Clumping litter

Clumping litter is a type of cat litter that sticks together when it gets wet. Urine forms a solid ball and droppings are easy to lift out, so the owner removes only the soiled part and tops up the rest. Most clumping litter is made from bentonite, a type of clay. Other clumping litters use corn, wheat, walnut shell, pine or paper-based materials.

Non-clumping litter, such as plain clay granules, silica gel crystals or pine pellets, absorbs liquid but does not form lumps. It is usually changed completely and more often, because wet litter cannot be separated from clean litter.

Daily scooping with a litter scoop keeps a litter box fresh and lets you notice changes in urine, such as unusually large or small clumps, which is useful information to give a vet. Dust, scent and grain size matter to many cats, so introduce a new litter slowly by mixing it with the old.

Young kittens often chew or swallow litter while they explore. Ask your vet whether a clumping type is suitable for a very young kitten, and watch any cat that eats litter, since that can signal a health or diet problem.