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Cat Litter Crystals
I have never used cat litter crystals. It has only
fairly recently been on sale in the UK as far as I can see. I was not
aware of this type of cat litter until about 2009. In the
USA, it is readily available.
It is meant to be a very high quality litter but in the UK it comes at
a
high price. Its efficiency may make it more cost effective, however.
The specific advantages are:
- highest absorbency of all the cat litters.
- great odour elimination for an extended time.
- "excellent moisture control" (not sure what that
means other than it has a high absorbency).
- dust free2 (conventional
litter kicks up quite a lot of dust that has the potential for causing
health problems)
The crystals are made of a "porous granular form of sodium silicate"1.
Sodium silicate is a substance that has a wide range of uses in
industry. It is used in the automotive industry for repairs.
It is said that cat litter crystals can absorb the urine, "for up to 30
days for one healthy normal weight cat"1.
The concept as stated by the Wikipedia authors is that you scoop out
feces and then simply stir the litter that has absorbed the urine. You
do this for up to 30 days and then change the litter. Apparently it is
obvious when the litter needs replacing as it smells and the crystals
change in colour from white to yellow (note:
the cat litter crystals in the photograph heading this page are blue).
On the basis that it is
necessary to remove urine impregnated conventional litter (wood or
clay) at least daily, crystal
litter has a distinct advantage. Although, I am not sure that I would
be comfortable leaving the litter unchanged for such an an extended
time.
I use wood litter at about £13.30 for 30 litres. I buy it at the local
pet shop in Putney, London. I am sure that I could get it cheaper if I
tried. But cat litter crystals that can be bought at Tescos online is
priced at £4.45 for 4.2 litres (2010). This is "Bob Martin
Antibacterial
Litter Crystals". A very similar product by the same manufacturer, in a
3.8 litre pack, costs £5.99 on Amazon.co.uk (see image below left).
Comparing prices on a per
litre basis, the wood litter is £0.44 per litre, while the cat litter
crystals are £1.1 per litre, more that twice the cost.
Perhaps the argument is that the crystals last longer as less litter is
discarded. This evens out the cost. Here is a UK product on
Amazon.co.uk:
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The Bob Martin Antibacterial Litter Crystals can be bought in a pack of
four at £27.70:
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These prices and deals are at Nov. 27th
2010 - things change, of course.
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In the USA, a product on sale on the US version of Amazon is called:
Pestell Clear Choice Clear Choice Low-Track Silica Cat Litter, 12-Pound
Pail.
It has received a 4.5 (out of 5) star rating from 18 reviews (at Nov.
2010). That is good.
"The Silica
Crystals is
great for cat litter. They absorb a vast quantity of liquids..."
"For one cat, a tray of litter would probably last a month. There is NO
URINE ODOR!!! It also absorbs feces odor IF the feces is covered with
the silica crystals which most cats do."
"What's the cheapest
brand? Tidy Cats Scoop Crystals Blend for Multiple Cats. It is sold
through Amazon by PetFoodDirect..."
{quotes from reviews on Amazon3}
Breeders Choice paper pellet
cat litter in the USA costs about one dollar per pound in weight. The
cat litter crystals cost $1.32 per pound in weight and so it is a
similar price. This is in stark contrast with the UK - a typical
scenario I am afraid.
Conclusion:
In the USA: on the basis that (a) I have not missed something (b) the
crystal
litter is superior as stated and (c) the price is not much higher than
conventional litter, I would definitely try it.
In the UK, if it is only available in small sizes at the prices that I
have indicated, I would suggest that it is not a sensible option to use
it, unless it can be established that it is very much more cost
effective.
Cat
litter crystals - Note:
1. Wikipedia®
2. Amazon sales talk in respect of Pestell
Clear Choice Clear Choice Low-Track Silica Cat Litter, 12-Pound Pail.
3. Quoted under fair use policy as it is
the interest of Amazon and the manufacturer.
From cat litter crystals to cat health problems
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