Most people are familiar with clumping cat litter, but they may not know its history. It’s interesting to know its roots and how it works. This article will discuss exactly these things!
The History of The Clumping Cat Litter
The need for cat litter didn’t appear until very late in human existence. Initially, humans and animals were outside; then, humans moved inside, but animals were still outside. Until not long ago, cats were responsible for finding their own bathrooms. Cats can still manage outside; however, if you welcome them into your home, you must provide a bathroom. Everyone knows that cats like to cover their tracks! So, in the beginning, people just put sand, ashes, or even sawdust in containers for their cats to use. Unfortunately, these materials cannot cover the smell; they carry the smell of the cat’s feet throughout your house.
It’s believed that clay clumping cat litter was found almost by accident. When someone tried clay instead of ashes and sand, they realized it works way better. The mistakes’ author then marketed the clay as ‘kitty litter’, and that’s where it all began. This man was Edward Lowe, who was an American business man; and he is noted for the invention of the cat litter. His neighbor asked him for some sand to use as cat litter because her pile of sand was frozen. And, she was tired of her cat tracking ashes through the house.
Lowe then worked at his father’s company, which sold sand, clay, and sawdust to heavy industries that used these materials as absorbents. He gave his neighbor some clay; when she came back asking for more, he realized he could make a business out of it. With his idea, he created an entirely new industry!
Traditional versus Modern Litter
Traditional litter is non-clumping, and while it absorbs moisture, it spreads throughout the litter. Because of this, you need to clean the litter more often, and it’s overall harder to clean. You must change the litter once a week, or more often depending on how much your cat uses it. Depending on the brand you choose, it can be very dusty. The good thing about it is that you can find it in almost every pet store, and it usually has an affordable price.
Modern, clumping cat litter is made of sodium bentonite clay and clumps! Because it forms clumps in contact with moisture, it’s way easier to clean it, compared to traditional litter. It has way better odor control than the other type of litter, which is a big advantage. Indeed, it’s usually priced a bit higher, but you won’t need to do full changes that often, which makes it last longer. Both pets and owners, many of them anyway, prefer this option because it’s cleaner and drier.
Test for The Best
If you are considering getting a cat but don’t know what type of litter to get, you could try a little experiment. You could buy one traditional and one clumping option, and test them with water. In this way, you can see how the litter works! You can then try to clean it and see which option seems better for you. But, you must also remember that your cat’s opinion is important too. Cats’ paw sensitivity can differ from one cat to another; some prefer one type of litter, and others prefer the other.
When you get a can, you can have two liters, and see which one she liked most. But if you already have a traditional litter and want to change it, you should try to transition slowly. Slowly combine the litter types by adding more new litter every few days. In this way, your cat will get the chance to adapt to the change slowly. Choosing the perfect litter can be a process that requires patience and time. It’s important that both you and your cat are happy! Test different types and brands, and watch your cat’s behavior throughout this process.
The Play of The Pet Store
You are probably aware of marketing; if you are, you know that a pet store can influence the cat litter you buy. How they place the products on the shelves or place the order on their website can influence what you buy. This is not necessarily bad, but you might buy a litter that’s unfit for your cat. Before getting into a physical or online pet store, you should do your research. You might even come up with a list of things you want. As an example:
- Clumping cat litter
- Biodegradable
- Great odor control
- Low-dust
You can just ask a pet store worker if they have any options to check most of those boxes. If you are online, you might have the option to filter the results. The main idea is not to let yourself be tricked into buying the most expensive product or be tricked by packaging that looks premium. Know what you are looking for before you start looking!
Conclusion
You and your cat are the only two ones who know if clumping cat litter is the way to go for you. Do your research, do some tests, and pay attention to your cat’s behavior. Most times, your cat will tell you, in the best way she can, if she likes the litter. Don’t worry, you will be able to tell if she doesn’t like it! Now that you know the pros and cons of the two types of litter, you can make an informed decision.
