The Low-Down on Silica Litter

Recently you may have noticed it on the shelves of your favorite pet store, or seen ads on tv or social media about silica litter.

As you know, there are many types of litter to choose from…clay, clumping, non-clumping, plant-based, wood, crystal and even tofu! Each of these litters has their own pros and cons but ultimately which litter you choose has to be a decision that you and your cat make.

There are many sources of information about the different kinds of litter but in this post we want to focus on educating you about silica.

Silica litter is crystals of silica gel beads which are granules of sodium silicate. These granules have a super power that allows them to absorb nearly 40 times their weight in moisture which is the perfect power to have when soaking up liquids in the litter box!

Because the litter absorbs so much moisture, it traps the odor. You no longer need to worry about you or your guests smelling a stinky litter box.

Crystal litter has no dust which means it’s easier on your cat’s lungs and your allergies. It’s non-toxic if accidentally ingested and is not a carcinogen to humans or pets.

So why do people think silica litter is dangerous? It’s because some people confuse silica gel with crystalline silica. Silica gel (which is what the litter is made of) is non-toxic and is a lot like the gel packets you may find in some of the packages you buy. Crystalline silica, however, can have hazardous health effects and is a human lung carcinogen.

Will it work for all cats?  Silica litter is ideal of all ages of cats and it may be easiest to use it when you have a young cat and can introduce it to them early on. But if you have an older cat who is set in his ways, you can transition them to silica by slowing introducing it into the litter box over a period of weeks.

Is it expensive? When you consider that silica litter lasts much longer than clay, if you compare prices and sizes, you may be surprised at how affordable it really is.

How does it last so long? It’s that magical absorbing power! The best way to use it is to clean out the poop daily, then stir the litter so that all of the moisture can be absorbed. As long as you’re scooping out the poop, the litter can stay good for up to a month absorbing the liquids.

Now that you know about silica litter, check out our selection BlueBarn.Shop and see if it can work for you!  (and your cat).