Help me, please? Cheap clumping litter recommendations needed.

buzbyjlc10

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If you're worried about storing the excess from a big bag and don't have a bucket, why not pick up a rubbermaid container while you're at walmart? They're not all that expensive... I buy Oliver's kibble in the giant like 40 pound bag and I just keep it in the bag and put the bag inside a rubbermaid container.... my parents keep a giant container for the dog's kibble too.... they're both kept in an unfinished basement (that often gets water in it with heavy rain) and we have NO problems with either soggyness or bugs... anyway, just a suggestion!
 
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gingersmom

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Originally Posted by BuzbyJLC10

If you're worried about storing the excess from a big bag and don't have a bucket, why not pick up a rubbermaid container while you're at walmart? They're not all that expensive... I buy Oliver's kibble in the giant like 40 pound bag and I just keep it in the bag and put the bag inside a rubbermaid container.... my parents keep a giant container for the dog's kibble too.... they're both kept in an unfinished basement (that often gets water in it with heavy rain) and we have NO problems with either soggyness or bugs... anyway, just a suggestion!
EXCELLENT suggestion, but unfortunately, I don't have a place for a giant rubbermaid container in my tiny kitchen, and I'm on the 2nd floor, so keeping in in the unfinished basement isn't an option - too heavy for running up and down all those stairs.

That's why I bought a 38 pound bucket of Tidy Cats today - now I will always have THAT bucket to use.


Nice idea, though!
 

alleygirl

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I use the Tidy Cat multiple cat clumping (blue and yellow label) and Riley seems to like it. I have noticed that the clumps don't seem to be holding together as well lately which makes for a smellier box after scooping.

I have not tried anything with crystals, not sure what the difference is. I may try the Target brand next time. Wal-Mart isn't close enough for me to shop.
 

catsallover

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The crystals are supposed to help dry it out/reduce urine smell. I think (JMHO, of course
) that the scoopables with crystals last a bit longer and clump harder (at least of the ones I've tried
).
 
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gingersmom

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Well, after scooping last night, I mixed in some of the Tidy Cats "small Spaces" with the old A&H and it smelled a bit like oranges - kind of weird, considering citrus usually repels cats.


They all gave it careful sniffing, but then went in and used it ok, so we'll see what happens!
 

littleraven7726

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Originally Posted by GingersMom

Well, after scooping last night, I mixed in some of the Tidy Cats "small Spaces" with the old A&H and it smelled a bit like oranges - kind of weird, considering citrus usually repels cats.


They all gave it careful sniffing, but then went in and used it ok, so we'll see what happens!
My cats won't touch TC Small Spaces.
They hate the citrus smell & texture. I had it in one box shortly after it came out. That box was untouched until I changed the litter.
I only buy the tidy cats in the red bucket when I buy tidy cats (my cats demand a very find sand litter).
 
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gingersmom

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One of the jugs I bought is the kind with the crystals in it, so I'm going to add some of that to the other box when I scoop tonight and see how that goes.
 

alleygirl

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Originally Posted by catsallover

The crystals are supposed to help dry it out/reduce urine smell. I think (JMHO, of course
) that the scoopables with crystals last a bit longer and clump harder (at least of the ones I've tried
).
I will try the one mixed with crystals next time and see how that goes!

Originally Posted by littleraven7726

My cats won't touch TC Small Spaces.
They hate the citrus smell & texture. I had it in one box shortly after it came out. That box was untouched until I changed the litter.
I only buy the tidy cats in the red bucket when I buy tidy cats (my cats demand a very find sand litter).
I buy the blue bucket, do you know what the difference is between that and the red? Which clumps better? The clumps don't seem to be holding together as well lately with the blue bucket.
 

littleraven7726

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Originally Posted by AlleyGirl

I buy the blue bucket, do you know what the difference is between that and the red? Which clumps better? The clumps don't seem to be holding together as well lately with the blue bucket.
The blue one has a floral perfume. The red one is the only one that is still the original formula. My cats won't use the new "Tidy Lock" formula. The texture is far too different. The red bucket is a nice fine sandy litter and I think it clumps very well. It has less dust than the store brands, but is the same texture.
 

alleygirl

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Originally Posted by littleraven7726

The blue one has a floral perfume. The red one is the only one that is still the original formula. My cats won't use the new "Tidy Lock" formula. The texture is far too different. The red bucket is a nice fine sandy litter and I think it clumps very well. It has less dust than the store brands, but is the same texture.
Ok, maybe I will try the red one next time. What about the one with crystals mixed?
 

littleraven7726

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Originally Posted by AlleyGirl

Ok, maybe I will try the red one next time. What about the one with crystals mixed?
The one with crystals has the Tidy Lock formula.

http://www.tidycats.com/GetPage.aspx?ContentID=93

The red one is the only one that's original formula.
For a crystal blend my cats like Special Kitty scoop with crystals. But like I said, my cats are front declawed (not my doing) and very picky about litter texture. So if your cats have their claws, they may be ok with the Tidy Lock formula.
 

katiemae1277

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Originally Posted by littleraven7726

The blue one has a floral perfume. The red one is the only one that is still the original formula. My cats won't use the new "Tidy Lock" formula. The texture is far too different. The red bucket is a nice fine sandy litter and I think it clumps very well. It has less dust than the store brands, but is the same texture.
maybe that's why I don't like Tidy Cats that much, I always buy the blue cause that's the multi-cat formula, I'll have to try the red
 
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gingersmom

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Now I am confused...the buckets were all yellow. I bought one with a red cover, would that mean it is original?
 

kittylover77

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Originally Posted by littleraven7726

The one with crystals has the Tidy Lock formula.

http://www.tidycats.com/GetPage.aspx?ContentID=93

The red one is the only one that's original formula.
For a crystal blend my cats like Special Kitty scoop with crystals. But like I said, my cats are front declawed (not my doing) and very picky about litter texture. So if your cats have their claws, they may be ok with the Tidy Lock formula.
You could probably also try Cats Pride (from walmart), one of their formulas is very very sandy soft and white. I saw it by unscrewing the top of the jug and looking at the texture inside.
 

littleraven7726

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Originally Posted by GingersMom

Now I am confused...the buckets were all yellow. I bought one with a red cover, would that mean it is original?
They have a color coordinated top usually.


Tidy Cats "Long Lasting Odor Control" has a red top/cap and is the original formula. All of the others are Tidy Lock formula.

They changed all of the litters to Tidy Lock a year or more ago ,and I think they got inundated with angry letters. I sent a few myself. My cats won't use the "Tidy Lock" formulas at all. I have spent a crazy amount of time trying about every kind of litter out there because of it. My cats really only like the fine sandy texture, so we've tried it all. I would have stayed with Dr Elsey's litter, but after we started using it there were a couple price hikes.

I just about did a happy dance when I discovered by accident a few months ago that Tidy Cats finally listened at some point after the big change. There was no warning for customers about the Tidy Lock change, so people with cats like mine were left in quite a pinch when one week we bought the same old litter, the next time it was a completely different texture and scent.
When I found out Red Bucket went back to original formula, the Anti-bacterial formula (Green Bucket) was also original formula--but now I see they've changed it back to Tidy Lock again.


I'm probably going to stay with Special Kitty at this point 'cause I'm more than a little ticked that they keep changing the litter. My cats don't want their litter changing in texture and scent.
That and I don't mind buying cheap litter, and spending the money on their food instead.
 

catsallover

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Thank you! I am not nuts!
I thought it was changing, but then I thought "Nah, they couldn't be changing it that many times in such a short period" but, ah ha! They are! My cats don't seem to mind the texture differences between the two (but they did hate the feline pine pellets
), but I liked the Tidy Lock. It didn't seem as dusty to me and I thought it clumped the best. I dunno. I guess that's why they make so many different kinds!
 

alleygirl

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Originally Posted by littleraven7726

The one with crystals has the Tidy Lock formula.

http://www.tidycats.com/GetPage.aspx?ContentID=93

The red one is the only one that's original formula.
For a crystal blend my cats like Special Kitty scoop with crystals. But like I said, my cats are front declawed (not my doing) and very picky about litter texture. So if your cats have their claws, they may be ok with the Tidy Lock formula.
Thanks. Riley has no problem with the tidy lock formula but I do!
Whenever I scoop, the clumps are crumbling which of course makes for a smelly box unless I change the litter more often. I will definitely try the red lid next time.

I am not close enough to walmart to be able to use any of their brands regularly, so my choices are things sold at Petsmart, Target and grocery.
 

littleraven7726

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Originally Posted by AlleyGirl

I am not close enough to walmart to be able to use any of their brands regularly, so my choices are things sold at Petsmart, Target and grocery.
Target's litter is pretty good. It's still less expensive than Tidy Cats. My guys have also used Hy-vee and Schnuck's scooping litters with no problems. Dust level all seemed about the same.
I don't like the petsmart brand very much.
 
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gingersmom

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Well, when I got home last night, and walked into the kitchen, it STUNK of rotten, urine covered oranges.
That "small spaces" stuff is horrid, and the clumps crumbled completely when I scooped. I will NEVER buy that type again.


I tried the Tidy Cat with the crystals (tidy lock) in the litter box in my bedroom last night and I'll scoop it tonight, so we'll see about the clump factor. I liked the look of it, and at first couldn't really smell anything, so I thought, good! This might be the one!

But when I went to go to sleep, there was a flowery smell in the room that I thought at first was my imagination, but I woke up this morning with a KILLER sinus headache, which means it has something in it that I'm allergic to.

So there goes THAT one, regardless of how it clumps.


I have not yet tried the regular Tidy Cat in the bucket with the red lid, but I will this weekend, as I set up a new litter box in my office. We'll see...

I know that the Target brand is scented and flowery, so that's out, does the Walmart Special Kitty come in UNscented? If not, I may just have to go back to the A&H and deal with the dust.
 

littleraven7726

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Originally Posted by GingersMom

I know that the Target brand is scented and flowery, so that's out, does the Walmart Special Kitty come in UNscented? If not, I may just have to go back to the A&H and deal with the dust.
It's not unscented, but the Special Kitty scoop with crystals has a very mild scent. Not like the regular special kitty scoop at all.

Tidy Cats red has a different scent than all of the other cat litters. I don't know what it is, but it's not floral. It also clumps way better than the tidy lock kind.

I liked Target brand's old formula better--when it was "boots n barkley" it smelled like cloves. Now it's just "standard kitty litter floral" scent.
 
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