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Homemade Cat Litter from Newspapers: Anyone Here Tried It Yet?

post #1 of 9
1/27/10 at 6:27am
Thread Starter 
http://www.treehugger.com/files/2008...cat-litter.php

Has anyone here tried recycling their newspapers into cat litter? My DH loves to buy papers, but in our rural area, there are few recycling options. Currently, it's winter, so we burn some of them in our WPAII woodburner, but once the weather heats up....
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post #2 of 9
1/27/10 at 9:18am
I've never tried that, but if I had a lot of old newspapers lying around, I might be tempted. If you try it, let us know how it goes!
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post #3 of 9
1/29/10 at 12:33pm
I've tried it once before, but with a slightly different method although the results were the same, and found that it wasn't worth the time or effort. My cat didn't even really use it because of the size and texture...he used them as toys instead.
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post #4 of 9
1/29/10 at 12:38pm
We use shredded paper (not usually newspaper, although it would work) for the cats in the shelter after they have been neutered or spayed. It works OK.

Newsprint will, however, get your cat's feet dirty. And, unless you're standing there to wash his paws each time he used the box, he's going to end up swallowing that ink.
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post #5 of 9
1/29/10 at 1:21pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by mrblanche View Post
And, unless you're standing there to wash his paws each time he used the box, he's going to end up swallowing that ink.
Newspaper inks are now soy based. So they're not harmful. (vermicomposting would be very difficult if they weren't)

Might I suggest that for those who have the space and spare newspapers? It's a good way to get rid of veggie scrap and make useful compost. If done right, you can even keep a small container in the house or garage (if it doesn't get too cold).
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post #6 of 9
1/30/10 at 3:50am
There would be no odor control. And constantly wet. I don't see an advantage here.
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post #7 of 9
1/30/10 at 6:21am
Thread Starter 
http://ohioline.osu.edu/cd-fact/0129.html
Study shows it works well as livestock bedding. The more I think about it, the more of a hassle it might be. However, if it cuts costs
I couldn't use YesterdaysNews for my sp/neuters this past week, because of added fragrance. I used gamebird Krackettes (some feed stores sell it as "crumbles" ) with excellent results, which is why I probably won't be experimenting with the papers this weekend.
It seems to me, esp. considering KatGoddess' post, that getting the mess fine enough to be useful is going to be a problem. Any suggestions or considerations?
I'm thinking that in the hot, dry summer here, it would be easy to "re-crumble" the partially dried litter, but not sure how to approach it in the summer....
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post #8 of 9
1/30/10 at 6:37am
All the newspapers I know use color ink on almost every page. I won't even use newspapers with colored ink UNDER the litter boxes. It's very annoying

I've been reading a lot about all these other choices. Somewhere I was reading how one person uses the chicken feed (non medicated) mixed with clay litter.

I don't know, I'm old fashioned I guess. As long as plain clay litter is available I will continue to use it.
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post #9 of 9
1/30/10 at 10:32am
I read it and I actually do not see a cost savings... lets see I would spend two or three hours a month doing this ... the savings would be minimal as newspaper costs 3.50 a week( 14 $ for a four week month) ... I make roughly 13$ a hour with my current self employement stuff ... 13 * 3 = 39 ... I currently spend 20 ish on litter so I actually would spend more making my own by roughly 20-33 $ a month( not adding in water costs etc)
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