Cat litter crystals are a relatively new alternative to the standard clay based litters that have been on the market for years. It does a much better job of absorbing urine and waste than clay, and thus it is superior for odor control. It also can save you money in the long run because it doesn’t have to be changed quite as often.

However, as I found out the hard way, not all cats like litter crystals. My cat refused to use his litter box and even urinated on my bed when we switched his litter to the crystals. On the other hand my older cat didn’t mind it and there was never any problems with him. However, I highly suggest you don’t make the same mistake I did, and slowly transition any cat to the new litter.

Since the crystals are hard and not soft like the clay/sand cat litter, your kitty will probably not like the way it feels on their paws at first. It doesn’t have a really strong scent either. So you will want to mix in some of the old litter with the crystal litter for awhile, then slowly add more crystals as the weeks go along.

Part of the problem I had with my cat was he couldn’t find his litter box anymore. Be sure to show your cat the litter box, as he is used to finding it through his sense of smell. Using crystal litter can be a dramatic change and his sense of smell needs to become accustomed to it.

Also, be sure to keep the litter box clean. Just because the crystals do a better job of absorbing odors, doesn’t mean you should wait a week or more before cleaning it. Your cat has a better sense of smell than you and may refuse to use the box if it isn’t clean enough for him.