Choosing a cat litter for your cat can be a strenuous task! There are many options on the market and they all have their advantages. The two popular options are traditional clay litters and crystal cat litter, also known as silica cat litter.
For the health and well-being of our fur kids, it’s important to know about the cat litter composition for each type and how well clay and silica litters deal with odour, dust, tracking and other litter box-related issues.

What is Litter Made of?

Clay litter generally comes in two formats, non-clumping and clumping. Conventional clay litter is made of clay material that can absorb its weight in liquid. Clay clumping litter, like Dr. Elsey’s Precious Ultra Scented Clumping Clay Cat Litter, combines heavy non-tracking granules of classic litter with medium grain clay.
Silica gel crystal cat litter, like Dr. Elsey’s Precious Cat Crystal Silica Unscented Non-Clumping Cat Litter, is an amorphous silica gel infused with hydrolyzed herbs to draw cats to the litter box. This litter is Hypo-allergenic and non-toxic and easy to scoop, low tracking formula.

Odour Control

When it comes to choosing the best cat litter for your home, odour control is one of the most important factors. Conventional clay and clumping litters are fairly absorbent, but due to their granular size, they can saturate quickly.
Silica crystals are big and porous, making them effective at odour control. While they look solid, they absorb moisture as they come in contact with liquid. The liquid or moisture is trapped inside, thus leaving the outer layer dry to the touch. Once absorbed, the moisture will begin to evaporate, leaving the odour-causing molecules trapped within the inner channels. The absorbency capability of the beads is continuous, so most litters can work for up to a month for one cat.

Dust and Tracking

Dust can cause respiratory issues for you and your cat or can trigger existing ones, like asthma. That’s why it is so important to find a litter with dust control.
Many clay litters are 99% dust-free for easy breathing, like Dr. Elsey’s Precious Cat Ultra Clumping Cat Litter, which is specially formulated to be virtually dust-free. They are also low-tracking to cut down on trails coming from a cat litter box.
Silica crystals contain little to no dust as well. And because of the size of the crystals, your cat is also less likely to track litter around the house. Many silica crystal cat litters are specifically designed for their beads to prevent them from becoming lodged in a cat’s paws, in order to limit tracking.

Texture

Conventional clay feels like sand, which can entice cats to use their litter box. The large granules typical of clay litters are less likely to get stuck in between toes, which can make the experience more comfortable for your cat. Clumping clay litter is fine and soft on feet, but it is not recommended for kittens, especially those who may ingest the litter.

Which Cat Litter to Use?

While both clay and silica litters have their pros and cons, the choice of which cat litter to use comes down to your cat’s preference. Consult your veterinarian if your kitten/cat isn’t using their litter box as this may be an underlying medical issue.