What is cat litter

pmajka · 11-01-2006, 09:46 AM

What is cat litter, why does it cost so damn much,

Can i make my own?

my ****ten Kittens are now Crappen Cats.

azasadny · azasadny's Garage

I use recycled newspaper (Yesterday's News) for my ferrets and it works!

Porsche-O-Phile · Porsche-O-Phile's Garage

I use stuff made from silica. It's absorbant as all hell, lasts a good while and keeps the smell down. It's a little more expensive than the "el cheapo" Johnny Cat stuff or whatever, but it's worth it. Since the crystals are bigger, the cats don't track it either. And the felines seem to like it.

scottmandue · 11-01-2006, 10:08 AM

It's some kind of clay...they mine it right out of the ground then grind it up to usable size and add some kind of deodorant, nothing special.

There may be some kind of DIY stuff but I'm too lazy to do it, five bucks for a twenty pound bag I get at the grocery store that lasts me two weeks (two cats).

scottmandue · 11-01-2006, 10:09 AM

Come to think of it they will use plane old playground sand... dunno if that is any cheaper than kitty litter.

vash · vash's Garage

vermiculite?

i buy it everytime safeway has a buy one get one free sale. the clumping stuff, saves $$ in the long run.

NICKG · 11-01-2006, 10:16 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Porsche-O-Phile
I use stuff made from silica. It's absorbant as all hell, lasts a good while and keeps the smell down. It's a little more expensive than the "el cheapo" Johnny Cat stuff or whatever, but it's worth it. Since the crystals are bigger, the cats don't track it either. And the felines seem to like it.

the problem with the silica stuff is that it causes silicosis in the cat's lungs...we use yesterdays news, or lately we use feline pine. Feline pine is my choice now because it is pressed pine pellets that work great, and when the get used, they break down into pine sawdust...I take it outside and dump it in the mulch pile...total eco friendly product, the cats don't care and I have the piec of mind that I am not hurting my animal with silica dust(or me for that matter) 1 bag is enough for a week with 2 cats, costs like $3.99 and the giant bag lasts like a month and half for 12.99. It smells like pine so the cat odors are not around unless you really need to change it

id10t · 11-01-2006, 10:45 AM

My felines don't like to go in the house... so I just let them out. No littler box to deal with.

Porsche-O-Phile · Porsche-O-Phile's Garage

I sorta' wondered about that since when you initially pour the stuff out of the bag and into their litter boxes it makes a cloud of "fines" which I certainly wouldn't want them (or me) breathing. Once it's in there though, I haven't seen any dust clouds or anything.

I've also seen some crazy stuff made of pine chips or something but it's silly expensive. Might be good though. Dunno.

pmajka · 11-01-2006, 10:52 AM

My cats hated the Pine...Started to find other creative places till we removed it.

BlueSkyJaunte · 11-01-2006, 11:15 AM

We tried cornmeal-based litter for a while but it's not as absorbent as the clumping stuff.

vash · vash's Garage

i was wrong. not vermiculite, but Sodium Bentonite. i am not sure if it has silica.

scottmandue · 11-01-2006, 11:23 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by id10t
My felines don't like to go in the house... so I just let them out. No littler box to deal with.

Is ther a playground near your house?

Porsche-O-Phile · Porsche-O-Phile's Garage

I suppose there's always this. . .

I might have to attempt teaching 'em. . .

http://www.karawynn.net/mishacat/toilet.html

VaSteve · 11-01-2006, 12:08 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Porsche-O-Phile
I sorta' wondered about that since when you initially pour the stuff out of the bag and into their litter boxes it makes a cloud of "fines" which I certainly wouldn't want them (or me) breathing. Once it's in there though, I haven't seen any dust clouds or anything.

.

They walk on it and lick their paws. The silica gets inside them and dries them out from the inside....

Porsche-O-Phile · Porsche-O-Phile's Garage

Hmmm. . . dessicated cats. Not good. I'll have to ask the vet 'bout that one.

You know, they do drink a lot of water now. . .

Superman · 11-01-2006, 12:17 PM

It's clay, and you can get large quantities pretty cheap of you look outside the grocery stores. Pet supply places sell it bulk. It makes a great oil cleanup material too, of course.

VaSteve · 11-01-2006, 12:27 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Superman
It's clay, and you can get large quantities pretty cheap of you look outside the grocery stores. Pet supply places sell it bulk. It makes a great oil cleanup material too, of course.

Cat's Pride makes Oil Dry or vice versa. I think it's exactly the same product. You know what really cleans up oil well? baby diapers.

Tishabet · 11-01-2006, 12:40 PM

Hey Porsche-O-Phile, bentonite is a common fining compound for brewing... I prefer it to gelatin.

scottmandue · 11-01-2006, 01:15 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by pmajka
My cats hated the Pine...Started to find other creative places till we removed it.

That's what keeps me from experimenting with any of the fancy new stuff. I'm always up for spoiling the little brats but they like the $hit box rocks just fine so why mess with what works.