Clumping Litters?

I use Tidy Cats non-clumping 24/7 performance litter & have been for a couple years now except recently I am using a lot more litter(almost 80lbs a month). I have 5 cats possibly 6 soon. I have been looking at clumping litters(natural, clay, etc.) I have 2 Petmate Giant Litter Pans & a Van Ness High Sided Corner Litter box. I use liners in my boxes(my cats aren't bothered by them) as I can't see struggling to get the giant ones into the bathtub to wash them. Please don't criticize me about the # of boxes I have. I know the "rule" but this is what works for us. Back to litter.

I've seen some horror stories about cats ingesting clumping litter & what happens with that. I've never seen my cats eat litter but what if it is stuck to their paws they would be ingesting it that way. Is that a big worry? I've never used clumping because of this.

Since I have been looking into other litters. I found the corn based ones & they seem pretty good. I did read something about they can draw ants. Has anyone had a problem with corned based litter drawing ants? We deal with ants in the summer time so I don't need ants in my cat litter.

I have been trying a litter additive that I found recommended on here: LitteRemedy. I've only been using it a week. So far it works & I like it except while I scoop the box I get a smell/scent from it(not cat smells, it's the additive). It's not horrible, I don't like it but could live with it if I had to. I just add it to my Tidy Cats & it turns it into clumping litter(& it's natural).

I have already ruled out pellet litters because I have a declawed cat. I have learned that those will be to harsh for her.(Note: I did NOT have her declawed, she came to me that way.)

The only other thing I worry/wonder about is that since I have the 2 giant boxes I am going to need a whole 20/40 lbs for each box. I know having a litter level of at least 3" is what makes the clumping litter last. I'm buying alot of litter as it is I would like to cut that expense down some & clumping costs a little more than non.

I have 2(3?) cats under the age of 1 year(2 are 7 months & other (if kept) is 3 months). I also have very determined diggers if it makes a difference.

My main questions are:

What is everybody's favorite affordable clumping litter?

Do you fear ingestion of clumping litters?

Have problems with ants with corn based litters?

Am i going to be buying 40+ lbs of clumping to fill one giant box to 3"?

If anyone uses LitteRemedy do you find that it has a smell?

Any other ways anybody using for washing/cleaning litter boxes out(wipes, etc.)?

Problems using liners with clumping?

I think that's it lol. Please let me know. Tips, tricks, other things?

Hi, I'm not from the US so I can't help with a specific brand of litter. 

I used recycled paper litter for my kittens when they were young not because I was afraid the dust may get in their lungs. I've read a few articles stating that "kittens dying from eating clumping litter" was started many years ago and is now an urban legend. If it had any basis in fact I would assume that we'd heard of concrete cases more recently. Having said that I wouldn't have it anywhere near my cat if she had pica or something similar. 

People hear have problems with mice attracted to corn based litters. Oops no that was wheat, sorry. I've used corn based litter because you can flush it, unfortunately it didn't clump very well. 

I've never used wipes for anything, we've had consumer groups state that wipes are a waste of money which do nothing to kill germs. I use a little bit of detergent and vinegar and place the litter box in the sun for a couple of hours to get rid of the smell.