Chick Feed Litter Concerns, anyone know about this?

Animal feeds are tested 20ppm for mold toxins. Worlds Best claims to test for 20ppm, too.

Both have the same risk for mold toxins.

All of these organic litters should probably kept in plastic bins with tight lids to help keep out moisture.


Robin

That is not necessarily true though.

They may both be tested for 20ppm, and I would agree that since it is feed that manufacturers would abide by the same safe handling procedures (if not more so), but technically the feed may not be heat-dried to the same ultra-low moisture level prior to crumbling and packaging, and the packaging may not be air/moisture tight.

WBCL claims to super dry theirs to remove moisture, and the bags are clearly air and moisture tight. They also claim to add clumping additives (they only specify it as "other plant materials" whatever that means) which could even further enhance protection by keeping the rest of the litter extra clean. I haven't heard of any aflatoxin lawsuits or recalls for WBCL to date, and its not a new product.

From what I've read, there isn't cause for alarm if the product is good out of the bag, as an indoor environment would not approach the high temperatures, air humidity, and litter moisture levels needed for aflatoxin to grow as it needs pretty specific conditions. So I don't think there is any need to try and reseal the bags for a normal home environment which is not likely to exceed human comfort levels > ~70% humidity and 80oF.

My house in particular doesn't go above 77oF setting on the A/C and moisture levels are under 50%, too cool and dry to worry about it. Some people do keep their litterbox in their bathroom though, and if taking lots of hot showers w/o ventilation, I could see how it could get very warm and wet in there and could be an issue over time.

This is not a complete digression.

I've read discussions that raise negative concerns about ethanol - using grain to make alcohol to run cars when there are concerns about the availability of food for people. (Let us for the moment ignore the fact that vehicles using ethanol fuels have lower mpg than petroleum fuel so where is the environmental benefit.)

Corn based litters may be "good" as a litter but isn't it a matter of concern to use what could / should be food for people or livestock as something for cats to pee and poop in?

edit: I was wrong, WBCL is using whole kernel corn, not corn byproduct such as husks and cob and the like.

Besides, seeing the TONS of corn the local grain elevators leave lying around to rot (and rotting corn stinks!!! My parents' neighborhood smells terrible certain times of the year, because the elevator is just below the hill they live on), I'm not worried about any kind of corn shortage right now. Maybe someday corn will be the sort of thing that needs to be conserved. . .

Watch Food, Inc. Off topic, but end corn subsidy (healthier spinach and fruits don't get special consideration, why corn, especially since the GMO corn industry is VERY healthy w/o any assistance) and perhaps you'll be able to drink or eat something w/o corn in it and see less waste for a change.

So when someone buys chick feed as an alternative to WBCL the chick feed is made from grain products?

You're right actually, I double-checked searching on the WBCL site and it does say it uses whole kernel corn. Sorry about that, I'll check my facts better next time.

*embarrassed*

Oh, I know. Living in the middle of farm country has shown me that. I haven't watched Food, Inc. yet (I have it on the DVR ) but I can see what's happening. I think the farmers spend more on gas trucking the corn to the elevator (plus planting, cultivating, etc) than the corn is worth, but, because of the subsidies, they can't afford to grow anything BUT corn. Ethanol in gas and otherwise using corn in non-food applications is just a way to get rid of all that excess corn the government paid the farmers to grow. It would go to waste if it didn't get used that way. So I don't have a problem with using corn for cat litter at this point. It seems a waste of the vitamins added to the chick feed, but it's cheap so what are ya gonna do?

There are ethical problems to consider when using corn or wheat litters, because those products could be used for food.

But then there are the environmental and respiratory heath issues (for cats and humans) associated with clay litter.

For me, the organic litters seem a better choice, though I can see why another would take the other view.

Some would argue that the meat used in pet food is a waste because people are starving and that raising meat is so environmentally costly. Yet the pet industry employs an awful lot of people.

Robin

If the corn / wheat would go to waste then perhaps more would be sold abroad or there might eventually be a reduction in its production. As long as it is sold for any purpose - human food, animal feed, high fructose corn syrup, ethanol, cat litter - there is no pressure to reduce production.

Corn, BTW, is a very "hungry" crop. It needs tilling of soil (fuel costs) frequent fertilization, insect control either with pesticides or GMO Roundup Ready seed. There is no economic incentive for Monsanto and other companies to do this, but I've often thought that gene-splicing with legumes to develop a corn able to have nodules on the roots where nitrogen-fixing bacteria live would reduce need for high nitrogen fertilizers. How do those opposed to GMO technology feel about that possibility?

Reduce, reuse, recycle - it would seem that Yesterday's News is the most environmentally friendy kitty litter.

In the interests of full disclosure - all three of my cats use Tidy Cat clay-based litter.

The recycled newspaper idea is a good idea. But I've always heard it doesn't work well.

My read newspapers go to the shelter where they are used for cage liners, and there is always a shortage. But then newspapers, as paper, are going extinct.

The amount of chemicals used to produce corn (or wheat) is frightening.

There is no perfect litter. It's a matter of choosing your poison.

Robin

Good points, but for environmental sustainability, clay would still have to be the worst simply since its usually derived from strip mining and doesn't biodegrade, and health wise is still the least desirable for people and pets due to the dust and artificial clumping agents ingested IMO.

Yesterday's News for now would be very green I agree, but their litter is not typical, and I don't think it lasts as long as a good clumping litter so you use a bit more. For recycled newspaper, I'd also argue that long-term thats an obsolete form of communication as well. Quite a few schools here have gone paperless for books (wish I had a cheap netbook back in the day so I wouldn't break my back w/ ten 300page books hah), we have at our office, and I get my news online. Best goal for that IMO would be to stop making so much one-time-use bulk paper like for newspapers.

BTW, there is also Feline Pine Scoop clumping litter:
http://www.felinepine.com/clumping/

IMO, any natural litter is still a big improvement overall.