How To Use Non Clumping Litter

Non-Clumping Cat Litter

Non-clumping cat litter is the foundation that started cat litters in general. This type of cat litter has been around before any other product that you will find on the market. There are many different types of material offered that do not have clumping capabilities. Some examples include clay, wood, grass, corn, and crystals.

Since many of the more exotic and unique litter materials don't have built-in clumping abilities (or if they do it is on the weaker side) this means that there is a much more varied selection of choices if you are willing to give up clumping ability.

While having a good material selection is nice, what does this mean in terms of odor control, dust levels, litter smell, litter life, moisture absorption, and the plethora of other variables at play? The simple answer is that it depends.

Typically your conventional clay litters are going to be some of the most absorbent options, so while you are giving up the clumping capability you are still working with a product that can absorb a lot of moisture before becoming overwhelmed. Crystals are known for being fantastic at odor control while typically not clump-compatible, so in this case you are giving up hardening for better odor control.

Many of the "all-natural" options forego clumping with the tradeoff being that you are getting to use a product that typically has a more enjoyable litter smell and it also better for the environment. The natural selections can also be much more lightweight, have lower levels of dust, and be able to combat tracking better.

Another big selling point is that for those that are budget-minded, non-clumping clay litters are typically the cheapest products available. If you decide to go with crystals or other specialty materials the costs go up substantially but there is still a lot of freedom in what you can spend.

Finally, the fact that you don't have to deal with removing clumps means that a litter box of non-clumping cat litter is typically a lot lower maintenance than a clumping example. The only time you have to deal with the litter is when you are emptying it unless you decide to try to remove the waste or urine manually to help prolong the life of the litter.

Non-clumping doesn't come without its weaknesses, however. The most obvious feature you are giving up is the ability to clump. This can be a huge selling point in that:

The clumps typically do a better job of locking in cat waste odors, and for longer periods
The cat waste is more easily identifiable for both you (in regards to removal purposes) and your cat (so that it doesn't walk over the clumps and break them apart)
It is much easier to remove the waste, which not only takes away the odor source but also can prolong the life of the given litter

Also, the life of a litter box is typically shorter with non-clumping since you are expected to remove the entire batch when it runs its course. The unfortunate side effect of this is that you let the litter box run until it becomes "too stinky". Many people don't want to minimize cat odor smells so the fact that you are using cat odor smells to dictate when the box needs to be cleaned can be a turn-off.

Clumping Cat Litter

Check out Arm & Hammer Clump and Seal: One of our favorite clumping cat litters on the market right now!

Arm & Hammer Clump & Seal MicroGuard Cat Litter, 28lb, 28 lb

7 day guarantee. Experience the confidence of a 7-day odor free-home—guaranteed.
Prevents the Growth of Future Bacterial Odor
100% dust free. No dust clouds when pouring or scooping.
Seals and destroys odor. Moisture-activated Micro-Granules form a tight seal around cat waste odor, and heavy-duty odor eliminators plus ARM & HAMMER Baking Soda destroy sealed in odors on contact.
No crumbly clumps. Plant-derived particles help create rock solid clumps for easy scooping.

Clumping cat litters are a lot newer than their non-clumping counterparts. While there are still various material options to choose from, there is typically a lot lower selection. Crystals and many of the natural and specialty options struggle with clumping so you might not be able to enjoy their benefits if you still want a litter that clumps.

By far the most popular clumping material is conventional clay. While still generally the cheapest option, clumping litter will oftentimes cost more than non-clumping litter. The clumping version of a given product will almost assuredly come with a premium when compared to a similar product in non-clumping form.

The heavy usage of clay means that you will also have to put more consideration into dust and tracking levels as well as the fact that the litter will probably be quite heavy.

That being said, the obvious benefit here is that you get to enjoy the clumping benefits. This makes odor control much easier and overall litter box monitoring a lot less laborious other than the physical removal of the clumps. Also clumping litter can still be very absorbent and many are just as capable of fighting off liquids as the non-clumping with the added ability to form the rock-hard clumps for both urine and feces.

Summary: Which is right for you?

Like many things it really comes down to personal preference, and we encourage trying both types of litter in multiple products until you find something you are confident both you and your cat with deserve. As a recap, we will go over the pros and cons of each:

And for those wishing to watch a helpful video on the difference between clumping and non-clumping cat litter, we found the video below easy to follow and informative.