What brand of cat litter do you use?
By gmakesmoney
@gmakesmoney (2923)
United States
February 5, 2008 12:08am CST
I'm desperate people!!! I have tried sooooooo many litters for my cat and none seem to work well. Her litterbox is in the spare room where her bed is... which is also my office and the storage room. It's a small room, when the litter doesn't work I have to smell it.
I was using the typical ones like Tidy Cats, Fresh Step, etc but because of a nervous problem she started to eat the little clay rocks that would land on the carpet. Her vet said since it's clumping litter... they'll get stuck in her intestines and only surgury could fix that. So I switched to ceder clumping litter, smelled awsome at first... till she used it. Then we tried ceder pellets... same effect. We mixed the pellets and the dust... still not working. Finally we bought mixed in some Tidy Cats and that's helped except when she's feeling nervous or pissy... she eats it. Ahhhh! So I bought a bag of "World's Best Litter" that is made out of corn? I haven't used it yet but I'm hoping someone else has and that it works.
What do you use? I'm looking for natural suggestions, like earth friendly type litters which are usually healthier for the cat. I don't want to go back to the clay litters because 1) she eats it and I don't have the money for surgury and 2) because I'm trying my best to be an all around eco-friendly earth citizen.
8 people like this
25 responses
@thanks2jesus4ever (76)
• United States
6 Feb 08
I have 3 inside and about 20 outside cats. YES I am the Crazy Cat Lady - but I love 'em! The best I've ever used is Scoop Away but I can rarely afford it - a GREAT alternative for the problem you're having - and don't laugh - is to toilet train the cat. Go on ebay and bid on one that is sent electronically- like an ebook. It WILL work. In about 2-4 weeks your cat will use the toilet. It will have nothing to eat; the house is cleaner; the smell is gone! It's a bit to keep up with but once he/she is trained- they're trained for good. Just a suggestion- but I see no other feasible alternative AND it's most definitely ECO friendly.
3 people like this
@gmakesmoney (2923)
• United States
6 Feb 08
LOL, I would be the crazy cat lady except my cat isn't exactly crazy about other cats. You know I've jokes for years that I would toilet train her but my mother thinks that's gross, her having to share a toilet with the cat, lol. My cat loves the toilet, she's always on it trying to flush it... maybe she's giving me a hint, lol.
1 person likes this
@gmakesmoney (2923)
• United States
5 Feb 08
Thanks, I'll have to check that out next time. Does it clump?
1 person likes this
@gmakesmoney (2923)
• United States
5 Feb 08
Yay! That's awsome, I'll have to try it.
1 person likes this
@LovingIt (5396)
• United States
6 Feb 08
World's Best Litter in fantastic. In your case it sounds like the perfect solution to your problem. Since it's made of corn it wont hurt your kittie if she eats it. It clumps every bit as well, if not better, than other clumpinig litters as well. It's not as heavy either, which is another plus when hauling it in and out of the house. The only thing I don't like about it, is that it's bad to track all over the house, but then most of them are.
@gmakesmoney (2923)
• United States
6 Feb 08
Thanks for the info, I bought a bag of it and I'm waiting for the pine stuff to run out before I try it. I was thinking of returning it but I think I'll try it. As far as it tracking, I'm sure it's better than stepping on the clay litter! We have a 2 story apartment and she still manages to track the litter all the way downstairs, lol.
1 person likes this
@slothgurl (569)
• Enumclaw, Washington
5 Feb 08
For my cats, FELINE PINE cat litter works the best. My hubby isn't too fond of the kitties, so they have to spend there indoor time in my office. That is where the litter box is too. Five feet away from me right now. I hate the clay or scoopable kinds, I can't stand the dust or smell, I say try the FELINE PINE it really is the best.
1 person likes this
@blackbriar (9076)
• United States
6 Feb 08
I've tried Feline Pine. I had 2 cats that tolerated it but the 3rd one hated it and refused to use the litterbox. Tried toliet-training as well but my cats are too heavy to balance on the toliet seat. Yesterday's News works for us. Doesn't track much at all and the odor is locked in.
@gmakesmoney (2923)
• United States
5 Feb 08
Really? That's in my litter box right now and I hate the stuff. I have the one that's supposed to be clumping... only it doesn't. Maybe my cat needs a diet adjustment or something but it sure does not work for us. It works great in closets so stored things don't get that old closet smell though, lol.
@fadilah8 (207)
• Malaysia
5 Feb 08
hi..
i've been using wood pellet n i mix it up manually with silicon type of cat's litter..
the wood pellet (made from pine tree as the shopkeeper told me) doesnt clump, but the wood will absorb the water waste n turn to sawdust like , n its have odor control n doesnt not smelly like the wheat.
i mix it up manually with silicon because i want to boost up the effectiveness of absorbance..this silicon can be used up to one month without changing (for water waste) if used by one cat
so its very economical,and effective..as for me
1 person likes this
@gmakesmoney (2923)
• United States
5 Feb 08
Thanks a ton, don't go through any trouble though. Maybe it's my cat's diet that makes for the extra stink?
@gmakesmoney (2923)
• United States
5 Feb 08
I have the pine pellets and they do work in absorbing liquid but haven't worked for order. I haven't tried the silicon, what brand do you use?
@cifirretsbol (160)
• United States
5 Feb 08
i use world's best litter and i love it. i find there's very little odor with it and like you said - because it's all natural (made from corn) it's better for both my kitty and for the planet. what's great is that it's still clumping, but since it's not clay it's flushable too. and if you're cat did end up eating some, i would imagine it's no more harmful then her eating some actual corn kernels. i'll never go back to clay litter again.
if her litter still continues to smell quite badly, i'd also look into the food that you're feeding her. you probably already know this, but the better the food you feed your cat, the less additives that are in it, and the less their litter box will smell.
1 person likes this
@gmakesmoney (2923)
• United States
5 Feb 08
Thanks! I'm glad it works, I was debating on returning the bag since I haven't used it yet. I love that it's good for the planet and her. She might try and eat it, she loves popcorn so who knows but I wouldn't have to freak out about it like I do with the clay.
I feed her Iams Indoor and in the evening one Fancy Feast Gourmet. I'm looking for some more natural, healthier food to switch her too as she's overweight. She has food allergies and enviromental allergies so she can't eat the cheaper brands, the protein makes her sick. I looked in PetSmart but was sooooo lost among all the brands, lol.
@gmakesmoney (2923)
• United States
5 Feb 08
Thanks I bookmarked that site so I can ready it later, I've seen those bags at PetSmart. I agree with you, the extra cost is worth it for my cat's health. We once had to pay $17+ for an 8 pound bag of prescription food which she then refused to eat. She has a really small frame (she's the runt kitty) yet she's really overweight so right now our main thing is to find food that actually helps her stay healthy and reach a healthy weight.
@cifirretsbol (160)
• United States
5 Feb 08
i'd definitely say give it a try - especially since you already own the bag.
i don't know a lot about them, but i think iams is a decent brand. i feed my cat wellness brand dry food. it's great because it's all natural and doesn't have any meat byproducts or preservatives. they also make wet food and a wet pouch which doesn't have any wheat gluten in it - so if there's ever another pet food recall you won't have to worry. i know it costs a little more for a fancy brand like wellness, but i find she winds up eating less because there isn't any filler - and besides my cat's health is worth the extra money. you can read about them at www.wellnesspetfood.com
i know stores like petsmart and petco can be overwhelming. i'm fortunate that i have a small local store that can give me great advice on what to buy. it helps if you do your research online first (like you're doing) so you know exactly what you're looking for when you go into the store.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (160949)
• United States
6 Feb 08
I had not heard of it, but it sounds good. I have also heard that there is a litter made from wheat. Years ago I bought Litter Green brand, but have not seen it in ages. It was made from pine, I believe. The cat I had at that time did not like it, so I mulched my houseplants with it, and that kept her out of them.LOL. Keep us posted on the results.
1 person likes this
@Liasonfan (1702)
• Canada
5 Feb 08
I actually use whatever brand is on sale or maybe even the cheapest. Our cat has feline diabetes and urinates ALOT, so whenever I smell it, it is time to change it, about every day or two. Yep it gets really expense, but not alot we can do about it.
1 person likes this
@blackbriar (9076)
• United States
6 Feb 08
I use Yesterday's News. I too, want to be more eco-friendly and I poured over all the natural cat litters that petco has available and after couple hrs. I chose that and my cats seem to really like. It doesn't stick to their feet either. The urine flows right to the bottom of the box where the litter absorbs it. All you have to do every few days is to move the top layer of litter aside and scoop up the wet stuff. I tend to keep the poop scooped out being it's a lil harder for them to cover it. With my system, only time it smells is when I'm scooping the wet litter out and it's only brief. I use a pail and dump the used litter around my evergreens out front as a mulch.
1 person likes this
@teapotmommommerced (10359)
• United States
5 Feb 08
Have you tried the crystals? I know they are not organic but they do work. I do now know if kitty will eat them or not.
Good luck with kitty.
1 person likes this
@gmakesmoney (2923)
• United States
5 Feb 08
I did, I tried a mixture, a litter that came with the crystals already in it. She decided to be special and managed to pick out all the crystals and put them in a pile by the litter box. Then I tried just the crystals and she would put just one paw in and scoop them all out onto the floor till the box was nearly empty. She's really picky about textures she steps on and doesn't like anything that feels like rocks. I look at the random strays outside and look at her... boy did I create a monster princess, lol.
@Malyck (3425)
• Australia
5 Feb 08
I've been ridiculously lucky with my kitten that she doesn't discriminate between brands.
I just buy the no-name/"home brand" litter from our supermarket, and although she ate it a bit at first, it's otherwise been great.
And it's non-clumping, so it's of no real danger. It appears to be chalk rocks or something similar.
It's natural anyway, so I just empty the litter on our semi-compost heap in the yard.
Life's good =P
Don't be afraid of cheap brands, I guess.
=D
Goodluck
@gmakesmoney (2923)
• United States
5 Feb 08
That's a good point, sometimes the cheaper brands do the trick. My main thing is my cat eating the litter all the time. If she wants on my lap and I say no... she runs to eat litter. If the crazy girl next door makes noise... more munching on litter. If she's bored... at the litter again. She only started this during the summer when we moved and the vet said it was stress. If I use nonclumping litter, my mother refuses to clean the box and some days because of my allergies I can't do it because of the dust. I wonder if there's something non rock that is store brand?
@moxalot (100)
• United States
6 Feb 08
Hi...
I've been using a litter called Feline Pine for years.
We have to keep the litter boxes in the bathroom because my girls will play in the litter boxes if they were anywhere else. Anyway, the pine works wonders. I never smell cat pee. They turn into sawdust when they get wet and the pine absorbs the urine.
I have also used it as mulch for the plants that need it in the yard. It works great...
Good Luck...
Sarah
1 person likes this
@jhl930 (3601)
• United States
5 Feb 08
I have a cat and I know exactly what you are talkina about..I mean really whenever a cat uses the litter box everyone suffers lol You would think a animal that size wouldnt smell as bad and be as much trouble lol I generally get the tubs of tidy cat(I think that is the name of it...pretty sure that it is its in a white tub and weighs about eighteen pounds or so..)and that usually works for me...I mean the cat still smells...but all of the other issues you were wondering about in the discussion above its good for those!
@gmakesmoney (2923)
• United States
5 Feb 08
Tidy cats is great, I used it for years. They have one formula that has like extra control for small spaces, that one is good. I had to stop using it because the cat was eating it though and it was bad for her system.
@Ohara_1983 (4117)
• Kuwait
9 Feb 08
Im using cat litter but i forget what the brand it is, because i dont have already cat. but it is good brand. i will try my best to remember. so i will send it to you what is the brand name.
@kods104 (49)
• United States
12 Feb 08
We have 2 cats & an electric litter box. I tried Arm & Hammer & Tidy Cats - neither would clump well enough for use with the cat box. I found Fresh Step works better, it clumps very well. Even though we have the electric litter box, we still have to make sure all is cleaned out properly. You cannot smell the box in our house - cat hair, yes, but no box smell. We have one who eats constantly, but has never eaten from his box. Good Luck!
@myworkid1987 (755)
• United States
7 Feb 08
have you tried pouring some baking soda in the cat litter box before you put the litter in and on top of the litter? Thats what i do and I use tidy cats and I never smell the litter. My cat dont use it all the time though since hes and inside outside cat he is usually outside all day and then comes in at night.
@suspenseful (40192)
• Canada
7 Feb 08
Our cats were outdoors cats so they went outside. My son uses a no name brand that he gets at the grocers, but I do not know the brand but it is gray almost sand like pepples but I have not checked the brand because the last time we were there, I was not interested in it, because we were measuring the windows so he could order some new ones.
@brabs2007 (19)
• United States
7 Feb 08
I have 12 cats and I use Fresh Results.It is made from corn and very light weight which is great for me. It is a clumping litter and smells great. I also use Carpet & Room Odor Eliminator by Arm & Hammer to freshen as needed. These both work great for me and my 12 cats. Both can be purchased from Wal-Mart.
