No, you cannot mix different types of cat litter. Each type reacts differently to cat poop and urine, so if you mix different types of cat litter, you reduce the efficiency of both types.
This article will look at issues that arise when you mix different cat litters, including:
- Why it is not a Good Idea to Mix Cat Litter
- Is it Advisable to Combine Clumping and Non-Clumping Cat Litter?
- What Happens When you Mix Crystal and Clumping Litter?
- When is it Acceptable to Mix Different Types of Cat Litter?
1. Why it is not a Good Idea to Mix Cat Litter
Different cat litter brands differ in quality, materials, used, price, and the additives that make it clump quicker or smell better.
Therefore, if you think that it is a good idea to mix cat litter, it does not work well for the following reasons:
Less Efficiency
When you mix litter, it does not mean that the resulting mixture will give you more. In its place, you produce a mix that does not fulfil its purpose.
For instance, you might be looking for cat litter that can flush down a toilet. Adding clay litter to corn or wheat litter won’t flush down the toilet, and it will not absorb efficiently like clay litter.
You may also be looking for a litter that does not clump together and mixing may lead to clumping thus affecting the efficiency and making your cat uncomfortable.
Cats Do Not Like Drastic Change
When you change cat litter, cats do not like it, and they will start to poop or pee in other places.
They will continue to do this until you put back the old litter they are used to.
2. Is it Advisable to Combine Clumping and Non-Clumping Cat Litter?
Clumping litter is made of tiny granules of clay, which absorb moisture, expand and stick together. The solid clumps are scooped out and thrown away to keep the litter box free of urine.
Non-clumping litter breaks apart when wet into a sawdust material, which traps moisture. You sift the pellets and throw away the sawdust.
Cat litter such as clay and other plant-based litter absorb urine. However, they allow some of the urine to settle at the bottom of the box.
It is essential to frequently change non-clumping litter to keep the litter box hygienic and fresh.
Mixing clumping and non-clumping litter will not produce a litter with superior benefits. The non-clumping litter inhibit the clumping cat litter from clumping.
On the other hand, the clumping litter makes it difficult to sift or clean the non-clumping litter.
3. What Happens When you Mix Crystal and Clumping Litter?
Crystal litter absorb and trap liquid. When silica crystals absorb urine, little odour is produced, and the litter can last up to one month before changing it.
When you mix crystal litter with clumping litter, urine that touches the crystals will be absorbed. However, urine that directly goes to the clay litter will not be absorbed.
Because crystals prevent clumping, scooping the litter will be impossible. When you mix crystal and clumping litter, you will have to replace the litter regularly, which creates extra waste.
4. When is it Acceptable to Mix Different Types of Cat Litter?
Cats can resist change, especially when it comes to the contents of their litter box. Your cat may take some time adjusting to a new litter.
Rushing this process will stress your cat and even make him pee or poop outside the box and lead to unwanted behaviours around the house.
It is important to ensure that your cat feels comfortable especially when choosing the litter that your cat likes.
If you want to transition your cat to a new litter, you can mix the old litter with a little of the new one. This will enable the cat to discover something new while still using a familiar litter.
In this post, we have seen that it is not good to mix different cat litters and it is important to stick to what your cat prefers.
Mixing may also lead to a more untidy environment rather than making the situation more uncomfortable for your cat.
The reasons why you should not mix cat litter have been explained through the points below.
- Why it is not a Good Idea to Mix Cat Litter
- Is it Advisable to Combine Clumping and Non-Clumping Cat Litter?
- What Happens When you Mix Crystal and Clumping Litter?
- When is it Acceptable to Mix Different Types of Cat Litter?