What kind of litter do you use???

I was using WBCL and I liked it, except for the cost. For a couple months I've been using chick crumble (nonmedicated) that I buy at Tractor Supply Co for 1/3 of the cost (Dumour brand - 20 lbs for under $8.00). It seems the same to both me and my 5 cats. It clumps fine. I replenish it as needed.

I dump all the litter and wash the pans (big Steralite bins) every 2 or 3 weeks. I have 4 pans for 5 cats, and 3 If them are altogether in the basement. I scoop once most every day.

It works for us. I've had no problems regarding litter boxes with any of these cats, or any of my other cats in many, many years. I'm fortunate regarding that, I know.

Robin

I use my local supermarkets own the cats like it, I find its dusty but both cats don't seem to mind

We've been using the wood stove pellets for litter for 3 yrs now. Love it, cats use it fine and won't go back to any clay or scoopable litters.

And you can't beat the price - $5.00 for a 40 lb bag

I use safflower seeds. The bottom box (urine reservoir) is dumped daily and rinsed out. Top shifter box is wiped out as needed and all parts of the boxes are fully scrubbed every 5-7 days. I pay $20 for 20lbs and put 5-6 cups in each box, so it lasts a while. Full seed changes every 2-3 weeks depending on the box.

When I used chicken feed (probably good that I stopped using that with the wheat in it…) I freshened it up as needed and washed the boxes themselves every week and a half to two weeks, and dumped the litter every 3-5 weeks (depending on box location). The way I did this was by having extra clean boxes that I transfered the litter to.
One really shouldn't go longer than two weeks without scrubbing the actual litter box itself.
7 cats, 6 boxes then with chicken feed, 4 boxes now with safflower.

Is this similar to Feline Pine? I've never seen "wood stove pellots" for sale, named as such. If they differ from FP, please explain. Thanks!

I go to the Farm stores and buy it - its the normal pellets you would buy for your house wood stove. Its similar but instead of being green, the pellets are brown.

During the winter you may be able to get wood pellets at Walmart - I saw in there last year.

I use Dr Elsey's Precious Cat and love it. Smells great and pretty much dust free. I scoop twice daily and try to clean it out completely once a month.

Well, if you're going to write it down, I better be correct.

It's: Dumor Chick Starter/Grower 20%. They do have 50 lbs. bags, in addition to the 20 lbs. ones, but they are too much for me to handle.


I learned about this here from strange wings, and others. It's a great tip, I think. Saves me lots of money as I use 20lbs. of the stuff every couple of weeks.

Robin

otto had a lengthy thread in this section not long ago with her trying the smart cat box system and a making a DIY version. It came along at the right time as I needed a truly dust free hypoallergenic option with my three bronchitis kitties (plus one that reacts to clay- so that's been out for years).
If not I probably would have went with the Tidy Cat Breeze which works similarly.

Yep, me too, only sometimes I use Cat Attract when my store is out of Precious Cat. I never change the litter though, just clean the box sides - all my boxes are treated with microban so they never smell anyways... This litter is awesome, no dust, and never had a problem. It has been 100% effective, 100% of the time.

We use wood pellets, not sure if they differ from 'wood stove pellets' but I wouldn't use anything else.

I won't use clumping litters, clay or paper don't last and clay can be dusty.

The wood pellets last, especially with a sifting tray as the wee turns to sawdust that filters through. Fantastic odour control and very economical, though not quite as cheap to purchase as in the US (of course)

Were you the one using the rubbermaid tubs with microban? If so the rubbermaid ones use tricolsan which is registered as a pesticide (with antimicrobial properties, too) by the EPA. The FDA is so so in their view of it, but does mention it has some effects in animals. And in Europe it's not put in plastics that come in contact with food because of safety concerns.

Atop of all that there's evidence that it doesn't really do much to bacteria and molds when it's imbedded into plastics, but I'm having problems finding the full original studies for that.

Just IMO, I wouldn't use it around food, animals, or on/in products that will be touched before a animal or human then touches their mouth. (ie: cat licking it's paws and the microban imbedded feeders) even though the company does have some Microban products that don't have tricolsan - they don't fully share which you're getting and what they're putting it in. (the company that makes Microban, that is, not Rubbermaid)

I mix around half and half World's Best and Swheat Scoop into four large Omega Paw self-cleaning litterboxes.

I overfill them, roll them, and the overflow is caught into the handle part which I pour into the next box to top them off to max capacity. I also have a line w/ black magic marker drawn on which represents the full mark, so I can see when its running low easily.

I like that they are enclosed, which minimizes litter being kicked out or other accidents.

Occasionally pee clumps stick to the bottom of the bin, but I just roll it and its easily seen and a litter scoop dislodges it w/o issue. Beats scooping forever trying to find everything.

I keep two each in two closets with cat doors for entry, with a large ribbed doormat on the floor and a motion activated battery powered nightlight, and when pulling forward and rolling give a quick spray of Oust air sanitizer which I keep there, which together w/ Swheat Scoop w/ is good at absorbing odors w/ active enzymes eliminates odors getting into the house. Litter gets flushed down toilet.

Litter is topped off as needed, and replaced entirely every 3 months. For the boxes, just use a wet wipe if I see any little messes, and otherwise are cleaned w/ a bleach based general purpose cleaner outside under a hose and brush whenever completely replacing litter.



Only real problem I have had to date is that when Buttercup used to have soft stool, I think the limited space an enclosed litterbox provides resulted in her on occasion stepping on her poo, and Wesley would scratch just the plastic where the litter catch was instead of burying his poo, but has stopped that.

I recommend the setup.

It is Rubbermaid - mine is made for food storage / Hunting purposes, so what you are saying won't apply. It is Rubbermaid and it is treated with Microban. It is the same size as the regular storage bin, but on the outside has a tree/camouflage picture/ I guess to hang on trees/ camping (as if animals didn't smell the meat LOL)

Whole carcasses are different than exposed meat/food. So try emailing the company and inquiring if they use tricolsan for that particular container instead assuming it's safe.
That or share the size and model name of those tubs and I'll email them.

I just called Rubbermaid on the phone - they do use Tricolsan in their Kitchenware only, to prevent bacterial and mold issues (because those items come in contact with water) - it says right on the label - none of their storage bins use Tricolsan. You can call or email them to confirm.

If there's one area I'm a lazy cat mom, it's the litterbox! Honestly, I just use Arm & Hammer clumping litter, or whatever happens to be on sale. I scoop daily, but I don't change out the entire litter box, just wipe down the sides and replenish litter as needed. With only one cat, the box is not a mess at all, and my girl has NEVER urinated or pooped outside of the box since I adopted her. The most work is dustbustering all the litter she tracks out of the box...

I hope I'm not a bad mom...

Thanks! I like Arm & Hammer. It clumps well, there's VERY little dust, and it smells "clean" without being overpowering. Holland has never voiced any complaints...

I'm very glad you did call Carolina!
The thing is you can't trust a company to always choose the safest products to market for animals and even people and for many products the companies are largely left to police themselves (take food and the FDA, for example). So those that use litter boxes that claim to have Microban, or feeders/waters, check those products out, too.
Personally, being an item non-tricolsan but still containing another chemical that is able to inhibit some bacteria (not the really bad ones, ironically) and molds doesn't sound like something I want any pet to have very frequent contact with. But, I also detest using flea topicals more than necessarily for the same reason.

So off topic, a little, but still good info as far as the actual litter box you choose to use goes.

The World's Best

I've been trying others - the last was Dr Elsey's Precious Cat. It was the best for no dust, but, I couldn't scoop it - it seemed to stay wet and when I scooped the "wet" clump it broke apart, and part of the clump stuck on the bottom of the litter pan. Also it was heavier than World's Best - or for that fact - heavier than any other litter that I've tried.

I'm stickin' with World's Best for now - even with 8 cats.

Well I got a good deal on dr elseys(both types of the crystals) and they loved it but the deals over and now going to stock pile fresh step(PAW POINTS) preferably but depends on what they have at store(S) tomorrow as coupons all expire end of month.
Also have one box(ok more like 3 in one as its the BIGGEST tote I have ever seen, and it cost me 0.00 of carefresh bedding as litter-its good but when you dump it it smells alot worse then when its in use.

Laughed when saw the water bowls/mold. ok fist who doesnt change it, second even with POTS they would run out before it ever did anything bad(hey any ideas on a bowl for them-maybe a larger animal would use something doable? no young kittens to drown in it so open to suggestion. Will try to go to TSC to see. I have seen ppl use dish pans for their dogs water but Id like to stick with something human/animal safe.

Stainless steel steamer pans, stainless mixing bowls, stainless dog bowls. If you don't go with something too large it can still be put in your dishwasher (if you have one) and sanitized. Otherwise you can pour/rinse with boiling water.