Pet stores and supermarkets sell a variety of cat litter options, but not all pet owners find it wise to literally throw away money. In this case, you can try to use "improvised means" as a filler or try to do without it at all.
Why do you need a filler
Cat litter has several functions at once:
- absorbs moisture (dampness in the tray can cause the cat to stop using it);
- absorbs unpleasant odors;
- allows the animal to realize its natural desire to "bury" excrement;
- Simplifies cat grooming by making litter box cleaning less frequent.
If the cat or cat does not seek to "hide" the traces of their vital activity, you can do without filler at all by installing a tray with a grate: all moisture will drain to the bottom. True, in this case, you need to constantly monitor the condition of the tray, try to rinse it after each use and wash it thoroughly at least once a day - otherwise the stench cannot be avoided. If such a careful control of the tray is not possible, you will have to resort to one of the "popular" options for fillers.
Sand
The sand absorbs moisture well enough. It copes with the smell a little worse: it weakens it, but does not completely absorb it. Therefore, if you use sand as a filler, you will have to come to terms with the fact that the smell of cat urine will almost always be felt in the toilet. In addition, the grains of sand are very light - therefore, when the animal buries the traces of its vital activity, the floor next to the tray will be covered with sand. However, this trouble can be avoided by using high trays with sides. Changing the sand in the litter box is done every 2-4 days.
Newspapers
Newspapers torn into small pieces are an old "folk" way of arranging a cat litter box, very popular, but at the same time quite troublesome. In order for the cat to be comfortable using the tray, it is necessary to tear the paper finely enough, and it gets soaked very quickly. You have to change the paper in the tray every day, in extreme cases - every other day, and it does not cope with the smell very well.
You can buy a tray with a grate - then moisture will drain down, and newspapers will get wet more slowly. To avoid smell, you need to empty such a tray several times a day.
Sawdust
Wood sawdust is a good alternative to factory fillers. They are convenient to dig, they retain moisture and smell well - such a tray begins to smell only when all the sawdust becomes wet. Therefore, sawdust is one of the best types of "folk" fillers. If you use a tray with high sides and sprinkle the sawdust in a layer of 8-10 centimeters, you can clean the litter box every 5-7 days. True, there are some inconveniences: sawdust "dust", in addition, the smallest particles of wood "stick" to the cat's paws and are carried throughout the apartment.
On top of the sawdust, you can place a thin layer of pieces of newspaper - then there will be less dirt on the floor. Replace wet paper daily.
Fuel granules (pellets)
Wood pellets intended for solid fuel boilers are woodworking waste compressed into granules and practically do not differ from wood litter for cat litters. When wet, they crumble into small sawdust, and absorb moisture and odor no less effectively. Pellets are poured into the tray in a thin layer, as they are used, their volume increases 4-5 times. If you use pellets, you can clean the tray once every 7-10 days.
