and why? Something different for kittens vs. cats?
Daily Kitten Chat Forum » Cats & Kittens
What is your preferred litter
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I'm actually really interested in this thread. I've been having a big problem finding a good litter. Our apartment is small and we have 2 cats. The scented litters make the house smell like perfumed cat pee, and the plain unscented clay litters smell really strong as well and needs changing more because the pee won't clump to scoop. I still haven't found a brand I love.
Posted 8 months ago by ginirosaru #
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First, do NOT use clumping litter for kittens! It is dangerous as kittens who ingest clumping litter from grooming their paws can literally have their digestive system become clogged and die painfully!
Not every cat and not every person will end up liking and/or tolerating the same litter. Some prefer clumping and some prefer regular litter. I've tried both types and many brands of each.
I have 4 cats, 3 of whom have special medical needs, including kidney issues. As a result, the vet has me using regular litter, scooping out poop every day, and completely changing the litter each week and scrubbing out the litter tray with soap and hot water when I do.
I find this regimen no more work than using clumping litter, as it is easier to keep the regular litter pooper-scooped and stirred up to avoid soggy litter at the bottom. Rather than use an expensive pooper sifter from the pet store, I've found that using a large slotted kitchen spoon from the dollar store works just as well with less stress on the wrist.
As to the brand of litter, I've found that using Fresh Step clay litter which has small bits of charcoal in it to absorb odors works far better than other clay litters to reduce odors and it doesn't have any perfumes. It is about as odor neutral a litter I've found.
On the down side, it is pricey but it works so well, that less volume of litter is needed in the tray than with other litters.
If you or your cat don't like Fresh Step, then use the least expensive clay litter you can find and add baking soda mixed in yourself. You can buy very big boxes of baking soda and mix some in for a lot less money than buying litters that already contain baking soda for odor control.
I sometimes use PetsMart's Exquisite brand non-clumping clay litter and add baking soda when the budget is too tight to buy Fresh Step.
One way to help lessen the odor is to use a large metal rather than plastic tray for the cat's litter tray. Large enamal roasting pans work well for this if your cat isn't too big. The metal doesn't get embedded with the odors from the litter tray like plastic litter trays do. They are easy to wash with soap and hot water and have nice convenient carry handles on the end!
Other TDK folk will have additional good suggestions. Good luck finding what works well for your kitties and you!
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I have used the same combo of litter for the past 12 yrs..... once, I tried to switch brands, and Cuddles went "pooplistic"!..... so I switched back, and I don't even think of ever trying to change again!..... don't know what I would do if they quit making it!
.... I use Fresh-step (non-clumping) litter, mixed with Tidy cat crystals.....neither are very heavily scented, and the combo seems to absorb odors very well......between 2 cat boxes, I split a 30 lb. bag of fresh step and one plastic container of the crystals, then stir..... I also use (very sparingly) - the Arm & Hammer powder deodorizer, but you have to be careful to only use a little, and then stir it in with your scooper - this can be more heavily scented, and the cats get upset if this scent is too strong!..... this has worked very well for us for years, and our boxes are kept in close quarters - in a small closet under the stairs, so if they smelled, you would notice it!.... to answer the last question, I've used this since they were both kittens..... I also recommend a "litter mat" that is right outside the box that they step on when they get out - these mats remove any litter pieces that might get caught in their paws, and that way they don't track it all over your house!
... I will also second Marnet's advise - I scoop EVERY DAY, completely change the litter EVERY WEEK, and wash the litter tray out with warm soap and antibacterial soap each time......
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My sister got me hooked on SWeat Scoop. It's an all natural wheat based litter that's not laden with perfume. Caution - it does clump. It's about $10 for a big box and since I only scoop the clumped part and then add a little fresh litter, it goes a long way. Leela has 2 litterboxes and I wash them about once a week with soap and water. Other than scratched-up moldings and cat toys everywhere, one can't tell/smell that we have a cat!
Posted 8 months ago by JoanfromNewJersey #
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It is non-clumping litter
http://www.epinions.com/review/Tidy_Cats_Crystals_Cat_Litter/content_61678390916.... I have found that the crystals seem to absorb odor the best, and stirred in the regular fresh step litter, it keeps it fresher longer, without adding a strong scent......
...Holy Cow, I just looked at the price on that site!... no way do I (or would I) pay that! .... I think is about $5 at the grocery story.... The good news is, most crystal brands of cat litter are basically the same..... and since it's stirred in the Fresh Step, the majority of the "scent/feel" to the cats is the Fresh Step they love and are used to...... this is kinda like a "secret ingredient", but I think really makes a difference......
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I used to use Fresh Step but Sox didn't like it. So I started using Tidy Cat for multiple cats. I also sprinkle the crystals over the litter everyday after I scoop. I also wash with hot soapy water. I also use a bleach rinse on the box every month. I think it stared when I got paranoid about FeLV--although bleach may or may not kill the virus completely. I just wanted to protect Teaser the bet I could.
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i use wood pellats. it doesn't clump, it just crumples when it gets wet. it also doesn't stink to much after a cat uses it. the best part is that it is only $5 for 40 pounds.
Posted 8 months ago by furryfriends50 #
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Don't change all at once or they may not cooperate. Two methods you can use.
Gradually start mixing in whatever litter you want to change to and increasingly use more of the new litter until eventually you have totally switched litter. Or, if you have room to do so, put out a second tray with the new litter side by side with the tray that has the current litter. Once kitty regularly uses the tray with new litter, then take away the old tray.Usually, for most cats, the gradual change over with mixing litters is best.
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Yesterday's News is great for use right after a cat has any surgery. It is soft on the paws, has no dust, and therefore is what my vet always has me use whenever a cat has surgery. However, you will find significant odor problems with this litter, sorry to say. It simply doesn't control odors at all.
I've also tried both the wheat based and corn based litters. The wheat litter worked reasonably well, although didn't control odor quite as well as Fresh Step. But my cats didn't like it so I gave up on it. The corn based litter can spoil and ferment in the shipping bag! I know, I opened one to find that had happened and it was NASTY.
The pine based litters work fairly well also. However, if you use one of those, the newspaper litter or the wheat litter, you might try AV's trick of mixing in some of the Tidy Cat crystals. I was just reading about it and is apparently dries out the urine! As one of my cats is diabetic and therefore both drinks huge amounts of water and pees the trays soggy, I'm going to get some of the crystals and try mixing them in to see what happens.
It's okay to experiment until you find what works, but just don't do it too much, too fast or you will upset your cat. You might try one tray of familiar litter and one tray of new litter in another room and see which kitty perfers.
As stated before, not all cats and all people like the same litter for reasons of texture, smell, clean up, etc. It's okay to experiment and try different types until you find what you like best. Just be careful not to confuse or displease kitty with too much change, too fast, and too frequent.
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I use the non-clumping just regular Tidy Cat Crystals, and the regular non-clumping Fresh Step litter.
... I've never used the Tidy Cat Scoopable Crystals blend ..... from reading about it, it sounds like it's their already blended combo of crystals and litter, but I can't tell if it's a clumping kind or not.... I'm afraid my two are so used to the fresh step base litter that I use, that if I tried to switch, Cuddles would go "pooplistic" again on me!..... so pretty much, I don't mess with what works..... again, my measures are (split between 2 large cat boxes) - one 30 lb bag of regular Fresh Step litter and one plastic container of Tidy Cat Crystals.....
I buy both in the grocery store, and they are reasonably priced...
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Soxmom, I've never tried using bleach on the trays for two reasons. First, I'm afraid it will react badly with any residual urine ammonia that seems to permeate the plastic of the litter trays after awhile. (long story short, current cats won't use metal roaster pan litter trays bless their stubborn kitty selves.) Second, I've worrried that no matter how well I rinse, some bleach smell is left to offend sensitive kitty noses and make them avoid the trays. Have you had any problems with either issue?
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I buy Fresh Step Scoopable. The clumps become very hard like stone. and that's a winner for me...
Posted 8 months ago by Cheri 12/22 #
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Well i use Fresh Step Crystals, it is unscented and it absorbs the pee and water from poop thereby traping most if not all the smell. All I need to do is scoop the poop and rake twice a day tossing and turning it so that the fav potty spot for pee doesn't have any fresh unpee filled crystals left hehe. I only have to change the litter once a month roughly 26 to 28 days sometimes I push it the full 30 becuase i am workign and need to wait for the weekend when I am home. Never puushe dit past 30 though the bag says good for 30 days mutliple cats for 20 days but if you have more then one box you caqn still hit the 30 mark easily with no to little smell. I noticed when the smell starts appearing of pee it is closing in on the 30 day mark. it's an 8 pound bag I get it from target or walmart walmarts is cheaper. I need 1 and 1/2 bags for Max's box he has the high sided jumbo tray and a 1/2 bag for Mysties smaller box. so really I don't might the cost compared to the clean and unsmelly feel of the box and I don't have to clean it once a week. Just once a month a full clean and scrub is good!
Posted 8 months ago by Momma to 2 MaineCoons #
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I use "World's Best Cat Litter",http://www.worldsbestcatlitter.com/Products/WBCL/default.aspx
It was what Sofie used in her previous home, so I kept the same but it is actually very good. It is made from corn. It clumps very well by natural reaction of corn fiber and cat urine, safe for cats and kittens. It does excellent odor control too. It is biodegradable and flushable (septic safe), which is very convenient for me (flush in the toilet where her box is located near by). It is more money but not by much, but it lasts for a long time.
Heh, I sound like a sales person, but I really like it, better than other litter I have used. -
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Wow, thank you for all of the advice. I brought in the Fresh Step Crystals because neither Walmart or Petsmart had the Tidy Cat Crystals. I will try to get those later. I am currently mixing those with the clumping. I hope to change out to a completely non-clumping litter for the kittens. They are four months old.
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I use Special Kitty multicat formula. It is in a purplish red box/bag. You get 28 pounds for 7.67. I have three cats with two litter boxes. I clean it every three days and then add about 4 TBS of baking soda at each cleaning. People always tell me they can't believe we have three cats. I personally never smell it, but I'm used to my own house.
Posted 8 months ago by linksboomerang #
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I do have to say that the World's Best Cats Litter is AMAZING, but Melvin likes to eat it (it's made from corn, maybe it tastes good?). But then again, Melvin tried eating the crystals, too. And aren't the crystals just silica gel? I would think that would be terrible if a kitten tried to ingest those.
Even though Melvin likes to taste the WBCL, it's at least all natural and won't hurt him much.
So my vote goes for them.
Posted 8 months ago by MouchoisMelvin #
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