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Cat litters - Which one to Choose?

27/8/2018

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3 Interesting Facts about Cat Litter:
1.  Businessman and entrepreneur Ed Lowe invented and trademarked Kitty Litter® in 1948 as the first commercially marketed cat litter. In that time the most popular litter pan materials were sand and fireplace ashes.
2. Cat waste can contain a nasty parasite called Toxoplasma which can cause some serious health problems to humans. Wastewater treatment systems are primarily designed to handle human waste and aren’t designed to handle things like Toxoplasma. Unfortunately, wastewater treatment systems don’t remove this parasite from the water before it is discharged back into the environment. The harm can also extend into waterways and marine ecosystems affecting fish, shellfish, otters, and other marine life  
3.  To avoid being eaten or attacked by predators, ancestral cats had to cover up their tracks. The smarter cats gravitated toward soft dirt or sand, since their granular consistency made it easier to bury their waste. This is why cats are naturally attracted to the feel of cat litter and know what to do once they feel it beneath their paws.

3 Recommended Qualities for cat litter?
  1. Grain Size.  In litter preference studies, cats consistently and significantly favor litter made of very small granular (sand-like) material over large granule litter made with other types of substrates.
  2. Non-Scented.  Many cats are averse to odor control additives and may also have an aversion to litters with a floral or citrus scent. The chemical fragrances in many cat litters can also be toxic to cats.
  3. Dust free​ Many mass market cat litters contain significant amounts of silica dust which has been linked to upper respiratory issues in cats and even humans. 

3 of the main cat litters we have experienced - Pros & Cons

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Crystal Cat litter
Crystal Cat litter is made up of Silica gel which is composed of silica dioxide sand, oxygen and water. The gel is made up of tiny pores that absorb 40 times their weight in liquid. Most of us recognize silica gel as those little “dessicant—do not eat” packets that come with medications, cameras, shoes and other items that could be damaged by moisture buildup. 
Pros
  • High absorption of urine and efficient odor control
  •  Bacteria are less likely to grow in the crystal litter than in other types of litter because it does not contain sugar or carbohydrate
  • less frequent litter box changes 
Cons
  • One of the most potentially serious is the chance that your cat, or more likely, your kitten may eat some of the crystals. If your cat eats litter crystals, he/she could face some life-threatening medical situations.
  • There is a tendency for urine to pool in the litter box when the crystals become saturated.  Although manufacturers recommend daily stirring of the crystals.
  • Large rough shape of the crystals may irritate little paws.
  • More expensive?  May be offset by the fact that you need to replace it less often

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Biodegradable Litters 
In the US it is considered that there are nearly 75 million cats and up to 150,000 tons
 of cat litter that end up in landfills every year. For this reason alone it may be worth considering biodegradable cat litter as an option for your cat.  
Biodegradable litters come in different forms: wheat, corn, walnut and paper.

The ones most often seen through our Barcelona pet sitting experience are the clumping and non clumping corn varieties.

Pros
  • Biodegradable, supports the environment
  • Many of them have no added chemicals
  • Some are dust free
  • odor control is good
Cons
  • Because many biodegradable litters are based on plant material (they contain carbohydrate and sugar), care should be taken with storage to prevent insect infestations and to prevent the growth of mold, and the aflatoxins. 
  • They can be messy
  • Some are not dust free
  • some may cause allergies

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Clay litter
Clay litter is composed of absorbent, diverse clay minerals called "fuller's earth." Fuller's earth is any non-plastic clay or clay material that can be used to filter, decolorize and absorb liquids and spills. It has been popular for decades and has the innate ability to absorb its own weight in water. 
Pros:

It will effectively absorb moisture as well as provide some odor control through absorption.

  • There are many alternative uses for clay litter, including motor oil clean-up, soaking up "barbeque run off" and traction for icy driveways.
  • It is also relatively inexpensive compared to other products on the market. 
Cons of clay litter:
  • While clay litter effectively absorbs moisture, if the soiled litter isn't replaced often enough, the urine will collect at the bottom of the box. The bacteria in the urine will multiply and convert the uric acid into foul-smelling ammonia.
  • It is dusty and can cause respiratory problems in both cats and humans.
  • It is obtained through strip mining, which has a negative impact on the environment. 
  • It does not break down naturally - leaving landfills full of soiled cat litter.
Clumping or Scoopable Cat litter
Clumping litter is also a clay-based litter, but the main ingredient, sodium bentonite, acts as a clumping agent, absorbing urine and turning it into tight, solid clumps that can be easily removed from the litter box and disposed of. 
Pros:
  • “Urine clumps” eliminate odor build-up and keep the box cleaner.
  • It is virtually dust free.
  • Ideal for mechanical or sifting litter boxes.
  • It works well with multi-cat households.
Cons:
  • There has been much debate about the safety of clumping litter in regard to a cat ingesting the litter and becoming ill. It has been suggested (but not clinically proven) that if ingested – the clumping litter will expand in the cat’s intestinal track and absorb moisture in the cat’s body, creating intestinal blockages and dehydration. As such, many clumping litter products are not recommended for kittens – who often times play in litter pans and ingest litter.
  • Do NOT flush! Due to the highly absorbent nature of clumping litter, flushing it down the toilet can cause it to expand and damage plumbing.
  • Green hazard: Clumping litter is also collected from strip mining and is NOT biodegradable.
  • It's more expensive than regular clay litter.

3 things to help you to choose a scoop
As pet sitters, scooping litter efficiently is all about the right scoop!
  1. Size of holes in your scoop need to match the cat litter type.
  2. Have two scoops especially for the non clumping clay litter types. They are not expensive. One that has holes to match the granule size and another that does not have holes to scoop up urine from the bottom of the tray.
  3. Keep it simple but good quality.​
Conclusion
  • In my research i found it very useful to read the reviews on the various litters.
  • Your cat will also naturally gravitate to the litter it prefers.
  • Considering the population of cats as pets, it is wise to choose an 'environmentally friendly' cat litter.
  • Do not flush litters down the toilet due to the toxiplasmosis risk to groundwaters and the marine environment. Cat waste may also block up sewerage systems.
  • It is all about the scoop. Choose the right scoop for your litter.
  • It is always advisable to remove the urine waste from a cat litter tray to maintain maximum sanitation.
  • Dust free seems to be the healthiest choice.
References
www.petsit.com/pick-of-the-litter​
https://www.huffpost.com/entry/
www.vetinfo.com/pros-cons-crystal-cat-litter.html

www.moneycrashers.com/best-natural-cat-litter-reviews/
https://www.consumersearch.com/cat-litter/best-biodegradable-cat-litter
https://flohawks.com/do-not-flush-cat-poop-down-your-toilet/
https://www.litter-robot.com/blog/2015/06/30/why-do-cats-use-litter-boxes/
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A Story: Meli the Catalan Sheep Dog

27/8/2018

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The Gos d'Atura, Perro de Pastor Catalan or Catalan Sheepdog are an ancient and rare breed of herding dog that developed in Catalonia, during the establishment of the Roman Empire. The breed was officially recognised in Catalonia in 1929, but, is also bred in Germany, Finland and Sweden.
Catalan Sheepdogs are high spirited and cheerful; are well known for being able to do the 'doggy dance'; are highly intelligent, often used by the police and security agents; an agile breed that excels in dog sports and extremely loyal to their human owners. 


What do they look like?
They  sporting full beards and mustaches that give them a funny look. They have an intense intelligent and alert expression with expressive deep amber coloured button shaped eyes and long straight hair. They can be brown, black or cream in colour.
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History & Development
The Catalan Sheepdog developed during the time when the Roman Empire began to flourish between 200 and 100 BC. The livestock guard dogs, that the Romans brought with them were crossed with the local Catalan dogs, thus developing the first line of the Catalan Sheepdog breed.

When the Roman conquerors arrived in the Iberian Peninsula around 200 to 100 B.C. they brought with them two types of dogs. One breed was used to defend and protect the Roman quarters, to tend their flocks of sheep as well as to help in attacking the enemies. The other breed, a dog with a lighter build was used to herd cattle. These dogs that are thought to be the ancestors of the Italian Bergamasco were mated with the native Catalan dogs to give the Catalan Sheepdog of today. 
Gradually, these dogs spread all across Europe and became particularly popular in the Catalonia region. During the civil war in Spain, the dogs were often used to carry messages between command centres. They were also used as guard dogs.


Driving and tending the flock is the true calling of a Catalan Sheepdog. These dogs have a natural instinct of caring for the flock. A Catalan Sheepdog would amiably perform the commands of the shepherd but in most instances the dog will act on its own, making its own decisions concerning the monitoring of the flock. This hardworking breed has been the able and irreplaceable supporter of shepherds for hundreds of years, vigilant and courageous and well able to protect the flock entrusted to its care.

After the 2nd World War, the dog’s population dramatically declined. Some specimens were destroyed, others were rarely bred. Demographic movement is considered to be the major cause of population decline. During the 1950s and 1960s, a lot of farms were closed when people from the countryside moved into towns. Demand for the breed dwindled, the dogs fell into disuse. In 1970 a group of breeders worked together to regenerate the breed. Remaining specimens were found and bought from the shepherds and intensive breeding was begun. Today the breed is still considered to be rare but thanks to the dedicated breeders, the population is slowly but surely growing.

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Catalan Sheepdog Personalities
Cobi, the Catalan Sheepdog, was the official mascot of the 1992 Barcelona Olympics.
Coby represents a Catalan Sheepdog in Cubist style inspired by the interpretations from Picasso of a masterpiece from Velazquez, Las Meninas.


Cobi was designed by Javier Mariscal and he was unveiled to the public in 1987. His name was derived from the Barcelona Olympic Organising Committee (COOB).
​
Before and during the Games, Cobi was shown in a variety of advertisements for Olympic sponsors such as Coca-Cola, Brother Industries and Danone. He even had his own anime television series, The Cobi Troupe. He also appeared on an extensive range of souvenirs, dubbed Cobiana. During the Games an inflatable Cobi was tethered to the Barcelona waterfront.


Other famous Catalan Sheepdog personalities
Einstein and Copernicus from the movie 'Back to the Future' are Catalan Sheepdogs.
'Back to the Future' tells the story of Marty McFly and the scientist Dr. Emmett Brown, or commonly referred to as “Doc” and how they travel back in time to alter their history and return in 1985. Einstein (also called Einie) and Copernicus were the Doc’s pet Catalan Sheepdogs.  However, it was Einstein who had a bigger role to play in the film.

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