{"id":1378,"date":"2020-09-05T17:11:56","date_gmt":"2020-09-05T17:11:56","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.petmoneysaver.co.uk\/blog\/?p=1378"},"modified":"2023-07-29T00:26:36","modified_gmt":"2023-07-29T00:26:36","slug":"best-cat-litter","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.petmoneysaver.co.uk\/blog\/best-cat-litter\/","title":{"rendered":"9 Best Cat Litter in the UK (2023) \u2013 Review & Buying Guide"},"content":{"rendered":"

Last updated:<\/strong> July 29th, 2023<\/p>

Cat litter is one of the most important items you\u2019ll buy for your cat, but one that is often not given much thought. Cats are very clean creatures, and providing them with a suitable\u00a0cat litter is vital for their health and happiness. Anything that disturbs their toilet habits can cause stress, and even illness, which leads to an unhappy cat and possibly messy \u201caccidents”.<\/p>\n

At Pet Money Saver, our primary goal is to help you find the cheapest deals for cat food<\/a>. However as we all know, what goes in one end eventually comes out the other. Buying cat litter is a necessity for most\u00a0cat owners, but how much research have you done to find out what the best cat litter is for your cat? There are so many different brands and types\u00a0of litter, each with their own pros and cons \u2013 how do you choose which one to buy?<\/p>\n

It\u2019s not a very exciting subject, so we\u2019ve done the research for you \u2013 looking at why cats use litter, what it\u2019s made of, how often to change it and many other questions. We also look at how to reduce the environmental impact of your cat’s waste by using\u00a0eco-friendly cat litter.<\/p>\n

We\u2019ve also reviewed many of the different cat litters available for sale in the UK, and have selected our favourites based on quality and price as well as personal experience trying out many of the brands we have reviewed. But first, let’s explore a bit more about cat litter, or if you’d prefer you can jump right ahead to our reviews of the best cat litter<\/a> available to buy in the UK.<\/p>\n

Contents<\/h2>\n

Why Use Cat Litter?
\n<\/a>Cat Litter Buying Guide<\/a>
\nWhat is Cat Litter Made of?<\/a>
\nEco-Friendly Cat Litter<\/a>
\nBest Clumping Cat Litter Review<\/a>
\nBest Non-Clumping Cat Litter Review<\/a><\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n

Why Use Cat Litter?<\/h2>\n
\"Why

Cats naturally want to bury their waste in litter<\/p><\/div>\n

Cats are generally very clean animals, and this instinct for hygiene is with them from birth. In the wild, cats will naturally try to bury their waste neatly \u2013 usually under sand or dirt. The reason for this is two-fold. Firstly, cats use their urine and faeces to mark their territory, and more submissive cats will bury their waste so that the more dominant cats do not feel challenged. Your cat buries their waste partly as a way to say that he or she recognises you as the dominant cat of the house. The main reason however is to avoid any unwanted attention from potential predators in the wild. Burying their waste hides their smell, and keeps them safe from being discovered.<\/p>\n

Cat litter helps them follow their natural instincts, and do the same when they are living inside our homes.<\/p>\n

How Many Litter Trays Should I Have?<\/h2>\n

The general rule of thumb for indoor cats is to have 1 litter tray per cat, plus one spare (so 3 litter trays if you have 2 cats).<\/p>\n

Where Should a Litter Tray Go?<\/h2>\n

Cats can be quite picky about where they go to the toilet and like their privacy, so you should place their litter box in a quiet place of your house that is protected and out of sight. The tray should never be placed anywhere near their food or water bowls, or where they like to sleep. This is quite reasonable really \u2013 would you enjoy having a toilet next to your bed or in the kitchen?<\/p>\n

Some cats like the extra privacy of a covered litter tray, while others prefer it to be open.<\/p>\n

While cats are clean animals, accidents can happen so it\u2019s best to place the litter tray on an easy to clean floor that can be wiped clean if necessary.<\/p>\n

If you put the tray in a room with under floor heating then you might want to put something insulating, such as a foam board, between the floor and the tray, to prevent the warmth causing bacterial growth and causing an unpleasant smell.<\/p>\n

How Much Litter Should be in the Tray?<\/h2>\n

For most cat litters, it’s recommended to fill the litter tray to a depth of around 5-7cm (2-3 inches). This may vary slightly depending on the type of litter, but usually the packaging will advise how much to use.<\/p>\n

There should be sufficient litter in the tray for your cat to bury their poop, and to absorb their urine to prevent it pooling on the bottom of the tray.<\/p>\n

How Often to Change Cat Litter?<\/h2>\n

If you\u2019re using non-clumping litter, remove solid waste every day, and replace the litter every 4-5 days\/weekly.<\/p>\n

For clumping litter, remove solids and clumps daily, and replace with the same amount of litter you\u2019ve removed. The litter doesn\u2019t need to be fully replaced as often as non-clumping litter, but it\u2019s still a good idea to do this every so often \u2013 usually it’s best to do this every month.<\/p>\n

How to Clean the Litter Tray?<\/h2>\n

When you replace the litter, it\u2019s a good idea to give the tray a good clean too. Use hot water and a neutral detergent without any strong smells. Cats have a sensitive sense of smell, so any cleaning product with a strong chemical smell is likely to put them off. Also avoid any cleaning products containing vinegar additives. This is because vinegar additives smell very similar to cat urine, and will cause your cat to avoid the tray. If you use a disinfectant, ensure you use one that doesn\u2019t include Phenol (Carbolic Acid), as this is very toxic for cats.<\/p>\n

How to Dispose of Cat Litter?<\/h2>\n

The best way to dispose of cat litter is to scoop it into a biodegradable poop bag<\/a>, and then place in your normal household bin, or a cat litter bin<\/a>.<\/p>\n

You should not flush cat litter or cat poop down the toilet, even if the litter is advertised as being flushable.<\/p>\n

You can read more in our blog posts about the best way to dispose of cat litter<\/a>, and\u00a0why not to flush cat litter<\/a>.<\/p>\n

What Litter is Best for your Cat?<\/h2>\n

If you have recently got a new cat or kitten, they will likely be used to one particular type or brand of litter, so it\u2019s often\u00a0best to continue with what they are used to – at least initially. If you\u2019ve recently adopted or bought a cat or kitten then check with their previous carer to find out what type of litter they are used to.<\/p>\n

The best litter for your cat depends on a number of factors, including whether your cat has\u00a0long or short hair, if they have sensitive paws or any any allergies, your budget, and how much time you have to keep their litter tray clean.<\/p>\n

Sometimes though, it may take a bit of trial and error to find the most suitable litter for them as they may not like the brand that you first choose. One suggestion is to provide them with different types of litter in separate trays and see which they prefer. Some litters are available in\u00a0smaller trial packs, which is a great\u00a0way of trying a selection\u00a0without having to buy the more expensive larger bags.<\/p>\n

Another tip is when changing litter type, you should also introduce it slowly by adding it to the previous litter little by little, rather than replacing it all in one go.<\/p>\n

What is the Best Cat Litter for Kittens?<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\"What

What is the best cat litter for kittens?<\/p><\/div>\n

In general, all good quality cat litter is suitable for kittens, however it\u2019s recommended to avoid clumping kitty litter during the first few months of their life as it can be swallowed. This could lead to dangerous internal obstructions.
\n<\/a><\/p>\n

Cat Litter Buying Guide<\/h2>\n

There are a few things to consider when choosing your cat\u2019s litter.<\/p>\n

Clumping or Non-Clumping<\/h3>\n
\"Clumping

Clumping cat litter<\/p><\/div>\n

This is a matter of preference for you and your cat. Clumping litter typically is made from material that soaks up liquids to form solid clumps when wet. These clumps are easily removed as one, and this means you don\u2019t need to fully replace the litter as often as with non-clumping. This type of litter is more efficient, as it saves you time and money.<\/p>\n

With non-clumping litter, the individual granules absorb the liquid without forming clumps. This requires more frequent refreshing of the whole tray.<\/p>\n

Non-Clumping litters are also more likely to be biodegradable.<\/p>\n

Size and Texture<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Your cat will walk on the litter to go to the toilet, and also scratch it after they\u2019ve finished to try and bury their waste, so it\u2019s important to get a litter that is soft\u00a0on their paws. Some cats have more sensitive paw pads than others, so in this case you\u2019ll need a litter that is softer to the touch.<\/p>\n

The texture of the litter will depend on what it\u2019s made from, and different cats will have their own preferences for which they prefer. Unfortunately, finding out which is their favourite is often\u00a0a case of trial and error.<\/p>\n

The size of litter granules ranges from very small clay granules to much larger wood or paper pellets. The larger sizes will not\u00a0get tracked outside of the litter box as much as the small granules, and are more suited to cats with longer hair, as they won’t tend to stick to their fur.<\/p>\n

Smell<\/h3>\n

No one likes a smelly cat litter tray – your cat included. The nasty smells don\u2019t come from the urine itself, but rather from the ammonia that is released when bacteria decomposes the urine. A cat litter with good odour control will soak up the liquid quickly, and lock it in so the unpleasant smell doesn\u2019t have time to develop.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s not only us humans that find this odour unpleasant \u2013 cats have a very sensitive sense of smell, and don\u2019t like it either. If their tray smells dirty, it can cause them to go to the toilet elsewhere.<\/p>\n

Some cat litters have added fragrances, such as pine, to hide the unpleasant smells. However while these smells might be attractive to us humans, they don’t\u00a0have the same effect on cats and could put them off. Just think how it feels to go into a room where someone has sprayed a really strong perfume – it can be rather unpleasant and overbearing. This is how it would feel to\u00a0a cat, who has a much more sensitive sense of smell compared to us humans. Cats also mark their territory with their scent, so by masking it with artificial smells this could also put them off using the tray.<\/p>\n

Certain\u00a0litters also contain an ingredient called activated carbon, which absorbs bad smells naturally without adding any artificial fragrances.
\n<\/a><\/p>\n

What is Cat Litter Made of?<\/h2>\n

Cat litter can be made from a variety of different materials, and each has its own characteristics.<\/p>\n

Clay<\/h3>\n

Clay is the most traditional and popular material for cat litter, and it can be either non-clumping or clumping.<\/p>\n

Non-clumping clay is good at absorbing liquids, however it doesn’t clump together. Once it is soiled, it can become smelly and requires regular cleaning. However as it doesn’t clump, you need to change the entire\u00a0litter tray instead of just scooping out the used litter.<\/p>\n

Clumping cat litter is usually made from sodium bentonite clay, which allows the clay to clump when wet –\u00a0expanding up to 15 times its size.<\/p>\n

\"Clay

Clay cat litter is formed of small clay granules<\/p><\/div>\n

Clay litters are more prone to producing fine dust which can cause irritation or an allergic reaction,\u00a0and if your cat ingests clumping clay litter, it can cause an internal blockage. This however is very rare, and only likely to be an issue if your kitten or cat starts to eat the litter. Wet clay granules can also get caught in your cat’s paws, between their pads which can be uncomfortable for them.<\/p>\n

The biggest disadvantage of clay litter though is that it isn’t very green. The process to extract the clay (called strip mining<\/a>) is not environmentally friendly at all and leads to deforestation, loss of wildlife habitat and pollution to name but a few. Clay cat litter also isn’t biodegradable or compostable either so just ends up in landfill until the end of time.<\/p>\n

Clay litters are also relatively heavy for a certain volume, so larger bags of litter can be heavier to lift.<\/p>\n

Plant Based<\/h3>\n

Another eco-friendly cat litter material is plant-based materials such as corn. These can be very effective litters, and are sustainable and biodegradable too. The only real downsides are theat they don’t always clump as well as clays, and can be a little more expensive. However if you want to minimise your impact on the environment they are a very good choice.<\/p>\n

Recycled Paper<\/h3>\n

This is a much more\u00a0eco-friendly material for cat litter, as it is made from recycled paper\u00a0that is\u00a0formed into little pellets. Paper litter behaves in a similar way to wood litter, and is very effective at soaking up liquids. It’s also biodegradable and compostable, so makes it a very eco-friendly option.<\/p>\n

Paper litters also tend to be more absorbent than traditional litters, have a soft texture and are also ideal for long hair cats, as the larger pellets don’t get stuck to their fur as much as smaller litter granules.<\/p>\n

One downside is that these litters don’t tend to clump, and require more frequent cleaning than most other litters.<\/p>\n

Silica<\/h3>\n

Silica is a natural mineral that is naturally absorbent \u2013 it\u2019s what you get in those little sachets that keep items dry during transit. This makes it a good material for cat litter as it absorbs urine quickly, staying fresher for longer. It can absorb up to 40 times its weight in moisture, making it the highest absorbency of all cat litter materials. It also means it doesn’t need changing so often.<\/p>\n

\"Silica

Silica cat litter<\/p><\/div>\n

The downsides of silica cat litter are that similar to clay litter, it isn’t very eco-friendly. There is a heavy environmental cost associated with mining the raw materials, then\u00a0producing and transporting the final product. It also doesn’t biodegrade, meaning once you dispose of it, it will end up in landfill.\u00a0Silica is also a known carcinogen when inhaled. Also it can be quite sharp and uncomfortable on your cat’s paws, especially if they have sensitive pads.<\/p>\n

Wood<\/h3>\n

Wood litters (including pine) are usually sold in pellet form, but also are available as shavings and sawdust. These litters produce relatively small amounts of dust, and also help reduce the smell without requiring any artificial additives. Some wood litters give a nice fresh woodland scent.<\/p>\n

Wood\u00a0pellets are quite large compared to other types of litter, so may take a bit of time for your cat to get used to if they\u2019ve not used it before. This also makes this ideal for long-haired cats, as the pellets are less likely to stick to their fur.<\/p>\n

\"Wood

A typical wood pellet cat litter<\/p><\/div>\n

Although some wood litters do clump, they tend to be a bit mushier than clay clumping litters, so can break up if you’re not careful when disposing of the used litter.<\/p>\n

One key benefit of these litters are that they are made from sustainable renewable materials, and are also biodegradable and compostable.
\n<\/a><\/p>\n

Eco-Friendly Cat Litter<\/h2>\n

With the most popular cat litter materials being bad for the environment, how can you best provide your cat with a suitable litter, and also help be more ecologically friendly? The key things to look for in a green cat litter are:<\/p>\n