Thread: Litter Recommendations?

I have 4 neuter boys now (well, three and a half!) and I've always used Cats Best which is a clumping litter. It absorbs really well, can be flushed and I never have any trouble with anyone doing their business anywhere other than the trays. The downside is - it tracks - bloody everywhere! Having said that I wouldn't change. When Oscar came home a few weeks ago he was using Yesterdays News but it doesn't absorb half as well and poo just sits on the top of it. Oscars feet were constantly covered in wee, as he would do his thing in the tray then walk all in it. This has now stopped as we have now changed him over to Cats Best. I have two very large litter trays in the downstairs toilet. These get scooped whenever we use our loo and then topped up. I empty and disinfect about every 2-3 weeks, depending if there have been any 'runny' ones or not. Sorry to be so graphic but I think we're probably all used to it! I would estimate the cost of filling and topping up two extra large trays per week to be around £4-£5 (based on using a 10l bag per 10-14 days - this is a very rough guess!) Hope this helps

I use Sainsbury's own brand clumping litter. Its about £2 for 10 litres and is identical to a more expensive brand. Buddy has gone back to using his tray all the time. I change litter every day and disinfect once a week. I use a scented litter liner and I add litter freshner. I get through a bag a week.

As for your OH I hear a broken nose improves your tolerence to litterbox smells

I've not found anything that absorbs smells of no2's, i remove them when they are done and open the doors to air as i can't stand the smell of air fresher
We go from catsan to sophisticat (white stuff) depending on where we go, and get the cheapest stuff we can, no issues with change
I would just get value cheapy stuff and change as often as you can

Thanks for the advice guys! I think we are definitely emptying the tray far too often which is why we're getting through so much. I do the same with opening windows etc. to air out the flat.

Sorry for being a dunce but what do you mean by 'it tracks'? just that they end up with it on their feet? Teddy kicks some out of his tray or brings it with him on his way out but I always hoover around the tray every day so I can deal with if that's what you mean! I like the idea that it's flushable though because right now we're having to make loads of trips up and down six flights of stairs!

I read somewhere that as long as the texture of the litter is similar to what he previously used, he shouldn't have a problem with it?

Like Missdiane i've not found anything that absorbs the smell of poo. As you can imagine, we get through a LOT of cat litter and like most breeders i know we use wood pellets. Pets at home sell it but i buy mine in bulk online as it's a lot cheaper and also the pellets don't seem to disintigrate as quickly.

Here's where i get it from; Liverpool wood pellets
I usually buy 500kg of the economy pellets in small bags. We tried the premium type once but funnily enough it wasn't as good as the economy. You can buy any quantity.

On the subject of clay clumping litter, I refuse to use the stuff and certainly don't recommend it to anyone that has a kitten from me. When I did research on it a while back, i came across quite a few stories/articles like this one clay clumping litter Call me paranoid, but i prefer not to take any chances with my babies.

Hope this helps.

We used to use the more expensive clumping litter & found it very economical,more so than the cheaper but we are now doing like a lot of others,chick crumb mixed with starter pellets,works a dream,can put it down the loo if you wish although I bag in degradable poo bags,water meter would be too busy if I put all down toilet,we top up as necessary but rotate cleaning trays out completely but now only have to do it about once a month,even then when we empty a tray out completely we put it into one of the outside pen trays,not smelly at all & seems to hide a fair amount of the odours providing of course you have a cat that covers,upset runny poo poo or if you are unlucky enough to have a cat that is naturally smelly {daughter has one}then I don't think anything will cover the odour although might help a bit when they have done that famous stinker just as dinner guests arrive.We have never had problems with change of litter with any of ours right from day one,I think it being clean is the main thing,we scoop out first thing in the morning,again when I arrive home from work or just before I leave which is about 1.30ish then again around seven plus whenever necessary if we are at home,shit shovel routine is what I call it,think I am now known as the Chief SS.
Yep Stacey tracking does mean hiking litter out of the tray & leaving a trail,as for the OH perhaps a peg might help rather than the broken nose route,I luv it....x

I also recommend chick crumb. Your local farm feed shop will sell 5kg or 20kg bags - I use about one 20kg bag every three weeks. My routine, with 3 boys !, is empty the solids (poo and clumped wee) out twice a day and do a complete empty and clean one a week. Only one of mine, and I am not sure which, knows how to properly bury his poo. Hmm.

Originally Posted by Stacey

right now we're having to make loads of trips up and down six flights of stairs!

I use ASDA 20ltr clumping litter. Empty the clumps twice a day (and remove the no.2's instantly) and just top up with more litter. Give it a full clean out once a week.

I also own one of these Litter Locker II at zooplus
which only needs changing about once a week too... Haven't regretted this purchase at all as it properly reduces the running around.

Originally Posted by Stacey

Thanks for the advice guys! I think we are definitely emptying the tray far too often which is why we're getting through so much. I do the same with opening windows etc. to air out the flat.

Sorry for being a dunce but what do you mean by 'it tracks'? just that they end up with it on their feet? Teddy kicks some out of his tray or brings it with him on his way out but I always hoover around the tray every day so I can deal with if that's what you mean! I like the idea that it's flushable though because right now we're having to make loads of trips up and down six flights of stairs!

I read somewhere that as long as the texture of the litter is similar to what he previously used, he shouldn't have a problem with it?

Yes, when I say 'it tracks' I mean it sticks to their feet and gets walked all over the house, and I have four of them going it . But if you can live with that, I would highly recommend it. I have also used chick crumb (without anti-biotics) and would continue to use it but I don't have a local supplier, so it is a bit more problematic to get it. I go to quite a few shows and R&L have 30l bags of Cats Best, usually for £15, which makes it very economical to use. I try to get 2-3 bags at a time.