With so many varieties of cat litter on the market, choosing one can be a bit overwhelming for cat owners unsure which type is best suited for their pet. Whether you're looking for biodegradability, clumping ability or cost-effectiveness, cat experts give the following advice about shopping for cat litter:

  • Don't switch brands unless it's for a good reason. Cats are creatures of habit, and if they've been happily using a brand of kitty litter that you find messy or hard to clean, they may not want to make the switch.
  • Decide how important clumping is to you. Clumping cat litters, whether clay-based or biodegradable, react with urine to form hard lumps that can be scooped out and either flushed down the toilet (if the litter is organic) or put in the garbage (if it's made of clay or crystals). Most commercial clay cat litters clump, but most biodegradable litters do not.
  • Don't judge by price alone. Fine-grained clumping clay litters are relatively cheap, but they can be tracked across the house by your cat's paws. And some brands are better at controlling odors than others. Resist the impulse to buy the cheapest litter available, at least until you've hit on the right combination of features for you and your cat.
  • Put your cat's comfort first. Feline paws are very sensitive, so a given cat may or may not react well to the large pellets of biodegradable cat litters, the tacky texture of crystal litters or even a fine-grained clay litter. If you sense your cat is using the litter box under protest (lots of meowing and fussing around), switch to a brand that's easier on its feet.

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