How to choose the best litter

5 characteristics of good litter

Exceptional odor control

Cats have a particularly well-developed sense of smell, far superior to that of humans. If you think the litter smells bad, your cat can smell it from the next room. If you use a high-quality litter, there is no need to add a protective cover, deodorizing powders, or perfumes.
These solutions are more likely to bother your cat than solve the odor problem. Unpleasant odors come from ammonia, which forms when cat urine comes into contact with oxygen. The best solution is to choose a litter that blocks and neutralizes ammonia formation and to remove waste from the litter box daily.

Dust-free

Clay, like plant matter, is a crumbly material. It is therefore normal to find some dust in the litter, especially since it is essential for the formation of clumps in the case of clumping litter. This dust can be irritating to people or cats who suffer from dust allergies or asthma. Although no litter on the market can claim to be completely dust-free, choose a dust-free litter, as all of our litters are.

Clumping

Clumping litter offers many advantages. Clay and other plant fibers, such as wheat and corn, quickly absorb liquids. In the case of sodium bentonite, the clay we use in our litters, it can absorb up to six times its weight in liquid! In addition, a high-quality litter will form small, solid clumps that remain on the surface, making daily cleaning easier and preventing contamination of the plastic litter tray. Given that cats generally prefer clumping litter and that it makes cleaning easier for you, choosing this type of litter is a no-brainer!

Gentle on paws

In the wild, cats prefer to do their business in fine sand. It is gentle on their paws and easy to dig into to bury their waste. It is best to choose a substrate that is similar to sand in texture, such as clay-based litter or fine-grain plant-based litter. On the other hand, paper-based or wood chip litters are very different from the soft texture of sand and do not always control odors well. A cat that doesn’t like the quality of the litter you provide may choose other softer materials, such as a rug, sofa, or even a bed. So avoid running this risk!

Unscented or lightly scented

As mentioned above, cats have a very sensitive sense of smell and many odors are repulsive to them. It is therefore best not to add any perfumes or other deodorants to the litter yourself. Instead, choose a high-quality litter that controls odors. For all our scented litters, we carefully select ingredients that are free from allergens and volatile chemicals. All our fragrances are carefully selected to respect cats: they are very mild, subtle, non-repellent, and loved by cats.

How do I train my cat to use the litter box?

Cats are extremely clean animals by nature. This makes them relatively easy to house-train. Usually, you only need to show them their litter box once, and that’s it—the habit is ingrained. However, your little kitten is not immune to accidents. In this case, avoid punishment, which does not teach them what to do and often stresses them out even more, which can make the problem worse. Don’t put them in the litter box after the fact either. They won’t want to go and won’t understand what you’re trying to tell them. And if you do it too often, your cat may develop an aversion to its litter box. Simply make it easier to access or add litter boxes in several places. If the problem persists, consult a behaviorist. Clean up small messes quickly, making sure to remove any odors to prevent further accidents.

To discover all our cat litters, visit our product page!