Lets talk kitty litter-- I need advice!! :)

texastami · #1 10/11/11, 09:59 PM

What brand do you use, and WHY???

I have read that kittens should not use clumping as it could lead to intestinal issues.... and that i shouldn't use "scented" litter as they won't use it....

I gotta do something!! I can't stand the smell of kitty poo... stinks worse to me than HOG poo!!

I need a happy medium... we have already tried johnny cat, special kitty, the cheap walmart brand....

i am at wits end....

Tell me what has worked for you... and what hasn't....

I don't wanna SMELL cat when you walk in....

beccachow · #2 10/11/11, 10:08 PM

I get the Tidy Cats Multiple Cat non-clumping, and I have the one cat. I do know that there are things you can add to the litter to take away the urine odor, I see it in stores.

Minelson · #3 10/11/11, 10:52 PM

I was just thinking this today...how much the cat litter I use really s cks. It doesn't clump hard enough! The urine soaked granules just sift right through and you end up with wet, stinky yuck.

Looking forward to comments and recommendations on hard clumping, affordable cat litter...

suzyhomemaker09 · #4 10/11/11, 10:54 PM

I'd look at what you are feeding them as well...a good food will result in a less smelly poo...

texastami · #5 10/11/11, 11:20 PM

Oy! I agree!! I have been feeding kitten chow... but I will look into changing their diet as well!!

Thats exactly one of the problems I have with wet stinky litter that won't clump!!

texastami · #6 10/11/11, 11:26 PM

http://www.petfoodratings.net/

Totally had forgotten that I used this when I was searching for good DOG food years ago... wish they had a litter comparison site somewhere!!

thaiblue12 · #7 10/11/11, 11:55 PM

I use unscented since they do not like scented. I read the labels and buy the kind that actually says hard clumping. Some do not say it.
The kind I get is kind of like the store brand, it is called Pet Pride Scoopable. I buy it at King Soopers which is a Kroger off shoot. But there are other hard clumping ones out there. I avoid any that smell really strongly.
You can sprinkle some baking soda in the bottom of the box, that helps.
I have never had problems or issues with scoopable litter.

I also love this litter box, easy to clean, available in Petsmart or Petco so you do not have to order it online:

http://www.petco.com/product/2611/Om...ter-Boxes.aspx

Third and most important, I do not change the litter boxes, it is not my job

There are 4 things I do not do and litter is one of them. Dishes, ironing and trash are the other 3

wanda1950 · #8 10/11/11, 11:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by beccachow

I get the Tidy Cats Multiple Cat non-clumping, and I have the one cat. I do know that there are things you can add to the litter to take away the urine odor, I see it in stores.

This is what I use too. Works well for us. We have three boxes for two cats & we change it about once a week. It's on sale now at Krogers--3.99 for a big bag.

Veronica · #9 10/12/11, 08:18 AM

I used to use the World's Best Cat Litter. It worked well, and I felt it was better for the cats. But it was more pricey, and I just can't do that right now. So I use fresh step or scoop away or arm & hammer - whatever is on sale. If you add baking soda to the litter it helps.
If you're looking for a food recommendation, my kitties love Solid gold indigo moon (and the bag is pretty - lol). But one of the cats needs wet food or she gets uti's so they're on canned food. I like the Trader Joe's brand, but I can't always get there so they're on that and friskies.

SunsetSonata · #10 10/12/11, 09:25 AM

I get the cheap clumping litter at Sam's Club, but what really helps with the stink is a bottle of Arm & Hammer Cat Litter Deodorizer. I spray it all over the litter box after I clean out the clumps and it really helps.

cathleenc · #11 10/12/11, 09:29 AM

The best answer to cat poop stink is a dog who thinks the cat poop is really a delicacy called kitty cat pate! Honestly, cat poop never lingers for more than a moment before the dogs are trying to eat it so the cat poop smell is minimal around here.

For urine smell, try scooping at least daily if not 2x a day.

And if you have not already discovered them I highly recommend investing in one of those huge heavy aluminum litter scoopers, about $10 - 14 at petco. Makes scooping litter so much better!

simplepeace · #12 10/12/11, 09:40 AM

Best answer is:

Rawfed

no poo smell at all. Otherwise pick one good cat food and don't change it

But that doesn't help the pee smell of course.
This was the best ever for clumping at a decent price:Precious Cat Ultra Premium Clumping Cat Litter. But I had to do something else after awhile because i didn't want to pay for trash pick-up, and I couldn't flush the clumps in my septic system.

That was when I went to wood pellets, and I could dump the whole thing every few days in the kitty compost pile.

simplegirl · #13 10/12/11, 10:17 AM

I also sprinkle baking soda in the bottom of the cat pan before adding litter. It helps with the odor.

Wolf Flower · #14 10/12/11, 11:10 AM

I use the corncob pellets marketed as horse bedding. Cheap, absorbent, flushable, doesn't smell perfumey, and actually does clump as it breaks down.

I've also used Arm & Hammer Essentials, it's a corn-based litter that is clumping, and flushable.

I second raw feeding as a way to cut down on the poo odor, and I also second letting the dog clean the litterbox whenever possible.

beccachow · #15 10/12/11, 11:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cathleenc

The best answer to cat poop stink is a dog who thinks the cat poop is really a delicacy called kitty cat pate! Honestly, cat poop never lingers for more than a moment before the dogs are trying to eat it so the cat poop smell is minimal around here.
!

Yup, lol. Glad I am not alone on this one!

simplepeace · #16 10/12/11, 01:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by simplegirl

I also sprinkle baking soda in the bottom of the cat pan before adding litter. It helps with the odor.

Oops forgot - I do this too! I buy the 25 lb bag at the feedstore for $10 I think

I fill a jar to use for cleaning and etc... then the rest is for litter box. I store it with the kitty litter.

I use about 1 cup per change and it will last about a year even though I empty often. Two cats, and they rarely use in summer. YMMV

simplepeace · #17 10/12/11, 01:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wolf Flower

I second raw feeding as a way to cut down on the poo odor, and I also second letting the dog clean the litterbox whenever possible.

BTW... My dogs don't even acknowledge raw fed kitty poo!

farmmom · #18 10/12/11, 03:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by simplegirl

I also sprinkle baking soda in the bottom of the cat pan before adding litter. It helps with the odor.

This is what I do as well as mixing it into the litter. It works great.

RedDirt Cowgirl · #19 10/12/11, 04:14 PM

Whichever litter one uses, there's still cat wizz evaporating into the air. A covered litter box and a strong draft to vent the vapors outside is the only way I can stand having a box inside. I think using as small an amount as possible and throwing the whole works out is preferable to sifting generous amount. You can start with lots and work down to the kittie's "balking point". I've checked out those kittie flush toilets (didn't THAT sound like a dream come true), but they still use litter and won't work with my old septic tank.

texastami · #20 10/12/11, 06:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wolf Flower

I second raw feeding as a way to cut down on the poo odor, and I also second letting the dog clean the litterbox whenever possible.

I am going to start feeding raw... and EWWWWWW about the dog... we have a 5# chi who would be MORTIFIED if I even offered that to her...

Now my son's dog... 90# lab... is a licker... and not a chance will he ever get close to me if I know he's eating out of the litter box!!!!