The Best Cat Litter... and the Worst

Sep 29th 2009

Just as us humans have our preferences of toilet paper, cats, too, are finicky about their lavatories. In fact, the kind of litter you buy may affect your kitty's bathroom habits, so unless you and your cat are 100% satisfied, you might want to experiment with making a change. Plus, with all the new kinds of litter out there, you may find one that's better for your cat, yourself and even the environment.

What follows is a litter primer that lists pros, cons, and recommended brands. For guidance and advice, we went to three heralded cat experts: Dr. Peter L. Borchelt, a renowned animal behavior consultant; Dusty Rainbolt, author of Kittens for Dummies; and holistic health counselor Celia Kutcher. And of course, we also polled the best experts of all -- cat owners.

After the jump, find information and recommendations for the best clay, silica, corn, pine, wheat, soy, aspen, and even tea leaf litters!