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Having a cat must be challenging sometimes, it takes time to fully understand its behaviour because every cat is different. And you have to pay attention to its food, its needs and its health overall. But one thing that most cat owners find difficult is choosing between a crystal cat litter or a clumping cat litter. Which one is the best? Which one will make your cat happier? Which one will help your kitten learn faster how to use the litter? If these are all questions you have about the litters, keep on reading to find out which one fits your cat the best. 

What Is a Crystal Cat Litter: Advantages and Disadvantages

Also known as silica cat litter, the crystal cat litter is a type of litter filled with mineral based fillings composed of amorphous silica gel granules. These granules are well known by cat owners around the world because of their absorbent properties and lightweight nature.  When they are in contact with liquids, it is pulled into the network of the granules and trapped along with any unpleasant smell. Therefore, this type of litter leaves the smelly compound behind and evaporates the liquids. A lot of cat owners choose this option because of its odour controlling properties. 

And because everything has both advantages and disadvantages, here is the list of what you should know before buying a crystal cat litter.

Advantages

• The most important advantage is that the composition is not toxic for the cat
• The fact that is very absorbent is another aspect that you should consider when choosing the best litter for your cat
• It is also long lasting, therefore it is a smart investment
• As mentioned before, it is well known for its odour controlling properties
•  It is easy to cleans and also lightweight 
• It does not spoil 

Disadvantages

• Even though it is safe for the cat, it is harmful for the environment 
• It is not biodegradable
• It is not quite affordable
• It tracks easily 
• It does not have the most comfortable texture 
• It can get dusty with use

What Is a Clumping Cat Litter: Advantages and Disadvantages

When searching for a definition for a clumping cat litter, Wikipedia comes with a detailed one and mentions ‘Cat litter boxes are designed to stimulate feline instincts around waste elimination and provide a cat with loose material that is easy to rake over the waste. A litter box’s bottom is typically filled with 2 inches (5 cm) or less of cat litter. Litter box filler is a loose, granular material that absorbs moisture and odours such as ammonia. Some litter brands contain baking soda to absorb such odours, or owners may sprinkle a thin layer in the bottom of the box, under the cat litter. The litter material also satisfies a cat’s instinctive desire to hide their scent by allowing them to bury their waste.’ 

Advantages

• It can be considered economical because in the long run, you basically use less litter because you only clean the soiled parts
• It is easy to clean because the clumping structure allows you to separate in an easy way the dispose of the soiled litter
• It can also control the odour because the clumping litters trap the unpleasant smell preventing the entire house from smelling bad. 

Disadvantages:

• It may not be suitable for every cat because some of them might have sensitive paws and they will not like the clumping litters at all.
• Sometimes it might get dusty. A clumping cat litter can produce dust during handling, thus it might lead to respiratory issues for the cat, or even for you. 

The Differences between These Litters

Even though they are both used for the same purpose, there are some differences between them. The first one being the main material. The crystal litter is made out of silica, a mineral based element. This material absorbs the liquids quickly. While the clumping litter usually uses bentonite clay, which has the property of forming lumps when it comes into contact with liquids.

The next difference is about the way they work. The crystal litter absorbs the liquids and controls the unpleasant odours, meaning that you will have to change it more often while the clumping litter forms lumps that can be easily removed. Therefore, here is another difference, the maintenance because, as mentioned previously, the clumping one has an easier process with the lumps removing, while the crystal one needs a more frequent total change. 

A key aspect that everyone looks at is the price. But not everyone knows that even though the clumping litter is more affordable, you have to repurchase it more often too. Therefore, the price compared with the durability is quite the same because the crystal one is more expensive but it lasts longer and the clumping one is cheaper but it lasts less.

And last but not least you might not think about it but the preferences of the cat matters too. Some cats might be more comfortable with one litter type, while others might prefer the other one. But you can only find out this by trying both of them for your little furry friend. 

Jess and Jericho also mentions ‘The best litter for cats is naturally clumping and unscented. You need to avoid litters with toxic clumping agents and fragrances because this will upset your cat. Most litters are not safe to breathe in or ingest. The best litter available, in my experience, is unscented clumping walnut litter. However, there are still risks involved if you do not clean the box regularly.’

Conclusion

Therefore, whether you choose a clumping cat litter or a crystal cat litter, you will face both advantages and disadvantages, thus you are advised to buy the one that resonates the most with your cat preferences. Everybody knows that the felines are the most pretentious animals out there, might as well spoil them as they please. Just be careful and choose materials that are non-toxic and good quality.