Kitty Litter

[Mary K]

Here goes! I have restrained from asking this question, which is not nearly as important (at least right now!) as our pet food issue. As you know, I have 3 indoor cats. I was really happy when "clump" litter was invented, but over the years began to wonder what ill effects it was having on me and my cats. From experience, the best 'clumpers' and 'odor controllers' with fragrance also form a fine dust (which is silica, sodium bentonite or clay).
I have recently read that this substance, when licked off the paws, can expand in the intestines and swell, causing serious problems (especially in kittens). There are also reports that the dust can cause corneal and other problems of the eye. There are so many products available like wheat, corn, and wood, all of which I have read bad reviews on.  The corn has been genetically modified and has pesticides. By the way, I wear a filtering mask     to avoid breathing the dust when cleaning the litterbox, but the poor kitties have no protection. Shall we research this? I'd like to know what others have read and experienced.

[Therese]

You know, Mary, I've wondered about that myself. I have one cat and I use the clumping litter too. I'd be very interested to know what you might be able to find out. I wonder too, what issues there might be with the litter that doesn't clump. That's manufactured too so I'd think there may be some issues with that as well. I imagine pretty much anything we might use would have some issues. Good, old fashioned dirt is probably the safest...but I'm not about to let my Tequila be an outdoor cat!

[Caylynn]

I own a Sphynx, and with Sphynx, since they have no hair, you have to be very careful to get a clumping litter that doesn't produce much dust.

I don't know if they are available in North America (I'm in Germany) but the two litters that we have used that don't produce any dust, and that clump, are "Extreme Classic" and  Cat's Best Öko Plus.  The Cat's Best is one litters made of plant material, but it is produced from plant material from 100% organic farms, so there are no worries about GM or pesticides and herbicides.

The Extreme Classic comes from Canada, so it is most likely available in Canada, at the very least.

[alek0]

I used Swheat Scoop Cat Litter, it clumps, it is flushable, low dust and made of wheat. I've had good experiences with it. Since my kitten is almost entirely toilet trained (we are on the green ring of litter kwitter) I don't use much litter anymore. My older two are fully toilet trained and they just use toilet normally without training attachment.

It has an advantage of not only convenience (i.e. just flush), but also it is easier to notice any problems (i.e. soft stools etc.).

[Davis]

Oh great.  Now something else to worry about.  I have actually been wondering about this for a while.  After trying everything out there, I still prefer high-quality wood shavings, which I really like (requires an extra deep box to prevent a mess).  No doubt there is something dangerous about this.  I used this for years with a cat that I had before, and she lived well into old age.  I read once that it's toxic to small rodents who use it for bedding and are constantly exposed to it...something about the wood being treated with chemicals, but couldn't find anything with regard to cats.  It smells really good, it's absorbant, and it's very inexpensive.  I always thought I was doing a good thing, because it's a natural substance from the good earth and smells like the forest.  Everytime I turn around lately, I feel like I'm hurting my beloved cat.

[Kathleen]

QUERY FOR MARY,

     Mary,    I was VERY interested in your "litter" comment--as you say. another wrinkle to vex the soul. I raced down to my basement to dig out the litter bag and read the print.  I use" THE WORLD'S BEST LITTER", which is corn based. I have the email address and I intend to get in touch. I do NOT want a pacifying comment like--pesticide free. I want them to prove it to me!!. We took the pet food people's word and look at the mess we are in!  The litter bag states that it  is an IOWA based company and one would assume that they are using local products--but who knows. Maybe they have ties to China also.   HORRORS!!!! Anyway I am sure that Iowa corn growers spray their crops.  On the bag it says it is a  GPC Pet Product. Do you know anything about this company?

          Kathleen in Toronto

[Mary K]

Hi, Kathleen, I haven't heard of this product, but looked it up. This is the link to their website page about the litter:

http://www.worldsbestcatlitter.com/faq.php?referrer=gpc

They say it is made from natural corn, and also that the extra strength formula has a natural ingredient (which they don't specify.) Will be interested in how your communication with them goes. Surely they have had enough time (over a month now!) to get their story together for the Neo-Pet Population!

[Cindy Nevarez]

Dang! I never thought of this! I use this litter too, because of so many related problems to the clay stuff. I would also appreciate anything anyone can find out about this.

[Kathleen]

I have emailed the company and asked for some kind of assurance that their product will not have a negative impact on the cats. I said that they had to offer me something besides  a simple , 'Don't worry, everything is OK" We accepted that with cat food---look at the problems we are having. As soon as I get a response, I will post it here.
                     
                 Kathleen

[Cindy Nevarez]

Thank you, that would be much appreciated.

[Kathleen]

  As  of midnight on Tuesday, April 24,  THE WORLD"S BEST CAT LITTER made by GPC Pet Products have NOT responded to my email sent last Sunday evening. It was a polite email requesting information about their litter in light of the pet food recall. NO RESPONSE makes me feel very uneasy. Do they have something to hide? I am about to contact them again with a more forceful message.
                             
                        Kathleen

[Cindy Nevarez]

Yeah...that's not good.
I got the same treatment form Boca Burger when I called them last month. They wouldn't tell me who they get their ingredients from. So now they are boycotted by me. However GardenBurger was very forthcoming that they only use USA grown ingredients, and manufacture in the US. Orowheat was very forthcoming also, with the same answers. I noted with interest that American food manufacturers using American grown ingredients don't seem to be too worried about that "proprietary information" crap.
I can only assume the worst about The World's Best Cat Litter now.

[garypen]

I've never had any luck with the grain based litters. (One corn-based and Nature's Miracle.) I personally loved them. They clumped well. They were light and easy to handle. And, most importanly, smelled great. But, one of my cats hated them, and would pee on the floor. So, back to clay-based litter.

The litter I prefer is Arm & Hammer Super Scoop. It is very low dust for a clay-based litter. It smells good. And, it absorbs odors well. I find it works better than their Multi-Cat formula. The cats love it. I've never seen much left on their paws, or any issues from licking what residue might be there. It's generally pretty cheap at Petsmart, around $11 for 30lbs or so.

I notice on their website that they have a new "natural" formula called High Performance. I haven't tried it yet. I have no idea what it is made from. But, I'm gonna look for it at the store today, and report back my findings.

BTW, I also use a fantastic, easy to clean litter box from Omega Paw. (Get the large size. Regular size is useless.) You just roll it to one side, roll it back, and all of the clumps and turds are in a pull out drawer. I then dump the draw into a Litter Locker by Petmate. I recommend both.

http://www.petsmart.com/global/product_detail.jsp?PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=845524441775494&FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=2534374302033737&ASSORTMENT%3C%3East_id=2534374302023690&bmUID=1177523568538&itemNo=14&In=Cat&N=2033737&Ne=2

http://www.petsmart.com/global/product_detail.jsp?PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=845524441780636&FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=2534374302033737&ASSORTMENT%3C%3East_id=2534374302023690&bmUID=1177523568125&itemNo=2&In=Cat&N=2033737&Ne=2

[Cindy Nevarez]

This one looks real nice. Unfortunately, my 18 year old can barely take regular kitty steps, let alone step up into a high hole like that. I have to use those new boxes that are dome-shaped with a built in ramp that starts right at the floor level.

[Mary K]

Garypen, How about sacking up a few of those bags and sending them to Melamine-feeding hog factories, Pet Food companies that wouldn't be honest with us, FDA, etc!