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How do you save on litter?
- Thread starter gaylemg
- Start Date
The best way to save money with litter boxes is to use clumping litter. I know some people hate scooping, but clay litter just plain sucks and while it might be cheaper, you spend more because you have to replace it completely so often. I have 5 cats and I go through one or two 31-pound buckets in a month for $7.50 each. So even at max $15/month is cheaper than how much I can imagine you go through clay.
I've used Scoop Away from the day I got my first cat at the recommendation of the shelter worker I adopted from. I regret every single time I've had to switch brands because the store is out of Scoop Away or I have to go to a different store that doesn't sell it. I've used Fresh Step, and I can definitely say they are NOT the same product (Fresh Step isn't as good), even if they might be by the same company. Scoop Away clumps fast and hard and even the scented multi-cat version is BARELY scented. I can only smell it when I'm filling the box, I never smell the perfume again. And Scoop Away does come in unscented, and they also have a version with crystals.
No offense to anyone here but I don't know how you can use Tidy Cats! It's horrible! About 2 weeks ago I had to use it again because Kmart charges alot more for Scoop Away than Walmart does, and Tidy Cats was on sale. My apartment STUNK for the entire week that I used it, even with a Litter Robot that usually covers any smells. And Tidy Cats doesn't clump as well as I'm used to with Scoop Away. But I do know that Scoop Away is usually more expensive at other stores...that's why I usually only get it at Walmart, where it's cheaper than most other brands for some reason (like I said, $7.50 for a 31-pound bucket).
I've used Scoop Away from the day I got my first cat at the recommendation of the shelter worker I adopted from. I regret every single time I've had to switch brands because the store is out of Scoop Away or I have to go to a different store that doesn't sell it. I've used Fresh Step, and I can definitely say they are NOT the same product (Fresh Step isn't as good), even if they might be by the same company. Scoop Away clumps fast and hard and even the scented multi-cat version is BARELY scented. I can only smell it when I'm filling the box, I never smell the perfume again. And Scoop Away does come in unscented, and they also have a version with crystals.
No offense to anyone here but I don't know how you can use Tidy Cats! It's horrible! About 2 weeks ago I had to use it again because Kmart charges alot more for Scoop Away than Walmart does, and Tidy Cats was on sale. My apartment STUNK for the entire week that I used it, even with a Litter Robot that usually covers any smells. And Tidy Cats doesn't clump as well as I'm used to with Scoop Away. But I do know that Scoop Away is usually more expensive at other stores...that's why I usually only get it at Walmart, where it's cheaper than most other brands for some reason (like I said, $7.50 for a 31-pound bucket).
- Thread Starter Thread Starter
- #23
I'm trying the chicken crumbles. I bought 100 lbs (2 50 lb bags) today at a feed store and it cost me $23.50 total. I checked around and found this feed store that sells it for several dollars less than the other feed stores around town, so I went there. I have replaced the litter in 4 of my 7 litter boxes with the crumbles and still have some left in a covered tub. I bought 3 more rubbermaid tubs today, one with a lid. Two of them were to replace the last two "regular" litterboxes in my house, and the one with the lid is to store the excess chicken crumbles until I need it to top off the boxes as I scoop. My cats took to the crumbles right away and have been using it in the boxes that I filled with it.
It has a little "feed" smell to it, but not bad. it doesn't seem to offend the cats.
I'm kind of offended at the exhorbitant price of World's Best Cat Litter, even thought I've never bought it, because it is basically just chicken crumbles!
I think that this is the way I will go from now on. Once I'm sure that all of the cats are sold on the idea, I will fill the other 3 boxes with it. I've read that it rarely, if ever, needs to be totally dumped out and replaced. You just need to scoop and top off every day. We'll see, but so far I am happy with the stuff!
Thanks Gailuvscats!
I'm kind of offended at the exhorbitant price of World's Best Cat Litter, even thought I've never bought it, because it is basically just chicken crumbles!
I think that this is the way I will go from now on. Once I'm sure that all of the cats are sold on the idea, I will fill the other 3 boxes with it. I've read that it rarely, if ever, needs to be totally dumped out and replaced. You just need to scoop and top off every day. We'll see, but so far I am happy with the stuff!
Thanks Gailuvscats!
well you are lucky in the other side of the atlantic, here in Greece we have only ever clean for clumping litter and is 11 euro for the 6 k box, the 11 kilo is 22 euro
So I buy this and in the litter box I have I put 2/3 of clumpig litter + 1/3 cheap brand .... this has given me results still is too expensive but is the best I can get.
I tried a new bag of "ecological litter" it was little drops of compressed recycled paper, a total disaster because it weights nothing and the cats were very interested in playing with it all over the house...
R
So I buy this and in the litter box I have I put 2/3 of clumpig litter + 1/3 cheap brand .... this has given me results still is too expensive but is the best I can get.
I tried a new bag of "ecological litter" it was little drops of compressed recycled paper, a total disaster because it weights nothing and the cats were very interested in playing with it all over the house...
R
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My fave litters are Tidy Cats blue, which is scented, and the costco litter (can't remember the name, but it's green and I've only seen it there.) the costco litter clumps like a rock and is unscented.
Interesting. I've had exactly the opposite experience. I got a bucket of Scoop Away just to try it. First of all, I want to know where your Walmart is. The one I went to Scoop Away costs slightly more than TidyCats, about $12 for a 27# bucket.
While it doesn't have the overpowering perfume that Fresh Step has, it's definitely more than I want to live with. Especially since the scent intensifies every time a cat scratches in the litter and when I scoop it. Even the perfume doesn't cover the eau de cat poop. Whenever one of my cats uses the litter box I'm checking to see if she's covered her deposit (she has). Even covered it takes 10-15 minutes for the stink to dissipate.
TidyCats comes in several varieties. The regular isn't any better than Scoop Away. I prefer the Multiple Cats "immediate odor control" over the "long-lasting odor control". The cat poop only stinks for a minute or two with that one.
I've just gotten a pine pellet litter to try out as well. So far I don't think the kitties know it's supposed to be litter. Even though it's in the same box in the same place as usual, nobody has left any presents there.
Tell me more about the chicken laying crumbles- I don't even know where I'd get it around here (I live in suburban Chicago, so there's not too many feed stores around here!) Is it used as nesting material for chickens or food?
Does it have a smell?
Does it have a smell?
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Food ..
well it is corn and wheat and kinda smells like said items
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I started buying Sodium Bentonite clay from the local feed mill. Costs me $6 for 50 lbs. it is very fine, but the cats took to it right away. Scoopable also.
Like sharky said its used for food. Its cheaper than Worlds Best and Swheat. Usually about $15 for a 50lb bag. But most of the time not cheaper than clay. I use it and it works great.
It does a good job for me. It has the same wheat and corn starch that Worlds Best and Swheat contains. And they both say they absorb odors. WB and Swheat will also attract mice and insects since they are a grain. Find a feed store and buy a small 3-5lb bag and test it out yourself. Should only be a few dollars. Good luck.
Also, keeping 2 boxes per cat allows them to use one for pee & one for poop - it reeealllyy keeps the smell down and the litter seems to last much longer
So the chicken feed has more of a soft clump (like I experienced with A & H) than a hard clump, like Fresh Step or Scoop Away, which I'm using now?
But you said it helped if you add some clumping litter, catsknowme? What ratio would you say you're using?
But you said it helped if you add some clumping litter, catsknowme? What ratio would you say you're using?
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What exactly is it for? I am assuming it's safe for cats or you wouldn't use it
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one could call it the "natural " of the claysOriginally Posted by AMYSCRAZY
What exactly is it for? I am assuming it's safe for cats or you wouldn't use itI have been buying an unscented litter from our local feed store $6 for 25lbs. It works pretty good.
