Facts about Ultimate Cat & Kitten Litter

How do the Granules Work?

The granules are extremely porous. A vacuum is made in each granule during a unique phase of the production process which gives the granules an immediate absorption capacity. When they come in contact with liquids, they immediately absorb moisture and odors. The liquid subsequently evaporates trapping the odors inside. The exterior surface of the granules thus remains dry after use, which inhibits the growth of bacteria.

Do the Granules Clump?

On first contact with liquid they appear to clump but this is only temporary. As the cat naturally scratch the surface, or by stirring the granules with a scoop, the clump is dispersed into the other granules. The granules remain dry; they do not form clumps, do not dissolve and do not form a gel. They are only used to absorb moisture. This capacity of absorption is greater than that of usual cat litters. Because of this, you do not have to scoop out and throw away the granules giving longer life.

What happens to the odor?

The odors are trapped in the granules. Moisture then evaporates rather quickly. The unique characteristics of the granules allow the prolonged imprisonment of the odors, bacteria and moisture within the granules. The same is true of odor from solids. The granules absorb the moisture and dehydrate the solids and thus eliminating any odors.

What are the granules made of?

The granules are nothing other than silica sand, oxygen and water. The production process resembles that of glass. Several methods are used to give their porosity. These methods do not, under any circumstances, use chemicals. Our manufacturer only uses PURE water; some others use river water which can be contaminated by discharged chemicals. A simple test of purity is to place some granules in the palm of your hand and add some water; if you feel any heat from the granules then they are not made from pure, clean water. Pure drinking water ONLY is used in the production of Ultimate granules.

What happens in the event of ingestion?

This product is naturally degradable and inert. It does not contain chemicals. Even in the event of involuntary ingestion, this product does not present any danger and the granules will pass naturally through the digestive system. If ingested you might find that your pet will drink more water than normal for a short period but this will pass as the granules pass through.

What do I do with the used granules?

Because the granules are made of naturally occurring products and are naturally degradable and inert, the used granules can be thrown in the green dustbin, the refuse container or be composted in garden. With time and moisture they will return to their original component, silica sand. In fact, composted, they will enrich your garden. With the imminent arrival of "pay by weight" refuse disposal, using Ultimate will eventually save you money as you won't have to put heavy, used cat litter in the refuse disposal.

Can the litter form dust?

A dust extraction process is used during the manufacture and bagging of Ultimate, however, during transport, friction between the granules can produce a light dust. This powder does not have any chemical origin, thus it is not dangerous and does not exert any negative influence on the operation of the granules. Some unscrupulous manufacturers/suppliers of other types of cat litter erroneously claim that the dust is carcinogenic and can be harmful to animals and humans. Ultimate Cat and Kitten Litter is NOT made from CRYSTALLINE SILICA which can be harmful. Ultimate is made from SILICA SAND which has been proven to be safe. The best way to avoid any dust is to GENTLY pour the contents of the bag into the tray from a lower height as possible.

How much Ultimate Litter should I put in the Tray?

One of the questions most frequently asked relates to the quantity of granules necessary in the tray. It is recommended to put in the tray a thickness of granules between at least 1.5 to 2 inches. An insufficient or too significant quantity of Ultimate granules does not have any influence on their operation. A 4 pound bag should be enough for a cat tray of average size, lasting a healthy, 8 pound cat approximately 30 days. Make sure that the cat tray is sufficiently full so that the cat can scrape and dig as they are accustomed to.

Will the granules stick to the paws of my cat?

It is possible that some Ultimate granules are carried out of the tray by the cat after its use of the tray, particularly if its paws are damp or moist. We recommend placing a tray mat (available from your pet store) or a small carpet in front of the tray in order to avoid the dispersion of the granules as much as possible. The quantity of granules which remain stuck to the paws of the cat is absolutely not comparable with what the cat usually collects on its paws: all types of cat litter stick to the cats paws.

Does this product pollute?

NO! This product is absolutely non polluting since it is made up only of sand, water and oxygen and if composted will become sand again with time and moisture. It is a natural product and meets land fill requirements.

What about Solids?

Solids should be scooped out and thrown away daily. At the same time stir the granules to disperse them and increase their life. If your cat has diarrhea then this will result in slightly more granules than usual being thrown away as they will stick to the wet stool while dehydrating it. In any case the granules will still work and remove odors. Using a scoop you can completely cover the wet stool to increase odor removal time. If your cat has prolonged diarrhea we recommend you take it to a veterinary clinic as soon as possible. The wet stool can be removed easily and given to the clinic for analysis if requested.

Will my cat readily accept this new type of litter?

Cats can be known to be extremely fastidious and any change of routine can upset them. However, natural curiosity will lead your cat to investigate the new litter and research has shown that one of the most preferred mediums of cats is sand. Ultimate Cat & Kitten Litter has the constituency of sand and in our clinical trials we have not encountered any "acceptance" problems. Should you have an "acceptance" problem then we advise you to gradually introduce your cat to the new litter. Mix it with the current litter and slowly increase the amount of Ultimate to completely replace the old litter. We do not recommend mixing litters for normal usage as this will decrease the efficiency of the Ultimate granules.

There are many silica litters on the market, why is Ultimate different?

Most silica cat litters are between 2.5 and 5 mm in diameter and can have quite sharp edges. This size is not recommended for kittens under the age of 8 weeks as there can be problems if ingested (the granules can become stuck in their mouths and possibly lead to ulceration) and also the edges are too hard for their small paws. Ultimate granules are between 0.5 and 1 mm in diameter and are too small to cause problems if ingested PLUS they are extremely soft on the kittens' paws. Their texture is identical to that of sand which cats love for their toilet requirements. Ultimate Cat & Kitten Litter is also the "Vets Choice", go to www.catdoctor.com and see what Dr. Tracy McFarland DVM, DVA, the "Cat Doctor" has to say.