Best Cat Litter For Humidity

At A Glance: The Best Worlds Best Cat Litter Recipes

Best Odor Control Fresh Step Extreme Clay

This clay litter does not track to ensure the comfort of your cat even after using the litter box constantly. It is scented to ensure the circulation of a good scent around the area where the litter box is set. One pack weighs about 21 pounds of litter that can last you for a month if you have one cat. The litter is infused with an antimicrobial that helps prevent the growth of bacteria from the cats messes. It also helps to absorb and dry up the messes to prevent it from messing the litter box. It works pretty fast since it tracks the urine and the feces immediately the cat uses the litterbox.

When Should You Switch Litters

If your cat is using the litter box, and the litter youre using right now is reasonably priced, clumps well, and doesnt smell terrible with regular scooping, keep using what youre using. Even our favorite litters can only do so much.

Its common for about 2 percent to 4 percent of cats to reject any given litter, according to Ray Brown, of Arm & Hammers parent company, Church & Dwightbut if your litter leaves room for improvement, chances are good that your cat will go along with the change. Ease the transition by mixing in some of the new litter with the old for a week or two, or follow the transition instructions on the box, if they differ.

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Scoop The Litter Box Daily

No-brainer, right? The more frequently you scoop the litter box, the less time you have cat waste sitting out exposed to the air in your home. Scooping at least once a day can help you keep those wafting odor waves at a minimum. However, this can become tiresome, especially if you have a busy schedule or multiple cats. The good news is there are options beyond simply becoming a slave to the scoop.

What Bugs Are Attracted To Cat Litter

Yes, there are bugs that are attracted to cat litter.

Cat litter brings a bunch of different insects to your home. The multitude of pests that feed on feces is countless.

However, there are a few that are especially prominent in homes like mosquitoes, flies, beetles, and of course, gnats.

Fruit flies dont only eat fruits- they eat cat litter also. Fungus gnats, dung beetles, bumble bugs, litter beetles, fleas, grain weevils, and even moths can be found consuming the waste material.

There are also jumping bugs, silverfish, earwigs, and even bugs that only eat the corn from your cats waste.

Dont take any risks and test the waters. Prevent pest problems by being proactive.

The last thing youll need is to dig out the litter to see a layer of grubs hiding under the surface layer.

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Outdoor Moisture Control Uses For Cat Litter

Outside the home, cat litter can also benefit in moisture control. This includes inside boats, where moisture can be a serious issue, or in campers and RVs. Simply place a few open containers around the boat, RV or camper. The cat litter will absorb not only the moisture, but also the mildew and odours, according to Boat Safe, an online boating resource. Be sure to replace the cat litter regularly, as it will lose its effectiveness once it has absorbed all the moisture it can hold.

• Outside the home, cat litter can also benefit in moisture control.
• The cat litter will absorb not only the moisture, but also the mildew and odours, according to Boat Safe, an online boating resource.

Why You Should Trust Us

Im Wirecutters pets writer, and Ive covered everything from the best automatic litter boxes no one should buy to our favorite cat litter mats. Im also a lifelong pet owner and animal-shelter volunteer whos dealt with her share of cat poop, and Im determined to find the best way to control litter box odors without making things worse for feline residents.

Shannon Palus was a senior staff writer who wrote the original version of this guide. She interviewed Alexandra Medley, a veterinarian who had recently graduated from the Ohio State University , and had her survey the vets in her network for answers to Wirecutters toughest litter questions. Shannon also consulted Michael Lund, a vet with the ASPCA Anne Levin, president of the Brooklyn Bridge Animal Welfare Coalition and manager of the Brooklyn Cat Cafe and Ray Brown, VP of household R& D at Church & Dwight, the company that owns Arm & Hammer . She tested the top-performing cat litters at Brooklyn Cat Cafe, where dozens of cats provided their, er, input.

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How To Manage Humidity In A Basement Without A Dehumidifier

Basements are prone to humidity, and sometimes it can be hard to get rid of it. Fortunately, there are ways to manage humidity without a dehumidifier.

Some of the ways to eliminate humidity in the basement include plants, silica gel, container desiccant, charcoal, baking soda, salt, ventilators, and cat litter. Other possibilities are to divert moisture from outside by fixing gutters, adding slopes, and replacing your AC and furnace filters.

Some of these are instant solutions for an occasional problem, while others are long-term. Lets go over all the methods that you can use to get rid of humidity in your basement.

The Best Silica Gel Cat Litter

Wirecutter contributing writer Gregory Han swears by the odor-absorbing properties of silica gel litter, and he has used So Phresh Scoopable Cat Litter for nearly a decade. Guests have remarked our apartment does not smell like the usual small space, multi-pet abode, and most importantly the cats seem to like the sodium silicate best, he writes in Apartment Therapy. Han notes that silica gel litter tends not to track as far outside the litter box as some clay litters hes tried. For one of his cats who spent a lot of time scraping at the litter box, the dust from clay was a problem too. Han admits that So Phresh is pricey , and he says it works best with a layer of baking soda added to the bottom of the litter pan . Unlike silica with bigger crystals or pearls, the So Phresh silica is small enough that it coats poop reasonably well, though it does get a little yellow from cat pee.

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Can Gnats Live On Cats

Gnats can crawl around on your cats fur and you may notice scratching or itching.

Although gnats dont bite or sting cats, they can cause some kind of discomfort. If your cat does his business in the litter box and you notice scratching afterward, some gnats may have grabbed onto your cats fur.

However, if you see bite marks, bumps, or bleeding, it could be the work of a mosquito or no see um.

Natures Logic All Natural Pine Wood Cat Litter

The Natures Logic All Natural Pine Wood Cat Litter is super cheap. It is much cheaper than most of the competition and is made out of pine. This is its main draw. However, dont let the low price pull you in. It is not the best option on the market in the least. In this case, youre getting what you pay for.

The main problem with this litter is that it is non-clumping. While this may be a benefit for some, it is not going to work for most customers. Many customers complained about this feature. Furthermore, when the pellets are used, they break down into sawdust. This sawdust doesnt do much to trap litter either. Instead, it tends to smell quite a bit. In other words, this litter doesnt work as a cat litter should. It doesnt clump and doesnt do much to control the smell otherwise.

This litter doesnt smell like pine either, despite the name. It is not similar to other pine products on the market. On top of this, the litter is used up rather quickly. Youll likely find yourself changing the litter a lot and spending more money on litter overall.

• Litter is used quickly

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Rock Salt And Calcium Chloride:

These two are not as common as the other absorbers mentioned above. But both of them are also very inexpensive and easy to use. Fill up a small plastic container with either of these two and close the lid. Poke a few holes on the lid so that the moisture is drawn through. Keep the container in a safe place inside the car.

Is Clumping Litter Safe For Kittens

There are horror stories about cats eating clumping litter and having it form clumps inside their stomachs, but this isnt something most people need to worry about, said Medley. If your cat is eating litter, take them to the vet: It could be a sign of anemia or pica, the desire to eat things that are not food. Plus, in small quantities, sodium bentonite isnt dangerous for animalsits even an ingredient in some animal feed.

Some people are especially worried about kittens eating clumping litter, because kittens have smaller stomachs and may be more curious. Though some brands recommend using non-clumping litters until your kitten is 4 months old or so, others, like Cats Pride, note that theres no evidence that sodium bentonite has actually caused harm to a kitten this is a conclusion supported by vets Medley and Lund, as well as by everything we found when scanning the literature and reading many Internet forums. In my 7 years experience as a vet Ive not seen a foreign body from a kitten who has ingested clay clumping litter, said Lund. If youre concerned and would still like to use clumping clay litterI would!monitor your kittens behavior and check in with your vet if something seems amiss.

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Best Ways To Get Rid Of Humidity In Your Basement Without A Dehumidifier

Dehumidifying your basement is necessary, but the problem is that a lot of basic solutions will not fix a long term problem.

Ideally, you should locate the source of the problem and fix it. Everything else is just removing the symptoms of a persisting issue. However, that is not always possible, or it can be costly, so there are ways to control humidity without any special devices or maintenance work. This is especially important if you are thinking of finishing your basement.

To improve your basements humidity levels, you can use one or more of the listed methods below within four different categories.

Dont Feed Your Cat Cheap Food

When cats eat a food containing by-products and too much grains their feces are more abundant and more stinky.

A bad cat food means a cat with a less healthy digestive system, creating more gas, and much more strong stools. Make an effort and get your cat a good quality dry cat food, containing a good source of proteins, avoiding fish in the first 3 ingredients. Also, try not to feed your cat the same type of protein for too long, make some changes in between to avoid food allergies.

When changing the cat food you must do it slowly, mixing with the old food, otherwise your cat will experience diarrhea that will create more stinky feces. When it comes to foods, it will all depend on the cat and its overall health condition. You will have to go to the trial-and-error method until you find a quality cat food that will make your cat healthy and happy.

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Why Do I Smell Cat Litter

Your cat visits her litter box about five times a day, so you’ll be left with a strong ammonia smell if you let the dirty litter sit. While this is normal, extreme odors could indicate a urinary tract infection and warrant a veterinary visit. The smell of your cat’s urine could be affected by what she’s eating, too.

How To Keep Gnats Away From The Litter Box

There are few things you can do to keep bugs away from your litter box. Start with a combo of different remedies and assess from there.

Stop the ones that arent working and try new ones. Here are a few techniques you try:

• Line the perimeter of the litter box with sticky tape to catch crawling and flying bugs
• Regularly clean the litter box daily
• Remove damp litter ASAP
• Use half the amount of litter
• Put plants around the litter bin that repel bugs
• Use a bug zapper
• Place the litter box away from windows and doors
• Ensure theres no fruits or vegetables near the litter
• Spray vinegar and dish soap when cleaning the bin

With these tips, you can keep gnats and other pests away from the litter box.

Assuming the pest problem isnt rampant with your cat, there shouldnt be too much difficulty to keep it pest-free.

Also, make sure your CAT isnt bringing in pests from the outdoors or has a flea problem.

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What To Check To Choose A Litter Mat For Your Cat:

The litter you use: if you use sand type litter any good litter mat will work fine because they offer openings or rough texture to catch the litter. Some mats have small openings on the surface while others bigger holes. If you use fine litter it wont be a problem for it to fall through the holes into the bottom layer. The texture: Ideally, the litter mat needs to be soft on the cat paws and also on your bare feet. This is very important because some cats refuse to walk on a rough litter mat when they dont feel it easy on their paws. Functional design: To contain litter effectively, the mat needs to have some ridge edges to hold better the spilled litter. Also if you have a cat that jumps, the bottom of the mat needs to be non-slip so it doesnt slide when the cat lands on the mat. Easy to empty: The mat needs to be easy to empty when filled up with litter and not too heavy if you want to dump the litter outside. Size: The size of the mat is also an important point to consider because if you have a large litter box or a cat that does long jumps you might need a big size if you have enough room for it. Waterproof: If your cat has frequent accidents with urine or feces, its a must to get a litter mat with the ability to hold liquids long enough until you take care of it. Easy to wash: The mat needs to be lightweight to carry to the sink, bathroom or outside to hose it off.

The Best Litter Scoop: Duranimals Durascoop Original Cat Litter Scoop

Out of five scoops we used to scoop litter at the Brooklyn Cat Cafe, the DurAnimals DuraScoop Original Cat Litter Scoop was the only one that didnt end up with a crust of pee and litter on the edge, or bits of litter stuck in the mesh.

This scoop is deeper and wider than the competition, making it simple to scoop up a large clump or to rake through the litter to pick up any bits youve missed. Its sturdy edge allows you to easily remove any clumps that may have gotten stuck to the pans edge or bottom.

The DuraScoops inventor, Chuck Firthaka the poop scoop guy, as he signs his emailssaid he invented this scoop in 2003 because he was tired of using plastic scoops that bent easily. The DuraScoop lives up to his intent, and its rubber handle is easy to grip and wont bend or dig into your hand.

Overall, the DuraScoop makes an unpleasant chore as simple as possible, a fact reflected by the scoops impressive, 4.8-star rating on Amazon. One reviewer says, 30 years, 4 cats, and countless plastic scoops later, I bought the metal DuraScoop. What a relief. Says another, I cant believe Im in love with a litter scoop! Its also a firm staff favorite at Wirecutter.

The DuraScoop is more expensive than the competition, though we think that about $13 is still a small price to pay for something that makes it easy to clean out your pets litter box.

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Change The Litter Box Once A Year If Possible

You cant use the same litter box forever. Plastic litter boxes are not expensive so try to change your cats litter box at least once a year. Cats urine is strong and overtime it decays the plastic, allowing bacteria inside it which makes it almost impossible to get rid of bad smell. Additionally, your cat will be happy with a new toilet.

Get A Large Litter Mat Covering An Extensive Area Of The Litter Box

When cats dig, a lot of dirty litter goes to the floor. This is also a source of bacteria that gets harbored if we dont keep the litter area protected from dirty litter and also from litter box accidents. Usually litter mats are small, covering only the litter box and adding only a couple of inches extra. You need to get the best litter mat which are made from rubber and with a good size that cover most of the area where litter goes onto. This keeps the odor-causing bacteria away from the floor or the carpet.

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