How to choose a filler for cat litter

Today, pet stores offer a wide variety of fillers, but to find the right fill for the cat's toilet, you need to know the basic rules of choice and features of the most popular types of fillers.

What is important to remember

Manufacturers of modern fillers try to make their goods as attractive as possible to consumers and offer fillers with perfume that do not require replacement within a week or do not stick to the paws and do not pour out of the tray.

All this can very much please the owner of the animal, but we must not forget that the main thing is the health and comfort of your pet, because it will be he who will use the purchased product! And numerous fragrances, chemical reagents and various additives can cause the cats to be allergic or cause the development of intestinal diseases - with regular ingestion into the gastrointestinal tract during licking.

What to look for when choosing a filler

When choosing a filler for a cat's toilet, first of all you need to pay attention to such things as:

1. Safety for cat health - it is better to choose a filler from natural materials and without additional properties;
2. Hygiene - the ability to quickly absorb and retain moisture;
3. No dust - all cats like to dig in their tray, when using a good filler there should be no dust and dirt;
4. Specific gravity - if the specific gravity is too low , the filler particles will settle on the cat's fur and be carried out of the tray;
5. The PH- level should be 8-9 - to exclude harm to the health of animals and humans when in contact with the filler.

The main types of fillers can be divided into several large groups:

• Clammy or absorbing;
• Granulated;
• Silicones.

Caking fillers

Caking or absorbing fillers - are very popular among the cat-owners, especially if there are several animals in the house.

For their manufacture use natural minerals, they absorb moisture well and detain the smell. Absorbing fillers are convenient for those owners who can not clean their pet's tray every day - this filler can be changed once a week, the moisture drops down and the owner only needs to pour in a fresh filler from time to time, and then throw out the entire filler and fill it again.

Caking fillers form a lump of granules, which is very easy to discard, and the bulk remains clean. The advantages of such fillers are ease of maintenance, absence of odor and liquid and low price.

Disadvantages - sticks to the paws and gets into the digestive tract when licking out - so its use is strictly forbidden for kittens, and cats scatter it around the tray and it can not be thrown into the toilet.

Granulated fillers

Granular fillers - made from natural materials - compressed wood and paper sawdust, corn and grain waste and the like. Such fillers are safe for the health of cats, even if swallowed, they are environmentally friendly and easily destroyed and cheaply worth.

But, in comparison with two other species, such fillers require much more care and attention of the owner - they quickly get wet, require daily cleaning, are easily thrown out by cats from the tray and carried around the house.

Sikokogelive

Sikokogelivye fillers - the most modern form, they perfectly absorb liquid and odor, you can change the tray with filler every 2 weeks or even once a month, the filler does not dust and does not cling to the feet. Among the shortcomings can be noted a relatively high price and an unpleasant loud sound that occurs when a cat uses a tray - it can scare off cautious or timid animals.

Also, when choosing a filler, you need to navigate the breed and age of the animal - long-haired breeds will not be suitable for clumping and absorbing fillers that will stick to the wool, and large adult cats need more filler that holds the smell well.