The wrong cat litter type can cause chaos at home. The litter can stick to paws and track all over the carpet, leaving you to clean unpleasant odours regularly. It can be difficult to remove from the little tray and take up space in your bins. Even worse, it can be harmful to the health of your cat due to accidental consumption or avoiding the tray altogether (we all know how that turns out).

There are plenty of types of cat litter available out there for every feline breed and age. For this reason, it pays to do your research. You need to know which features to look out for, what to steer clear of and which benefits will make your cat ownership easier and more fun.

If you’ve been searching far and wide for cat litter options, look no further. We’ve put together all of the facts and handy tips you need to know to help you choose the best type of cat litter your cat will love.

Cat Litter Features

There are a number of features to look out in search of the best type of kitty litter. Here’s what to think about:

• Odour control – look for litter that keeps your house smell-free
• Flushable – made from materials that flush down the toilet, which frees up space in your bin
• Non-tracking – tracking refers to litter that sticks to your cat’s paws and spreads as they walk. Look for litter that prevents this
• Natural ­– some kitty litter options contain chemicals which are harmful, particularly for kittens who eat everything!
• Non-Clumping – Cat litters that clump are traditional types that can help odours but are harder to clean
• Dust-free – avoid allergic reactions by choosing dust-free cat litter types
• Compostable – provides the option to put litter in the compost instead of bins
• Eco-friendly – many cat litters are now recycled and organic, making them perfect for the environment as well as your cat
• Cheap – let’s face it, cat litter shouldn’t be expensive! With so many options online as well as shops to buy from, there are now affordable options everywhere.

Now that you know which features to think about, here are the most popular cat litter types around that you can choose from.

Clumping Clay Litter

This classic type of cat litter is still used by many cat owners. When your cat urinates in the clay, it ‘clumps’ solidly around it. The chemical used is bentonite which allows the litter to harden when it gets wet, meaning you don’t have to think about pellets going anywhere.

Pros:

Stops litter tracking and spreading, easy to clean, simple to scoop out of the litter tray

Cons:

Bentonite is a harmful chemical which is dangerous if swallowed. Clumping clay is dusty which can cause allergies, and is not biodegradable, taking up plenty of space in your bin (and it’s heavy).

Non-Clumping Clay Litter

This is similar to clumping types of cat litter but does not use the same harmful chemicals. This clay type absorbs urine fast without forming solid clumps around the area. It’s a more popular alternative for many cat owners than clumping clay.

Pros:

Lighter and easier to remove than clumping clay, more eco-friendly, cheaper than clumping and allows cats to dig more which they enjoy

Cons:

Needs regular cleaning, litter generally is more wet, creates odours fast

Plant and Newspaper-based Cat Litter

Developed by cat owners who were sick of the downsides of clay, plant and newspaper-based cat litter brings new benefits that other materials just can’t produce. They come in the form of granules or small pellets.

These types of cat litter can be made from 100% recycled paper, corn, pine, walnuts, wheat and more. Different types of cat litter made this way will have their own textures. Some will clump for odour control whereas others won’t – look at the label before you buy to see the exact benefits for each one.

Pros:

Very eco-friendly, highly biodegradable and easy to remove, cost-effective, dust-free, very absorbent for quality odour control, no harmful chemicals!

Cons:

Some materials can track more than others, cats can have preference on types

Crystal Litter (Silica Gel)

Crystal litter is a recent addition to the types of cat litter available for owners, and it’s got plenty of upsides. The material is made from small crystals that are very similar to those found in food jars to keep contents dry.

Pros:

This cat litter type is highly absorbent, free from dust particles, great for odour control and doesn’t track nearly as much as other types on your cat’s paws.

Cons:

Many cats don’t like this silica gel because it doesn’t feel as natural. It is also more expensive than most other cat litter types.

There is no best type of cat litter out there, but there is a perfect choice for your cat. Make sure you check out the options and do the research to select one with the features you want. Think about cleaning, removal, your cat’s health and price, among other things we outlined. Follow our tips above and good luck on your kitty litter quest!

The post Cat Litter Types & Options: The Ultimate Guide appeared first on Happy Cat's Litter.

One of the most severe and fatal diseases all cat owners must look out for is cat diabetes. It may not be a disease you have heard of, or even read about before. But studies are now showing that cat diabetes is a rising problem worth paying attention to, affecting 1 in 230 cats around the world (and growing).

Feline diabetes is life-threatening and can strike at any time.  The good news is there are many signs to look out for to catch it early, and with the right management, you can help prevent it and give your cat the best chance at a long and happy life.

Here are the facts about cat diabetes you need to know, as well as tips to look after your cat so the disease never becomes a problem.

What is Cat Diabetes?

Diabetes in cats is very similar to Type 2 diabetes for humans. Just like with us, a cat’s pancreas normally does the job of creating insulin to regulate blood sugar levels. Cat diabetes occurs when this natural process starts breaking down, the cat’s blood sugar levels rise too high as a result.

The disease is most likely to happen in middle-aged, overweight cats who spend a lot of time indoors without too much exercise. This isn’t always the case, however. Cat diabetes can strike at any age or weight. It can also be caused naturally by genetics or even a diet that’s extremely high in carbohydrates or the wrong cat food. Usually, it’s not one of these factors that causes diabetes in cats, but a combination of a few.

It diabetes isn’t treated in cats early, they develop a condition called diabetic ketoacidosis. This causes vomiting, loss of energy, extreme loss of fluids as well as cat depression. It can become fatal quickly (even during treatment) which makes it even more important to make sure you check the signs early to avoid heartache later.

Signs of Cat Diabetes

Cat diabetes can be life-threatening, but thankfully there are some signs to look out for to tell if it may be present:

• Excess litter tray use: The easiest sign of early diabetes is increased trips to the bathroom or litter tray. Due to higher levels of glucose in the bloodstream, diabetic cats will urinate a lot more than usual to get rid of the excess fluids.
• Drinking more: you might not see your cat drinking all that often, but an always empty water bowl can point to problems. Because a diabetic cat loses more fluid than normal because of the glucose, they will try to slurp up more water to replace it.
• Large appetite: Diabetic cats always feel like they are hungry. The cells in their body aren’t receiving the glucose they need properly so their appetite is always active. If they don’t get the insulin they need, eating more won’t solve the problem – but they will keep trying anyway.
• Increased weight loss: It might seem strange that diabetic cats shed the kilos fast given they are eating so much, but it’s true. Since they can’t use glucose for that much-needed energy source, the body’s fat stores break down. This makes them thinner and slowly degrades their muscles.
• Smells different: cats with diabetes start to dehydrate very quickly, which changes their natural odour. Some say it smells like nail polish remover. These are the ‘ketones’ as a result of low fluid levels.

If you notice any of these signs, take them straight away to your local emergency veterinarian. A quick diagnosis and urgent treatment can stop cat diabetes from taking over. Even if it’s a false alarm, cat diabetes is not worth the risk of leaving it alone.

How to Prevent Cat Diabetes

There are several ways you can protect your cat from diabetes to avoid the pain and suffering it can cause.

Firstly, ensure your cat’s diet and weight are managed properly so they don’t develop obesity. This is one of the largest factors for the disease but it’s one that can be easily stopped. If your feline friend is overweight, ask your local vet for assistance.

If your cat is an indoor animal make sure they get enough exercise. This can be done with cat toys, a designated area or gym for them to play on, and by playing games with them regularly to get their feet running. The more they move, the better chance they have at a long and enjoyable life.

By looking after the weight and lifestyle of your family pet, you will be able to avoid not just cat diabetes, but a range of other diseases too. Take them in for regular check-ups with your local vet and don’t be afraid to ask questions about anything you have noticed out of the ordinary. It’s always better to be safe than sorry. After all, a healthy cat is a happy cat!

For further about cats and diabetes, Happy Cat’s suggests that you visit: https://www.catsanddiabetes.com/

The post Cat Diabetes: A Growing Problem to Watch For appeared first on Happy Cat's Litter.

Kitty litter is obviously an unpleasant presence in the house, but before quickly and simply flushing it down the toilet, have a look at some of these tips to consider when disposing of litter.

Is Kitty Litter Flushable?

The short answer is to check the packaging for information. Some forms of litter are conveniently flushable, but not all of them will be! Litters made from natural materials that don’t clump together are much more likely to be flushable, and particular litters are produced especially for this purpose. If you have a natural litter and flushing is your only option, only dispose of small amounts down the toilet at any given time to avoid clogging.

Natural litters can be made of the following, each with their own price points and advantages:

• Wheat and corn
• Pine
• Wood shavings
• Paper (often recycled newspaper)

Each type of flushable litter should be evaluated on things like texture (cats often prefer finer textures), lower clumping potential, and how your cat responds to the odour.

If the litter is made of non bio-degradeable materials like clay or silica, it’s highly advised that you refrain from flushing. Not only can these litters cluster together to clog a plumbing system (which can require some exorbitantly costly repairs), but can put a strain on septic systems which were designed with human biology in mind.

Specific strains of disease and microbial life like toxoplasma gondii can grow freely as a result, putting your health and the health of others at risk once through treatment plants and into the world. This will depend on things like your cat’s diet (raw meat in particular can expose them to t. gondii). How often they go outside to explore and hunt is also a concern. If you have any suspicion that your cat may be infected, it’s not recommended to flush even natural litters until the infection passes.

You can flush kitty litter down the toilet, but ultimately this will depend on the type of litter, and is usually only recommended as a last resort.

Composting

Another advantage of using natural and biodegradable litters is that in certain situations they can help with composting as a productive alternative to trashing or flushing. Cat litter can be used as a form of manure, adding some vital nutrients into compost, but requires a careful selection of nitrogen-rich composting materials to maximise effectiveness. This should absolutely be avoided if the litter is produced from materials like silica or clay.

Simply collect the litter and add to an existing compost pile, making sure to keep it moist and far away from any food sources. As noted before, cats are exposed to a range of microbial life over the course of hunting and consuming raw meat that human bodies are simply not equipped to deal with.

However, not everyone has a ready-to-go compost pile in their garden, and this can seem a bit complicated at first. Setting up a compost heap can require a significant time investment, and requires a bit of patience to see any payoff. However, composts are wonderfully useful for any home garden, and should be considered.

Though it a ‘greener’ way to dispose, there are additional risks such as contamination of food materials and garden beds with foreign pathogens, if the compost pile is too close.

Trashing

This is the simplest and most fool proof method of disposal. Scooping the litter into a double-lined plastic garbage bag with a litter scoop, and wrapping the bags tightly around each other will prevent any leakage or odor from taking a hold in your garbage bins.

It’s not recommended to bin waste material indoors for health reasons, but also to avoid extremely unpleasant odours. Dispose quickly into a lid-sealed garbage bin to prevent any curious outdoor cats from damaging bin-liners. Lastly, make sure that this is compliant with any requirements that municipal waste services may have; some local authorities have specific demands when it comes to disposing of organic waste.

Though it’s not an ideal, environmentally conscious method of disposal, it ensures that any harmful materials are disposed of efficiently and far from vulnerable members of a household. In the long run, it even prevents the spread of cat-borne pathogens and diseases into the sea as a result of flushing.

For those wondering if kitty litter can be flushed down the toilet, the answer is that yes, it can, in specific situations. However, the risks require considering other disposal options, for the health and safety of the environment and yourself.

The post How to Dispose of Cat Litter appeared first on Happy Cat's Litter.

A common mishap that you may need to look after is cat litter on the carpet. Cats frequently collect a bit of cat litter on their paws, and quite often it has a bit of soiling attached too. It is then easy for them to track it all over your floors and carpets, which does not take long to cause an unwanted smell.

Thankfully this doesn’t have to be a problem for long. It is easy to clean cat litter out of carpet if you act fast and know what you’re doing.

Here are some tips to keep your carpet litter-free and remind your cat that you’re not messing around!

Step 1: Collect with a Paper Towel

The first step is to clean up what you can of the mess with a paper towel. Try to get as much of the wet litter and soiling as possible here to make your life easier later.

A kitchen sponge or wipe can also be used, but it does carry smells which might be hard to clean out later. For this reason, we recommend paper towels or tissues which can be disposed of quickly.

Step 2:  Allow Litter to Dry

Wet litter can be hard to pick up from carpet, although many new cat owners try to catch it all at once. This actually makes the job a lot more difficult than it needs to be.

Unless the litter is completely dry already, the best thing to do is wait for a short time for it to air out. This will harden it and make it easier to clean later.

Step 3: Loosen with a Brush

Next step to clean cat litter out of your carpet is to loosen the fibres with a scrubbing brush. Give it a light rub, just enough to separate the litter out a bit. Then, grab your vacuum cleaner and go over the spot to pick up any loose parts.

The vacuum will do a good job of picking most, if not all, of the litter up in a matter of seconds. If anything is still catching on, repeat the step with the scrubbing brush to roughen the area once again and use the vacuum to finish it off.

Step 4: Give the Area a Wash

The step you should use next to complete the clean is to wash the area using an odour neutraliser. There’s a very good reason for this and it’s one that can come back to bite you later if you forget it!

Wet litter often has urine in it, and it can be difficult for your vacuum cleaner to pick up all of it. Often the urine is left in. Over time, this sinks into the carpet further and creates a highly unpleasant smell. It can be a real challenge to overcome this later so it’s best to take care of this now.

Make sure you use a high-quality odour neutraliser for this. Don’t use a typical household cleaner, as they often kill bacteria in the area and mask the smell temporarily. A proper odour neutralising spray will rid your carpet of leftover urine for good, so you can relax knowing you won’t get hit with a nasty whiff later.

How to Prevent Cat Litter from Damaging Your Carpet

The best approach to cleaning your cat litter off the carpet is simple – be proactive to prevent it reaching there in the first place.

The first step is to place your cat litter box as far away from the carpet as possible. This gives your cat plenty of space to track it off before reaching it. Tiles are more durable for scratching and are easier to clean wet litter from, so kitchens and laundries (or even outdoors, if it’s undercover and easy access) are ideal choices. Avoid hardwood floors if you can.

Another option is cat litter box lids. You can buy these separately, and they can be handy to keep litter from spreading all over the place. However, they may not fit your box and you still need to be cautious.

If you need to put your cat litter box on top of carpet, cut some plastic or cardboard out in a large square for it to sit on. Make sure it’s bigger than the shape of the litter box to give your cat space to get the litter off their paws. Some pet stores offer cat litter mats specifically for this purpose too.

Follow these easy steps and you will become a pro at cleaning cat litter out of carpet in no time. However, we hope it’s not something you have to deal with too often – otherwise, your cat may think they are king or queen of your castle!

The post How to Clean Cat Litter Out of Carpet appeared first on Happy Cat's Litter.

If your cat avoids the tray, it will still need to go somewhere else, which creates a massive problem for the hygiene of your home. So, here’s how to tell if you’re using too much litter:

• Your Cat Only Uses Half the Box: If there is too much litter in the box, it will be unstable. If your cat is only placing half its body in the litter tray, it’s usually because it is using the other half of its body to stabilise the tray. Hopefully, your cat is choosing to place the business end in first, but there is just as much chance that they’ll leave something for you to clean up outside the tray.
• Your Cat Looks Uncomfortable: You need to monitor the way your cat uses its box. Your cat should look happy and confident; if it is slipping or sliding around the tray, it means you’re using too much litter. If there is too much litter, it’s like trying to walk through deep sand, and this can be difficult for both old and young cats.
• Litter Ends Up Outside the Box: Cats love digging, and if you use too much litter in your tray, the toilet becomes a play pen. Cats also like to dig a hole deep enough to do their business in, and if there is an excess of litter, the hole will continuously cave in, so your cat will have to keep digging which makes more mess.
• You’re Using Litter To Hide Mess: Adding a fresh layer of litter is a cosmetic fix. You need to empty the entire tray at least once a week. If you find yourself simply adding litter, you’ll end up with a tray your cat will want to avoid.

What About Too Little Litter?

If you’re not using enough litter, your cat will avoid the tray. Remember, cats are clean creatures that only like to do their business in a suitable space. The most important thing is ensuring there is enough litter to allow your cat to dig. If your cat starts scratching the bottom of the tray, it will go somewhere else.

So, How Much Litter Should I Be Using?

As a general rule. You should aim for a 10 millimetre (or 1 centimetre) layer of litter at the bottom of the box. This amount of litter allows your cat to dig while still giving it enough litter to cover-up afterwards. Obviously, if your cat seems as though it needs more or less, pay attention. Monitoring your cat’s litter box habits is essential.

If you have more than one cat, you will need more than one litter box. Don’t just try and add more litter to the one initial box.

You also need to focus on maintaining a consistent level of litter. So, if you scoop out any clumps, make sure you replace these with a similar amount of litter. Trust us; your cat will know the difference.

You must keep the box clean. Cats hate smelly or dirty boxes, and you don’t want to give them any reason to use your pot plants or loungeroom floor as an alternative. For a clean box, make sure you scoop out any solids or clumps twice a day and do a full litter clean at least once a week. Every time you change the litter, scrub the tray for an even fresher toilet for your kitty. You should never be able to smell the litter.

Read more on how to keep your litter box clean.

Which Type of Litter Works Best?

You need to find a litter option that is clumping, non-tracking and offers odour-control. This will allow you to keep your tray as clean as possible.

You should also look for litter that is biodegradable and sustainable. As you have to dispose of your cat litter regularly, you don’t want to choose an option that will sit in a landfill or pollute the environment.

Lastly, choose an affordable option. Cat litter doesn’t have to be expensive. It’s somewhere for your cat to go to the toilet, so just find a quality option that offers all of the above, while keeping costs down.

The post How to Tell if You’re Using Too Much Cat Litter appeared first on Happy Cat's Litter.

Why You Should Opt for Home Delivery

The Logistics are So Much Easier

When you’re purchasing something heavy, like kitty litter, you need to make sure you can lift it, or you have to enlist help. Lugging around a massive package is never much fun, and you have to do a number of trips to get it from the store to your car and then into your house. With home delivery, the package comes to you, so at most, you may only have to lift it once.

It’s More Convenient

We are all time poor, and a special trip to the pet store really doesn’t make sense. It takes precious time out of your weekend or after-work activities, and when you can order in a few seconds at your own convenience that trip to the pet shop becomes redundant.

You Can Shop Anytime, from the Comfort of Your Home

When you get your litter through bricks and mortar stores, you have to abide by their opening hours. That often means rushing there during your lunch break or missing out on time with the family or friends because you have to go on the weekend. With home delivery, you can do it while you’re watching TV, in your pyjamas while having a glass of wine!

It’s Quick

As online shopping has become more popular, delivery methods have improved. Delivery times are incredibly quick, usually only taking a day or two. Freight costs have also dropped, and any freight you do pay will quickly pay for itself when you consider the money you save on fuel and time.

You Don’t Have to Battle the Crowds

Anyone that lives near a busy urban centre knows the hassle of trying to find a park and battling with the crowds. No one wants to spend their day circling a carpark until someone finally takes off, and you also won’t have to stand in line waiting your turn. You get served when you want to get served, every time.

You Don’t Have to Deal with Pushy Sales Assistants

We all know the feeling of just wanting one thing and having to politely say ‘no’ over and over again while an aggressive salesperson tries to either upsell a different brand or sell you something you don’t need. Yes, it’s their job, but it’s a reality you don’t have to deal with when you shop online and opt for home delivery.

Home delivery is better than in-store shopping every way. Especially when it comes to products like cat litter where you really don’t need to see the product in-person to make the right choice. Make your life easier with online shopping and home delivery.

The post The Advantages of Home Delivery appeared first on Happy Cat's Litter.

How Does Natural Kitty Litter Help the Environment

Natural forms of kitty litter don’t rely on pebbles and clay and instead use biodegradable materials, like recycled paper. Pebbles and clay don’t break down, which means they clog up landfill sites. The waste we produce is beginning to choke the environment, and landfill sites around the world are expanding and creating vast chunks of contaminated land.

Recyclable paper makes use of waste, and it also creates no waste, so there is no impact on the environment during production or disposal. Considering that each cat uses about 220kg of litter a year, by making the switch to an eco friendly cat litter you can save a tremendous amount of material from ending up in a landfill.

On top of that primary benefit, environmentally friendly and natural cat litter also has a number of other benefits:

Great for Allergy Suffers

The best types of eco friendly cat litter are dust-free, unlike brands that use cat litter products like clay. No dust means the litter is hypoallergenic, so even the most asthmatic or allergic family member can help with the litter.

Being dust-free is also great for your house because you won’t have to dust and sweep as often. You’ll be surprised out how far and how quickly the dust can spread from the tray to the rest of your house, so go dust free and cut down on the cleaning, which brings us to the next advantage.

It’s Cleaner

Being dust free makes natural cat litter a better alternative, but materials like paper pellets are also cleaner because they are non tracking and flushable. Flushing your litter down to the toilet is the easiest way to keep the tray clean and dispose of the mess as quickly as possible, and being non tracking means that all of the litter stays where it should.

It Controls Odour

Natural forms of litter that use recycled paper also control odour naturally. While pebble and clay-based litters rely on chemical scents to cover up smells, eco friendly litter does this naturally through super absorbency. That means you don’t have to deal with the smell of your cat’s business, and you don’t have to deal with nasty chemical smells.

We all know how horrible it is to walk into a house and be hit with the smell of a dirty litter tray. We also know how hard it is to stay on top of the litter with our busy schedules. With natural odour controlling litter, you get the best of both worlds. You can enjoy a fresh-smelling house, without keeping a constant eye on the tray.

It’s Better for Your Cat

The best eco friendly cat litter will also be organic. Organic litters won’t expose your cat or your home to any nasty chemical or additives. It also means you can add your litter to the compost heap or your bin and rest safe in the knowledge that it won’t release anything harmful into your garden or the environment.

Some cats will actually avoid litter if they detect anything unnatural in it. By opting for an organic and natural brand, you can be sure that your car will use its tray, instead of some corner of your house.

The paper pellets are also far easier to sift through for your cat. The easier they can dig, the cleaner they’ll leave the tray, and the less visible their waste will be. On the other hand, clay becomes hard when wet, which means your cat won’t be able to dig and everything will be left on top.

With all those advantages on offer, going natural and eco-friendly is the best choice for you, your cat and the future of the world we all share.

The post The Benefits of Natural, Eco Friendly Cat Litter appeared first on Happy Cat's Litter.

Responsible pet ownership involves choosing the right pet for your lifestyle whether it is a cat, dog, guinea pig or whatever, complying with the law, caring for your pet’s health and ensuring your pet does not cause problems in the community. Being a responsible owner ensures that you and your pet can enjoy a long and happy relationship.

Responsible pet ownership is a huge responsibility. You need to research the requirements of your pet. Which pet is most appropriate for my lifestyle and am I prepared to care for it? Am I prepared to care for a pet for its whole life? Can I afford the pet? Do I understand how to care for a pet? Do I have time for a pet? Do I live in suitable accommodation with adequate space for a pet? Will a pet fit into my lifestyle and priorities? If your answers are no, do not commit yourself to a pet. Your pet should be a loved member of your household until the end of its life.

Registered cat breeders need to comply with relevant state and local legislation. This covers the de-sexing of kittens which they do not intend to keep for breeding, following an approved vaccination protocol  for controlling internal and external parasites, not selling cats or kittens through pet shops, markets or animal shelters, complying with the age of cats before mating and the frequency of litters, inter-breeding between different breeds (not part of a recognised breeding program), the microchipping of kittens, and providing new owners with relevant documentation.

Responsible pet ownership is about keeping your cat or kitten safely inside the home and allowing it to have access to a suitable outdoor enclosure. Cats or kittens allowed unrestricted or unsupervised access to the outside world are at risk of a being hit injured or killed by a car, dog attacks, fights with a cat which can result in death or transmission of disease resulting in expensive vet bills, nuisance to neighbours, and destruction of wild life. You can train your cat or kitten to walk on a leash.

Alternatively, there are numerous ways of safely of your cat or kitten by enclosing part of your back yard or even your balcony to allow it to enjoy nature safely without impeding on your neighbourhood amenity.

The post Responsible Pet Ownership appeared first on Happy Cat's Litter.

Abyssinian

The Abyssinian cat as it is known today was bred in Great Britain and was named after ‘Abyssinia’ (now Ethiopia) where they supposedly originated. There are widely-spread stories of British soldiers deployed to North Africa in the nineteenth century returning home with these kittens. These were bred to other breeds to develop a breed with a distinctive ticked coat in which individual hairs are banded with different colors.

Australian Mist

The Australian Mist breed, originally called the Spotted Mist, was developed in Australia by Dr Truda Straede by crossing Burmese and Abyssinian cats and miscellaneous domestic shorthair cats to create a shorthaired cat with a unique spotted or marbled coat pattern.

Bengal

The Bengal breed is a hybrid of the Asian Leopard Cat and domestic shorthaired cats to develop a breed to look like an exotic jungle cat.

Birman

The Birman cat or the Sacred Cat of Burma, as it is also referred to, is often claimed to have originated as a companion of temple priests in northern Burma. Several were exported to France and breeding with other cats including the Persian and Siamese created today’s point colours. The original cats were seal point.

British Shorthair

The British Shorthair breed is the pedigreed version of the traditional British domestic cat and is believed to be brought to the country by the invading Romans in the first century AD. The cats had been imported to protect the Roman grain houses from mice and mated to local domestic cats to create today’s breed. The gene pool in the UK was decimated during the Great Wars and the breed was therefore outcrossed to the Russian Blue, Chartreux and Persian breeds to increase the gene pool.

Burmilla

The Burmilla breed originated in the UK in 1981 following the accidental mating of a Chinchilla Persian and a Burmese. The resultant Burmese-looking cats with silver undercoats and ticked or tipped coats proved an attraction and led to further breeding.

Cornish Rex

The Cornish Rex cat, which has a short, thick and plush curly or wavy coat and crinkled whiskers and eyebrows, has been refined from a naturally mutated curly coated kitten found in a domestic cat’s litter in Cornwall, UK. Likewise, the Devon Rex breed was discovered by Beryl Cox in Buckfastle, in Devon, UK, again using a naturally mutated curly-coated kitten found in a domestic cat’s litter and the breed was developed using the curly coated offspring and domestic shorthair cats.

Scottish Fold

The Scottish Fold breed originated from a natural mutation which occurred in a litter of kittens born to Susie, a white barn cat which had an unusual fold in her ears. Susie was found on a farm in Perthshire in Scotland, in 1961. She later had a litter of kittens and two had folded ears. Today the breed has small ears folded forward and downwards and resembles an owl.

Maine Coon

One myth is that the Maine Coon breed descended from ancestors of semi-feral domestic cats and raccoons in Maine, USA. The generally accepted hypothesis is that the Maine Coon breed descended from pairings of local shorthaired cats with longhaired cats brought from overseas by English seafarers.

Tonkinese

The Tonkinese breed is a domestic breed produced by crossbreeding Siamese and Burmese breeds. The ideal Tonkinese should be intermediate in type, neither svelte like the Siamese nor cobby like the Burmese. Everything about the Tonkinese should be intermediate between the two breeds in all aspects.

There are many other breeds with unusual beginnings but I hope that I have stimulated your curiosity enough for you to want to research these.

The post Development of Today’s Pedigreed Cats appeared first on Happy Cat's Litter.

To satisfy all these demands and find the best kitty litter, you should look for the following criteria.

Non-Tracking and Odour Control

The best type of cat litter is one that keeps all the mess and smell contained in the tray. Before you consider anything else make sure you’re purchasing a litter that will control the odour and prevent your cat from tracking litter around the house. The key here is choosing a litter made from a material that is absorbent, without being sticky.

Easy to Dispose

Good kitty litter will be easy to dispose of, which means you’ll have a number of options at your disposal. Flushable, biodegradable and compostable paper pellets are the best option because they can be flushed down the toilet or placed in the garbage or compost bins. If you opt for other forms of litter, such as sand, gravel or crystals, you will block your toilet if you flush them, meaning your only choice is to go through the time consuming and wasteful process of placing them in a garbage bag before putting the package in the bin.

Easy to Keep Clean

You should always choose a ‘clumping’ cat litter. This is the best type of cat litter because when your cat urinates in its tray, the affected sections will ‘clump’ so you can scoop them out. This allows you to clean the tray on a daily basis, without needing to change the litter itself.

Hypoallergenic

The other problem with sand and clay-based kitty litters are that they create a lot of dust, especially when emptying the tray. Dust is a huge problem for anyone suffering from allergies or asthma, so opt for paper pellets which don’t produce dust and are naturally hypoallergenic.

Organic and Natural

Organic and natural litter is the best cat litter. You don’t want anything unnatural coming in contact with your cat when they are going to the toilet. Chemicals and other nasties could cause irritation, and even lead to your cat avoiding using the tray you have provided to go to the bathroom. Go all natural for the most comfortable bathroom experience for your cat.

Environmentally-Friendly

It’s vital that you choose a litter that won’t leave a mark on the environment. We fit our cats with bells and keep them inside as much as possible to ensure they don’t disturb the natural environment but we fail to realise that the litter we choose can end up sitting in a landfill for many years.

By choosing a litter that is organic, compostable, biodegradable and made from recycled materials, you’ll be selecting a litter that creates no waste and leaves no waste.

Natural Scent

You may be tempted to choose a scented litter to mask the smell of your cat’s perfume, but this may turn your cat away. You may enjoy the scent of your lemon but your cat won’t, and instead of dealing with the odour, you’ve just covered it with a horrible chemical smell. It’s far better to control the odour than to mask it.

Cost Effective

You need to change your kitty litter at least once a week. If you have more than one cat using the same tray, that rate will definitely go up. That means you’ll be using a lot of kitty litter, so you need to find a cost-effective option that provides everything listed above.

Conclusion

Recycled paper pellets are by far the best cat litter. They are incredibly absorbent, which means they control odour and prevent tracking. They offer the all-important clumping, and, they are flushable, biodegradable and compostable making them incredibly easy to dispose of, without impacting the environment.

The best part is, they only contain recycled paper. No chemicals and no-additives, which means they won’t irritate your cat and your cat will have no issues with using your tray. Cats are notoriously fussy, so it’s comforting to know that you can provide them with a litter option that they will happily use day-after-day.

Of course, recycled paper is also cheap, and far less expensive than crystal or clay-based forms of litter.

So, it turns out that humble old recycled paper pallets could very well be the world’s best cat litter.

The post Best Cat Litter: What to Look For appeared first on Happy Cat's Litter.