FAQ: Litter & Accessories for cats

Plant-based litter is lighter, often less dusty and easier to dispose of, while clay litter often clumps more firmly and many cats are used to it. Which is better depends on the cat and your needs.

Many plant-based litters control odour well if you scoop clumps daily and keep a sufficient layer. Differences between individual products are often bigger than between litter types, so it is worth trying a small pack.

Some plant-based litters are made from corn, wheat or soy, so they may not suit cats a vet has found to be sensitive to those materials. In that case choose litter from another material, such as wood or paper.

Sand or soil absorbs urine poorly, soon starts to smell and may contain parasites or fertiliser. Indoors it is better to use litter made for cats, which absorbs moisture and controls odour.

Shavings or straw meant for rodents control odour less well and are easily tracked around the home. They can be used temporarily, but long term it is better to choose wood or other litter made for cats.

Some litters contain granules that change colour when wet or in response to properties of the urine. They can help you notice changes, but they cannot replace a vet's test, and if you suspect a problem the cat should see a vet.

Many cats dislike strongly scented litter because their sense of smell is far keener than ours, and some start avoiding the box because of it. Unscented litter and regular care reduce odour more effectively than fragrance.

Choose litter labelled as low-dust, pour it slowly and close to the bottom, and scoop gently. A well-ventilated room and keeping the box out of the bedroom also help.

A lot of dust can irritate the airways, especially in cats with asthma or sensitive airways. If the cat often sneezes or coughs after using the box, choose a lower-dust litter and talk to a vet.

Clumping litter is usually poured to a depth of 5–8 centimetres so the cat can dig and clumps do not stick to the bottom. Silica and wood pellet litter usually need a thinner layer, as the manufacturer states.

It depends on the litter type, box size and number of cats: for one cat, one or two larger bags of clumping litter often last a month. Silica litter usually needs less, non-clumping litter more.

A sufficient layer helps the litter absorb urine and hold odour, but too deep a layer is disliked by some cats and gets kicked over the sides. Scooping daily matters more than adding a lot of litter.

Clumps of clumping litter and faeces are best scooped at least once a day, and more often for several cats. A clean box smells less and the cat is happier to use it.

Even with daily scooping, all clumping litter should be replaced and the box washed about every two to four weeks. If the litter starts to smell sooner, change it more often.

Yes, scooping thins the layer, so every few days add fresh litter back to the usual level. That way clumps keep forming firmly and do not stick to the bottom.

Most used litter should go into mixed household waste in a sealed bag. Only litter the manufacturer clearly says is flushable should go down the toilet, and only in small amounts.

Usually not, because used litter contains faeces, which are generally not accepted in bio-waste. Follow your municipality's waste sorting rules, and if in doubt, put it in mixed waste.

Cat faeces can contain parasites that wastewater treatment does not always destroy, and litter can block pipes. So even flushable litter should go down in small amounts and only where the plumbing allows.

It is a closed container in which scooped clumps go into a long tube of bag, with each portion sealed off. It helps reduce odour at home when you do not take litter outside every day.

No, litter that has absorbed urine is already saturated and holds bacteria and odour, so once dried it will not work like new. Only litter that is still unsoiled gets reused, such as intact wood pellets in a sifting box.