Kitty Litter Tips & Facts

The number one use for kitty litter may be as a feline restroom but there are a number of other uses for this product. If you are choosing a kitty litter for traditional cat pan filler, you should know what it is made of. Clay was once the main component of all kitty litter but in today's markets, you will find a multitude of ingredients in cat litter packages.

  1. Keeping Kitty Happy

    • A cloth mat or newspaper under the cat pan will prevent messes.

      Most cats will refuse to use a smelly litter pan. If you use traditional kitty litter, you can plan on changing the litter pan at least twice a week to keep your cat from choosing to relieve herself in other areas of your house. Clumping and silica-based litters may not need to be changed as frequently, but you will have to spot clean litter pans using these materials. If you can smell odors from the litter box, they will be much stronger to your cat due to their sensitive noses.

    Types of Kitty Litter

    • Kitty litter makes a great absorbant for spills.

      Clay kitty litter may have been the first cat pan filler to line the shelves of the market, but nowadays this product can be found made from other substances. Earth-friendly litters made from ground corn cobs, recycled paper pellets, and wood shavings are biodegradable forms of kitty litter. Silica gel or crystals is a man-made form of litter with an excellent ability to absorb liquids. There is also a clumping litter that is made of clay but looks like sand. This type of litter makes it easier to tell where and what needs to be cleaned out of the cat pan and reduces the need to change the kitty litter frequently.

    Household Uses for Kitty Litter

    • Make sure the kitty litter pan is easily accessible to your cat.

      Since cat litter is a great absorbent, try cleaning up oil spills in the garage or driveway by pouring clay kitty litter on top of the spot or spill and leave it overnight. You can also use clay kitty litter for an ashtray. Filling a metal bucket or container with litter works well for outdoor areas and the kitty litter will extinguish the cigarette and cut down on smelly odors. Try using kitty litter as a replacement for expensive salt in the winter. Sprinkle clay kitty litter generously onto icy porches, sidewalks, or driveways. The litter helps prevent slips and falls.

    Where Kitty Litter Came From

    • Before the invention of our present day kitty litter, sand or ashes were used as cat box filler. In 1947, Ed Lowe, a young Navy veteran, gave us the first modern day cat litter made from clay. He had tried to market it to farmers for their chickens to nest with but had no success. He gave some of the material to a neighbor for her cat pan and Ed Lowe Industries was born. The company grew to employ over 125 cats and 6 rabbits in the 1980's and even hired an animal behavior expert to watch the cats and log their actions and choices when using the litter.