Most cat litter manufacturers recommend using two to three inches of litter. You may want to use three to four inches if your cats are deep scratchers who will dig to the bottom of the litter box if you use less.
Litter depth
Most cats won't use litter that's more than about two inches deep. Some long-haired cats prefer less litter and a smooth, slick surface, such as the bottom of the box.
Yes, you can use dirt, sand, or soil as cat litter although there are some major downsides to this approach and it's rarely the best long term choice. While it can be very cost-effective, it's not always convenient, and exposing indoor-only cats to dirt from the outside could be dangerous.
Most of the best cat litter brands last around two to three weeks if you're cleaning the tray each day. That applies to non-toxic and low-dust litters designed to absorb high volumes of liquid without releasing odours or creating hygiene problems.
Sand will give you immediate traction, but it won't absorb moisture. Kitty litter will also give you immediate traction and absorb moisture, but it will absorb so much that it will stick to the driveway. You should use sand for making your driveway drivable and kitty litter for emergency situations.
A variety of studies have found that cats prefer their litter to be soft and fine-grained. A recent study compared three types of unscented litter—wood pellets, silica microgranules, and nonclumping clay granules. Overwhelmingly, the cats chose silica and clay over the pellets.
On one hand, too much litter in your cat's litter box can cause overflow and spillage problems all over your bathroom floor. On the other hand, too little litter in the box can create smelly and messy poo problems when your cat isn't able to dig enough litter to hide their solid waste.
How Often Should You Change the Cat Litter? If you use a clumping litter, it's best to scoop the box daily and change it out completely at least monthly. If you have more than one cat, it may be best to change the cat litter more often, every 2-3 weeks.
While corn flour is preferred, other constituents which can provide similar characteristics to the cat litter can be used, such as wheat flour, for example.
If you have rice on hand, it's a much better idea to eat it rather than using it in your cat litter box. But, rice will absorb urine in a way that paper and wood shavings will not. It won't do anything to hide the smell of ammonia. And, remember not to overfill the cat box since rice expands.
Traditional Clay Cat Litter
These are the litters that look like sand, and in fact for a long time sand (and/or dirt) was what was used for cat litter.
It's no secret that cats seem to be attracted to children's sandboxes. You can create the same attractive setting inside by using sand in the kitty litter box. Sand clumps very well when it is wet and does not hold cat urine odors.
“It's common to have some final kicking when they're covering after, but if they start kicking like crazy, they may be trying to mark the area with their scent because they're deliberately throwing soiled litter out of the box.”
For the most part, all experts agree…the litter box should be scooped 1-2 times each day. “Litter boxes should be scooped at least once or twice a day, and it's even better if you can get to it as soon as your cat has finished his business,” said By Dr. Stephanie Janeczko in this featured post on Petfinder.
Dirty litter boxes can cause kidney, bladder, and urinary tract diseases in cats. When a kitty squats over a pile of feces, bacteria can travel up the urethra, wreaking havoc all along the way.
A good rule of thumb is to change your cat's litter every 2-4 weeks. However, you might not need to change it that frequently because it all depends on your pet and their bathroom habits. It also depends on the number of cats that use the litter box and the type of litter that you use.
Use a litter scoop to sift out urine clumps and stool and place in a small trash bag. Once all the boxes in your house are scooped, tie off the garbage bag in a knot. To prevent odor and bacterial leakage, double bag your scooped litter. Place in an outside trash can with a tight fitting lid.
Let Tidy help you do the math. Follow this simple rule: one box per cat, plus one extra. So if you have two cats, you should have three boxes. Making sure everyone has their space can help ease elimination issues.
Most cats like a shallow bed of litter. Provide one to two inches of litter rather than three to four inches. Most cats prefer clumping, unscented litter. Your cat may prefer the type of litter she used as a kitten.
The choice of clumping versus non-clumping litter is a personal decision. Though many cats appear to prefer clumping litter because it is easier for them to push aside, some cats prefer non-clumping clay.
Most cats prefer an open litter box. Most cat owners prefer a covered litter box. Covered litter boxes may trap odors and make the human environment smell better but for those reasons they may not be as desirable for the cat. If boxes are not cleaned regularly, the odor may be aversive to them.