Silica Gel Cat Litter

Cat litter is one of the most important requirements for your pet that you must be careful about choosing it. Because of variety of cat litter, maybe the situation will be difficult to you but we are here to help you what cat litter is better and which cat litter should you choose. Bastetandanubis is an online pet shop that sells cat litter in high quality.

Silica gel cat litter is one of them that we are going to introduce it to you in this article. You can read other subjects about cat litter and ways about how to care your pets in our blog.

Silica Gel Cat Litter:

Silica Gel Cat Litter also called Crystal Cat Litter is very environmentally friendly. Silica Gel Litter is a newest type of cat litter that improves urine odor and controls the highest moisture absorbency. The Silica Gel Cat Litter absorb liquid and odor for extended period of time compared to other cat litter.

Silica Gel Cat Litter boasts non-toxic amorphous silica gel granules that are both lightweight and highly absorbent. These granules swiftly pull in liquid and accompanying odors, allowing them to evaporate over time.

Silica gel is a desiccant and absorbs and holds water vapor. You can find silica gel packets almost anywhere, including new shoes, electronics, dog treats, and even human foods, because it limits moisture and prevents mold and food spoilage. While silica gel packets usually warn not to eat them, they’re generally harmless. Silica is found in quartz, and the gel contains pores that absorb and hold moisture.

If you search “what is the best cat litter?” certainly you will find Silica Gel Litter. Silica Gel Litter has two types include crystalline and amorphous gel. Crystalline silica is toxic for cats and can produce harmful dust when inhaled. Meanwhile, amorphous silica found in Silica Gel Cat Litter is non-toxic when ingested or inhaled and it doesn’t be harmful for your pet.

Is Silica Gel Cat Litter safe?

As we told you, Silica Gel Litter has crystalline and amorphous. Most of Silica Gel Litter is safe for your cat. If the litter uses crystalline silica, it’s not thought to be a safe option for you or your cat. However, if the litter uses an amorphous silica gel, it’s generally safe for your cat.

Although non-toxic if inhaled or ingested, eating large amounts of amorphous silica gel can create issues in a cat’s digestive tract leading to vomiting or diarrhea. This is likely more of a real concern in kittens, as they are more likely to eat it.  It’s the same concern you’ll have with clay-based cat litter, but it is worth noting if your cat likes trying to eat the stuff.

Don’t recommend Gel Cat Litter to:

• You prefer eco-friendly products: As we detailed above, silica mining is an environmentally damaging industry that destroys habitat, pollutes water sources, and erodes landscapes. Furthermore, used silica litter will not biodegrade and must be sent to the landfill. If sustainability is dear to your heart, you might prefer a plant-based natural litter that is biodegradable and made from a renewable resource.
• You hate litter tracking: all crystal litters are granular, which means even the large crystal versions track substantially more than pellet-shaped litters. If you want to virtually eliminate tracking, pellet litters made from pine, tofu, or walnut can do just the trick (plus they don’t hurt as much to step on).
• You prefer clumping litter:  Clumping vs non-clumping litter is a personal preference, but if you’re used to the convenience of clumping or don’t like the idea of leaving urine in the litter box, then crystal litter might not be for you.

Read more: Types of cat litter

Pros of Silica Gel Cat litter:

• Incredibly absorbent: Silica litter for cats is absorbent because it’s porous, allowing it to capture moisture to dry out feces and absorb urine.
• Effective odor control: Because silica cat litter is incredibly absorbent, it can control odor by drying out feces and absorbing urine. Silica gel absorbs liquid waste to prevent evaporation, trapping odors in its pores.
• Non-toxic composition: Clay litters containing crystalline silica are unsafe because crystalline silica is toxic and creates dust that can cause breathing problems when inhaled. However, crystal cat litters contain amorphous silica, which is non-toxic to humans and pets.
• Low dust emission: Crystal litter contains some dust but much less than dust in other cat litter. Of course, the dust will depend on the brand you use, with higher quality litter containing less overall. Still, the dust found in cat litter with silica gel is not the same type of hazardous dust found in clay litter.
• Lightweight convenience: Silica cat litter is lightweight because it’s porous, so you can find it in small bags that suit your needs.
• Easy to clean: With fewer refills, cat parents can reduce how often they clean litter boxes. Instead of cleaning the litter box daily, they can scoop poop and stir the litter to keep it relatively clean with less effort. Of course, you’ll still need to change the litter every month, but there should be fewer clumps, making cleaning easier.
• Lasts longer: Because silica gel cat litter is so absorbent, it’s less likely to become moldy when introduced to moisture. It’s an inorganic material that doesn’t go bad and can keep your cat’s litter box clean and dry.
• Doesn’t Go Bad: Despite all the benefits of natural cat litters, they can be susceptible to mold or spoilage if not stored properly. Silica gel, on the other hand, is an inorganic mineral that’s not at all appetizing to microorganisms. It never goes bad and it helps create a dry, sanitary environment in the litter box.

Cons of Silica Gel Cat Litter:

• Higher Cost: Silica litter for cats is more expensive than clay cat litter. However, it’s considered much safer, so the extra cost can provide pet parents peace of mind.
• Non-clumping formulation: While crystal cat litter is relatively safe when a small amount is inhaled or ingested, it can cause obstructions when eaten in large quantities.
• Messy: your cat can easily make a mess when walking in and out of their litter box. Of course, how much the litter is tracked depends on its size, with smaller sand resulting in more tracking. However, the smaller sand can be more comfortable for cats to walk on.
• Gel issues: If your cat consumes silica gel cat litter, they may experience GI upset with symptoms like diarrhea and vomiting.3 However, they’re unlikely to experience severe side effects because amorphous silica gel is relatively safe, even though gel packets warn against ingestion. Remember, silica gel crystal cat litter doesn’t contain the crystalline silica found in some clay litters. The crystalline silica is the type more likely to cause serious harm.
• Trackable: Crystal cat litter is essentially quartz sand, so some tracking is inevitable (here’s our ultimate guide to stop litter tracking). How much it tracks depends on the specific litter’s particle size and shape; smaller crystals result in more tracking but offer a softer surface for cats to walk on, whereas larger particles lead to less tracking yet can be uncomfortable underfoot or under paw. Of course, you can always invest in a litter mat or high-sided litter box to reduce tracking, or take a peek at our list of the best non-tracking cat litters.
• Not environmentally friendly: Silica Gel Cat Litter isn’t biodegradable because its inorganic sand manufacturer guidelines suggest throwing your cat litter in the garbage instead of flushing it down the toilet, which means it will end up in landfills.

Crystal Cat Litter can be a good choice for household?

• Low dust is a priority: Silica Cat Litter to be a better option than clay if you or your cat has respiratory issues or allergies.
• You’re short on time: Cleaning the litter box should be part of every cat parent’s daily routine, but sometimes life gets in the way. If you find yourself forgetting to clean the litter box frequently, crystal litter’s absorbent and long-lasting properties will keep the litter box tolerable for longer than most other litter types.
• Your cat eats litter: cats are unlikely to ingest crystal litter. cats are more likely to mistake pellet litters for food because the particles can resemble kibble. Silica Cat Litter is sand-like and not made from food byproduct, so this should not be a major problem.
• You use an automatic litter box: Crystal litter’s small particles and excellent absorption pair efficiently with most automatic litter boxes. Solid waste is easily raked out and urine is absorbed by the silica gel.
• You want to monitor your cat urinary health: Several crystal litters offer health monitoring features in their formula (e.g. Pretty Litter, Alpha Paw Genius Litter). You can also choose a regular uncolored crystal litter that will clearly show the color and size of your cat’s urinations.
• You need lightweight litter: If you struggle to carry heavy loads, don’t have access to a car, or live in a walk-up apartment, you’ll definitely appreciate how small and lightweight a bag of crystal litter is.

What is the best dust-free cat litter:

Many cat litter brands have created in low or no-dust formulas. Dust free cat litter come from sand, pellets and clumping clay. However, there is no single best dust-free cat litter because the good litter for your cat depends on their preferences. For instance, some cats won’t use pellet and prefer softer sand.

Conclusion:

Crystal cat litter is a unique mineral-based litter type composed of amorphous silica gel granules (NOT crystalline silica! More on that later), which are known for their absorbent and lightweight nature.

When liquid is exposed to these miniature porous beads, it’s pulled into the network of microscopic pores and trapped along with any accompanying odors. Eventually, the water evaporates and leaves the smelly compounds behind; this is what grants crystal litter its odor controlling capabilities.

Silica Gel Cat Litter is a popular option because it’s less messy and contains less dust making it a safer alternative to many clay litters, but is Silica Gel Cat Litter safe? This kind of cat litter is non-toxic. You should always read the ingredients in litter to ensure it doesn’t contain crystalline silica, which can be harmful to pets.