DIY paper cat litter

To ensure that the place where the cat relieves itself is clean, and the animal itself is tidy, the owner needs to choose the right cat litter. The soil can be wood, clay, silica gel, paper, corn, grass, which is produced by many manufacturers. The owner should know all the advantages and disadvantages of hygienic sand and the features of its choice.

According to veterinarians, cat litter should be selected individually based on the pet’s habits and preferences; however, silica gel is considered one of the best options for an adult cat, but it is dangerous for kittens.

Inexpensive and convenient way to fill cat litter

Having brought home a kitten, the question of the toilet immediately arises.
For all cats living in apartments, this is a tray. But the tray needs filler. And here the question arises about choosing a filler. The choice of fillers is so huge that it is difficult to navigate. There are also expensive clumping, simple mineral and cheap fillers made from pressed sawdust. Which one to choose is up to the animal owner. But all fillers are expected to absorb moisture well, completely absorb odor and, most importantly, to please the animal.

Expensive cat litter is not affordable for everyone. Clumping, expensive products are not always liked by animals, and are sometimes even dangerous for them. In veterinary medicine, there are many cases where small kittens ate a little of this filler, which led to serious complications and diseases of the digestive system.

Mineral fillers are cheap, but do not cope with odor. Which makes them less in demand. Compacted sawdust litter does an excellent job of eliminating odor and moisture, but cats can easily spill it out of the litter box when raking it. In addition, sawdust sticks to the paws, and this spreads throughout the apartment.

We offer a solution to this issue, which will allow you to significantly save on fillers, completely isolates the smell, and the tray can be changed no more than once a week. All you have to do is remove the solid fragments every day and that’s it!

Let's take pressed sawdust, which copes so well with odor and moisture, and pour it into the bottom of the tray. You need very little sawdust, since when absorbed they will increase significantly in size.

We will place a grate with mineral filler on top. It passes moisture through itself, and the sawdust absorbs it and neutralizes it. In addition, all cats like the mineral filling; it does not spread on its paws throughout the apartment, does not stick to the animal’s fur and, apparently, is very pleasant to rake.

The proposed method will save a lot of money. Housewives will not be horrified by the torn up contents of the cat litter, and guests will never smell an unpleasant odor.

So, if your cat can’t get used to the toilet, she may simply not like its contents.

Source

Cat litter: review of trays and fillers

I have several litter boxes for cats. Many sources recommend having a quantity equal to cats plus one more and I stick to this arithmetic. As a housewife who cares about cleanliness and hygiene in the house, I really love toilet houses

, and Abyssinian cats are traditionally great diggers. Sometimes people ask me what size tray to buy. Think about where this item will be placed in your apartment. Keep in mind that there should be free access to it, especially at first; in any case, the baby will experience stress from the move and will have to have time to orient itself by both the smell and the sight. It is advisable that this be a quiet place, and not a passage corridor. Select a tray based on the size of the planned space. My cats have these litter boxes:

House trays can be corner, this shape is very convenient due to its compact size.

Kittens become familiar with the litter box at three weeks, as soon as they try complementary foods. Of course, the houses are still too big for them, so their first pots look like this:

I put fresh litter in them and some used litter from previous litters, we now have this opportunity, so that the babies can navigate by smell. Filler for kittens is ALWAYS wood or soy, babies very actively taste it and EAT it. It is clear that bentonite is not entirely suitable for this, because it is clay. Wood and soy are much safer. Some people start using this item right away, while others need time to figure out what it is for. I don’t control the process of transitioning to adult trays and let everything take its course - children, as a rule, quickly realize that going to a large potty is more convenient, as long as they have the strength to climb into it. From experience, almost all cats like bentonite more than wood and some other fillers; it is similar to SAND. ALL cats enjoy walking in the sand, it comes naturally to them. Therefore, if, after taking a kitten from my nursery, you decide that YOU prefer wood or some other filler, please note that this does not mean that the kitten will agree with you. We had 2 cases when kittens, who went to the litter box without failure from the first days, suddenly began to put piles in the wrong places. During the debriefing, it turned out that the owners simply poured new litter into them and expected the cat to be happy. IS NOT A FACT.

As a dowry, I recommend buying a tray-house

: The kitten will arrive to you already large enough for a child's potty, although some of my adult cats sometimes happily recognize these soap dishes and happily sit their abypops there.

The best thing for me was this tray-house from. It is made of durable plastic and is very convenient: to clean the tray, you just need to open the small hatch at the top of the lid without removing the lid itself completely. The model in the photo is the largest, we can easily fill it with 20 kg of filler, it is more suitable for large cats like Maine Coons or several abiks. For a single abik, it is better to choose a smaller tray; there are others like that.

Today you can buy trays to suit every taste and in a wide variety of colors. As my practical experience shows, a good tray made of high-quality plastic is quite expensive. In this case, this is fundamental - cheap plastics very quickly absorb the smell of cat urine. Even though you will not only promptly remove your pet’s waste products, regularly disinfect the tray and add fresh litter .

You will definitely need to purchase a dustpan for cleaning.

. Very often the trays are already equipped with them, but to be honest, I don’t like what’s included: such scoops are flimsy, so I always buy them separately.

Another essential accessory is a mat in front of the tray. Abiki are terrible diggers, and they also like to jump out of the pot with a running start (as far as possible), having done all their business. Of course, there are cats that calmly and decorously leave this place, but these are usually older animals; young people have difficulty restraining their emotions. In any case, this item will come in handy and will keep the house clean, because, in my firm conviction and experience, there are no fillers that do not stick to the paws and are not taken out of the tray, no matter what sellers and manufacturers inspire you to believe, there are simply discreet and not very cats. Given the conditions of my apartment and the number of cats, the most optimal were the rugs purchased on the Chinese trading platform AliExpress. I attach the photo below. There are other options, but this one is the best, believe me, I understand something about it.

When handing over kittens to new owners, I always share the litter from their original potty so that the kids don’t get confused in an unfamiliar environment.

FILLERS FOR CAT TRAYS

Today you can buy absolutely anything for every taste. The main criteria when selecting for my cats are:

cleanliness in the house: the filler should remain in the pot and not be carried on paws throughout the apartment. One way or another, cleaning the premises where animals live is carried out more often than in their absence.
ability to absorb the smell of cat urine. This is especially true if there is a stud cat in the house.
the litter should be liked by cats and comfortable for daily use

FILLERS ARE ABSORBENT AND CLUDDING.

ABSORBENT FILLERS , in my opinion, are the least economical. They simply absorb and retain moisture without changing their structure, and therefore require regular and complete replacement to maintain cleanliness and hygiene in the tray and apartment.

Clumping FILLERS, when interacting with moisture, form a dense lump and the better the quality of the filler, the less likely it is that the lump will fall apart during cleaning. Such fillers do not require complete replacement; it will be enough to dispose of only the used part. True, over time, you will still have to completely remove the residue, wash the tray and add a fresh portion of the filler: one way or another, the smell of urine is absorbed and becomes noticeable even to the human nose, not to mention a cat.

Solid waste will have to be removed every day when using any litter.

For my cats, I prefer clumping litters. They are economical to use and I like the ability to remove the used part right away rather than allowing odors and germs to build up over time. In addition, the filler is completely changed every 10-14 days.

In practice, it looks like this: the filler is poured in a layer of at least 5 cm (as most manufacturers recommend). For about two weeks or a little less, the cat uses the litter box, and the volume of the substance gradually disappears. After this period, I dispose of the remaining filler and fill the empty tray with water and disinfectant. I prefer Laina

(it can be bought in veterinary stores and veterinary pharmacies) or
Demos
, which is sold in specialized online stores. Both of these products not only disinfect, but also neutralize odors, they are safe for humans and animals, I also use them for cleaning my apartment. After an hour, the working solution is removed, the tray is rinsed with clean water and sent to dry. After another hour, I add fresh litter and the tray is ready for use again.

Very often, cats prefer to use the litter box only in the presence of their owners. In this case, when you return from work in the evening, you will find it absolutely clean, and the cat, having shown you signs of attention and examining the contents of the bags and packages you brought, will demonstratively do everything necessary in the tray.

ACCORDING TO THE COMPOSITION, THE FILLERS ARE::

crystallite
paper
vegetable (corn or grain)
silica gel
woody
bentonite (clay or mineral)

CRYSTALLITE FILLERS are quite rare on sale, although they are quite affordable in price. An example is “Clean Cat”

. It is made from synthetic zeolite granules and is essentially an absorbent substance. Manufacturers claim that these fillers are innovative, hypoallergenic, antibacterial and environmentally friendly, capable of incredibly quickly absorbing moisture and odors. I have no personal experience of using this product, but familiar breeders claim that not all cats like the litter, although it retains the smell very well. In addition, synthetic granules are very light and spread with incredible speed on their paws throughout the apartment, and kittens and young animals really like to play with them. Considering the natural tendency of Abyssinians to dig, I would not recommend this type of filler to my graduates. It cannot be disposed of in the toilet.

PAPER FILLERS . They are also rare in retail sales. The Japanese have succeeded here; we have online stores that sell exclusively cat products made in this country. Many owners like these fillers; they clump well, retain odor and are disposed of in the toilet. They have only one minus - the price. And if you decide that your cat is worthy of Japanese quality, then for a 6-7 liter bag you will have to pay 800 rubles or more, and taking into account delivery from the online store, the cost will increase. Domestic products from this category – “Ahvolanmaatila”

,
"Tiger"
. Judging by the description, they are declared as absorbent. The price is quite reasonable for the offered volume. I have no experience using paper fillers.

VEGETABLE FILLERS . A very common group, but also more often found in online stores. They are made from various plant fibers and there are, for example, corn - “Golden Cat”

,
"Nature's Miracle"
:

or herbal - “Fix”

,
«№1»
:

They are convenient because they can be disposed of in the sewer. I once bought “No. 1 Vegetable” for Lavrik – I didn’t like it. The smell practically does not hold, it begins to stink disgustingly after a couple of days of use. It clumps poorly, however, most of these fillers are declared as “with a clumping effect.” The fibers are very light, so they are easily carried out of the tray on the paws. I won’t try corn. In my opinion, this group of fillers is more suitable for kittens during the period of litter box training. The smell of baby urine is practically not noticeable, and the first placement in the tray, as a rule, ends with an attempt to chew the filler, so products of plant origin are very good from this point of view - silica gel or bentonite are not suitable at all, they are dangerous if they get into the stomach. I can only recommend it for use if your pet is allergic to all other types of fillers - this also happens. Separately, it is worth mentioning Japanese tofu fillings

– compressed mass of soy fibers. They are considered super-premium fillers, but have one significant drawback - they are very expensive.

SILICA GEL FILLERS . In chemical terms, silica gel is a dried silicate gel. It has a porous surface, due to which it has a great ability to absorb moisture. It is silica gel that is placed in paper bags in boxes with shoes, equipment or clothing. It began to be used for cat litter relatively recently, but quite successfully. The price will be more expensive than bentonite or wood, but it is considered one of the most economical in daily use. It absorbs not only moisture, but also odors, and sticks to the paws minimally. Not all cats like it, since the granules are quite sharp (although they are also round) and when absorbing moisture they make characteristic sounds, which can frighten the mustache. Not suitable for kittens, I already wrote above why, it cannot be disposed of in the toilet. According to manufacturers, complete replacement is required every two to three weeks. It can cause an allergic reaction on the paws, there are such cases. I have no personal use experience, but many nurseries use only this type of filler. One of my graduates easily transferred to it, although he had never gone to such a filler before. The owner really likes the fact that partial replacement can be done every two or three days and does not have to pick out lumps every time. It is very common in retail stores; almost all well-known manufacturers of cat litter have a silica gel line. They say that some brands generate unpleasant dust when poured.

For my cats I always buy wood and bentonite litters . When purchasing them for the kitten’s arrival, look for the brands described below in retail and online stores.

WOOD FILLERS. We only use clumping ones

options. Once I bought an absorbent one, I will never do it again: when wet, the pellets simply crumble into dust and a complete replacement is required very often, although wood absorbent forms are one of the cheapest today.

Of the clumping options in pet stores, the most common option is “Cat's Best Eko Plus”

. Sold in bags of 5, 10, 20 and 40 liters, the latter packaging is not often on sale, but rather can be ordered in online stores.

It is small wood granules of irregular shape. It clumps up, is disposed of in the toilet, it retains the smell, but I don’t really like it because it generates dust and is easily carried out on the paws. I prefer its more expensive brother, “Cat's Best Nature Gold”

.
It has large cylindrical granules and is packaged in bags of 10 and 20 liters. It generates dust and carries on its paws an order of magnitude less than Cat's Best Eko Plus
.

The Russian company has a line of wood clumping fillers

. The granules there are also cylindrical in shape, but not so large. There are three scents to choose from - green tea, coffee and Himalayan cedar. I have never been able to buy one with the scent of Himalayan cedar. Packaged in 4.5 liter bags, green tea flavor can be purchased in a 17.5 liter bag.

A small package is enough for no more than a month for one cat, but it is good for everyone: it clumps up well, holds the smell and is disposed of in the toilet. It is also expensive for a nursery: for a small package you will have to pay about 450 rubles. I buy it as a first litter for kittens: they start using it, gradually becoming familiar with another type - bentonite.

Not so long ago, another similar filler appeared from Russian

Available in three varieties: “standard”, “green tea” and “corn”.
According to reviews, it’s very good, I haven’t seen it in retail sales yet, it’s quite common in online stores. The packages are quite small - only 6 liters, but most likely it will last one cat for about a month. The price is on average the same as for “No. 1”
. I don't have any experience using it yet.

BENTONITE FILLERS . Made from natural bentonite clay. I won’t be mistaken if I write that it is one of the most popular, economical and affordable forms. It is found very often in stores. I have tested many brands of litter on my cats. What suits me most now is “No. 1”

. – this is our choice. Surprisingly, it is stated to be absorbent. I declare with all responsibility that it clumps perfectly (better than some that clump) and is practically not carried on the paws: it comes in the form of quite large multi-colored balls. It generates very little dust, is packaged in 5-liter bags (sometimes you can find 10-liter bags) and is more expensive than other analogues.

However, this is completely justified: when cats have this litter in their trays with a vacuum cleaner and a rag, I use it less often.

, “Ever Clean” has proven itself well

.
It clumps well, at one of the exhibitions I saw it in a litter box of someone else’s cat and asked the owners’ opinion. At one time we used Turkish litter “Van Cat”
.
It was also good, but it is not sold in retail, only in online stores. Due to the political situation, there were problems with supplies, so we switched to “No. 1”
, but as far as I know, there are no problems now. They offer an assortment of packaging and aromas - the choice is yours.

Another option pleasantly surprised me with its price-quality ratio: bentonite filler called “no name”

in unsightly paper bags of 15 kg.
It clumps well - perhaps no worse than “Ever Clean”
and
“Van Cat”
, it is moderately dusty and practically cannot be tolerated on the paws, it retains the smell well. The asking price is from 500 rubles per package, if you find it in a pet store, take it.

Currently we fill in “Natural litter”

.
This is bentonite clumping litter made in China. We make a wholesale purchase of 15 20 kg bags at once from the official representative in St. Petersburg, the prices are suitable for nurseries there. There is only one minus - delivery, they send it to us by a transport company. We buy large unscented balls, there are also small balls, sticks and regular granules with the scent of lemon, apple and lavender (I'm not sure my cats will appreciate this). I haven’t seen it at retail in our region, but what we buy is almost identical to bentonite filler “No. 1”
in red and green packaging, photo above.

Bentonite fillers cannot be disposed of in the toilet - this is another disadvantage.

If you still decide to switch your pet to another type of litter, one that we do not use, then do it gradually, adding small amounts of new litter to the old one. And don’t buy large quantities of new things at once - what if the mustachioed one turns out to be quite conservative in his preferences!

Method No. 1. Sawdust

Wooden sawdust is environmentally friendly and biodegradable. In addition, they can be obtained completely free from construction sites or carpentry shops, which also makes them the most economical option. However, keep in mind that sawdust can be carcinogenic, in which case it is better to use wood shavings.

What you will need:

tray;
sawdust;
water;
2 teaspoons baking soda;
ecological or biodegradable detergent;
aerosol can.

Procedure:

Wash the sawdust with an environmental detergent and then rinse with running water.
Boil water and add baking soda. Leave for 2 minutes and remove from heat. Let cool.
Fill a spray bottle with baking soda and spray the sawdust already in the tray.
Let them dry in the sun, after which the filler will be ready for use.

Method No. 2. Construction sand

This is a fairly inexpensive method to replace commercial fill as you can get sand as waste from any construction site near your home. It is also absorbent and clumps together, making the tray easy to clean.

What you will need:

tray;
sand sifter or strainer;
sand;
2 teaspoons baking soda.

Procedure:

Sift the sand through a sieve to remove any debris that may end up in the future filler.
Mix with baking soda, which will also absorb the smell of cat waste.
Pour the mixture into the litter tray.

Method #4: Corn, cassava or wheat

Corn flour

A good way to make homemade litter is to use a small amount of cornmeal. It is biodegradable and also forms hard clumps when in contact with cat litter, making the litter box easier to clean. However, it is recommended to add a teaspoon of baking soda to prevent unpleasant odors.

Wheat

Buy ground wheat or wheat grains and grind them. Ideally, they should not be too small. Place everything in a tray and add baking soda to reduce the odor. You can also add some cornflour or cassava.

Cassava flour

Mix corn flour with cassava flour and place everything in a tray. This mixture will stick to the cat waste, forming clumps making cleanup easier.

Note: Make sure your pet does not try to eat the formula. If you notice this happening, try another option.

Surely, you will be interested to know that every responsible and loving cat owner carefully monitors the physical and psychological condition of their pet. Therefore, he cannot help but be alarmed by the fact that, out of the blue, his pet begins to ignore the tray with sand and defecates in another place.

Source

Tips for choosing and using filler

Sorry, there are no surveys available at this time.
When wondering how to choose cat litter, think about your financial capabilities and personal preferences, knowing the characteristics of the above types. Consider also the safety and health of your pet. It would be right to take into account the pet's preferences. After all, he will be the one who will have to use this product. And finding a good filler is not difficult.

Some flavorings and the granules themselves can cause allergies. Therefore, if you know that your cat is susceptible to allergic reactions, it is better to buy wood filler for it or any other that is positioned as hypoallergenic or specialized for kittens.

Taking into account your cat's preference is also important. After all, not every filler for her toilet may be to her liking. She will show her disagreement by not using the tray for its intended purpose. And going to the toilet will either be nearby or somewhere in the apartment.

Therefore, if you do not yet know your kitten’s preferences, you should not buy a large amount of filler at once. Buy different fillers in small quantities and try. This way, you can find one that suits both you and your kittens.

To make your choice easier, here is a rating compiled by the “price expert” website. It identifies the best aggregates among the top sellers at the end of last year. “Cats Best Eco Plus” was also recognized as the best clumping fillers. Among the best absorbent fillers are “SuperCat Standard”, “Golden Cat “Ecoline”, “Fresh Step Triple Protection” and “No. 1 Crystals Antibacterial”.

The tray should be cleaned regularly, in accordance with the instructions for the specific type of litter. Flush litter that can be flushed down the toilet. If you can’t, throw it away, but it’s better to take out the bag of garbage right away. Using a clumping aggregate, it is enough to remove only the collected lumps with a spatula and add the product to the required level. In this video you will see how to clean a wood litter tray.

The special tray-filling substances are quite simple to use. If you have a litter box with a grid, you can choose several options for where to place the kitten litter. Here you should decide how it will be easier for you to remove it. You can sprinkle granules under and on the grate. You can remove it completely. Or just pour it on the grate, giving the cat the opportunity to bury its feces.

But you shouldn’t pour the filler only under the grate, as this will deprive your pet of the opportunity to bury what he produced. If there is nothing on the grate to dig into, the cat may catch its claw on the bars and turn the entire tray over.

Regular sawdust from a sawmill

You can replace purchased fillers with regular sawdust. They are 100% natural, which means they will not cause any harm to the health of your beloved pet.

In addition, sawdust absorbs moisture well. After absorbing liquid, they do not crumble, which means that the area around the pot will be clean and tidy.

If we talk about cost, then you can get sawdust completely free of charge or for a penny per bag. For example, at a nearby sawmill.

7 cheap cat litters that are better than expensive ones

forest sand

An equally budget-friendly solution is to use river sand as a filler. Especially if the pond is located close to home.

There is no need to talk about what “aromas” spread throughout the apartment after the cat “resolves all its issues.” So, river sand, although partially, still copes with the problem of unpleasant odor.

When choosing such a filler, you just need to take into account the fact that your pet can carry sand around the house. But here, as they say, you need to set your priorities correctly - clean more often and at the same time save or overpay for purchased litter.

Sand

The most accessible and widespread substance. Cats and dogs willingly use toilets with this litter. However, to avoid problems with its use, it is advisable to adhere to the following rules:

collect not at the nearest construction site, but on the banks of flowing, clean water bodies;
Before use, dry thoroughly, sprinkling with a thin layer;
Make sure the sand texture is uniform, without dirt or large stones.

Sand is quite heavy, so it is difficult to import it in large quantities - this is one of the disadvantages. Many owners are unhappy that grains of sand stuck to the paw pads of their pets and then scattered throughout the apartment end up on the furniture.

Well-reviewed litter boxes in stores are often very expensive, which is one of the reasons pet owners are looking for alternatives. Additionally, using natural litters will not harm your pet's health as they do not contain the chemical ingredients found in man-made products.

How to make a toilet for a cat with your own hands: plastic design

Making a plastic “toilet” for a cat is not at all difficult and does not take long. Some complicated tools won't be useful either. So, to make a “latrine” for a catfish, you will need:

Plastic container (bath, construction basin).
Marker, masking tape.
Hacksaw. It can be replaced with a jigsaw or grinder.
Coarse sandpaper or file.
Acrylic paint.

Take a suitable plastic container.
Mark the cut location with a marker or tape. You choose the height of the sides yourself, depending on the age, size and individual characteristics of your pet predator.
Cut off all excess using a jigsaw, hacksaw or grinder. It is not advisable to use scissors for this purpose, as the material may crack.
Clean the cut areas with sandpaper or a file.
If desired, paint the container with acrylic paint (preferably from a spray can).

Important! If you take a closed plastic container and cut an entrance into it, you will get a cozy “toilet-house” for a shy pet.

Pellets for heating

Biofuel, which is obtained from wood waste and agricultural waste. They can not only heat the room, but also be used as cat litter. Compressed sawdust pellets are a natural, environmentally friendly material that copes well with unpleasant odors, does not stick to the animal’s paws and absorbs moisture well.

Pellets are also very easy to dispose of after use - they can be burned or simply collected in a bag and thrown into the trash.

By the way, buying pellets for cat litter is much cheaper than buying wood fillers from stores, and the effect of use is the same. Not to mention, if the house has a stove and the pellets are used for their intended purpose, the benefit is double.

Sawdust

One of the most successful options. The shavings have a number of properties that will be appreciated by both fluff lovers and owners:

They perfectly absorb moisture and odors, closing them inside;
they are light - even a child can easily carry a large bag of dry sawdust home;
they smell pleasantly of fresh wood;
easily accessible if there is a furniture or carpentry workshop near the house.

The downside of this filling is that not every puppy or kitten will like the pieces of wood. Some animals do not like sawdust and do not want to “mind their own business” in such a toilet.

Method No. 1. Sawdust

What you will need:

tray;
sawdust;
water;
2 teaspoons baking soda;
ecological or biodegradable detergent;
aerosol can.

Procedure:

Wash the sawdust with an environmental detergent and then rinse with running water.
Boil water and add baking soda. Leave for 2 minutes and remove from heat. Let cool.
Fill a spray bottle with baking soda and spray the sawdust already in the tray.
Let them dry in the sun, after which the filler will be ready for use.

What can be used as a tray?

In fact, a tray is not a complex high-tech device that cannot be replaced with anything. This is a common form, with an incredible number of analogues. For example, a regular food container (large size) can be used as a replacement. The most important thing is that the roller fits into it.

Or you can take a square-shaped basin. Basically, almost any waterproof object that is square or rectangular in shape will do.

Important: Before you start painting, you need to rinse the roller thoroughly, because it may contain various contaminants or unnecessary substances that will end up on the wall in the future. Few people want to redo all the work because of their inattention to detail.

Fine Slag - sold in bags in construction stores

The rating of the best substitutes for cat litter is completed by fine slag. This filler is capable of retaining unpleasant odors for some time and absorbs moisture well.

One of the disadvantages is that the animal can take it outside the tray.

But, if we talk about price, fine slag is much more profitable than special filler. It can be bought at any hardware store. A bag of slag will probably last longer than 5 kg of special material, but it will cost several times less.

Experimenting with cat litter

The next experiment was mineral clumping cat litter. But this experiment also turned out to be unsuccessful. This filler also did not retain the smell. And he himself emitted a smell that was not at all similar to the aroma.

Then I sat down at the computer to find information on the problem that had arisen. And this is what I found.

Ideal tray filling according to the pet

convenient to dig;

no foreign odors;

quickly absorb moisture.
Doesn't hurt your cat's paws

The ideal contents of the tray according to the owner:

perfectly neutralizes odor;

convenient to clean;

is cheap;

does not require frequent replacement;

does not generate dust;

does not spread to all corners
safe for your pet's health

Cat litter box: what to fill it with?

Contents ALL ARTICLES 26769

Photo: Byron Chin/

The fact that there are special cat litters was discovered in Russia only recently – a quarter of a century ago. Until the 1990s, our country didn’t even have trays for cats; plastic trays (aka ditches) for photo printing were used for this purpose. Who else remembers these?

The most advanced urban cat breeders made with their own hands a “miracle of technology” - a dry tray made of two ditches. Holes were melted in the bath using a hot nail. Then it was inserted into another bath, and a “sandwich” was obtained, in which urine was drained through holes in the upper bath into the lower one.

Less advanced cat owners did it easier. The intelligentsia, who used toilet paper in everyday life, made bath fillers from finely chopped newspapers. And simpler people, who needed newspapers themselves, stole sand from children's sandboxes.

With the advent of the market economy, we now have special cat litter boxes and even special litter for them. Ironically, in the West at that time there was a boom in silicate fillers. At that time, silicate fillers were cheaper than natural ones and promised all sorts of benefits, for example, absence of odor and effective absorption of liquid. And natural fillers with the same properties also existed, but were much more expensive.

Over the course of a quarter century, the situation has changed dramatically. Today, natural fillers for trays have become cheaper than silicate ones. And this is their big plus!

What are the disadvantages of silicate fillers?

Most of them contain sodium bentonite. This is a chemical agent that, when interacting with water, creates a sticking effect. By absorbing moisture, bentonite swells - 15 times its original volume - and forms a dense, water-insoluble mass. Unfortunately, not all of this mass remains in the tray. Lumps of it stick to the cat's paws. And the cat gnaws them out of his paws and swallows them. Sodium bentonite itself is not dangerous to the body; it is even used in the food industry - as an absorbent for clarifying wine or purifying moonshine. However, no one would think of swallowing already used bentonite.
Silicate fillers contain silica. When you pour the filler into the tray, you can clearly see this silica in the form of a rising column of white dust. The same dust flies in all directions when the cat digs in the tray. But silica is not just dust. When inhaled, it acts as a carcinogen and increases the risk of cancer.
Silicate fillers often contain artificial flavors. Their purpose is to give the cat's litter box a pleasant floral scent. But even a person, pouring the filler into the tray, sometimes holds his breath so as not to feel this stuffy smell. What can we say about a cat, whose sense of smell is much more subtle! Ideally, the cat's litter box should not smell of flowers or urine. It shouldn't smell like anything at all!
From an environmental point of view, silicate filler is a disaster. According to environmentalists, about three billion tons of dust are blown away by winds from household waste dumps every year. Used litter that you throw in a landfill does not decompose. Never ever. This means that the mummified excrement of our cats will remain on Earth even when there is no trace of humanity left.

Types of filler and their description

Paper fiber filler

Beginning breeders can easily get lost among the many types and brands. For example, from a brand called “Kuzya” you can find almost all types of cat litter for both kittens and adults. But don't be afraid of such diversity. All fillers available on the market can be divided into certain categories:

composition (clay, minerals, pressed material, silica gel);
method of absorbing liquid (clumping and absorbent);
weight (heavy, light and medium weight);
additional additives (presence or absence of flavorings);
granulometry (large, small or medium granules).

Mineral granular and clay

Mineral absorbent filler

Granular mineral fillers perfectly hide odors. This happens due to the fact that by absorbing liquids, the soaked mass turns into a solid lump, retaining all the odors. These tray fillers are made from clay rocks and minerals. They do not dissolve, so you cannot throw them down the toilet.

The most common clayey rocks found in the production of fillers are bentonite. However, this type has a number of disadvantages. This filler does not retain the odor well enough, and also pollutes the kitten’s paws, because when wet, fine dust and liquid lumps remain that stick to the animal. The advantages are the price (it is slightly lower than other mineral products) and environmental friendliness.

Fillers of this type are also made from clay rocks, atapulgite and vermiculite. All these rocks absorb moisture well and then turn into a hard lump that can be easily removed with a scoop. This feature allows the tray filler to fully perform its function, covering the odor and leaving the cat clean. Also, due to the fact that only these lumps can be thrown away, less product is consumed, and this allows you to save money.

Clay granular fillers can be found among the following: “Ever Clean”, “Chistyulya Extra”, “Siberian Cat”, “Zoonik”, “Katsan”, “Kuzya”, “Three Cats” and “TsapTsarap”. You can buy clay aggregate with enhanced odor control from the premium Fresh Step brand. This tray filler is suitable even for trays that are used by several cats at once.

Fillers made on the basis of zeolite can be called truly mineral. Its granules perfectly absorb moisture and retain odor due to the channels and pores with which the mineral is permeated. These are found in the brands “TsapTsarap”, “Pussycat Oceanic”, “Marquis” and “Sibirskaya Koshka”.

produces special tray fillers for kittens and cats from sedimentary rock of the skeletons of ancient organisms. The granules are porous, highly absorbent, suitable for young kittens and cats with short hair, and are excellent at removing odors. Most often, photographs of what the granules look like can be seen on the pack itself. Like, for example, in the photo below.

Granular mineral fillers are perfect for cats who love to dig in the litter box. Since it is based on clay rocks, when wet, it becomes heavy, and the pet will not be able to pick it apart and carry it around the apartment on its paws. The only downside is that it cannot be thrown into the toilet.

But if you are the owner of a kitten, I do not recommend buying such a product. Because the kitten can easily swallow the granules or even the resulting lumps. And this can lead to poisoning.

Granulated wood

Wood fillers are cheap, do not cause allergies, and are lightweight, so they can be disposed of in the toilet. They consist of sawdust compressed into granules of different sizes. Large kibble works well for adult cats, but smaller kibble can be used for kittens. Although when wet, the granules disintegrate and in any case form a single mass. Found among tray fillers are “Woody Pussycat”, “TsapTsarap”, “Kuzya”, “Woody Clean”, “Tarzan” and “KisPis”.

There are two types of wood fillers: clumping and non-clumping. The former, when wet, crumple into lumps, the latter form a soft, homogeneous mass. It is recommended to clean the tray from the mass filling it at least once a week.

Wood filler pellets

This type of filler has its drawbacks. Sometimes the product bag may contain wood chips, large pieces of wood, or other wood debris. Therefore, when pouring granules into the tray, check them for the presence of sharp wooden splinters so that your pet does not get hurt. This can be especially dangerous for a small kitten.

The lightness of this material is both an advantage (you can flush it down the toilet) and a disadvantage. If your pet likes to dig into sawdust, expect it to be lying around the litter box.

Silica gel

Gel cat litter is a high-quality, economical to use, but expensive product for filling a cat's litter box. Silica gel is white large crystals of irregular shape. Thanks to its unique absorbent properties, silicate gel has won a considerable percentage of the tray filler market. Silica gel fillers are economical to use because it is enough to change them in the tray once every 3-4 weeks. However, remember that silicone can clog your toilet, so it should not be disposed of this way.

Both pure silica gel and with additional aromatic components are available for sale. The silicate gel itself does not pose a threat to the health of the animal and its owners. With or without additives, silica gel can be found in fillers, “Brava Lux” and “Siberian Cat”. But silica gel with additives can be dangerous for kittens because they may confuse it with food.

specializes in fillers specifically in the production of silica gel types of fillers. Among the line of silica gel cat litters you can find “No. 1 Crystals Lavander”, antibacterial and especially for cats.

Fillers from waste (paper and grain) and corn

Paper litter, as well as from grain waste, are the cheapest types of litter for cats. Waste from paper production, as well as grain waste, is pressed into pellets. However, their characteristics are not very high. A line of economical cat litter fillers can be found in. The advantage will be environmentally friendly material that you can safely flush down the toilet.

Fillers based on corn cobs are widely used all over the world, and today they are gaining momentum in our country. They are known for their excellent absorbent properties. Due to the small pores that literally permeate the core of the corn cob, the granules perfectly absorb moisture and retain the smell of urine. Due to such effectiveness, one should expect that the cost will be high. This type of filler would be ideal if not for its extraordinary lightness. Because of this property, there will always be husks lying around the kitten’s toilet, which will then be spread throughout the apartment.