We do not recommend mixing a non-clumping litter with the clumping clay and it could inhibit the scoopable litter's ability to clump.
Mixing the two types of litter will result in greater difficulty scooping the box because the clumping properties of the clay litter are lessened from the non-clumping litter. This will cause you to empty the box more often, which will add more waste to the landfills and require you to purchase cat litter more often.
You can, but some cats are sensitive to it, they like “their” stuff. So unless you have to, you should find a brand you and your cat are ok with and stick to it.
The choice of clumping versus non-clumping litter is a personal decision. Though many cats appear to prefer clumping litter because it is easier for them to push aside, some cats prefer non-clumping clay.
If you use non-clumping litter, urine will be absorbed by the clay or other ingredients such as corn or wood, with some falling to the bottom of the cat box under the litter. Clumping litters need changing less frequently because you can use a litter scoop to remove the coated clumps of cat pee and poop.
Conventional non-clumping litter is made from clay, but many alternatives are available today. Using non-clumping cat litter is very simple: scoop solid waste, stir the litter daily to ensure all liquid waste is absorbed, and then change out the whole litter box every week or so.
Non-clumping cat litter needs to be changed more regularly than clumping types. If just one cat is using the tray, aim for at least once a week, but if multiple cats are going to the toilet in there, the whole lot will need changing a few times a week.
The Downsides to Clumping Litter
Clumping litter is often finer than non-clumping litter, this is part of what makes it clump. As a result, it can often be dustier. So if your cat has allergies or asthma, it might not be a good choice.
Clumping litters are linked to a wide range of cat health problems including diarrhea, vomiting, kidney and respiratory problems, lethargy, etc. Clumping litter forms a hard, insoluble mass when it gets wet. It also produces a fine dust. When cats use the litter box, they lick themselves clean and ingest the dust.
There are two main types of cat litter - either clumping or non-clumping. Clumping is simply where the waste (especially the urine) “clumps” together in lumps. Non-clumping is where the constituent litter particles do not clump together (i.e. they remain as separate particles) despite being soaked in urine.
And when they are doing something as private as elimination, sharing the same litter box can be stressful for some cats. Ideally, a multi-cat household should have the same number of litter boxes as the number of cats, plus one extra box; in other words, for two cats, there should be three litter boxes.
If multiple cats are using the same litter box, chances are one of them could get sick from the excess waste in the box if it isn't cleaned and managed well. So while having multiple litter boxes lying around your home may seem like more of a hassle to clean, it's the more sanitary option.
Cats don't like frequent change. So, if you're planning to introduce a new type or brand of cat litter (for example, going from non-clumping to clumping cat litter, or to a different scent), be prepared that your cat might reject using it.
We do not recommend mixing a non-clumping litter with the clumping clay and it could inhibit the scoopable litter's ability to clump.
Non-clumping litters don't clump around your cats “solids”, so they can get spread around and contaminate the rest of the litter, which isn't only unsanitary but can also be dangerous as cat poo may carry Toxoplasmosis or other harmful bacteria.
Make a gradual changeover by mixing in a little of the new with the old. That way, your cat might not even detect there's something up and become accustomed to the new litter during the process. Fill the box with the new litter, topped off with the old, which will feel familiar to your cat when she steps in.
Non-clumping litter is often made from clay which can contain silica dust, this can be harmful to both you and your cat.
If you think your cat may dislike her litter type, texture or smell, try offering her different types of litter to use. Cats generally prefer clumping litter with a medium to fine texture. They also usually prefer unscented litter.
Clumping clay litters can be particularly dangerous to the digestive tract, creating a rock-like obstruction as the litter hardens. As a general rule, such litters are not recommended for kittens.
Scoop waste daily. How often you replace the litter depends on the number of cats you have, the number of litter boxes and the type of litter you use. Twice a week is a general guideline for replacing clay litter, but depending on your circumstances, you may need to replace it every other day or only once a week.
Dr. Justine A. Lee, a long-time veterinarian, believes the box should be scooped daily but admits it's OK if you do it every other day. “We neurotic types clean litter boxes daily. If that's too much for you, litter boxes should be scooped out at least every other day,” she said in this post on Pet Health Network.
They'll be happy that it's clean, you'll be happy that it doesn't take as long. Tidy calls that a win-win. Change the litter completely and wipe the box down with soap and water once every other week or so to keep things fresh. Keep enough litter in the box so your cat can dig a little.
Most cats, however, don't get upset by observing a simple cleaning routine. In fact, they're more likely to get turned off by noxious litter box odor than by watching you scrub their toilet.
Avoidance, Perching and “Hit-and-Run” Eliminators
If your cat has a dislike for the litter substrate, he may not totally avoid the box but may perch on the edge. This may be his attempt at physically being in the box as much as he can while limiting his actual contact with the substrate.