Can You Mix Different Cat Litter?

can you mix different cat litter

Sometimes, pet owners get carried away and end up buying more supplies than they will feasibly need for quite some time.

It’s easy to do so; after all, you just want the best for your pets, so you always make sure you don’t run out of their supplies.

That said, for cat owners, one common problem is ending up with various cat litters in storage at home, but not having enough of any one type to fill up a whole litter box.

That leads us to the question: “Can you mix different cat litter to get a full box?” If yes, are there benefits to mixing litter to get the properties of various litters in just one box?

More questions may come to mind for most cat owners, especially when they realize that they have too much litter at home or want to try to create their own litter blend.

Can You Mix Different Cat Litter if You Are Out of One Type?

If you run out of one type of litter or you only have a little bit of a few types of litters lying around, you might be wondering if you can mix them without any complications.

If this is all you have at the time or want to find a way to use up the last of your supply, using them together should not be a problem.

Some cat litter will settle differently than others, which can cause the litter to act a bit strange, but this is not a huge problem when doing this for just one or two changes in the litter box.

Will You Get the Benefits of Both Cat Litters?

Another question that cat owners may have is whether or not it would be effective to mix two different types of cat litter to reap the benefits of both litters.

For example, someone might want to mix a clumping variety with a sawdust variety to get the best of both worlds.

While the idea, in theory, is a good one, it won’t always work out in practicality.

Litters are formulated to work when the entire box is filled with one litter type. As such, some of the benefits you are trying to take advantage of might not work at all when you are mixing it with another type of litter.

A clumping variety, for example, might not be able to clump properly if mixed with something else.

If you really want to try it out, though, there is no reason not to experiment with how the litter will work.

The worst-case scenario is that you will need to replace the litter with a fresh batch if the cats won’t use it or it isn’t working properly.

How Do You Mix Litters Successfully?

If you are set on the idea of mixing litters to get a better final product, there are a few things that you should keep in mind.

First, the cat litter will mix most successfully if you use two litter brands with similar densities. This will prevent the litter from separating in the litter box.

Second, you will likely want to use either two unscented varieties or only one scented variety; otherwise, you might cause a strongly clashing scent that your cat will not like or will make your home smell odd.

Finally, try to mix either two clumping varieties of cat litter or two non-clumping varieties.

While it can be tempting to try to make your custom clumping litter by mixing it with a non-clumping variety, mixing in this way will typically cause the clumping aspect of the litter not to work properly, and you’ll end up with a mess.

Can You Mix Cat Litter to Transition Brands?

Cat owners who want to change the brand of the cat litter they are using can benefit from using a transitional period with their cats.

Just as you would transition from one food to another, it’s a good idea to transition between litters. This way, your cat does not become stressed or confused by the changes.

The good news is that it is a very simple process, especially if you change the litter in the following order:

  1. Mix ¼ of your new litter with ¾ of the old litter
  2. Mix ½ of your new litter with ½ of the old litter
  3. Mix ¾ of your new litter with ¼ of the old litter
  4. Use a full box of new litter

As you go through this process, pay close attention to how your cat uses the litter box to see if they seem to be struggling with the transition process.

Do Cats Mind Mixing Cat Litters?

Can you mix different cat litter without your cat refusing to use the litter box? It will depend on your cat and how particular they are.

Like many creatures, cats like regularity and have things that they prefer. In some cases, they will be very stubborn about the things that they like.

If your cat enjoys the litter that they are currently using, they might not enjoy using a mixed version of the same litter even if you have your reasons for doing so. The only way to find out if this will be the case is to give it a try.

Keep in mind that you may need to switch back if your cat doesn’t seem to be a fan of the new litter box setup. After all, what’s the point of using a cat litter if your cat won’t use it anyway, right?

Mixing and Matching Different Cat Litters

It is possible to mix cat litter in specific scenarios, but most cat owners will not benefit from trying to mix litters all the time.

While there is a chance that you would be able to take advantage of various benefits from different litters, most litters will not work as effectively when mixed with something else. For that reason, it’s best to limit mixing litters to when you are transitioning brands or simply out of any other litter.

If, however, you find a perfect blend combination, there is no harm in using it!

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