what about sand for cat litter?

I was thinking that cats outside love to go in sandboxes. Has anyone ever tried plain old sand (like playsand you can get at home depot for 3.00 for 50 lbs.) as cat litter instead of the store bought cat litter? Would there be anything healthwise that might affect a cat by using sand instead? I think it would be more natural to use either potting soil or sand for litter instead of commercial kitty litter. I tried wood shavings and although it keeps the small down the wood shavings tend to get everywhere. Has anyone tried sand?

I use stall dry- it works for me and it is a heck of a lot cheaper than the cat litter-

I used sand for a little while for a stray cat and her kittens that I had inside for a while. It was actually the litter my two babies, CJ and Billy, came from. I used the sand at first, because I had no cat litter, and they used it great. There was a problem... you can't scoop it, and it absorbs the excreta more (so it holds less), and it didn't keep the smell down much at all. It stunk BAD! But, for temporary use, or if it's in a screened in room that is constantly aired out, it would be fine.

Tania (Kumbulu) put me onto chook feed of all things!!! But basically it's a wheat mix, and almost identical in content to the wheat based litters you can buy but a fraction of the price.

Originally Posted by hissy

I use stall dry- it works for me and it is a heck of a lot cheaper than the cat litter-

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What is stall dry? is that what they use for horses to keep stalls dry? if so what is it made of, what is the cost and where can I get it? I wouldn't mind getting something to put in my horses corrals too, if that's what it's for.

I was going to ask the same - and what is chook feed?

Originally Posted by jennyranson

I was going to ask the same - and what is chook feed?

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chicken feed
(sorry is chook an aussie term?!!!)

Originally Posted by byclops

chicken feed
(sorry is chook an aussie term?!!!)

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Yep, I guess. LOL. It's okay... we are all from different parts of the world! LOL!

Stall-Dry is a mixture that looks like sand that you put in horse's stalls to absorb moisture and smell. It is available in large bags at feed stores. I just keep pouring it into plastic litter containers and using that in the house as it is easiest. It really works well and once you stir the stall dry around the pan the urine absorbs and is just vanishes.

I'll tell you one hug disadvantage of sand: the cats track it everywhere! Squirt actually goes outside in my atrium (an outdoor area in my house that he can't escape from). Florida soil is mostly sand, and mine has been supplemented by the contents of 25+ bags of sand left over from the hurricanes. He comes in and tracks sand everywhere! I am forever brushing it off of my bed, which he loves to lie on.

Originally Posted by Deb25

I'll tell you one hug disadvantage of sand: the cats track it everywhere! Squirt actually goes outside in my atrium (an outdoor area in my house that he can't escape from). Florida soil is mostly sand, and mine has been supplemented by the contents of 25+ bags of sand left over from the hurricanes. He comes in and tracks sand everywhere! I am forever brushing it off of my bed, which he loves to lie on.

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too!

Originally Posted by hissy

Stall-Dry is a mixture that looks like sand that you put in horse's stalls to absorb moisture and smell. It is available in large bags at feed stores. I just keep pouring it into plastic litter containers and using that in the house as it is easiest. It really works well and once you stir the stall dry around the pan the urine absorbs and is just vanishes.

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Gee never thought of useing it for the cats....i must think of trying that one

Originally Posted by Deb25

I'll tell you one hug disadvantage of sand: the cats track it everywhere! Squirt actually goes outside in my atrium (an outdoor area in my house that he can't escape from). Florida soil is mostly sand, and mine has been supplemented by the contents of 25+ bags of sand left over from the hurricanes. He comes in and tracks sand everywhere! I am forever brushing it off of my bed, which he loves to lie on.

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Do you know that salt water reefers on the west coast pay around $30.00 for 10 lbs. of white coral sand from pet stores. If you can bag that stuff and sell it online or on ebay you'd probably make a fortune.