Cat Litter Crystal
the
Super Absorbency of Silica Gel

Cat litter crystal is also known as silica gel cat litter.

It is in fact not a gel, but a solid, granular, porous form of silica, found in quartz. Feline litter is made from silica dioxide sand, plus oxygen and water.

It is a natural occurring mineral which is purified and then manufactured into either a pearl (bead) or granular form.

Silica gel is used in cat litter because of its excellent ability to absorb moisture and its odor control. The crystal granules (pearls) act like little sponges quickly absorbing all moisture.

advantages of silica cat litter

If you have a new kitten or your cat is having problems with their current litter, you may want to consider a change or an alternative.

Every product has its pro's and con's, we explore some of the advantages of silica gel cat litter:

Ideal for multi-cat households
Cost effective as a little goes a long way.
Can last up to 30 days
Low maintenance. Remove solid waste daily, stir the cat litter and replenish litter
When the litter is saturated, it will change color, an indication to change the litter
It traps odors really well
Little if any tracking
Silica litter is non-toxic, but ingestion should be avoided - especially by dogs looking for a 'tasty morsel'

Silica Cat Litter Examples: Petco Crystals (USA) ; Dr Elsey's (USA) ; Exquisicat (USA) ; Trackless Litter Pearls (UK) ; Pettex (UK)

disadvantages of cat litter crystal

Whilst this product is the latest development in the cat litter market, it would appear that there are some safety issues related to silica gel.

Silica gel is reported to be carcinogenic
Ingestion of the product can be toxic.
There have been isolated reports that cats have developed skin and respiratory allergies to silica cat litter
It may be harsh on the cat's paws
Silica becomes sticky when wet and may stick to your cat's paws
It is generally pricier than clay cat litters