Litter Archive
1/3/99- 6/8/99

Following are selected posts to the Holisticat (TM) Mailing List on the subject of cat litter. There's a lot of information here, and the posts are arranged in ascending chronological order. If there is a particular word you're looking for, it's probably best to utilize the "Find in Page" function in your edit menu!

Happy hunting :)


<3 Jan 99 From: Linda M. Re: Cat Physiology 101: The Liver :)>

<<snip>>

I've had a number of cats with liver problems because about 15 years ago, when I didn't know any better, I exposed them to phenols. At that time, the ink used in newspapers was manufactured from coal tar which contains all kinds of phenolic compounds as well as lots of carcinogens.  I didn't know any better, so I started using only shredded newspaper  (only the B/W- no colors) for litter.  Over a period of about a year, I lost three formerly healthy, fairly young (6-8 yrs) cats to various liver problems.  My vet at the time felt it was just coincidence, but as I checked, I found out that phenols are extremely toxic to the liver.  I am an environmental chemist, so I was able to do some testing on my own at work and found that the newspaper I was using for litter did contain low levels (about .5 ppm) of phenol.  Even though the level was low, I was exposing my kitties to it everyday, over a period of about a year.  After I switched back to plain clay litter, I haven't had any more unexplained liver
problems.  I think most inks used in newsprint now are soy based, which sounds safer, but I don't know anything about them or their chemistry.

The Cornell Book of Cats has been a great reference for me on lots of kitty health issues-I'd be interested in knowing what books other people recommend...

Good Luck
Linda M



<27 Mar 1999 From: Moonpadler Re: [HOL] Sammy update>

<<He refuses to use Feline Pine.  In fact if his paws get in it even a lil  bit, he jumps out of there, like a cat on a hot tin roof.  And he has this   habit of pooping w/ his butt sticking out of the box..yucko!>>

Sandy ~

guess I can come out of the closet with Zachary's little secret......this is EXACTLY my situation with him.    Django scatters Swheat Scoop ALL over the bathroom....countertops, bathtub on the other side of the room.....EVERYWHERE! So I thought I'd try FP but Zach hates the touch on his paws.    & he hangs his butt over the edge, even after I bought the super duper size tub just for him.  ::::sigh::::   Next step is the extra super duper tub with HIGH sides, and back to the kinder, gentler litter.

Jillian & the Blue Eyed Boyz



<27 Mar 1999 From: Kathy B. Re: [HOL] Sammy update>

Hi all

<<He refuses to use Feline Pine.  In fact if his paws get in it even a lil bit, he jumps out of there, like a cat on a hot tin roof.  And he has this habit of pooping w/ his butt sticking out of the box..yucko!>>

Annie is also very fussy about her litter. The only kinds she'll use are swheat scoop (unreal expensive) and plain old no name brand. She flat out refuses. And in cases like that, I'll give in quickly and save me the cleanup after "accidents".


 <27 Mar 1999 From: noreen Re: [HOL] Sammy update>

<<He refuses to use Feline Pine.  In fact if his paws get in it even a lil  bit, he jumps out of there, like a cat on a hot tin roof.>>

This has been my experience with Cletus (also RED) and feline pine......just does not like the feel of it beneath his paws......does he have lots of tuffs of fur between his paw pads?   Cletus' fur on the bottom of his feet is about 2" long.......when he was in and out of the litter boxes so much with that last bout of FLUTD I had to trim it off even with his pads because the litter was getting everywhere and he wouldn't use the Pine pellets.......

Good luck with feeding....at least you have him on a fairly good dry food, although I think Nutro Natural is bit better than MaxCat........we're all outing for you here.......



<28 Mar 1999 From: Judy [HOL] Feline Pine>

Hi Kidz,

I read a couple negative experiences with Feline Pine.  We just started using it a couple weeks ago, and are still in the break-in period of mixing with the other stuff, but so far so good.  What pointers do ya's have so that the boyz will continue to use FP as I decrease the other stuff?  Just how gradual should this process be?  I have 3 boxes set up and the one that has the most FP in it, seems to be the preferred pee box.  It is kinda messy and icky having the 2 litters combined, so any help in that area is appreciated also. I really hope FP works, cuz I just love the concept--and just in time to add the sawdust stuff to the garden!



< 28 Mar 1999   From: Beverly Rowe [HOL] Changing to Feline pine>

Hi everyone, Just wanted to say I successfully changed my entire cattery over to Feline Pine and only had one holdout who now will use it. What I did was put him in a cat playpen and cover the entire bottom with litter boxes filled with Feline Pine on bottom and clay on top. There was no where else for him to go. He soon learned that Feline Pine won't bite him and due to the strong smell of his urine, I had to get him used to it, as I just can't stomach that clay/urine smell in my home. It took about one week, and that was it, he now happily uses the pine litter and we are eternally thankful for this wonderful product, and him!  bj
 


 <28 Mar 1999 08:56:26  From: Moonpadler Re: [HOL] Feline Pine >

<<I really hope FP works, cuz I just love the concept--and just in time to add the sawdust stuff to the garden!>>

Hmmmmm....you're now the second person I've recently heard about who's adding litter to their compost.  I've never added anything at all meat-related to my compost; not just because I'm a vegetarian but because of the fly/rodent aspect as well.   Plus isn't kitty pee toxic to some plants?

I'd like to hear other's take on this.

Jillian



<28 Mar 1999 From: Evonne Benedict Re: [HOL] Feline Pine/compost>

From all I've ever seen/read you should never add pet waste to your compost or your garden.  This of course would be especially true if you are using for vegetable gardening, but I think the real concern here is that various nasties could probably live on in your soil and you could be exposed through digging.  Same reason certain fresh manures should never be used in the garden (as well as the fact some are just too "hot" when fresh)

I would think UNUSED feline pine might be okay, but probably would be very expensive.

I find for me the best compost mix is leaves, fresh grass, banana peels, and used coffee grounds.  Under the right conditions (I can convince my husband to turn it regularly and its fairly warm outside and I've kept the pile damp but not too) I can end up with a virtual living pile full of hundreds of red worms (which I have never introduced)  Of course they become the true composters really breaking down everything -- I think thats why bananas and coffee are soooooo effective -- the worms love it!)

Evonne (gardening and living with cats in the Pacific Northwest)



<28 Mar 1999 From: Linda  Re: [HOL] Feline Pine>

I composted litter for awhile, too. I stopped for a couple reasons. At the time, I had a kitty with inflammatory bowel disease.  When they did a stool culture, he had cyclosporidium, which has been known to cause illness in people when their water systems become contaminated with it.  I didn't want to take any chances contaminating the groundwater, so I stopped.  When my composting is working well, I have no problem getting up to the 180 degrees you need to kill bacteria.  I don't actually measure the temperature, but several times I nearly burnt my hand on metal tools I had been using to turn the compost pile, so I knew the bacteria were being killed.  When I am too busy with school, etc to turn the pile to aerate it, or don't have the proper carbon to nitrogen ratio, it doesn't heat up, so I didn't want to chance it.  Other issue for me is that neighbors suspect I have lots of cats ( I don't tell anyone how many) and I don't want to give them ANY concerns whatsoever that would cause them to get riled up.  Just things to think about..

Linda M.



<28 Mar 1999  From: s lux Re: [HOL] Feline Pine>

Hi everyone

I have always read DO NOT EVER add litter to compost, as it is very dangerous.

Here is a different question regarding feline pine: pine oils are toxic  to cats. There are 11 documented cases of cats dying from wood based  litters. How does everyone feel about this? I have some of my boxes  filled w/the recycled newspaper litter, good mews i think, and some filled w/the clay, b/c Fox likes that MUCh better. I was using Feline Pine prior to that, but after I heard that I took it away, though I do miss the pine fresh smell!! Does that sound like a flukething? What does everyone feel about that? Feline Pine is definately great smelling and more affordable, but I don't want to use something toxic.

Live simply
Sarah, Nubbins, Fox, Buttons, Chipko, Raisin, and Coco



<28 Mar 1999 From: Cindi RE: [HOL] Feline Pine>
 

In reference to Feline Pine kitti litter- I used that product last year and almost lost 2 of my Devon rex babies to respiratory failure due to the pine. It was the only thing I had changed and it wasn't only one baby! Please reconsider using this product!!!!


<28 Mar 1999 From: Dawn Marie Re: [HOL] Feline Pine/compost>

We had this discussion on a gardening newsgroup about adding used kitty litter to compost or straight to the soil.  It started because some cat haters were threatening to kill the neighbors' cats for using their garden as a litter box.  A rational response (the only rational response because you all know what happens when someone threatens cats...) was that nature designed the cycle that way because a "sterile" gardener would also have to kill lots of other animals to keep all animal waste out:  birds, raccoons, possums, mice, moles, voles, shrews, snakes, deer, and even bear in some places.  Everyone agreed that *aged* animal manures from cows, rabbits, chickens, and horses are good for the garden.  What's the difference in adding cat or dog manure?  It's just more animal manure.  If I was worried about getting cooties from my cat, it's a little too late, because she
already sneaks nose kisses to my lips and I've seen her licking my glass and plate several times when I was too late to prevent it.  And we all know how they present their butts to "Mom" so we'll be real sure who they are... There's more exchange there than any of us care to admit.

It's understandable that lots of folks are squeamish about putting any manure around root vegetables.  But what about non-edibles?  I bury my cat's litter directly in the soil between trees and shrubs and in the outer limits of the root zone of perennials.  When the ground is frozen, I sprinkle cat litter on top of the snow *inside* my fenced yard because the neighbors' dogs come over to eat the cat droppings that aren't buried.  The only harm I can see in this is that I am adding more clay to clay soil, which I don't need to make any more compact...  I guess that could be solved with Feline Pine.  So how much does this new stuff cost anyway?  I've never even seen it.

It is easy for me to recycle litter with only one cat, because if I had a bunch of cats, there'd be a lot more digging!  But isn't is better to dispose of this waste locally instead of concentrating it all in a landfill? You read about the annual impact of a million pounds of *human* baby poop in disposable diapers in your average city landfill and you have to wonder...

All things considered, I think it's healthier to bury the litter around the yard.

Here's one more thing I noticed.  I have trapped a couple dozen mice a year in my garage *until* I started keeping my recycled litter out there by the door till I buried it.  No more mice.  I think they smell a heavily guarded feline stronghold and they won't even come in anymore.  Yeah, the Orkin man never tells you the cheap way to fix that problem.  And I still have $40 worth of peanut butter glue traps...



< 28 Mar 1999 From: s lux Re: [HOL] Feline Pine/compost>

hi all

While it's true that other animals may defecate in a garden, I believe  it is the amount and the diet of the animal that make a difference in  composting. It is very true that landfills are bursting and waste is a  huge problem. I personally try to keep the boxes as clean as possible by  removing feces right away and using a spatula to remove urine so that I  do not have to change the litter as often.

This info is from www.mastercomposter.com on feline wastes in compost. I would NOT recommend it!!

Live simply
Sarah, Nubbins, Foxy, Buttons, Chipko, Raisin, and Coco

CAT FECES
Don't put in compost pile. There is disgreement over whether or not you  should use cat feces in your compost pile. Some authors say "Of course  you can" and others say "No, never!". The concern is this: Cat feces may  in fact carry parasites, bacteria, germs, pathogens and viruses that are  harmful to humans -- ONE OF THESE ORGANISMS (Toxoplasma gondii) IS KNOWN
TO CAUSE SEVERE BRAIN DAMAGE TO UNBORN CHILDREN. I read one author who  stated that the hot compost pile would probably kill most parasites.  However, you would have to closely monitor the part of the pile that the  feces were in to be sure it reached the maximum temperature. Because we  put safety and health at the top of our priority list, we recommend that
you do not put these in your pile. Other options I have read include: Flush down the toilet. Bury in the  ornamental section of your landscaping as long as it is not within 100  feet of a domestic water well, lake, or stream, and somewhere that it
will not be disturbed for two years.

Other cautions: Handle as little as possible, preferably wear gloves.  Children and pregnant women should not handle at all.

I am often asked why the same cautions are not applied to other animals  such as rabbits, chickens, geese, cattle, etc. Animals that eat vegetative matter are not as likely to pick up and pass on diseases that are harmful to humans as are meat-eating animals. Either a dog or cat may chew on a dead bird or squirrel that died of a disease, has rabies, etc. Harmful bacteria and pathogens may be passed through to feces, which may or may not be destroyed by composting. Then children, pregnant
women or other humans are exposed to the disease while out in the yard or garden.


<28 Mar 1999 From: Judy Re: [HOL] Feline Pine>

Hi Kidz,

I know ya can believe everything you read, but on the bag FP, is called the "healthy cat litter". On their web page http://felinepine.com/ It says: Feline Pine (r) is made from selected, scrapped Pine lumber. It is kiln dried before processing and compressed into clean, sterile pellets that are 100 percent pure and natural.  The dude at the Pet Expo said that there are no pine oils in FP, but I'm gonna E-mail them and ask again.  Also, I don't think they were implying to put the poops out in the yard, just the sawdust stuff that's left behind from the pee.  Supposedly very good, cuz the pee is full of nitrogen.  Beats me, the only thing I seem to be able to grow is unwanted algae in my fish pond!



< 28 Mar 1999 From: Leah [HOL] Feline Pine & nitrogen>

<<  Also, I don't think they were implying to put the poops out in the yard, just the sawdust stuff that's left behind from the pee.
Supposedly very good, cuz the pee is full of nitrogen. >>

Without getting into a long philosophical discussion of nitrogen in the garden, I'll just say that according to a booklet I have (wouldn't have known this had I not read it), an excessive amount can cause plants to be more susceptable to soil-born diseases, aphids, pathogens, etc.  The other thing I just thought of with the cat pee/poop is that in some cases (although probably not in the case of your kitties at the present time), there may be antibiotic or other medical residues in cat pee, would this be possible?

<<Beats me, the only thing I seem to be able to grow is unwanted algae in my fish pond!>>

Judy, I'm sure you can grow more than algae in your fish pond :) - gardening is a challenge, but it just takes patience and practice.   It took me a long time to get started growing herbs for my animals. The catnip for Giddy is doing well, but I think it's easy to grow.  Maybe in about three years I'll have a good crop of Echinacea to use when my animals need it.  <LOL>



<28 Mar 1999 From: Leah [HOL] Cat litters; composting>

My all time favorite cat litter was Field Fresh - it was on the expensive side, but since I usually have no more than two cats, it was affordable. It's made out of ground corncobs, scoopable, wonderful texture, doesn't stick to the box, doesn't have additives, relatively little dust.  It *does* track; really bad.  If I could find a distributor for it that wouldn't charge an arm and leg for shipping I would glad buy it again,though.

re: composting materials

I don't compost any litter - there are other ways to add some nutrients to a composting pile that would seem to me to be a bit safer.  Like another lister posted, we use banana peels, leaves, grass, fruit peels (this is probably a danger these days with the pesticide spraying of some fruits), lettuce, and include some compost activator occasionally, which helps keep the compost production active.



<28 Mar 1999 From: Jerry and Cyndee Myers Re: [HOL] Cat litters; composting>

Hi,

 I live in a rural area and we have feed mills here, if you go in and ask they will grind corn cobs to any size you desire.....I wonder if they would be the same, or if they would contain unwanted chemicals???? Just a thought.

Cyndee Myers



<29 Mar 1999 From: Vervain Asians & Burmese Re: [HOL] Feline Pine/compost>

The manufacturers of the recycled paper type litters (e.g. Yesterdays News,  which I use and is absolutely wonderful) always recommend that the used litter is great for composting.  You should take out the solid waste first, of course,  in case there are any "nasties" but the liquid waste is very rich in nitrogenous compounds (urea and breakdown products) - these are actually good for the soil.

I have never done the composting myself,  with 14 cats I think my compost heap would soon get rather large!

But in principle it's a great idea.

Naomi



<5 Apr 1999  From: Judy [HOL] pine oil in Feline Pine>

Finally got a response from the folks at Feline Pine, concerning pine oils in their litter.

Subject:  Re: Feline pine
From:  "Feline Pine (tm) Info" <feedback@felinepine.com>
 

On Wed, 31 Mar 1999 19:53:56 -0600
Judy <critterz@> wrote:

> Is there any pine oil, in Feline Pine cat litter?
>
> Judy
> --
Thank you for the inquiry Judy --- The answer to your question is NO!

Feline Pine is made from selected pine sawdust that is kiln dried before processing; oils are removed and then, it's compressed into clean, sterile pellets that are 100% pure and natural.



<7 May 1999 From: Sandy A. [HOL] Trikki (was: Our Bulletin Board)>

<<snip>>
Well, I have had a long crappy week!  One piece of good news - I managed to get Trikki's scab off, and he didn't even seem to notice.

He's eating raw, and even chicken necks, and is using Feline Pine (been waiting by the privacy screen and taking notes when his sisters use the litterbox).  His fur's finally getting soft and he even gets one sister a day to play w/ him, so he's happy.



<13 May 1999 From: vick Re: [HOL] Litter problems!>

Hi all -

<<mother's kitty had taken to going poop on the living room floor.  They   moved into a new house about 6 months ago, prior to moving she had no  litter problems with this cat.  She has tried various cat away sprays to try to discourage her but, no luck.  Other than the bathroom problems her cat is healthy.  Any suggestions?>>

Michelle, has the cat been to the vet since the out-of-potty experiences started? Has the litter been changed? Any signs of worms like weight loss or the little rice-looking bits on the cat's butt? Is this an all-the-time thing or only once in awhile?

In other words: details, please :) There's so much that it *could* be that a vet check is needed to rule out a host of physical problems. Then, if it's truly behavioral, you hafta examine every possible detail: are there other cats outside that may be causing the problem? Are there any new animals in the house? Is the litter not to the cat's liking? Etc, etc... The move may be responsible, too.

If it's truly behavioral, I'd start by keeping the cat and it's box in a small room. Actually, to save my fingers, just check out my article on spraying on the web site (link is below) and change 'pee' to 'poop' when ya read it :)

Good luck!


<19 May 1999 From: idos Re: [HOL] Max>

<<You may remember that I have adopted a cat that my neighbors abandoned.  I  have named him Max, previously referred to as Cat.  >>

Max is a fine name.  I have a black cat who is a terror, but terribly cute and sweet named Max.

<snip>

<<The litter I am using is Swheat Scoop.>>

I used to use Swheat Scoop litter and my previous cat had no problems with it.  I also liked it because of it being made from a renewable resource.  However, my next cat, a stray I found, didn't like it, and was very, very reluctant to use it.  I switched to pestel scoop litter, and he liked that much better.  I was concerned about pestel because it does not identify its ingredients on the bags, but the petstore owner (and it is a healthy foods petstore) called the company and they said the only ingredient is clay.

Good luck with little Max.  He is a very lucky boy to have found you.
Mary Ann


<21 May 1999 From: Kate [HOL] Clumping litter>

Hi, people!

<<Anyway, they found me, and will soon be off the science diet, and the clumping litter....>>

Will someone please explain the problem with clumping litter?

I checked the holisticat site and couldn't find anything about litter there, but maybe I overlooked it.  I should mention also
that I've been away on vacation and may have missed a discussion on the subject. If so, I would appreciate any pointers.



<21 May 1999 From: katseven [HOL] clumping litter & options (urls)>

From Sandy:
BTW, here is a website that has all sorts of info on cat litter, including that article in Tiger Tribe by Marina McInnis about the
dangers of clumping litter.

http://www.sonic.net/~marina/articles/clump.html
http://www.sonic.net/~marina/articles/natural.html

From Beth on another list: Here's some more info for those interested in non-clay litters



 <21 May 1999 From: Leah [HOL] clumping litter & options (catalog)>

Didn't realize The Andersons also made Clump N' Flush - I'm familiar with their Field Fresh - great litter (although tracks a lot).  You can get these products from Pet Warehouse, 1-800-443-1160; http://www.petwhse.com. The shipping gets a *little* expensive, though. <LOL>



<30 May 1999 From: X3DogDare Re: [HOL] New to List/Need info>

<< Sorry to hear about poor Sidney and the need for his 'toolbox'. I wonder, have you thought about changing to a different litter? Scoopable seems to be what cats like best - or at least anything with a texture that's most like sand or soft earth - and if you're already using scoopable, perhaps a different brand. Or if you have access to sand or fresh garden earth, that might appeal  >>

Dear Jean

We use Swheat Scoop cat litter. The cats have 2 boxes in secluded locations. They also have access to the soil in my potted plants on THEIR screened in porch. I have been conciously not taking Sidney to the box as often, to try to break this pattern we've been doing for over a year now. Today, my husband put Sidney in the box, and Sidney urinated until his bladder was empty! Granted it took him longer than it should, but it was alot of urine, and his bladder was completely EMPTY! Yippee! It seems we are making progress!

Thanks so much for your suggestions! They really got me thinking...and making some changes.
I appreciate you!
Kim



<31 May 1999 From: Leslie [HOL] Unusual Behavior>

Hello,

This email list is really great, I am glad to be a member. Unfortunately I discovered this list a little late - I'd been looking for help with one of my fur-critters, who just recently passed on. I am still troubled by his passing, thinking I could have helped more, but didn't through ignorance. I have several questions that perhaps someone who has had experience might help. Please forgive the length of this post.

A little background: Maxwell was 10 yrs. when he passed on. I first rushed him to emergency when I noticed very labored breathing and a desire to find a dark place. The emer. vets thought he had a raging pneumonia (x-rays) and pumped him with antibiotics and put him on oxygen. He had no temp and blood work looked normal (no infection). He was there for two days and came home almost perfectly normal.

I took him to his regular vet the next day (Mon.) and she concluded he was asthmatic as a result of allergies. The only newly introduced items were the feline pine (had been using about 6 mos.) and a humidifier with sage oil for my slight asthma/allergies and moisture. The vet felt the pine was the culprit. She prescribed breathine and steriods.

One week later he had another attack of labored breathing and unfortunately I waited til the next morning to get him to the vet where their intense response (bronchial tube with oxygen) and aspiration caused him to go into coma and pass on. I am not blaming the vet at all, only myself for a slow reaction. He did not seem to be that far gone.

Has anyone heard of severe reaction to feline pine? Would the humidifier have been part of the problem?

Max also had one other wierd behavior that I am wondering about and whether it contributed to his death. He had a first episode about 3 yrs ago. It was the worst one where he seemed to be very dizzy and his eyes moved rapidly sideways in their sockets. He was hunched low to the ground and would put out one front paw, in slow motion as if he was pushing something away. His pupils were dialated. I called emergency and the tech. said it was ataxia, and sometimes cats just have that. He recovered about 10 min. later and seemed perfectly normal afterward. Another "attack" came again about 9 mos. later, but was less severe and without the rapid eye movement. Just before he passed he was having these less severe episodes about 2x a week.

Were these seizures? Does anyone have any idea/experience with this type of attack. The vet only shakes her head and shrugs.

I want to say I have heart-felt sympathy for Mariah's family, I am also grieving for my Maxwell.



<31 May 1999 From: Leah [HOL] Unusual Behavior>

<<Has anyone heard of severe reaction to feline pine? Would the humidifier have been part of the problem? Max also had one other wierd behavior that I am wondering about and whether it contributed to his death.>>

There's a good article on the holistcat.com site concerning essential oils and cats - it could be that the EOs in the humidifier were in too close of a proximity to your cat.  I know an aromatherapist that I've talked with quite a bit about this type of thing says that if you do use EOs in a diffuser, the cats should be able to get away from them in another area of the house if they wish.  I don't think you can blame them entirely for what happened with Max, but it could have been among some  contributing factors. Was the humidifier in an area where he frequently hung out?



<7 Jun 1999 From: Mary Wulff-Tilford [HOL] Litter>

hi All,

don't know if anyone here has discovered this yet, or if I mentioned it before, please forgive my moment of senility......I've found a great brand of litter: Worlds' Best Cat litter.....it is made from corn, and it clumps and is safe to flush as well. It doesn't track as some other "natural" litters do. (no monetary interest in the company)....1-877-367-9225 1600 Oregon St. Muscatine IA 52761-1494
--
Mary Wulff-Tilford, DiHom;Professional Herbalist,AHG



<7 Jun 1999 From: Jane Re: [HOL] Litter>

Talking about litter - I finally tried Litter Pearls, imagine that you only have to put new litter in once a month and take out the poop and that is it!  It is fantastic stuff and Petsmart had it on sale for $11.99 a bag and one bag equals one litter box for one month.  They were all out of my regular litter so I said what the heck I would try this new stuff.  No daily sifting except to take the poop out, no wet bottom of the litter box and no smell whatsoever, except for that poopy smell.  I will still wash out the litter box weekly, but I will just put the same litter back in. It's not litter though it looks like the inside of beanie babies, little crystal pearls that turn solid white when they get wet.  My cats still track some of it outside of their litter boxes, but its hardly noticeable.  The cats took to it right away.  Since I am so gung ho for this stuff, come on someone out there burst my bubble and tell me what is wrong with this stuff........



<7 Jun 1999 From: wordlady Re: [HOL] Litter>

Hi all

<<Talking about litter - I finally tried Litter Pearls, imagine that you The cats took to it right away....  Since I am so gung ho for this stuff,  come on someone out there burst my bubble and tell me what is wrong with this stuff........>>

I haven't heard that there's anything wrong with it, but I know two cats who flatly refused to use it, so it's probably going to be an individual cat thing!

Jean, Saski Basket & That-Amber



<7 Jun 1999 From: Sandy A. Re: [HOL] Litter>

Hi all,

My cats have been using Feline Pine for about 1.5 yrs and like it just fine.  But it is rather expensive since I have to change 3 boxes twice a week.

Sometime ago, someone (Ronnie I think) on the list recommended Stove Chow wood pellets.  They're available at Home Depot, and what i like about them is that they are not treated in any way.  U can check their website for more info:
http://www.stovechow.com

I've found in SoCal that Home Depot will get it in stock in the Fall only, so I have to stock up at that time.

Jill told me about Orchard Supply (a local store along the lines of Home Base etc. only way less testosterone smell in there <g>) carrying it.  So now I'm all set - $3.99 for a 40lb bag of wood pellets.  Cool!  My cats give it a paws up too.  Since their poops don't have any odor, it works just as well as FP. The pellets are just a wee bit wider in size but the kits don't seem to mind at all.

I know some cats won't use wood pellets but if they do I think this is a good option.

FWIW, I've tried World's Greatest Cat Litter, and it is very good but shipping is mondo expensive IMO.  Course YMMV.



<7 Jun 1999 From: Cindi C. RE: [HOL] Litter>

About Litter Pearls, I've been using it for about a month now and absolutely love it! I have 6 cats and it will save me a fortune in litter. I just flush the solids seversl times a day down the toilet. The only problems I have with it is that sometimes it doesn't soak up the urine and it floats at the bottom of the tray (mind you, I have 6 cats and 3 boxes) and it rolls all over my floor! The solution I've come up with is that I use the sifting boxes and put a Wee Wee pad between the top two pans to catch the excess urine (it also extends the life of the litter) I change the pad once a week and wash the pan out, but put back the same litter. I had to change the litter completely after 3 weeks as I have 6 cats. To solve the other problem of tracking, I bought a few of the old fashion ceiling light panels that are plastic grids and put them on the floor where the cats come out of the
boxes. The raised squares force their toes apart as the walk across and most of the pearls fall out between the squares to be cleaned up later.



<8 Jun 1999 From: Sharon S. Re: [HOL] Litter>

I've tried this type of litter and I did not like it, for some reason it got my cats all excited and they proceeded to kick about half of it out of the box... then, they chased the "pearls" as they rolled and bounced on the floor, and finally ended up eating them.  I gave up using it-- I don't like the idea of my cats eating silica.



<8 Jun 1999 From: Dianne Re: [HOL] Litter>

I too tried the Litter Pearls.  My cats are diggers and I ended up with the stuff all over the house.  The little pellets are so light weight that they got knocked out easily and then the cats would roll them all over playing with them!
 
 



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