Silica gel filler: description, rules of use and disposal

When the long-awaited kitten finally appears at home, sometimes some owners are faced with problems that they did not even imagine. One of them is that the kitten eats litter for its toilet. The fact is that many manufacturers take natural materials as the basis for the filler. Owners are left in the dark as to why this is happening and what needs to be done about it. It is these aspects that we will try to reveal in our article.

About the filler and what it is like

Today, the choice of fillers for cat litter is extremely large. Most often in stores you can find the following, most popular varieties:

After you get a cat, you need to accustom your pet to the tray or toilet.
Clay clumping composition. This is one of the bestsellers, its price is low, and its use is extremely simple: after the cat goes to the toilet, a lump is formed under the influence of urine, which must be removed from the tray. It is used very sparingly, but it is not recommended to flush it down the toilet. In addition, if it gets on the floor, it can leave dust and marks.

Important! Clay litter is not suitable for kittens as they often try to eat it, which can lead to the death of the animal!

Pressed wood shavings. Environmentally friendly and safe for animals, you can throw it in the toilet. When exposed, urine is absorbed into the sawdust, which retains moisture and odor. Its disadvantage is that it is quickly consumed and carried by cats around the house, sticking to their paws.

Silica gel filler is the most modern and convenient type. They are beads made of silicate gel, which have very high absorbency and retain unpleasant odors well.

There are many types of silica gel for cat litter:

Hypoallergenic.
With antibacterial additives.
With different scents to mask the smell or attract your pet.
With multi-colored granules for every taste.

If your cat suddenly stops relieving itself in the designated area, find out how to find out the reason and wean your pet, and how to get rid of the smell of cat urine.

When choosing a product for cat litter, pet owners try to choose the best product in terms of all characteristics, and most importantly, a product that is easy to use and dispose of. Silica gel filler is one of the most convenient types and practically does not cause trouble when used correctly:

Following the instructions, you need to pour the mixture into the tray in quite an impressive amount; each manufacturer indicates the exact layer height on the packaging. This is necessary for the product to properly perform its task: the bottom layer absorbs and retains moisture, the top layer does not allow the smell to spread.
It is recommended to stir the contents in the tray periodically, so the moisture will partially evaporate and it will last for the required time. In general, one tray load is enough for 2-3 weeks of carefree existence.
When the cat has gone to the toilet “in a big way”, the feces are removed from the tray with a spatula; if necessary, add a little fresh mixture. It is recommended to place a small washable mat near the litter box so that when you step on it, your cat will be able to shake off the stuck granules from their paws and will not spread them around the house.

Did you know? Cats sweat through their paw pads; The sweat released does not have a smell for people, but other animals can sense it, so often, simply walking around the room, a cat marks its territory in this way.

It is recommended to change the filler when it becomes dirty and dispose of it as solid household waste. You cannot throw the contents of the tray into the toilet, since a large amount of silica gel filler can swell, which often leads to the formation of a plug in the pipe that cannot be removed on your own.

Why should you contact a veterinarian?

It would seem a trivial situation, the pet seems to be healthy and active in appearance, why do you need to contact a veterinarian? Only a veterinarian will be able to determine what type of vitamins are missing in the pet’s body. The specialist will prescribe exactly those medications that will fill the missing element in your pet. This way, the craving for eating cat litter can subside.

In case of an emergency visit to the clinic, you need to take a box of the mixture with you - this is necessary so that the veterinarian knows what drug he is dealing with and quickly provides emergency assistance to the cat.

If suddenly the cat becomes lethargic, sleepy, inactive, then it is necessary to go to the clinic as soon as possible, at this time every minute of the animal’s life can be precious. Most likely, this mixture did not leave the body and led to intestinal blockage or poisoning. The main symptoms of health problems are the appearance of the following signs: fearfulness, aggressiveness, lethargy, refusal not only from food, but also from water, rapid heartbeat and breathing, drooling.

As soon as the owner notices that the cat has become partial to the mixture from the cat litter box, you should immediately try to stop this activity so that it does not become a habit and does not lead to serious problems with the pet’s health.

Advantages

Silica gel is very popular among cat owners and this is not surprising, because when used correctly it has a lot of advantages:

efficiency;
does not generate dust when opening the package and pouring the contents into the tray;
practically does not stick to the animal’s paws, so there is less dirt from it;
retains moisture and odor well;
does not cause allergic reactions in cats.

The cat is trying to replenish its mineral deficiency

The cat's diet should be well balanced in terms of vitamin and mineral composition. Micro (manganese, copper, chromium, zinc) and macroelements (potassium, calcium, magnesium, phosphorus) are necessary for cats to maintain the health of the nervous system and musculoskeletal system. Calcium is needed for the formation of bone tissue and teeth. For the proper functioning of the gastrointestinal tract, the animal must receive a certain amount of vitamins B, E and K. Taurine, an amino acid necessary for the digestion of fats in the small intestine, is indispensable. The daily requirement of an adult cat for minerals is shown in the table:

Mineral	Why is it necessary?	Daily requirement	Symptoms of deficiency	What products contain
Phosphorus	Maintaining normal acid-base balance	0.16 g	Increased acidity (acidosis), hemolytic anemia	Meat by-products, fish
Calcium	Formation of the skeleton and tooth enamel, muscle contraction	0.18 g	Brittle teeth, joint pain	Cottage cheese, fermented milk products
Magnesium	Membrane cell permeability, transmission of nerve impulses, muscle contraction	25 mg	Growth retardation, seizures, convulsions	Fish, legumes, grains
Sodium	Maintaining acid-base balance, participating in neural connections	43 mg	Thirst, disruption of the excretory system, lack of body weight	Canned food, cheese, bread, meat products
Iron	Work of the hematopoietic system	5.5 mg	Anemia, apathy, weakness	Liver, red meat, pumpkin seeds
Copper	Participation in the development of connective tissue, general metabolism	0.3 mg	Lack of body weight, weakened reproductive function	Fish, liver
Zinc	Tissue regeneration	4.5 mg	Violation of the integrity of the skin, itching	Meat

Flaws

However, the use of silica gel filler also has disadvantages, although there are very few of them:

the high cost of silica gel (this is true, the packaging is not cheap, however, if you follow the instructions, this product will be used more economically than its other analogues);
It is not allowed to use small kittens for toileting, since eating mixture pellets, which is typical for babies, can lead to poisoning;
In the production of silica gel, substances are used that can be toxic if they enter the cat’s digestive tract, so this option is not suitable for cats that are prone to testing everything.

When caring for cats, learn how to teach a pet to brush its teeth, why a cat needs a haircut, how to sew and put on a blanket, how to bathe a kitten and how to deliver a cat.

Psycho-emotional reasons

Kittens may eat inedible litter out of curiosity. The kids are still immature and are just beginning to learn everything. They can just try the filler on their teeth.

However, if a cat can easily spit out an ordinary toy or piece of paper, the clumping mixture sticks tightly to the palate or tongue. In cats it is very hard, with numerous small protrusions. As a result, animals have to swallow everything that gets into their mouths, including litter.

The cause can be stress in both small and adult cats. Severe discomfort can occur for many reasons - a change of environment, fear, the smell or presence of a dog, moving, etc.

The fix is easy:

the animal needs to be provided with maximum comfort and tranquility;
give the cat more attention and time;
periodically feed with “snacks”.

This will help correct unhealthy addictions. However, if the above tips did not help, the reason may lie in illness. Only a veterinarian can determine it.

Which to choose

There are many manufacturers producing high-quality silica gel, but there are proven, reliable brands that are in great demand.

The leading position in the ranking of silica gel fillers is occupied by a product called "AnimAll". This line of Chinese-made products has an advantageous price-quality ratio, and also attracts with a huge range of types, colors, and aromatic additives.
The Chinese composition, located in the same price segment, has proven itself well; it is distinguished by the presence of hypoallergenic varieties.
Means "Kotix" also widely represented on the market. It has a higher price compared to previous representatives, but it is compensated by good quality. The filler granules are small and have a high ability to retain unpleasant odors - accordingly, the product is consumed more economically.
“Trixie” is a series of more expensive mixtures, produced in Germany, the granules practically do not create dust, which is ideal if there are allergy sufferers in the house. Unlike representatives of previous brands, this filler “binds” the smell immediately after urine hits it.

Did you know? Craftsmen have found an unusual use for cat hygiene products. If you get your phone wet, remove the battery and place the device in a container with silica gel overnight.

Ways to wean a kitten from a bad habit

Punishing or shouting at a cat who eats granules is prohibited, as severe stress can provoke a refusal to use the litter box and the development of urinary problems.

If the kitten ate the litter for the first time, then it is enough to pull the pieces out of the mouth and scold the baby. However, in cases where the pet continues to show interest in artificial granules, felinologists recommend the following methods:

Buying a double bottom or grille. A plastic device that lies on the litter will prevent the kitten from getting granules and lumps. A significant disadvantage of this method is the unpleasant odor from excrement, which will not be hidden by a layer of litter cleaner.
Selection of the safest fillers. To reduce the risk of gastrointestinal disorders, you should give preference to sawdust, soy fiber or corn pellets. As the kitten grows older, it will give up its strange dietary preferences, so an environmental remedy will be a temporary measure.
Normalization of the diet and inclusion of mineral supplements. According to statistical studies, most often interest in inedible granules arises if the cat eats only meat or fish without the addition of fruits, vegetables and bran. It is prohibited to choose vitamin complexes on your own, as you can cause an overdose of vitamins.

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Which tray to choose

There are many varieties of cat litter boxes and, as a rule, the type of litter is not a selection criterion in this case. Nevertheless, you need to take into account the wishes of the owner and the peculiarities of the animal’s habits when choosing a toilet for your pet.

If you plan to use litter, then you should immediately discard trays with mesh - they are intended for cats that are not accustomed to having contents in a potty or there is a need to ensure the cleanliness of the latrine (for example, for animals that have undergone surgery).
Automated trays with a self-cleaning function are a new trend for cat owners, but such an innovation will easily scare the pet if it is nearby at the time of “cleaning”.
The owners really like closed trays with a roof because they do not allow the filler to spill onto the floor. This toilet is suitable for timid animals who try to hide while recovering from natural needs.
For most cats, the best potty option is a regular plastic tray without a mesh. If the owner wishes, you can purchase such a tray with an additional side, the installation of which will prevent the contents from scattering.

Find out the basic criteria for choosing a cat tray and cat litter.

Physiological factors

Cats need calcium to maintain teeth and bone tissue. It usually enters the body with food. However, if it is of poor quality, the animal will begin to look for something to replace or supplement the food with. In this way, the cat tries to compensate for the mineral deficiency. How to fix the situation :

Take the animal to a veterinarian who will prescribe vitamin complexes.
Certain foods are excluded from the cat's diet or replaced with new ones that contain essential minerals.

You cannot purchase vitamin complexes or medications for your cat on your own. Sometimes hypercalcemia and other complications occur. The animal may have some features that the owner does not know about, since he has not encountered this before. For example, intolerance to certain components, allergies, etc.

The second physiological reason why a kitten eats litter is to grind down its teeth. Despite domestication, a predator still “lives” in pets. Cats themselves try to take care of their teeth and claws by grinding them down on a hard surface. This is exactly the texture that fillers have.

There are two ways to deal with this:

Feed your cat bones periodically. You need to choose solid ones or give tendons. They are sold in any pet stores. Cats also love to chew on pork or beef ribs, but chicken bones should not be given to animals.
Buy calcite for your pet. This is a special stone. The cat will not be able to chew it completely, and the teeth are sharpened well.

If the animal has other options, it will not use toilet pellets for other purposes.

Grinding of teeth

Another reason for strange behavior is predator intuition. A cat needs to sharpen its claws and teeth to become comfortable. Just as he “attacks” furniture for claw treatment, he tries to sharpen the picket fence on solid particles of the litter box mixture.

The way out of the situation is simple - give the cat a hard treat in the form of brain bones. This edible will help him sharpen his teeth and bring him pleasure. Typically cats love to chew on beef and pork ribs. It’s best not to give small chicken bones to cats. Feed your cat carefully and monitor his well-being. In case of unusual behavior, you can always call the veterinarian.

In addition, when young kittens become ill, they look for an opportunity to stimulate this process. You can get your cat a special stone - calcite. It cannot be chewed, but the devil will effectively help your pet cut and sharpen its teeth.

Do not buy the elixir of life or any supplements for your cat yourself. Only an animal doctor can, according to the rules, diagnose the causes of deviations in a pet, and recommend safe means to solve the problem.

Methods for removing blockages

Mechanical pipe punching

If trouble does occur, and as a result of the ingress of a huge amount of filler the sewer system “rises,” measures need to be taken.

You can deal with blockages like this:

If the incident has just happened, and the bulk of the material is in the toilet itself, it is necessary to remove it from there as quickly as possible. To do this, we put a rubber glove on our hand and scoop out everything we can reach.

To make the work more effective, you need to add a small amount of water to the toilet. But don’t overdo it - if the cork turns out to be very dense, then you will have to remove the water by scooping it out.
As long as sawdust filler gets into the pipes, a plunger should be enough. But bentonite is capable of blocking the lumen “tightly”, so the plug will need to be destroyed mechanically.
To do this, we use a cable with a special attachment, which we screw into the jam and destroy it. Our goal is to punch a hole in the center of the pipe, and then the flow of water will slowly wash away the contamination.

Chemical methods

In some cases, the filler does not form a blockage, but simply accumulates in the drain and reduces the throughput capacity of the sewer.

Here it is possible to cope with the situation using chemical means:

We pour granular powder into the pipes in the most problematic area.
Add a small amount of water and leave for approximately 20-30 minutes. for reaction.
Then we carefully rinse the system, draining the water from the tank a couple of times.
Along with this, acidic agents are considered the most effective, because they are good at destroying organic matter accumulated in the sewer.

Preventive actions

If a kitten eats a little litter, this is not dangerous to its health, but it may be a symptom of diseases of the digestive tract and you should consult a veterinarian.

If there are no deviations in health, then perhaps the kitten lacks attention and peace of mind. In this case, you need to give more affection and love to your small pet.

Spend time with your pet so that there is no reason for a bad habit to develop.

What to do if the kitten stubbornly tries to eat the litter?

There are few options here. The first - radical - abandon the filler completely. A tray with a grid is perfect for such purposes. On the plus side, you no longer have to spend money on buying filler. And the kitten will lose the habit of putting inedible things into its mouth. In addition, cleaning will be easier - there is a lot of dust from the filler, and the kitten will drag its particles throughout the apartment on its paws. And one more thing - you will always know exactly how often the kitten goes to the toilet and control the color, consistency, and smell. The filler quickly teaches owners not to pay attention to such trifles.

There are also disadvantages - you will have to wash the tray much more often. Sometimes - after each use. And the smell - now the aroma will spread throughout the house.

You can avoid the latter if you use filler, just pour it under the grate of the tray. This way, odors will spread much less, and the litter box will have to be cleaned only after pooping, usually 1-2 times a day for kittens. And filler consumption is reduced significantly. And the paws are clean.

Source

Stress

Moving to another apartment, having a second pet, or a long business trip are situations that change the cat’s usual lifestyle and can cause stress.

The animal is nervous and does not feel safe. To calm down, the cat begins to chew inedible objects that catch its eye.

Distract your pet from eating the litter with a new toy or treat. Give your cat more attention, play and talk to her more often. Patience, care and playing together will help your pet cope with stress.

If you are leaving for more than a day, ask friends or family to look after your pet. It is important that in your absence the cat is not only fed and the tray is cleaned after it, but also given attention to the pet: played, stroked and treated to treats. Half an hour of communication with a person a day is enough for a cat not to feel lonely.

Psychological problems

Sometimes kittens eat the litter that fills the tray out of curiosity. The smell of the litter, to which special fragrances are added, can attract a kitten.

If a kitten has recently arrived in the house, it may experience emotional distress. Therefore, the litter for the tray is a kind of “stress eating” for him. The breeder needs to distract the pet from a bad habit with the help of toys or treats, and spend more time communicating with the kitten.

In rare cases, animals exhibit behavioral abnormalities, as a result of which the pet eats inedible objects for no apparent reason. In this case, you will need the help of a veterinarian.

The kitten needs toys so that there is no temptation to play with the litter

Anxiety

The cat may start eating from the tray due to nervousness. If the animal is frightened or depressed, the instinct of “stress eating” is triggered just as much as stupor, aggression or panic activity. What can cause stress in a pet:

moving;
the appearance of a dog in the house;
income of guests or the arrival of a new family member;
change of owners;
sharp succession of diet;
experience of illness;
increased noise level in the room, etc.

In the hope of calming the animal, try to give it attention, caress it, and pamper it with a treat. Let me know that everything is fine and the pet is safe.

When moving, offer the cat his favorite tricks, feed him from the usual dishes. When new “neighbors” appear, save yourself, introduce the cat to them, and let them get used to it. If you cannot stop the kitten from this strange habit, consult with an animal behavior specialist.

First aid

If a kitten is caught eating litter, the first thing to do is remove it from the mouth.

If a kitten has eaten a large amount of clay or silica gel litter, then you need to promptly rinse its mouth with water and take the animal to a veterinarian.

If it is not possible to visit a doctor, you can try to induce vomiting in the kitten using a small amount of salt water. To prevent your pet from choking, you need to use a small syringe without a needle. Until the kitten's condition improves, it can be fed food with more fiber. In addition, bran helps improve intestinal function.

Supervise your pet when going to the toilet to prevent him from eating litter.

Other famous brands

Below is a comparative table with a list of equally well-known and popular brands. Having studied their composition and main features, you can choose the optimal brand for yourself, which will be environmentally friendly, safe, inexpensive and satisfy all the requirements of the animal, refresh, and keep the house clean.

Name	Compound	Peculiarities
N1 Naturel Green tea	Clumping, woody	Biodegradable and odor neutralizing
Ever Clean Multiple Cat	Clumping, clay	With an antibacterial effect, protects against foreign odors, without fragrances.
Barsik Standard	Absorbent, clay	With antibacterial effect, protects against odor
Clean paws Woody	Absorbent, woody	With antibacterial effect, fragrances, odor control, biodegradable, washable
Kuzya Absorbent	Absorbent, mineral	Biodegradable, odor control, for cats with long hair
Siberian cat Extra absorbent	Absorbent, mineral	Protects against odor, for long-haired dogs
NeoSuna Clumping with color indicator	Crumple, paper	Biodegradable, odor control, washable
Premium Pet Japan Pulp-polymer with blue indicator	Crumple, paper	Biodegradable, antibacterial, odor-resistant, hypoallergenic, washable
PrettyCat Euro Mix	Clumping, clay	With antibacterial effect, protects against odor, for kittens
Smart Cat Silica gel “unscented”	Absorbent, silica gel	Protects against odor, hypoallergenic
Canada Litter Scoopable Baby Powder	Clumping, clay	Protects against odors and fragrances
Better Way Flushable	Clumping, clay	Odor control, scented, hypoallergenic, washable, for kittens
Snowball Zeolite	Absorbent, mineral	Protects against odor
Shurum-burum Premium	Absorbent, silica gel	Protects against odor, has an antibacterial effect, hypoallergenic
Almo Nature Cat Litter	Clumping, grassy	Biodegradable, odor control, washable
Kit Cat Soya Clump Green Tea	Clumping, soy	Biodegradable, anti-odor, washable, for long-haired cats, for kittens
Murzik	Absorbent, silica gel	Protects against odor
Cat's Choice Baby Powder	Clumping, clay	With antibacterial effect, flavors, hypoallergenic
Happy Paws Woody	Absorbent, woody	Biodegradable, odor control, antimicrobial, fragrance, washable
Golden cat Ecoline Corn	Absorbent, corn	Biodegradable, odor control, hypoallergenic, washable
Sanicat Classic	Absorbent, mineral	Protects against odor
Sepiolsa Natural	Absorbent, mineral	Protects against odor, with antibacterial effect
Cat without worries	Absorbent, mineral	Protects against odor, has an antibacterial effect, hypoallergenic
Eurolitter Baby Powder	Clumping, clay	Protects from odor, with fragrances, hypoallergenic
ProNature Holistic	Clumping, clay	Protects against odors and fragrances
Katty	Clumping, bentonite clay	Neutralizes odor, particles do not stick to paws, moisture absorption is 100%
City Cat	Clumping, bentonite	With antibacterial effect.
Clean Kitty	Clumping, clay	With antibacterial effect, locks and retains odor
My beast	Clumping, clay	biodegradable, with antibacterial effect, odor protection

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