Yes, clumping cat litter is specifically designed to form solid clumps around urine (and feces) when it gets wet, making it easy to scoop out soiled litter and keep the rest clean, unlike non-clumping litters which absorb urine and require full box changes more often. The main ingredient, bentonite clay, activates with moisture to create these easy-to-remove balls.
Clumping aides added to litter help turn liquid cat urine into solid clumps that can be easily scooped and disposed of, allowing you to separate soiled litter from clean in the box. When it comes to clumping litter, the harder the clumps, the better.
So for healthy adults, the risks are very small. If you clean your cat's litter box as often as you should (at least once a day), you should never have a problem. Those with Asthma and pulmonary illnesses like COPD are at greater risk. Still, it's a small risk.
Scoop the Clumps
Using a litter scoop, clean the clumps out of the litter box and place them in the waste bag. Tie the bag closed and throw it away. You should do this at least once a day. If you're simply scooping the litter box and not doing a deep clean, replace the litter you removed with fresh litter.
I find clumping litter tracks too much and sticks to their feet which means they end up ingesting it when they lick to clean their paws as well as leaving litter paw prints everywhere. I use a litter liner and change out the litter once a week. Clumping is way more messy.
Our experts most often recommend clumping cat litter. Its ease of scooping and better odor control lend themselves to a more hygienic litter box.
The Golden Rule is "one litter box per cat, plus one".
Each cat requires a place to eliminate and mark territory. In homes with more than one story, litter boxes must be available on each level of the home. Cats don't like to walk far to get to the nearest litter box.
Why Do Vets Not Recommend Closed Litter Boxes? Odour trapping: Closed boxes can trap unpleasant odours, making the box less appealing and potentially leading to elimination outside the designated area.
Cats prefer a clean area to do their business. So if you're using clumping litter, scoop and toss clumps every day. Clean litter boxes regularly.
The rule of thumb for the number of litterboxes is one per cat in the household, plus one. If you have one cat you should have two litter boxes, a two cat household should have three litter boxes, etc…. Extra litterboxes are necessary because some cats defecate in one box and urinate in another.
The worst place for litter box is noisy, cramped, hard to get to, or near your cat's eating and sleeping areas. “The only way your cat has to tell you that they don't like their bathroom is to pee somewhere else, and that's a headache for everyone,” Cassiday says.
Crystalline silica dust, the other ingredient in most clumping litters, is a known carcinogen for both humans and household pets when inhaled. According to OSHA.gov, “Crystalline silica has been classified as a human lung carcinogen.
When you breathe in these ammonia fumes, not only does it smell bad, but it can cause some severe problems as well. If your pet has urinated in a place with reduced ventilation such as a room or even in the house, it could trigger issues like asthma, pneumonia, and in some cases, even suffocation.
Scooping out clumps of urine and feces is something done regularly, every other day at minimum, but often daily or even twice daily if you have a cat in a small apartment and want to keep litter box smell under control.
When picking the tray itself there are commonly two types – ones with lids and ones without. Covered litter trays are more appealing as they stop spillage and any mess around the tray, the downside is that your cat may not like it. Most cats prefer to use a box without a lid.
Behavioral Changes
If your typically social and cuddly cat is now withdrawn and hiding, this is an immediate red flag that something might be wrong. It's common for cats that aren't feeling well to hide to prevent their illness from being discovered.
Cats like their litter boxes clean, so it's best to scoop their boxes at least once a day. Some cats will prefer an even cleaner box, so scooping more than once a day may be best. Deep clean the litter box once every 1 to 4 weeks. But this will depend on the type of litter you're using and how many cats you have.
How to Tell Your Cat's Litter Box Isn't Clean Enough
Once the study was over, the researchers were able to determine that overall there was no preference between covered vs. uncovered boxes; however, some individuals did like one over the other. Four cats (15%) preferred the covered litter box and four cats (15%) preferred the uncovered box.
What are the signals that your cats need more litter boxes or a bigger litter box?