Anemia - litter eating question

Eating cat litter is a sign of anemia. When a cat is being treated for anemia, does it usually stop eating the litter? Or does it continue? Do these cats typically only eat clay litter?

I'm trying to figure out what kind of cat litter to use until we get a definite diagnosis and start treatment. I know there's the paper litter (Yesterday's News) and there are litters with crystals. I just don't know if anemic cats would eat them.

In January we were dealing with Speedboat's unexplained illness. He became anemic and started eating his litter. I started using the Yesterday's News and he did not try to eat that. I would try that if I were you. I hope they get your cat's illness under control.

I'm going to try Yesterday's News. But do you know if I'll be able to use clay/clumping litter again? That's a huge issue for me. I have four other cats in the house and NEED to use clumping litter.

Has the kitten been flea treated safely from a vet and checked for parasites?

Has your vet determined a cause for the anemia. I would think that is very important at this stage. If it can be brought under control and reversed, then I would not think that the cat would continue eating the litter. But I would use the Yesterday's News if it works for now with your cat. I would use it until the vet determines the cat is no longer anemic and then I would try the clumping litter again.

Finding the cause for the anemia is key.

I believe that "World's Best Cat Litter," made from corn, is a clumping litter. That being said, I can't vouch for it, as I've never used it.

It is safe to use The World's Best Cat litter. It's made from corn husks or something like that and is not chemically treated. It is safe to be ingested. http://www.worldsbestcatlitter.com/o...eople-safe.php

What was your kitty's PCV?

We have a kitty that we battled with his problems with anemia for years - if you have any questions about it, please PM me.

As others have asked, the main question is - what is the cause of the anemia? What tests have been done? Is it regenerative or nonregenerative? Has he had a bone marrow aspiration? Or has it been determined to be the result of a specific disease, like Bartonella - or is it an autoimmune problem? A diet problem (onion and garlic additives can cause anemia, toxin ingestion can cause anemia)?

Because of our kitty's problem, our vet is now pretty much an expert. If you want to send me the blood test results of your kitty, I'm sure we can get his thoughts on how to progress if you would like a second opinion - again, just PM me and I'll give you my e-mail address if you want to take me up on that offer.

My cat is doing the same thing, lilblu. I had to remove all of his clay litter pans and put 1 clay litter pan up where he can't see it so Chickster can still use it, because she started getting really ticked about it. I've tried Puppy Pads, which boo wasn't thrilled about, and then just bought newspaper to put in his pans, but they don't absorb well. So it's newspaper on top of puppy pads, and sometimes I put clay on top of the newspaper to soak up urine so it won't go spraying everywhere when I go to trash it.
I may try Yesterday's news as well, we used that after his P/U surgery, but when I saw it in the store I saw it was pellets and was afraid if he did eat it, what it could do to him.
LDG, I've seen a few litters that claim to be safe to be ingested, but what if my cat didn't just lick some off his paw, he was actually eating it, and maybe ingested a handful or something?? Still safe? That is what I was worried about, I have no clue.
I feel you on the clay littler, LilBlu, I am so hoping I can start using clay litter again, but it's a convenience for me, not so much for them. After reading about how much dust they breathe, lick off their body while grooming, ... If I do go back to a litter I want to try to find something as dust free and chemical free as possible, if possible.
Good luck with your cat.

I can't be certain, but I think Nani is either licking or eating the Yesterday's News litter. She does it in the early morning. I'm pretty sure she's doing it because she's hungry. She's only done it twice ('cause she's only been in the house for two mornings) and both times she stopped after I gave her canned food. There's dry food in her bowl but she won't eat it. Both mornings she started licking or eating the litter after she hadn't been fed in about six hours (I can't feed her when I'm asleep).

Is it harmful for her to eat the Yesterday's News litter?

I don't know if it will hurt her. When Speedboat was going through this, I used pinestraw. Do you have any more cats.

Yes, the World's Best Cat Litter is safe for them to eat. It's untreated corn husks - it's not great for them, but not harmful in the sense that other litters are. I mean - in nature cats don't eat corn, but in many cat foods, corn is the first ingredient. It's safe for kittens as well.

Obviously the idea is to treat the cause of the anemia, and they'll stop eating the litter. But it is a safe litter to use until you get them there.