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How do you switch litters??

post #1 of 15
6/29/10 at 11:56am
Thread Starter 
My cats use clumping clay litter. I started with that before I knew any better. Now I would like to switch them over to wood stove pellets. I use this with my ferrets and I love it! It is cheap and I love how the wood soaks up any smells.

I did switch the cats to Swheat Scoop and that was pretty easy since it is the same texture as clay litter. But, that stuff was just plain gross. No matter how deep I made the litter the clumps always stuck on the bottom. I use a Rubbermaid container for a litter box so I had the litter 5-6 inches deep and STILL the clumps stuck on the bottom. Blech! Also, I just couldn't stand the smell of the Swheat Scoop. It was yucky. I went back to the clay litter.

The wood stove pellets are much bigger and I guess that is what the cats don't like. I tried putting a layer of clay litter on top of the pellets but it was pretty messy and didn't really work. Now I have a box with clay and a box with pellets. Occasionally one cat will pee in the pellets but not often. A few times there was a poopie in there but even less often.

I have tried making the clay less attractive to them by keeping the level very low (about 2-3 inches) but they still use it.

Do you have any suggestions for me?

Thanks!
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post #2 of 15
6/29/10 at 1:57pm
Have you thought about getting the cat attract additive and sprinkling that onto the pellets?

Other litters you would mix, like you tried. But I don't know what you'd do with pellets, other than what you're already trying - getting them used to it.
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post #3 of 15
6/29/10 at 3:50pm
Thread Starter 
I have heard of cat attract additives but I don't know any brand names. Do you know if I can order something like that online? I live in a super small town and I can't get anything like that here.

I have also tried putting a "starter poopie" in the pellet box but that didn't work. Haha!
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post #4 of 15
6/29/10 at 4:21pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by blueandfrodo View Post
I have heard of cat attract additives but I don't know any brand names. Do you know if I can order something like that online?
The only brand name I know of (or at least that I've heard really works!) is the actual "Dr Elsey's Cat Attract" (oops, that the name of the litter. The additive is "Precious Cat Ultra Litter Attractant) that they sell at Petsmart.

Here's the link: http://www.petsmart.com/product/inde...ductId=2754845
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post #5 of 15
6/29/10 at 5:05pm
Thread Starter 
Thanks! I will have a look online to see if I can find it.
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post #6 of 15
6/29/10 at 5:34pm
Thread Starter 
Haha! I just realized that you posted the link to it!
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post #7 of 15
7/2/10 at 4:40pm
My suggestion - if kitties really don't care for litter A, no matter how good litter A is to us, use whatever litter kitty likes! Kitty rules here!
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post #8 of 15
7/2/10 at 6:03pm
Thread Starter 
I have been using what the kitties like for 8 years now (with the exception of the few months with Swheat Scoop) and it is just getting too yucky for me. It is dusty and smelly and just plain gross to me.

I scoop it all the time and I keep the litter deep and clean (new) but it is still yucky. I just don't like it at all.

I think that I will try the cat attract stuff and see how that goes.
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post #9 of 15
7/2/10 at 7:36pm
You can order the Cat Attract additive on line (cheaper shipping, since you use it with your own litter). I don't know if it'll have much impact if the issue is a texture the cats don't like. Myself, I've used the actual Cat Attract litter - is is clay based, and a vet developed this particular formula to help with box issues. I don't find it very dusty at all (I have four boxes), and it's basically nonscented. Having had a boy with box issues, I'm totally a believer in allowing cats a choice in their litter preferences - because if they don't like the texture or smell, they simply will not use it.

Which clay litter were you using? A lot of studies have shown that many cats show a strong preference for the clay substrate.
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post #10 of 15
7/2/10 at 7:59pm
Thread Starter 
I am using Special Kitty (Walmart brand) clumping UNscented litter. I just hate the dust and so do my lungs.

I won't force them to switch (I have been trying with the pellets for months and months now) because I don't want issues. My siamese has had issues before and I don't want to make her upset. I just really wish that they would switch.

What is frustrating to me is that I think she is the one who is peeing in there occasionally.

I guess I will just have to suck it up and keep using the clay.

I think that I am just sick of litter all together I feel awful but I just feel that it is another chore that is on my every expanding "pet" list every day all day. I think that maybe I am a little burned out by it all. I just had a ferret diagnosed with insulinoma and he is on pred every 12 hours and only eating mushy food now so I have that added to my list now too (meds every 12 hours and mushy food every 4-6 hours...) I just really need some sleep and maybe scooping non-dusty, not too smelly litter will help all this a little tiny bit...

Sorry for the mini-rant
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post #11 of 15
7/3/10 at 10:58am
Hey, give yourself a little of the same slack, and love, that you're giving all your babies....you're under a lot of stress too, and the lack of sleep isn't helping. I know I would love it if both my kitties would use the crystal litter (my girl liked it) - but it didn't happen, but I felt a little frustrated too, and I didn't have all your issues on my plate at one time.
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post #12 of 15
7/7/10 at 4:46am
Hi there

I have used several different litters with my cats and to be honest I've never had a problem in just changing it completely. Everytime I have both my cats have used it without any problems.

Maybe my cats are just not that fussy
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post #13 of 15
7/7/10 at 4:55am
Hm, I just realized you said you tried Swheat but didn't mention World's best. Have you tried it, yet?
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post #14 of 15
7/7/10 at 5:25am
In my humble opinion, all varieties of Tidy Cats are very low in dust. The clumping-type Tidy Cats are extremely easy for daily scooping. I'm so thankful this brand exists. Before guests visit, I'll sometimes pour some non-clumping TC on as a top layer because the odor control of the non-clumping TC is even better than the clumping TC, which is already excellent. I store lots of litter. All from Tidy Cats
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post #15 of 15
7/7/10 at 7:16pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by strange_wings View Post
Hm, I just realized you said you tried Swheat but didn't mention World's best. Have you tried it, yet?
I haven't tried World's Best but I can't remember the reason why at the moment My brain is a little frazzled lately. My ferret Fred was helped across the bridge Saturday He had a tumor in his bowels that wasn't there when he was at the vet 3 weeks before. My sweet old man is gone and we are all hurting.

I don't have anywhere to get any other litter now besides whatever Walmart carries, or the grocery store. I was hoping to give the pellets a try but if that doesn't work I will have to stick with the clay stuff.

Quote:
Originally Posted by c1atsite View Post
In my humble opinion, all varieties of Tidy Cats are very low in dust. The clumping-type Tidy Cats are extremely easy for daily scooping. I'm so thankful this brand exists. Before guests visit, I'll sometimes pour some non-clumping TC on as a top layer because the odor control of the non-clumping TC is even better than the clumping TC, which is already excellent. I store lots of litter. All from Tidy Cats
I will have to give Tidy Cat a try. Thank you for suggesting it. I am going into town on Friday so I will pick some up then.
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