Silica gel filler for cat litter: reviews, composition, application. How to use silica gel for cat litter?
The problem of teaching a kitten to the toilet, toUnfortunately, many owners are known not by hearsay. It is very rare that an animal enters the house, having all the relevant skills. In most cases, good habits have to be brought up. To ensure that efforts have not gone in vain, the first thing that needs to be done is to choose where and how the cat will "walk".
A street, a tray or a toilet?
Here is the main question, from the answer to whichmuch will depend on further action. Undoubtedly, the use of a household toilet by a common toilet has many advantages. First, the economy. You do not need to buy a cat's filler (silica gel, sand, sawdust, etc.), the tray itself and the tools for cleaning it. Secondly, convenience. There is no additional source of infection in the house. However, not every cat will agree to use a normal toilet bowl. Yes, and keep it constantly with the lid open, not every mistress will (and otherwise none at all). In addition, by carelessness, an animal can fall into the water or slam itself with a lid on the head, after which it will be apprehensive about the source of its troubles and may start to behave disgracefully. Walking a cat on the street is also not everyone will succeed. Most of the owners are against their pet being trampled by their clean paws on the asphalt, earth or shastal in the cellars. Therefore, many choose the tray.
What are fillers?
Many animals use empty trays. It's economical, but unhygienic. After all, the cat paws into its own excrement, after which it carries them on the floor, furniture and other objects. So it's better to spend some money on the backfill for the tray than to put the health of your family members at risk. Moreover, in any specialized store they are offered in the widest range. Globally, fillers can be divided into lumps and crumbling. The first under the action of moisture form a tight joint (like a stone), the second, on the contrary, fall apart, turning into dust. To the clumsy are mainly clay and silica gel filler, and to crumbling - pressed wood chips. There are also combined variants containing various granules. They are usually used as a transitional option to accustom the animal to a new material. In addition to the composition, the fillers also differ in the size of the granules (there are small, medium and large). They are chosen depending on the age, size and preferences of the animal.
What is silica gel?
If you answer the question from the point of view of chemistry, thenthis is a fairly simple compound, or rather, a dried silicate gel. It is obtained by colloidal mixing with water of silica. But the interest is not chemical, but physical properties of the substance. More precisely - the ability to absorb moisture.
Silica gel has a porous (hydrophilic)surface. Due to this quality it is often used for drying air or other gases. In boxes with shoes, clothes, equipment, paper bags with transparent crystals inside are often found. This is silica gel. Application of the material has received a wide enough, starting with the household and ending with the industrial.
In addition to water, silica gel adsorbs many othersconnection. Therefore, it is often used to trap harmful substances. Relatively recently began to use silica gel for the cat's toilet, and quite successfully. And he is an excellent catalyst for chemical reactions.
Which filler is better?
As mentioned above, the main options for hygienebackfill for trays - clay, sawdust and silica gel. Filling for cat litter can be very difficult. Each material has both advantages and disadvantages. In addition, the final decision is still taken by the animal, and it is little worried about the sanitary conditions and price characteristics.
If we consider the filler from clay, then itis good at its low price, but it does not do very well with smells. Around the tray, as a rule, a lot of grains accumulate, and in the process of "digging" the animal creates a whole cloud of dust, which is not very convenient. In addition, cats sometimes swallow pieces of filler, which is hardly useful.
Another, more popular version of the pressedWood sawdust is very much like the animals themselves. Affordable price and ease of disposal (after use it is washed into the toilet) made it popular. In addition, it is the sawdust that is often additionally flavored, which cat owners like. But, unfortunately, they do not absorb the liquid very well, so the content of the tray has to be changed quite often. Yes, and a lot of debris from them, animals take small particles throughout the apartment. Often they cause allergies.
Silica gel filler for cat litter is more expensive and clay, and wood. But in the end it turns out to be more economical, because, thanks to high absorbing qualities, it is changed much less often.
Advantages of silica gel filler
First, the material itself is very light. This dignity will certainly be appreciated by the mistresses of cats who know what they need to drag a 7-10 kilogram bag of clay or sawdust to 5 floors without an elevator.
Secondly, the silica gel filler forThe cat's toilet is partially changed once in 2-3 days, and completely, after 2-3 weeks. It turns out and sparingly, and conveniently. Those who are obsessed with cleanliness are also encouraged to choose a silica gel filler. Reviews of this material, regardless of the manufacturer, say that the traces of his stay in the room are almost imperceptible (which can not be said about sand, clay or sawdust).
In addition, the granules perfectly absorb notonly moisture, but also smells. So, to detect the cat's tray by its characteristic "aroma" will never work if this material is used in it.
About shortcomings
Ideal things in this world, as you know, are notexist. So even silica gel for cat litter, despite all its advantages, has a number of drawbacks. First, the cost. A small bag with translucent granules will cost several times more expensive than a large (and heavy) packet with sawdust. True, taking into account the economical expenditure, it turns out not so expensive, but still many are frightened by the price.
Secondly, some animals are afraid of him.To be more precise, the sounds that silica gel can emit. The filler for the cat's toilet from this material rustles loudly when the cat digs in it (most animals can not simply not). But the worst thing is hiss. When the liquid is absorbed, the process is so fast that it is accompanied by loud enough, frightening sounds. Undoubtedly, over time, the cat gets used to hissing and rustling, but at first it can experience some discomfort and even stress.
The third thing that stops cat owners frompurchase of silica gel - its composition. If it is clear with wood sawdust, sand or clay, then what is made of this material, many do not know and consider it a complex (and harmful) chemical compound. Undoubtedly, this is a delusion, and the crystals themselves are not more toxic than ordinary sand. However, if swallowed, they can be dangerous (there is a risk of dehydration). And the specific smell of silica gel, which is not perceptible to humans, sometimes frightens animals.
Is it possible to accustom a cat to a new filler?
Sometimes this becomes necessary.For example, if the animal has got into the house, being accustomed to clay or sawdust, and its owner considers it not too hygienic and prefers to use silica gel. Veterinarians and professional breeders recommend any changes to be implemented gradually. This applies to food, and toilet, and other things. That is, if a cat is accustomed to pressed sawdust, and the owner does not like it, the ideal option is to continue to pour them, gradually adding silica gel. As soon as the animal ceases to concentrate its attention on the crystals, their quantity is increased. Thus, gradually you can completely switch to silica gel for the cat litter. In this case, and the owner will be satisfied, and the animal will not experience special stress.
Mode of application
The silica gel filler is used veryjust. The contents of the package are poured into the tray and, after a few days, the lumps are removed from it with a special spatula, trying not to touch the dry crystals. After 2-3 weeks it is recommended to completely update the filler. When combined with sawdust, it is better to change the contents of the tray daily or as contamination.
Which tray should I use?
There are also a lot of them:closed and open, deep and not very much, with bars and without it. There are even stylized for all kinds of interior items. However, when choosing a tray, do not forget about its direct purpose. In addition to aesthetic qualities, it should be attended and practical. First of all, this is the simplicity of animal access, its convenience, as well as the ability to easily wash the container or change the filler.
In fact, a toilet for an animal, as fora person is quite intimate and strictly individual. Therefore, the number of trays, and their shape, and fillers should be chosen so that it would be comfortable for both the cat and its owner. In this case, the apartment will always be clean and there will not be unpleasant surprises.
</ p>>
