Alternative to World's Best Cat Litter

mikonu · Jan 23, 2005

I read a reply on here that said some people use chicken feed as an alternative to WBCL. Well, since I'm always trying out new stuff, I went to the local feed store and got a little 5lb bag. It was only $2.99! I took it home for my parent's to try with her cats since I just changed the litter at my place. Well a day and a half later, I can honestly say it works just as good as WBCL. It clumps well, and the odor control is slightly better. Plus, the 50 lbs bag is only $12.99. The savings come out to about $50.00.

I'm also going to try the Fresh Step Crystals. Lately Miko has been having a little bit of the WBCL stuck to his butt when he's done with his business. Argh, I wish it wasn't so hard finding the perfect litter.

mom of franz · Jan 23, 2005

Being just a city gal, wouldn't unprocessed corn feed, or the "raw stuff" attract bugs and vermin.Again I'm just a city gal who when she was younger...many, many years ago, went to a petting zoo thing on Coney Island and tried to bottle feed some milk to a turkey from a baby bottle of milk..the turkey bit into the nipple and milk went everywhere...LOL!

mikonu · Jan 23, 2005

Hmm, we've never had problems with vermin or bugs (*knock on wood*) but that is a good point. The texture and smell of the chicken feed (which is just ground corn) is the same as WBCL. I guess I'll see how things go this week and post an update.

cypris · Jan 23, 2005

sounds like the chicken feed may be a neat idea, i'd be careful about the crystal litter tho, i tried that on my cat once cuz i thought it would be more cost efficient (after all the bag says "one bag-one cat-one month") anyway something in the litter made her urinate even more and i was stuck with an amonia problem! she was peeing more than the litter could absorb and it stunk! so since i've had that experience and other cats may do the same, thought i'd warn you

mikonu · Jan 23, 2005

Turns out I won't be trying out the crystal litter. I checked around town today and the average cost was $10 for a 4 lb. bag. It would take two bags to fill the litter dome and I'd probably change it every two weeks, which is what I do with WBCL. So, I'd be spending $40 a month on litter vs. $25 a month on WBCL. I'm going to see if the boys will use the chicken feed that my parent's are using. Hopefully they will, that would save me about $12-$15 a month.

momofmany · Jan 23, 2005

I switched my gang over to Litter Mate a few months ago. It is a powder that you add to inexpensive clay litter to make it clump. It controls odors better than any litter that I have ever used. The up front cost to start is a little high, but the savings over time are tremendous.

I figured out the other day that I used to spend $25 per week on clumping litter. Even buying Litter Mate online (you can't find it in stores) and paying for the shipping, I figured I am saving about $17+ a week which comes to about $900 per year. Huge difference!

jalapeno · Jan 23, 2005

Wow this is a neat discovery.

Will try chicken feed on my cats too!

mom of franz · Jan 26, 2005

The reason I was concerned about the corn attracting bugs was this: Many years ago I had an apt that had roof access. I used to feed the birds up there..mostly pigeons. A couple of times when I bought seed for them (some corn was mixed into the bird seed) I found moth larve! YUCK, talk about disgusting..and it takes a lot for this old nurse to be grossed out. So check the bag before you purchase it.

jalapeno · Jan 26, 2005

Yeah, my mother advised me against it because I'll be attracting a lot of gross creatures with ground corn.

mikonu · Jan 30, 2005

Just posting an update:
My parent's have successfully switched over to using chicken feed instead of WBCL. They have no rodents or bugs in their house, so that's not a concern for them. So in all, they'd be saving a little over $50 a month on litter.

As for me...
I tried it out for a week with my boys. Miko refused to use it and made it clear to me that he would not tolerate another litter change. He loves WBCL too much.

Sebastian used it with no problems, and Kionu would use it only when Miko wasn't around. I think he was afraid Miko would get on his case for "not being on his side".

sylorna · Jan 30, 2005

Originally Posted by mikonu

I read a reply on here that said some people use chicken feed as an alternative to WBCL. Well, since I'm always trying out new stuff, I went to the local feed store and got a little 5lb bag. It was only $2.99! I took it home for my parent's to try with her cats since I just changed the litter at my place. Well a day and a half later, I can honestly say it works just as good as WBCL. It clumps well, and the odor control is slightly better. Plus, the 50 lbs bag is only $12.99. The savings come out to about $50.00.

I'm also going to try the Fresh Step Crystals. Lately Miko has been having a little bit of the WBCL stuck to his butt when he's done with his business. Argh, I wish it wasn't so hard finding the perfect litter.

Awsome! I am planning on picking up a big bag of chicken feed this weekend, once I can find a feed store/co-op. I got some WBCL this week because of a dust allergy that I was having to the present litter being in my room and I love it! I noticed a difference right away, and I'm pretty sure it will help heal Chesters URI a little faster too.

mikonu · Jan 30, 2005

Another thing I forgot to mention is that both the litter and corn feed are flushable. No more litter mess in the trash!

lottomagicz4941 · Mar 18, 2005

My cat is picky. Changed brands once 'cuz it was on sale and she would not burry her poop with the other brand.

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tuxedokitties · Apr 11, 2005

Mikonu,
Can you tell me specifically what kind of chiken feed you're using? Brand, ingredients, what it looks like?

I picked up a sample of chicken feed from the feed store & the cats tried to eat it

protein is listed in the ingredients, so perhaps that's why? I'm hoping to find something to use that doesn't have added protein - Mr. is on a diet, and I don't think eating litter is too healthy for him.

Thanks

sharky · Apr 11, 2005

I got a bag of Layena by Purina... It was the only crumble the store had ...

tuxedokitties · Apr 11, 2005

Originally Posted by sharky

I got a bag of Layena by Purina... It was the only crumble the store had ...

How has it worked for you? Have your cats tried to eat it?

sharky · Apr 11, 2005

its working great ... the dog tried to eat some .. but I dont think the cats have..

tuxedokitties · Apr 12, 2005

That's good to know - I'll try to find a sample of that kind. Thanks!

sharky · Apr 12, 2005

Originally Posted by tuxedokitties

That's good to know - I'll try to find a sample of that kind. Thanks!

All feed will have protien in a crumble it is corn , just a note

hareting · Dec 10, 2005

hm...i'm sorrry to ask..but i dunno where exactly can i find a feed store. i live in toronto, would there be any feed store in the city??? or do i need to go to the country? can i jsut go to yellow page and type in "feed store" to find something??

Alternative to World's Best Cat Litter

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