are a clean litter box every time for the cat and easier cleanup for the cat’s owner, but self-cleaning litter boxes are expensive and use only traditional clumping litter.

Your Peace of Mind

There are plenty of products available to soften the downfalls of different litters, so that you may spend more consideration on a litter’s advantages. For litter that is easily tracked out of the box, you can buy special mats or rugs to clean your cat’s paws as they leave the box. To facilitate litter box cleanings, try litter box liners, which are like heavy-duty trash bags made to fit your litter box. Before you decide against using a litter because of the inconveniences to you, check out the products available to increase your comfort and still give your cat the best litter box experience possible.