In your opinion which is the best type of Kitty Litter to use for your cats?
By ctrymuziklvr
@ctrymuziklvr (11057)
United States
February 15, 2008 11:26am CST
There are so many different types that it makes my head spin! How are we supposed to know what the best kitty litter is for our cats? I know when I had my ferrets I was warned against the pine type because it wasn't good for their little bums...lol.. Now with a cat there is clay based that is clumping and clay based that is non clumping. Ther is also crystal which is sand or a sand blend and the pine which I've never had any experience with but have heard that it's ok to use for cats?Since there are so many cat lovers on mylot I am interested in your opinions. Which do you think is the best kitty litter to use? What have your experiences been with them?
2 people like this
18 responses
@sedel1027 (17846)
• Cupertino, California
15 Feb 08
We prefer the Arm &Hammer brand litters. We have use the multi-cat, flushable (which was amwesome but can't find it anymore) and are currently using the high performance (we switched to this one because it lasts just a long as the 21lb, but is less than 10lbs; is scoopable, is not claybased, and it is biodegradable). I would not use any other line of litter. We have a 1,000sqft apartment and there is zero odor in our home.
1 person likes this
@sedel1027 (17846)
• Cupertino, California
16 Feb 08
LOL I don't ask people if they can smell anything, but people who have never been in our apartment before always ask where the litter box is or if they use a litter box because they can't smell anything.
@ctrymuziklvr (11057)
• United States
16 Feb 08
I have a very small apartment too and I'm not finding any odor and always ask people when they come in if they smell anything...lol....
@raychill (6525)
• United States
15 Feb 08
The kind that your cat will like.
That is the most important thing cause if he doesn't like it, you'll be finding "surprises" he's left around your house.
Because I have allergies and because a lot of smells kill me, I use Fresh Steps free and clear clumping cat litter. I used to always use Fresh Step cedar. My cat seems to like it. The clumping, in my opinion, is the better kind as it is easier to clean.
I'm always afraid to change it cause my cat is picky.
A friend of mine uses Feline pine. But she's got to pretty much empty it as soon as he goes because if she doesn't he'll go in her bathtub.
I think it's also best to have a litter box with a lid. So he can have privacy, and it keeps litter inside a little better.
1 person likes this
@ctrymuziklvr (11057)
• United States
16 Feb 08
Since I got Bigguy from someone else I'm using the same thing she used and it's not the clumping kind which I personally would rather use. As for privacy I'm eventually going to get a litter box with a lid but can't afford it right now. I seldom go into the kitchen where the box is so he has his privacy most of the time.
@raychill (6525)
• United States
16 Feb 08
If and when you switch just make sure that you do it slowly and combine new and old litter. It's the same thing you have to do if you're trying to switch food or something.
And the privacy thing isn't really an issue...the cat doesn't mind that much. Really it just helps keep the litter in and helps hide the litter from guests and such. I understand not being able to afford it. I've been wanting to get my cat a new litter box for ages and I just haven't.
Unless you're looking to get a litter maid or one of those supposedly "easy clean" or "no effort cleaning" type boxes, I would suggest the Booda Dome. It's round rather than square and it looks nice. Not your typical litter box. You can buy them for about 15 to 20 bucks at most pet stores...and the larger one is about 30.
and if you're looking for a new litter box, read reviews...especially on those supposedly "easy clean" type. .. some of them aren't worth the money you spend on them.
@djoby2005 (75)
• Romania
15 Feb 08
I don't really know anything about kitty litter but i heard that if you put a little bit of amonia in the litter box they will always go there and make their bussines.
1 person likes this
@ctrymuziklvr (11057)
• United States
16 Feb 08
lol....I don't think I'm adding amonia to the litter box any time soon. He uses the litter box just fine and hasn't had any accidents. I'm trying to control odor and don't think I could tolerate the smell if I added it.
@brabs2007 (19)
• United States
16 Feb 08
In my opinion the best kitty litter to use for my cats is Fresh Results. It is light weight and no dust. It is made from corncob so it is environmentally friendly has great clumping action and you can buy it at Walmart.
1 person likes this
@ctrymuziklvr (11057)
• United States
16 Feb 08
I used a corn cob litter when I had my ferrets and I found it to be very good for them. The thing I liked about it was the light weight of it since I take cabs and sometimes a bus.
@CatsandDogs (13963)
• United States
15 Feb 08
I love the Arm and Hammer for multi cats brand. It works wonderful with all the cats that I have which is 9 but only 8 come inside. One of those 8 doesn't like coming in much thanks to my siamese cats Gracie and Bobo. Anyway, back to the litter, lol, I like this brand because it controls odor wonderfully and the clumps are pretty hard so it makes it easier to get it out of the box. If you try it, remember multi cat, not the other one which I think is called super scoop. Multi cat has a pinkish/purpleish color stripe on the box where as the Super scoop had a green stripe. Good luck!
1 person likes this
@ctrymuziklvr (11057)
• United States
16 Feb 08
I haven't seen Arm and Hammer around her but I'm a big fan of anything they make so I would give it a try.
@joyceshookery (2057)
• United States
16 Feb 08
At this time I'm using Fresh Step crystals. It's very different. It's non-clumping, so I guess her pee is just soaked through. It's starting to get discolored, yet it doesn't stink.
Before this particular brand, I was using Tidy Cats clumping. Before that I was using Fresh Step clumping. I couldn't tell any difference between the two.
1 person likes this
@ctrymuziklvr (11057)
• United States
16 Feb 08
I'm using Tiday Cat and we both seem to like it. It seems to be controlling the odor very well.
@polachicago (18716)
• United States
17 Feb 08
The only brand that I use is Feline Pine, it is natural and healthy for cats and kittens. It is dust free, chemical free and is 100% recycled. It safe for my cat, safe for home and safe for the planet Earth...
It is not expensive too...
@polachicago (18716)
• United States
17 Feb 08
http://www.naturesearth.com/felinepinescoop/
you can find the store near you..
@brabs2007 (19)
• United States
17 Feb 08
Where do you buy Feline Pine? I have never heard of it. It might be something I could use if I can not get the Fresh Results.
@cokyjazz (429)
• Australia
21 Feb 08
Personally,my cat and i prefer the crystals.They absorb odor so much better than any other and it doesnt stick to their feet so you dont get it all through the house.The wees get drawn straight to the bottom so they don't get it on their feet and my cat doesnt even need to cover it except when he does a poop.
@sarahruthbeth22 (43143)
• United States
17 Feb 08
My sister, the cat expert in the house, said to try them all and see which litter Bigguy likes the best. You may pick the perfect litter and Bigguy may not want to use it.Good Luck.
@Modestah (11179)
• United States
28 Mar 08
I bought kitty litter today and was wondering the same question! I dread spending the money for the clumping kind unless i get a major sale on it, then I will stock up. I purchased the fresh step with the little scent crystals - in the long lasting odor control version.
@scarlet_woman (23463)
• United States
28 Mar 08
my cats hate the pine litter.they refuse to use it,
and have gone outside the box to protest.
they seem to be most fond of the tidy cat multi formula.it doesn't seem to throw up clay dust clouds into the air either.
@shaggin (72131)
• United States
16 Feb 08
I tried feline pine with my cats and my husband and I both hated it. Its not easy to scoop out and it does not keep the odor in so when they poop it smells awful! We always used the cheapest cat litter we could get like at wal-mart I think it was called cats pride maybe but after about 4 years I started experimenting. With the junky stuff we had to change the litter box at least once a week and even before that it would smell very raunchy. Keep in mind we have 3 cats using 2 litter boxes. Then we used fresh step which worked pretty good. We had to change the litter box every 2 weeks or it would smell horrible. So now I found a big pail of clumping cat litter at target. Its awesome. Its been a week now and it still smells fresh as can be. You can see easily where the cat has peed and you just scoop it up and I flush it down the toilet. It says on the package to add a little kitty litter when it starts to get low and then to do a full change of cat litter once a month. It was like $8 or so I think for a 20 lb. (or more) pail and it will save me money in the long run not having to buy 4 bags of cat litter each month just for one litter box. Think how much cat litter that amounts to in the land fill with my home using 8 bags of cat litter being used a month. Each bag was a 20 lb bag.
@shaggin (72131)
• United States
20 Feb 08
I'm not sure now that I think about it the exact price of the cat litter I would have to find and look at the receipt but I know the name of it is pet essentials and I bought it at Target. I love it! It works great we still havent had to change it and there is no odor at all.
@brabs2007 (19)
• United States
17 Feb 08
What is the brand of cat litter that you found at Target that comes in a pail for eight dollars? I have used Tidy Cat litter that came in a pail in fact I still use the pails for storing cat food or other brands of cat litter.
@ersmommy1 (12588)
• United States
20 Feb 08
I like Tidy cat. I used the multi cat clumping. It worked really well even though I only had one cat. Cat urine as you know can be overpowering. And it was really helpful. It also worked well in our auto dumping Litter Maid. I was surprised. Honestly I never really tried any of the others. I found something that worked and stuck with it.
@tinkerick (1257)
• United States
15 Feb 08
Sammy didn't like the regular clay litter at first I think because the grains are so big. She prefered clumping litter with the fine grains. As she got older though, she was ok with the regular litter which is so much cheaper than clumping. Phew.
But now I've been using this new stuff called Mimi Kitty and it's silica gel. (probably not good to use if you have small children who might try to eat it)
I like it because you only have to take out the solids and stir the rest up once a day. It lasts for 1 month with 1 cat. And there's no urine odor!
Sammy seems to like it too. -Tink
1 person likes this
@ctrymuziklvr (11057)
• United States
16 Feb 08
Like I said above I'm going to check out the local Walmart to look for Mimi. I don't have any small kids so I wouldn't have to worry about that.
@kbkbooks (7022)
• Canada
16 Feb 08
OUTSIDE!!!! Even up here in the cold of Quebec in the snow, most of our cats go out. We have three. Two go out. One goes anywhere except in the box...even right next to the box. Personally, I believe cats should always go out just like dogs do. Pet lovers often say their pets are in charge. This is obviously true since we clean up after them by scooping up their jobs both in and outside the house, for cats and dogs. If the aliens look down from space and see us carrying around bags of excrement, who do you think THEY think is in charge of the planet? LOL
@jennybianca (12912)
• Australia
18 Feb 08
I use the cheapest. Homebrand. It is clean gravel (small pieces). The cats are fine with it.
Not only is this kitty litter good for the litter tray, but it is ideal as the base in the bird cages.
I know some cat litters have a nice fragnance, etc, but in my mind it is not worth the expensive price.
@Riptide (2756)
• United States
16 Feb 08
I personally find Fresh Step to be the best,but it's hard for me to tell since my kitty doesn't use the box. He is like a dog, he goes outside to do his business lol.
But through previous experience with indoor cats I would definetely go for the Fresh Step.
@TRDreamin (67)
• United States
20 Feb 08
what I like the best is Tidy Cats Small Spaces - I love it! But the Arm and Hammer works very well too - its just the small spaces one works good on the 'big stinkies' that my kitten does!