Help me, please? Cheap clumping litter recommendations needed.

I agree about the very mild scent in the Special Kitty Scoop with crystals. It is tolerable to me- I don't smell it at all when I go in the bathroom with the litterbox. The Target brand had a very strong, flowery smell that I couldn't tolerate with my allergies and respiratory problems, but the Special Kitty is fine. I do say that the Tidy Cats with Crystals didn't bother me either though, but that may be a "what is in it" issue vs. a "how much" too.

I wish we could order free samples of cat litter to try (at least to do the "sniff test" with! ).

Originally Posted by catsallover

I agree about the very mild scent in the Special Kitty Scoop with crystals. It is tolerable to me- I don't smell it at all when I go in the bathroom with the litterbox. The Target brand had a very strong, flowery smell that I couldn't tolerate with my allergies and respiratory problems, but the Special Kitty is fine. I do say that the Tidy Cats with Crystals didn't bother me either though, but that may be a "what is in it" issue vs. a "how much" too.

I wish we could order free samples of cat litter to try (at least to do the "sniff test" with!

).

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Well, it seems that the plain regular Tidy Cat seems ok as far as not bothering my sinuses. But the box that I used just the Tidy Cat crystals in hasn't been used since.

Or maybe it's the novelty of the new box setup in my office - that seems pretty popular over the last 24 hours since I set it up.

I'll give that Special Kitty a try next time around, once the Tidy Cats bucket is empty.

I really think the Special Kitty comes in unscented? I think thats what my box says? I dont have the box anymore so I don't remember

But I HIGHLY suggest Special Kitty. We we gone a few weekends a go & no one scooped for us for a day and a half and I came home and had NO awful smell!

It clumps really well too.

Ginger's Mom,

I don't know if Burlington or Medford is too far out of your way, but Pet Supplies Plus sells 25 lb. bags of Premium Choice Unscented with Baking Soda for 5.98 a bag. Dust and perfume is a real concern (Mom has COPD), and this is the least dusty brand we've tried.

I can't vouch for odor control with multiple cats, but with the one, there is no smell in a very small apartment.

Originally Posted by Sablemerle

Ginger's Mom,

I don't know if Burlington or Medford is too far out of your way, but Pet Supplies Plus sells 25 lb. bags of Premium Choice Unscented with Baking Soda for 5.98 a bag. Dust and perfume is a real concern (Mom has COPD), and this is the least dusty brand we've tried.

I can't vouch for odor control with multiple cats, but with the one, there is no smell in a very small apartment.

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I used to have a Pet Supplies Plus in my town, but they closed when they lost their lease. Those other towns are too far away to justify and savings I'd get on the litter - with gas the way it is, any savings would go into the gas tank!

But I do go to Chelmsford on occasion, so I'll look up their Burlington location, and if I happen to be on my way by, I'll stop in and buy some. Thanks!

I use Fresh Step multi cat formula clumping litter for my girls, and buy it from wherever I see it on special.

I find it clumps so well that I only actually change the entire thing every couple of months. I just scoop really well and top it up as needed. Doing that we don't need to buy new litter very often.

Oh - the dust is pretty bad when I pour it in. I have to cover my nose otherwise I sneeze like mad. It seems fine for just scooping and refilling if I do it slowly though.

Originally Posted by GingersMom

Yes, I know, yet another thread asking about cat litter brands.

And from me, no less, a staunch A&H advocate. Until now.

Well, things are a changing.

It seems to clump less and crumble more, causing a smellier box - the dust doesn't clump.

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Regarding A&H..you know I hadn't been able to put my finger on it, but have noticed that I've been needing to change out the box completely more frequently the past few months. One box used to last indefinitely, adding a bit of litter here and there and then I'd change it out completely about once a month just because I felt like a should Now, though, as you said, it crumples to pieces more often than not instead of the perfect clumps that used to scoop right out, messing the whole box up more often and requiring changing. Now that you've pointed it out, I'm feeling disappointed. Ever since "discovering" it, I had recommended the unscented SuperScoop with great flair. Yet, even with this, I feel in comparison, it's one of the best around...what to do...

I read on another forum that corn based chicken feed is almost exactly like World's Best except it's much cheaper, like $12 for 50lbs. I tried purchasing some in my area but couldn't find it.

Well, so far, the Tidy Cats Multiple Cat REGULAR formula is the winner, of the three Tidy Cat "flavors" I bought. Less dusty than A&H, seems to clump really well and the newest litter box with the regular Tidy Cat in it is now the box of choice for all three.

So I will definitely consider this one, and I'll never buy those "special" formulas again. I'm still REALLY hating the "Small Spaces" one - the orange smell is disgusting.

Once I get to where I need to buy some more, I'll try Special Kitty from Walmart and see how the kits go for it.

Being able to now just buy the bag refills alone, keeping the big bucket with the cover to store it in, will cut my costs almost in half over the long term, so I'm happy about that.

I use chicken feed. It's nonmedicated layer crumbles that work. It's similar to world's best but much cheaper. I get mine for $5/50lb bag from the feedstore. Only difference besides price is it doesn't clump as well so you have to throw a bit more litter out while cleaning but at that price I don't really care. It only becomes a problem if your using an automatic litterbox cleaner that needs good clumping litter to work. No dust, only a slight grain smell, completely harmless if eaten, and I can just throw it in a pile out in the corner of the yard. It breaks down with the first rain we have or gets eaten by birds and other wildlife.

The only 2 brands of clay clumping litter I've used are the Safeway brand (I think they call it Precious cat? It starts with a P) and PetCo's store brand. Petco's is much better clumping-wise than the Safeway stuff. I've mixed crystal cat litter into both and I liked the combination.

I am switching (gradually) to the Nature's Miracle clumping litter that is corn-based.

I use Tidy Cats and when it goes on sale I stock up.


Petsmart recently had an amazing sale (which was like 8.49 for 30 pounds, usually 12something for 27 pounds) and I bought 180 pounds of cat litter.

DH was not thrilled but I tried to get him to look at the big picture.

I love the stuff, best I've ever used.

Fresh Step Free (unscented). It's not the cheapest but it clumps really well so it lasts for a long time. I change the box every three weeks. It's $11.50 for a 28lb bucket.

Originally Posted by ExoticBabee

Fresh Step Free (unscented). It's not the cheapest but it clumps really well so it lasts for a long time. I change the box every three weeks. It's $11.50 for a 28lb bucket.

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Yeah, but see, the thing is I need to SAVE money, not spend MORE.

It's a darned shame I can't lift a 40lb. bag anymore, let alone carry it up two flights - I wish I could buy the great big bags, 'cause that's the best deal. Oh well!

Yup! Tidy Cats "Multiple cat" formula is the best we've found.
Minimal dust, solid clumping, and it's really cheap at the supermarket.
It seems to track a bit more outside the box, but it's great stuff otherwise.
Another bonus... My cat "approves" of it.

Mike - TurningColorz

Well this just is awful. I'm cleaning the apartment, because we're going to be moving. And I'm finding a layer of kitty litter dust on EVERYTHING. My sinuses are killing me today. Thank goodness it's nice out--I have the windows open.

I'm thinking of just biting the bullet and trying Swheat Scoop again or World's Best after we move.

And Raven's been sneezing like crazy lately. Finding all of this dust explains why.

Tidy Cats will have to be the cheapest we go. Bye-bye money....

I have a grocery store that sell 40# box of Tidy cat for a really great price so I use that plus I have for over a year been using the "poultry crumbles" type of chicken feed. I bought it at Tractor Supply. Not much difference in the order. Bakker seems to like it and the bag seems to last forever!!

Originally Posted by littleraven7726

Well this just is awful. I'm cleaning the apartment, because we're going to be moving. And I'm finding a layer of kitty litter dust on EVERYTHING.

My sinuses are killing me today. Thank goodness it's nice out--I have the windows open.

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Off topic, but to help yourself buy a cheap dust mask and wear it while cleaning. It will give your sinuses a bit of a break.

Originally Posted by AbbysMom

Off topic, but to help yourself buy a cheap dust mask and wear it while cleaning. It will give your sinuses a bit of a break.

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Thanks! I'm going to scrounge around in the cupboard...I think we might have one that Mike bought for himself a long time ago. I hope so anyway.