What Is the Difference Between Scoopable & Clay Kitty Litter?

Before World War II, most pet cats went outdoors to do their business. If they had a litter box, it was filled with sand or furnace ash and kept in a cellar because of the offensive odors and tracking problems. The invention of clay litter allowed cat owners to keep cats indoors, improving the health, safety and lifespan of their pets. Cat owners now have dozens of products to choose from, and cats adapt well to clay or scoopable litter.

  1. Clay Litter

    • First introduced in 1947 under the brand name Kitty Litter, clay liter revolutionized the way people live with their cats. It consists of fairly large particles of clay that may stick to a cat's feet and get tracked around the house. Clay litter is the cheapest type of litter, and comes in both scented and non-scented types. When a cat urinates on clay litter, the urine spreads and is absorbed by particles across a wide area of the box. As a result, you have to dump all of the litter when you clean the box.

    Scoopable Litter

    • The first scoopable litter appeared on the market in 1984. It is composed of clay that is processed at higher temperatures than plain clay litter. When a cat urinates on scoopable litter, it forms a tight clump you can easily remove from the box. Although pound for pound it is more expensive than clay litter, it is less expensive to use because you only remove the clumps of urine and feces, topping it off with fresh litter when necessary.

    Cat Preference

    • Cats prefer a clean, fresh-smelling box, and may deposit their waste elsewhere if the box doesn't suit their fastidious nature. Cat owners may find it easier to keep a box filled with scoopable litter clean. Both cats and their owners want a box with as few odors as possible, but cats prefer unscented litter. Some scoopable litters are processed in a way that reduces the amount of dust, to the delight of cats that don't like the airborne particles.

    Hygiene

    • Regardless of the type of litter you choose, you should scrub your litter box weekly or more often if odor becomes a problem. Use soap and water or a weak bleach solution and dry the clean litter box before adding fresh litter. If you are using plain clay litter, dispose of the litter from the box. If you are using scoopable litter, you can pour the litter from the box into another container so that you can reuse it. Remove feces and urine clumps daily between cleanings.