It happened last winter.I got home from work that day close to ten at night. The moment I opened the door, a wave of stench — a mix of urine and artificial fragrance — hit me right in the face. My British Shorthair, “Nian Gao” (Rice Cake), was squatting right outside the litter box, looking up at me with a pitiful expression.

Let me start by saying this: I’ve had a cat for three years, tried 11 different litters, cried from the smell 5 times, and clogged my toilet twice.If you’ve been through any of the following scenarios, type “1” in the comments. If you haven’t… then you’re the chosen one, and I envy you.

As a cat parent, choosing cat litter is like picking diapers for your baby—get it right, and your home stays odor-free and cleaning is a breeze; get it wrong, and your cat may avoid the litter box, dust flies everywhere, and your wallet suffers.