Good wood cat litter. Which litter is best for small kittens? What you need to know when choosing a filler

One of the main problems of cat owners is how to arrange a toilet for their pet. What should I put in the tray and should I put it at all? Here's what our forum members think:

• I take pressed sawdust (Siberian cat "Forest", for example). You can change it every 3-4 days. There are many advantages: cheap, environmentally friendly, smells of wood, convenient to use, can be thrown into the toilet.
• Silica gels are distinguished by the fact that they retain 100% odor and can not be changed for 3-4 weeks, removing only solid waste. In addition, silica gel does not stick to the paws and, due to the shape of the granules, is easily thrown out of the tray. A five-liter bag is enough for a month and a half.
• And we’ve been using “Clean Paws” for about 4 years now, it’s clumping. Like.
• My favorite filler is pine sawdust. Cheap and there is no cat smell at all. I change the tray every two days. There is enough sawdust. They absorb and smell only of wood. I have a cat and four kittens who wore them. And it doesn't smell.
• I am allergic to any fillers that contain even the slightest bit of dust. Therefore, there are two options: either silica gel or wood pellets. Because cats have arrived in the regiment, we’ll go broke on silica gel. That leaves "Ephedra". Use with grill. Only the filler is on top of the grate, which is why the sawdust falls down perfectly, from where it is removed (into the toilet).
• We used Pee Pee Bend before, the smell started after a week. Now we use WC cats silica gel - there is no smell even after a month.
• And we do it simply. A handful of sawdust under the grate. The cat's paws are always clean and there is no smell. We change it every 2-3 days, flushing the swollen sawdust down the toilet. What's on top is big, easy toilet paper collect and into the toilet. And most importantly, they cost pennies!
• I bought a 5 liter bag of sawdust and couldn’t be happier. I pour it in an even, thin layer and don’t remove it for several days, the sawdust increases three times in size, there is no smell and it absorbs everything. However, we remove solid waste immediately.
• I use Siberian Cat - super clumping, in my opinion, it is better than pee-pee-bent, absorbs odor better and 5 liters last for a month. package.
• Kittens often try to eat litter, so it’s worth buying mineral litter without additives (there are special ones for kittens).
• We use CAT SAN, the cat is very happy, there is no smell at all for the first 5-7 days, then it needs to be changed. When we bought a deeper pot, the cat began to dig much less and more quietly. I am very pleased with kat san!
• I tried silica gel cat step, but it didn’t last for a month. Two weeks maximum. It became all yellow and the cat refused to go into it. From what I liked: the cat is clumping; I didn’t like it: it’s a Siberian cat, but the tree one has to be changed often.
• I really like “Kotyara” - it lasts quite well for 3-4 weeks (I empty a full 3L package at once). I tried other silica gels and didn’t like them.
• I use wood filler - pressed sawdust. There is no smell from the tray; there is enough filler from morning to evening. I tried many fillers. The worst was the one that clumped with clay.
• After a long search for a suitable filler, I found the optimal scheme for my cats (I have two of them). Under the grate I pour compressed wood (for example, kitkat), and on top of the grate - Brava mineral for long-haired cats (although I have both short-haired cats, but the granules do not fall into the grate). In general, the woody smell lingers, and in Brava they dig and row. Everyone is happy.

I tried wood filler (I also noted all of the above advantages for myself) and with clay (you can’t throw it down the toilet), but in both cases, the kitten, when burying it, dumps a third of the contents over the side and spreads it all over the place ((I’ll try silica gel, although of course it’s a little expensive..

And we have two pots (with and without a grate). We use the Siberian cat. I don’t really like it because... It doesn't absorb well, but at least you can flush it down the toilet. And I clean the pots every day. We have a neat cat. If it's dirty, he'll shit on our bed :))

Cunning marketers have long found out that people sometimes spend absolutely crazy amounts of money on their pets.

Haircuts and clothing, veterinarians and even cosmetologists (!) will not miss their chance to lighten the wallet of a cat or dog owner. And this is not to mention the breeders of purebred animals, who even more so spend huge sums on their charges.

However, most of the townspeople do not go so far as to provide their pets with only what is truly necessary. For example, the production of cat litter never experiences a shortage of orders from retail chains. In a word, if you intend to organize your own business, but do not know what to do for this, remember the needs of our little brothers.

What types of fillers are there?

Here are the different types of cat litter: organic, gel, and clumping varieties. The last two will probably be of no interest to an ordinary entrepreneur in our country, since the raw materials and equipment for their production are expensive, and therefore the cost of the final product is such that there will be demand for it only in large cities.

Characteristics of organic species

Therefore, we would recommend establishing the production of cat litter from the simplest organic fillers, which contain only environmentally friendly raw materials. The latter circumstance, by the way, automatically exempts you from mandatory certification of fillers.

They can be produced from sawdust, shavings or nut shell, as well as waste from corn processing. This raw material has an excellent ability to absorb moisture and odors, costs literally pennies, and is also completely safe for animal health.

The best raw materials

If you are just starting to expand your production, then it is best to use ready-made wood pellets. Their diameter is approximately 6-8 mm. They are usually produced in large quantities at wood processing enterprises, and pine and spruce wood is most often used as raw material.

The fact is that this particular material not only actively absorbs biological fluids, but also has a bacteriostatic and bactericidal effect. Among all the wood fillers for cat litter, spruce is the most practical solution. Since the raw materials are cheap, sales of such fillers are growing every year.

Costs and profitability

Oddly enough, it is the production of cat litter that has excellent profitability indicators and does not require huge start-up capital. Most often, the products are packaged in bags of five to ten kilograms, and the cost of one is about 120-200 rubles.

As we have already said, pellets are used for its production. You can buy them for about four rubles per kilogram. Thus, the initial profit will be at least 35 rubles per kilogram finished products. That is why the production of wood litter for cat litter in recent years has become so popular among even experienced entrepreneurs.

In principle, by organizing the purchase of raw materials directly from their manufacturer, it is quite possible to achieve a profitability of 100-150%. If you produce pellets, purchasing only sawdust or shavings at bargain prices, the profitability of the enterprise will become even greater.

Production technology

The production of cat litter itself includes the following technological steps:

• Preliminary drying of raw materials, which is then sent for crushing.
• Additional drying. At the exit, the raw material should have a moisture content of no more than 8-12%.
• Subsequent crushing of chips using a hammer crusher.
• Moistening the resulting raw material with steam (for its subsequent better gluing).
• Pressing into molds and cooling of granules.
• Sifting and packaging of finished products. By the way, bags for fillers can also be produced independently, since the cost of this process is low.

Equipment, its cost

Of course, you will need the appropriate equipment to do this. We recommend using a ready-made OGM 1/5 line at first. Sawdust, shavings and dry peat can be used as raw materials. The latter, by the way, makes the production of cat litter even cheaper.

The cost of this type of line is about two million rubles. The most important element of the entire production is the granulator, but it will still not be possible to do without other equipment.

Let's consider all the components of the line separately:

• Chip grinder - costs about 180 thousand rubles.
• A dryer for raw materials (depending on power and volume) can cost between 400 thousand and 2.5 million rubles.
• The simplest granulator costs about 50 thousand, but the most reliable and functional models are sold for around 1.5 million. In the OGM-1/5 we reviewed, this structural part costs about one million.
• The pellet cooler will cost 400 thousand.

Note that it is still worth paying special attention to the granulator. The fact is that this line uses a fairly large and cumbersome model. In principle, you can purchase a more compact and lighter version, which can be installed directly in the workshop of a wood processing plant. In addition, such equipment can be installed in a furniture workshop, simultaneously producing another type of product.

As for packaging, it is best to take bags of 5, 10, 15 and 30 liters. We have already mentioned that you can produce them yourself.

The cost of equipment for this is about 150-200 thousand rubles. If you order packaging from third-party manufacturers, and even with the requirement to print your company’s logo on it, it will ultimately cost much more.

In principle, a small production of wood fillers can successfully use the simplest Zip Lock bags (within a couple of rubles per piece). In this case, it is much cheaper to order labels with the company logo from a third-party printing company.

Sales, certification issues, etc.

The main advantage of the production of fillers is the fact that there is no need to rent a large premises. In principle, all equipment for the production of cat litter can easily be placed on 50 square meters. There is also no need for any special storage conditions.

As we already noted at the very beginning of the article, products of this type are not subject to mandatory certification. It can be sold both in specialized pet stores and in retail outlets selling everyday goods. If we talk about wholesale prices, then on average they are 15 rubles per kg.

Additional production options

But that's not all the benefits! The fact is that wood pellets for fillers can be used in a completely different capacity. So, if you use larger presses to mold them, they can be packaged and sold as fuel for barbecues and fireplaces.

On the contrary, if you crush sawdust (necessarily hardwood) to the finest possible consistency, then the granules are widely accepted among gardeners as an excellent means for improving the mechanical properties of the soil.

Generally speaking, in large cities these issues need to be thought through in advance, since competition can be quite intense, and therefore other types of products will help maintain profits.

Filler for cat litter- one of the most important accessories for your kittens, or for cats/cats. Such an irreplaceable attribute will be the key to comfortable coexistence between you and your pet. Cat litter for the toilet - cleans bad smell and gives the pet the opportunity to fuss about like a businessman in a place of privacy.
It is very easy to use such a tool, but coming to a decision about which one is the best, making a choice in favor of one can be very difficult.

If you don't like the idea of ​​exposing your kitty to the dangers of the urban landscape - which is certainly understandable - you might instead consider building a floor-mounted outdoor enclosure under your deck or just outside your doggie door in an area with flexible soil.

Kitty train for use in your bathrooms

As absolutely crazy as this idea sounds, do your own internet search and you will be shocked at how many people have successfully converted their felines to a full flush plan. The basic premise is that by placing a regular cat litter box next to the litter box and slowly but surely raising it so that the kitty gets used to taking care of business somewhat high in the sky, before you know it, well positioned chair when the urge strikes.

In this article we will present some subjective ranking among best views similar devices.
To begin with, you need to figure out what functions should be performed the best means hygiene for your, for example, Barsik:
Destroy unpleasant odors;
Ensure the safety of your animal;
Absorb moisture and odors very quickly.
IN modern world Quite a few types of devices have already been created for cat litter box, so now we will make a short review of hygiene products for cats in general terms.

People's opinions regarding the filler

While exploring the great outdoors, cats are perfectly happy to paw in the soil as it hides evidence of their waste, but this enthusiasm doesn't translate well into the human household. The first problem is who wants them to track dirt across the floors and countless surfaces they crash into? How funny, even when our pets use cat litter, they leave a trail of dust.

Filler "Clean paws"

We just can't see it that easily, which somehow helps us cling to the idea that our homes are still miraculously spotless. Having banned dirt and clay, what other options are there for household and hopefully sustainable cat litter? Sand is worth considering, as are shredded newspapers, chicken and even natural wood fiber.

Types of toilet fillers

Not only people suffer from allergies, so you need to carefully select such devices if your pet has similar problems. In such cases, it is better to choose types made from sawdust or mineral ones.

Purchase alternatives

Clay-based cat litter isn't the only game in town, and it's by no means the greenest. The eco distinction really refers to much more sustainable alternatives such as recycled shredded newspapers, dried corn, non-edible wheat grains, compressed sawdust and even sand. An ever-growing array of manufacturers sell these greener versions in natural grocery stores, pet markets, and even big box stores—just expect to pay a premium.

There are also specialized fillers from Japan. They are made from paper and starch, cypress bark and corn starch, as well as tofu. These fillers can be difficult to obtain, but they are some of the highest quality, so the money and time spent will not be in vain.

Urination and defecation outside the litter box, also known as "inappropriate elimination", is one of the most common reasons why a cat may be abandoned in a shelter or in some cases abused. Unfortunately, in most cases it is the fault of the person responsible for litter box duties, making it a "fit problem" because who wants to walk around in their own urine and feces?

A "bug" usually involves a dirty box or one that is too small, and the cat's best bet is to look for cleaner areas to eliminate it. Wouldn't you consider doing the same if you weren't offered a clean bathroom? Punishing these cats is not only inhumane, it is also ineffective and often makes the situation worse.

There are also helium, clay, paper and many more types, but we will not be able to talk about all of them within the framework of this article.

How can I replace cat litter?

You can replace it with ordinary sand, or river sand, the latter dries out and can serve for a long time. You can also use finely chopped paper, wood shavings or clay. All these remedies will not give the same good effect as ordinary specialized substances, but if there are no other options, then it is better to use them.

When someone is asked how often they clean their toilet, the answer is usually “every time it's used, of course!” We all know how disgusting "porta-portas" are, and we aren't even asked to wear our own like people often ask their cats!

So why do we expect our cats to use dirty litter boxes instead of just going somewhere else? People seem to forget that a cat's sense of smell is infinitely more sensitive than ours. Add to this the cat's instinctive nature to be clean, and it's easy to see how a dirty litter box often spells disaster.

Some cats love hay or dried grass. What to choose is already a matter of possibility.
In such cases, it would be correct to install a mesh in the tray to increase the hygiene of your friend and prevent the spread of small parts throughout the house.

Fillers from paper and grain waste

Think about how wild cat will perform his duties in the bathroom. It wouldn't be limited to a 1" x 2" bathroom. He wouldn't want to walk in his own waste. He simply chooses a different piece of land and that "plot of land" could be behind your couch or in another area of ​​your home.

You will notice that many key statements are repeated several times on this web page. This is because many people can only read isolated sections. Diabetes, kidney disease, cystitis, bladder or kidney stones are some of the most common medical problems that can lead to crate rejection.

Cheap filler - pros and cons

We have figured out that there are both expensive and cheap fillers. But most people don’t understand how expensive ones differ from cheap ones; they perform their functions for the most part in the same way. To make it more clear, we can outline their pros and cons.

Pros:
Small price.
Normal absorption of moisture and aroma.

You may also notice a blocked cat or a person with cystitis frequently licking the genitals. A 100 percent canned diet that is high in water and low in carbohydrates should be included in the treatment of any cat with cystitis, diabetes, or bladder stones. In fact, all cats should be on a 100 percent canned food or homemade diet. Dry food is a counterintuitive food source for a cat and causes a variety of health problems. Dry food, with its inadequate water content, is no friend to the system urinary tract, especially the bladder.

Cons:
Most often they are not hygienic, that is, the pet will carry it on its paws, which is quite unpleasant.
May cause allergies in individual cases.
Needs to be changed often.
It may not suit your furry friend due to some individual preferences.

As a result, we can say that cheap accessories for a cat litter box are best option, they perform their functions normally, although they have their inconveniences, but nothing critical.

Once you have ruled out a medical problem, you will need to evaluate the cat crate system. Less than 3 titles? Some cats like to urinate in one and defecate in the other. This behavior is usually temporary. Once your cat has been using the soil on a regular basis for a couple of weeks, you can gradually add small amounts of clumping debris to see if you can change it.

Mineral filler: pros and cons compared to wood filler

You will need to empty the box at least twice a day when using primer and clean the box each time. It is much easier to prevent an inappropriate problem of elimination with proper diet and sound box practice than it takes to fix it as soon as it starts. Not all of the issues that cause cats to stop using the litter box are within our control, but many factors are covered in this essay.

Therefore, if it is not possible to buy expensive products, you can freely use cheap ones, being prepared, of course, for some difficulties that may or may not arise.

Homebodies prefer to buy large quantities of this element at once, but if you have not yet figured out which product is best suited for your cat, you should not do this, it is better to try as many of them as possible, and then choose.

The information on this website is for general information purposes only and is provided without any warranties or guarantees. This site is not intended to replace professional advice from your own veterinarian, and nothing on this site is intended to constitute medical diagnosis or treatment. Any questions about your animal's health should be directed to your veterinarian. Some external links may contain affiliate codes.

99% dust free, clean, fresh scents. It will absorb leaks and spills and keep smelling clean. Let the litter soak up the spill for a few hours, then sweep up. If you get stuck, throw a pound or two of filler under your car's drive wheels and slowly walk away. It contains baking soda to absorb liquid and odor and aroma for fresh aroma. More good news: Our low dust formula keeps debris contained in the box and untraceable around the home. Natural clay, baking soda and aroma.

Sometimes the kitten may start defecating in in the wrong places, no filler seems to suit him. There may be several reasons for this phenomenon - he may not like the location of the tray, or the reason is that such animals do not tend to become attached to one place for defecation, so it is recommended to install two or three trays.

Do not flush trash down the toilet or septic system. Reminder: Cat waste can sometimes carry a disease called toxoplasmosis. Pregnant women and depressed persons immune system are especially at risk. Always remember to wash your hands thoroughly after handling used cat litter. To receive additional information consult a doctor.

Pour 3 to 4 inches of Vegmatin clay cat litter into a clean litter box. Do not mix with other litters. Replace your cat's bedding. For best results, completely empty your litter box once a week. Rinse with a box of warm water and soft detergent. Dry completely before refilling with new cat litter.

Of course, everything is individual, but under such circumstances, installing a second place for defecation will be the optimal and only solution.

Bottom line

In the end, I would like to say that you should treat your pet very carefully, because often we lack knowledge about their preferences and desires. Therefore, it is worth spending time studying it carefully, choosing hygiene products, food, etc. All this should be done to avoid sad consequences, because we all love them and wish them a long life next to us.

In days gone by, before the advent of commercial cat varieties, cat owners used large flat cardboard boxes filled with garden soil, river sand or ash. While this was sufficient, there was clearly a need for a more hygienic waste bin that required less frequent changes.

Cats are thoroughly cleaned, so a "toilet" of this size will satisfy their hygiene needs and also disguise their location to other inquisitive cats. So, in our opinion, this is the best wallet for trash. The discovery happened quite by accident when a customer asked if their industrial absorbent company had anything it could use for a litter tray.

Since cats are special animals, they are treated specially. Those who live in a city apartment and have intelligence are taught to relieve themselves on the toilet. Villagers, accustomed to fresh air, ask to go outside even in winter.

Today there are many brands. We intend to provide you with sufficient information about cat products and let you understand what is best for your kitty. We have spoken to many cat owners and veterinarians on this subject and in conjunction with our own experience, we can provide you with valuable information to help you choose best filler for the trash box.

Before making a choice, you should consider the following.

• The effect the product has on your cat's health.
• Your choice of cats.
• The effect that the product has on the environment.
• Impact on your health and the health of your family.

While studying the subject, we realized that every cat lover should have criteria for evaluating and choosing cat litter.

Most of those who spend most of their time within the walls of their apartment are very picky about the choice of place for the toilet, tray and filler. It's too bad that cats can't tell us about their tastes. Therefore, determining which cat litter is best often requires trial and error.

Trying to please cats and at the same time help owners with their care, manufacturers offer us a huge selection of these products. Fillers release absorbent and clumping, from different materials, different in size and accordingly in price. You have to choose from a large number of companies and packages. Sometimes it turns out that expensive cat litter is not always the best.

Safe and does not cause any adverse health problems for the cat or family. Easily accessible and available in trial packages so you can experiment and discover suitable product for your cat.

• The texture and consistency should imitate natural sand as closely as possible.
• No artificial colors.
• Easy to maintain and clean.
• From a reputable company that labels their brand and lists the ingredients.
• Accessible.

How much litter should you use? Maintain a depth of about three inches in adult drawers.

Choosing a filler - which one is better?

Mineral litter is ideal for cats that are just being litter trained. Created using innovative technologies, they quickly absorb moisture and odor. The granules of such a filler can be very small, slightly larger than sand, or quite large (5–7 mm). Perhaps cats love it precisely because of its resemblance to sand.

Kittens will need less. Switching Litters At first, your cat may reject any change in brand of litter because it smells and feels different. To reduce stress and confusion, slowly relax your cat into a new brand. Start by mixing one-third of the new litter with two-thirds of the old. Then gradually increase the amount of the new brand until the switch is complete. What is the difference between regular and soda products? Check the product label to determine whether the product is regular or scoop.

This filler is made from materials of mineral origin, such as zeolite, clay, bentonite, aerated concrete, foam concrete; when wet, it forms a rather dense substance that should never be thrown into the toilet. Mineral filler produces dust. If your cat likes to dig holes, she will have to breathe this dust. Therefore, this litter is not recommended for use in closed cat litter boxes. Once your cat is litter box trained, you can gradually replace mineral filler to any other.

The best cat litter In terms of economy, ecology and health safety, a filler of organic origin is considered. A popular one is wood absorbent and clumping with various sizes of granules made from compressed softwood or sawdust. The cat may not like it at first, but gradually she will get used to it. It is ideal for those owners who have several pets.

For those who do not like to frequently change the filler, manufacturers offer silica gel products. The balls or crystals of this filler absorb odor and moisture better than other analogues and, unlike others, do not spread around the house on their paws. However, this filler also has disadvantages. And one of them is a crackling sound at the moment when the cat wants to work with its paws in the tray. The very delicate nature of a cat does not always welcome this phenomenon.

Not every owner can afford this filler for pets with kidney disease, since frequent replacement will take a significant toll on their pockets.

Which litter is best for a kitten?

To prevent the filler from harming the kitten’s health if it gets into its stomach for any reason, it is not recommended to use fillers, especially mineral and silica gel, before the age of four months.

For older kittens, finely granulated litter is suitable. You may need to experiment a little to find out which litter is best for his litter box. Or maybe your kitten doesn’t mind going to the toilet without litter? In this case, it is advisable to buy a tray with

with a net so that his paw pads always remain dry.

Almost all fillers are carried outside the tray if it is not deep enough. You can avoid such trouble if you use one type of it on the bottom of the tray, for example wood, and another, mineral, on top.

Which cat litter is best depends on both you and your pet.

Pet stores and supermarkets sell many options for cat litter, but not all pet owners consider it wise to literally throw money away. In this case, you can try to use “improvised means” as a filler or try to do without it altogether.

Why do you need filler?

Cat litter performs several functions at once:
- absorbs moisture (dampness in the tray can cause the cat to stop using it) -
- absorbs bad smell-
- allows the animal to realize its natural desire to “bury” excrement -
- simplifies cat care by making litter box cleaning less frequent.

If a cat does not want to “hide” traces of its vital activity, you can do without any filler at all by installing a tray with a grid: all the moisture will drain to the bottom. True, in this case you need to constantly monitor the condition of the tray, try to rinse it after each use and wash it thoroughly at least once a day - otherwise the stench cannot be avoided. If such careful control of the tray is not possible, you will have to resort to one of the “folk” options for fillers.

Sand

Sand absorbs moisture quite well. It copes with the smell somewhat worse: it weakens it, but does not absorb it completely. Therefore, if you use sand as a filler, you will have to come to terms with the fact that the toilet will almost always smell like cat urine. In addition, the grains of sand are very light - therefore, when the animal buries traces of its vital activity, the floor next to the tray will be covered with sand. However, this trouble can be avoided by using high trays with sides. The sand in the cat litter box is replaced every 2-4 days.

Newspapers

Newspapers torn into small pieces are an old “folk” way of arranging a cat’s litter box, very popular, but at the same time quite troublesome. To make it convenient for your cat to use the tray, you need to tear the paper quite finely, but it gets wet very quickly. You have to change the paper in the tray every day, or at most every other day, and it doesn’t cope with the smell very well.

You can buy a tray with a grid - then the moisture will flow down and the newspapers will get wet more slowly. To avoid odor, such a tray should be emptied several times a day.

Sawdust

Sawdust is a good alternative to factory-made fillers. They are easy to dig, they retain both moisture and smell well - such a tray begins to smell only when all the sawdust becomes wet. Therefore, sawdust is one of the best views"folk" fillers. If you use a tray with high sides and sprinkle sawdust in a layer of 8-10 centimeters, you can clean the cat litter box every 5-7 days. True, there are also some inconveniences: sawdust generates dust, in addition, the smallest particles of wood “stick” to the cat’s paws and are spread throughout the apartment.

You can place a thin layer of pieces of newspaper on top of the sawdust - then there will be less dirt on the floor. Wet paper should be changed daily.

Fuel granules (pellets)

Wood pellets intended for solid fuel boilers are wood processing waste pressed into granules and are practically no different from wood fillers for cat litter. When wet, they crumble into small sawdust and absorb moisture and odor just as effectively. The pellets are poured into the tray in a thin layer; as they are used, their volume increases 4-5 times. If you use pellets, you can clean the tray once every 7-10 days.