Silica gel cat litter: pros, cons, and selection guidelines

Today, almost every family has its own pet. Most often we are talking about a dog or cat, although many prefer to keep more exotic animals at home. But, be that as it may, getting into the house, almost all animals do not have the skills to properly go to the toilet, which is why we have to educate our smaller brothers. It should be understood that the animal should be comfortable to satisfy its natural needs. And if we talk about a cat, then silica gel cat litter is the best solution.

It should be understood that a material such as silica gel is a solid hydrophilic type sorbent similar in appearance to a conventional dried gel. Its production is carried out from a thoroughly dried polysilicic acid gel. Has almost the same composition as sand. Excellent absorbent properties due to the fact that the gel filler has granules with a porous structure.

Note that silicate gel works so effectively that it absorbs not only liquid, but also excess moisture from air masses.

In general, it should be noted that fillers based on silicone and silicates contain up to 98 percent of this substance. In their usual state, these are round balls or transparent crystals that change color depending on the color and properties of the absorbed liquid.

Now let's talk about the pros and cons of this category of fillers. First, let's talk about the strengths of the product in question.

• Silicate litter for cats has a fairly large porosity, which makes it quite easy to absorb liquid and reduce the humidity around the litter box by about 40 percent.
• The material in question belongs to the group of chemically inactive, and is also not exposed to fire and high temperatures.
• Mold and bacteria do not appear here.
• In the room where there is such a tray with filler, there will be no unpleasant odor.
• The pellets do not stick to the paws of the pet and the floor remains as clean as possible.
• The granules are of the highest chemical resistance as well as mechanical strength.
• Balls or crystals absorb a fairly large amount of liquid, which makes it possible to change the contents of the tray less often. That is, a standard 4-kilogram bag will be enough for a pet for about half a month.

But despite the described advantages, this type of filler for trays has a number of disadvantages.

• This filler is harmful if the kitten ate it or wants to do it. Eating can cause stomach problems, which is why it is better not to use this type of gel for cats that are prone to this.
• Such granules should never be flushed down the toilet. They must be disposed of exclusively with household waste.
• The filler should be stirred every day, due to the fact that when they are fully saturated, a puddle forms in the tray, and the animal simply does not want to get in there.
• If the filler is in the form of hard crystals, then they can injure the delicate legs of the animal.
• When the substance absorbs moisture, it emits a hiss and crackles, which can frighten the animal. It can also make noise when the animal starts to dig it.

In general, this type of filler has both strengths and some weaknesses.

It should be said that there are varieties of fillers that differ in their essence, as well as in composition. If we talk about the composition, then there are 4 main categories:

• woody;

• corn;

• clay;

• silica gel.

The woody version can either clump or absorb. The material is quite environmentally friendly, which can even be flushed down the toilet. Best for kittens. But the downside is that the sawdust can be carried around the room by the animals.

It should be mentioned that fillers are divided into two categories by type of activity:

• clumping;
• absorbent.

The first option is interesting in that when moisture gets in, this area turns into a lump. The second can absorb liquid and odor, but its consistency will not change because of this.

If we talk about the varieties of silica gel filler, then flavored and non-flavored are distinguished. It can also have different shapes - round large or in the form of crystals.

Now it will not be superfluous to give a rating of the highest quality fillers of the type in question. Arriving at the store, you can see that there are many manufacturers of such goods. But which one to choose? We'll try to rate it based on customer feedback.

In their opinion, one of the best solutions on the market is a silica gel called Snowball. It is a white solution in the form of medium-sized crystals. It has antibacterial properties, perfectly absorbs unpleasant odors and belongs to the budget category. He also has a fairly economical consumption.

A number of buyers point out the main disadvantage of this product - the high dust content. "Snowball" is probably the most budgetary option for a cat litter. It has to be changed about once every 1.5 weeks. A 4 liter bag is enough for about 2-3 uses.

Another interesting option is called Our Brand. It is an absorbent type silica gel filler. Made in the form of medium-sized white and blue granules. This manufacturer also produces similar products, but with different kinds of flavors.

Another option is called CatStep. It is a silica gel filler that has white and blue crystals. The manufacturer claims that its products are an excellent solution to help protect against unpleasant odors. It is also stated that thanks to this filler there will be no dust, and all liquids will be absorbed quickly and easily. In addition, the material is completely hypoallergenic. But this solution also has disadvantages, namely that its crystals are very hard and sharp and can injure the pet's paws.

Another interesting option is called "Siberian cat". This silica gel filler has green, pink and blue granules. Its distinctive features are:

• lack of smell;
• no dust;
• non-stickiness to the paws of a cat;
• hypoallergenic.

Many users believe that this is almost the best filler in the category in question.

Next, consider a filler option called Smart Cat. This filler is also hypoallergenic, does not stick to the pet's paws, is environmentally friendly and easy to use. The manufacturer also offers customers flavored solutions: with the scent of apple, orange or lavender.

Another alternative to the options described above is called Sanicat. It is a silica gel filler of the clumping type, which has a variety of colors and can be either aromaless or flavored. An important advantage of this solution is that the balls are suitable even for kittens, and the risk of damage to the paws is zero.

Another filler, which will be of interest to cat owners, has the name No. 1. It is a premium litter that is sold at an affordable price. It should be noted for its special antibacterial properties, which allows it to stop the reproduction of various organisms after the cat has satisfied its needs. It should also be said that it is completely safe for kittens and young cats.

It is impossible not to mention the products of such brands as "Sea Sea Cat" and "Lenta". In terms of properties, the fillers of these companies repeat the others, but they are of high quality and have earned excellent customer ratings.

Now let's talk about how to choose the product in question. All in all, this is pretty straightforward. If you decide to give preference to just such a solution, then you should pay attention to the following points when purchasing.

• There should be a minimum amount of silicate dust inside the pack with the filler. It would be best then to acquire fillers, which consist of the largest possible silica gel crystals.
• It is best to use white silica gel due to the fact that its toxicity is practically zero. The fact is that to give a certain color to the granules, the manufacturer can use various substances with a certain toxicity. An example is cobalt chloride.
• Before buying products from one manufacturer or another, you should familiarize yourself with competitors' products and find out what features the products they offer have.
• Mass will also play a role. For example, if you buy 50 kg of filler at once, then it may be more profitable, from a financial point of view, than buying it for several kilograms.

As you can see, choosing a quality silicate litter for cats is easy.

Now it should be told how to use the type of filler in question. Note that despite the apparent simplicity, some users require instructions.

The use process itself is very simple. It is enough to pour a few centimeters of the substance into the tray, which must be dry and clean. It should be said that different manufacturers indicate different amounts of silica gel. But, more often than not, users agree that the layer should be at least 5 centimeters.

Somewhere once a day, the silica gel, which is in the tray, must be mixed. This is necessary so that the crystals that have already used up their resource do not become the cause of the appearance of a slurry.

The replacement of the filler should be carried out in accordance with the recommendations given by the manufacturer. Usually a 4-liter bag for one cat will last for about a month. If the cat breed is large, then the replacement of the filler should be carried out more often.

It is not difficult to accustom a cat to such a filler. You can simply mix the silica gel into the filler you are using and gradually increase its availability until you only use it.

If we talk about reviews, then most of them can be called positive. For example, a number of users write that for fastidious cats who will not go to the same litter twice, this is an excellent solution, because granules that absorb moisture and odor make it possible to continue using the filler, which saves it. Also, users say that the smell in the room will be significantly less than when using similar fillers.

Some cat owners note the not always affordable price of such a filler, but write that its efficiency does not raise questions, as well as the fact that it is really convenient to use it for both the pet and its owner.

A number of users write that cats are afraid when silica gel starts to hiss, and it is difficult to get used to this phenomenon.

There are, of course, a number of negative reviews, but there are not so many of them, which allows us to say that, in general, the product in question was appreciated by cat owners.

Watch the video below for an overview of Cat Step Silica Fillers.