Although cats have been kept domestically as pets since the early Egyptians, it wasn't until the late 1940s that commercial cat litter came to be. Prior to that people either let their cats outside to do their business or used cardboard box full with stand in the home.

This was less than ideal and, in fact, the first commercial cat litter was "discovered" mostly by accident when a cat owner sought out the help of her neighbor after the sand she used for her cat litter box was frozen solid. This neighbor made a product that consisted of clay and gave her little clay pellets to use as litter. The pellets proved to be so absorbent this was an immediate success and soon everyone wanted to use these little clay pellets which soon became sold under the name "Kitty Litter".

Since than there have been hundreds of brands and types of litter manufactured and sold on the market. But how do you know which type is right for you?

The answer that might have a little bit to do with your cat is some cats can do not like different types of litter. Needless to say, if your cat isn't comfortable going in the box you can probably find someplace else to go and you may not like it. Although most cats take to most types of litter you may find you need to experiment a little bit if you cat doesn't seem to like his litter box.

Here are some of the materials you might consider for your cat litter:

Clay

The original Kitty Litter was made from clay and this brand is still available today and very popular. It is made from sodium bentonite which is a type of clay that is very absorbent. When the cat would use the litter box, his waist with clump up making it easy to change out. Most cat litter has claimed today in fact this is what makes the clumpable cat litters so easy to use.

Clay litters, however to have some problems they can clump onto your cat's paws and fur and can be destiny. Some of the newer brands claim to be less dusty but these contain silicon particles which are a known carcinogen. You might want to think twice before buying any cat litter with this in it, but a lot of them do use it so you have to read labels carefully.

Silica Gel

This is a fairly new material for cat litter and is made from silica dioxide sand, oxygen and water. It is said to absorb up to 40 times its weight and does not track so you won't have to worry about it getting all over your house. Manufactures claim this is non toxic, and although it can be expensive and might save you in the long run since holds the moisture inside the silica gel balls, the same cat litter can be used for months without changing up the box so you save on material and maintenance.

Newspaper

You can buy some litters made from recycled newspapers that are crunched up into pellet form. This cat litter is dust free, non-tracking and is biodegradable so you can flush it.

Wheat And Plant Based

These are the most natural kinds of litters and while you might think that these don't work as good as the other letters I used a wheat based cat litter and I can assure you it works just as good in his last dusty and smelly as the clay litters. They can be a little bit more expensive car very good at controlling odor and can be flushed. My cat seems to like it too!

Other natural types of cat litter include those made from corn kernel, ground corncobs, beet pulp, and wheat grass.

Sawdust

Some cat litters used pine or cedar sawdust which is dried and compressed into pellets. These naturally neutralize the odor from the ammonia in the past year and enter pretty absorbant as well. These plants have natural bacterial and insecticidal properties and the natural smell the plant. If you have allergies or asthma, you may want to be careful with these as I know personally the pine smell can set off my asthma.

By: Lee Dobbins

About the Author:

Cats most certainly require litter boxes in which they feel comfortable and will like using. Most litter box problems can be avoided by understanding the basic nature of the cat and its needs. It is much easier to prevent inappropriate ********* in cats than to deal with problems should they occur later.

It may be a misconception that cats use litter boxes instinctively though they are more likely to eliminate in soft soil or sand. Litter boxes including large cat litter boxes are a convenience that accommodates cats, though one will find the cat being weak in its desire to eliminate while using a litter box.

Most Litter Boxes Tend to Be Too Small

A large cat litter box is recommended, and it is a fact that most cat boxes tend to be too small and are designed for convenience of humans, and not for felines. A large cat litter box should be at least two feet wide and long. It is possible to make a large cat litter box at home, and an under-bed storage box for sweaters would be adequate to create one.

The LitterMaid Mega Self-Cleaning litter box is a good example of the large cat litter box, and it has a sturdy removable ramp that supports very large and heavy cats, and also helps catch litter that is scattered about the box. It also provides sufficient privacy for the cat, which is something that every cat loves.

Another large cat litter box one can consider using for the cat is the one sold by Omega Paw that is easy to use, self-cleaning, cleans quickly, controls dust, and is sanitary as well. The large size of this cat litter box allows for paw cleaning with a litter mat and measures is 20”x23”x19.

Still another large cat litter box that will keep the cat happy is the one sold by Petmate which takes litter care out of the cat owner’s hand and has an extra large waste box capacity and is certainly large, measuring 26.8”x16.5”x4”.

Selecting a large cat litter box is probably the most important purchase a cat owner can make for his or her cat that will ensure the cat’s health and well-being. A litter box that is of adequate size should be large enough to accommodate the cat so as to avoid accidents as well as help develop good litter box habits.

By: Roland Jefferson

About the Author:

Cat litter mats are becoming as necessary as cat litter boxes, especially for homeowners who keep cats indoors at all times.

For people, mats are used as hygienic materials that wipe off unwanted dirt from the sole of their shoes or from their feet. Normally, in houses, you would find mats under doors, to help wipe off unwanted substances off the feet of people.

For cats, the litter mat also does the same. The feline creatures will need to have something where they can wipe off the unnecessary dirt under their paws. Remember, cats would be really uncomfortable if they find their paws dirty, and so they would always find a material or an object where they could wipe clean themselves.

Cat litter boxes have become necessities for households with pet cats. It is in this mini-furniture that cats eliminate their stool and urine. As animals, it is just natural that cats would urinate and excrete feces, and the problem would arise from their choice of where to do such activities.

If you are a cat owner and you have already invested in a litter box, you should make the investment do its function better by further investing in cat litter mats.

The litter mat should be placed under the litter box. The function is very logical. After the cat has gone out of the litter box, of course, the paws would be covered by dirt and several pieces of tiny litter.

Once the cat steps out of the box, it would be helpful if would immediately step into a litter mat. The mat would wipe clean the cat's paws that should be covered with a little dirt and litter from inside the litter box.

Instinctively, the cat would wipe itself and would step out of the mat once it feels that its paws are already clean and litter-free. Without the litter mat, the cat would be forced to find some other material or household furniture that would serve the purpose.

Investing in cat litter mats would help you prevent the cat from wiping it paws clean in the floor carpet, at the top of your bed, or any other clothing material around.

Of course, with its soft material that is basically consisting of polyethylene, the cat litter mat could serve other purposes other than being a complementary material to the litter box.

You could also turn the litter mat as a place for feeding your beloved feline pet. Just put the mat out under the litter box, and place the feeding bowl on top of it.

Doing so would help prevent cat food and liquid from spilling onto the carpet or floor. The mat would functionally serve as a place mat, that would help the surrounding area of the food bowl mess-free.

Just like cleaning other mats, all you have to do is wipe clean the litter mat. Manufacturers also recommend a simple cleaning procedure---just shake out the litter and tiny dirt out of the mat. It is that simple.

You are not required to wash the litter mat as detergents may leave scents that could repel the cat's olfactory senses. Remember, cats' sense of smell is about 14 times sharper that humans'.

Cat litter mats are sold in the market at different sizes. Buy the size that fits your preference and that you think would be truly functional.

You can easily buy them at your nearest pet supply store, or in the house furniture retailers. Orders can also be placed online, for your utmost convenience.

Invest in cat litter mats, as well as you invest in other cat materials and food. Over the long term, you would surely find that the investment is well worth it. Your relationship with your feline pet would consequently be improved.

By: Lee Dobbins

About the Author: