Standards are high for me and Miss Kitty.
She wants sparkling clean, even if I can’t be there 24/7 to “flush” the litter box.
I want cheap-- I’m used to buying horse-sized bags of shavings, so anything dedicated cat litter will seem expensive to me.
We’re trying clumping litter for now. Any recommendations? Thanks so much.
I have tried them all, I think. Fresh Step is my herd’s favorite and lasts a long time.
TSC has some very cheap clumping litter per pound, and while it clumps fine, it makes their feet smell. Not OK! Most of the other cheap ones do not seem to clump as well, a priority for me as I really think it lasts longer with good clumpage, as the whole thing rarely needs changed, just freshened up as the volume depletes. With poor-clumping litter, you have to dump it all weekly.
I buy the 42 lb. bags at Sam’s, not too expensive that way.
I like Precious Cat Ultra. Blue bag. I think a 40# bag is in the $12 range at my local pet place?
I don’t know where you are, but, if you’re anywhere near a Wegman’s, their own brand of clumping cat litter is inexpensive, and works well.
If you have an extra toilet, just dedicate it to Miss Kitty & toilet train her - you need to invest in the seat adapter & high-value treats & a couple of weeks of training time but it’s much cheaper than buying cat litter.
If you haven’t done any agility type training with your cat, then you’ll likely need an extra couple of weeks just to build the new relationship.
Otherwise (for me) it’s the clumping litter @ Costco - stock up when they have coupon day & you get the 50lb for ~5$; it’s now “lemongrass” flavor but the Cat Queen let it go as she either isn’t very senstive to the odor (it’s nothing like the other 'fumed cat litters ) or it’s just not offensive …
Disclaimer: there is of course the possibility that your cat will becomes a chronic toilet flusher :no::no::no::no::no:
There’s a blog & video out there somewhere, from someone who’s cat never used the toilet for his biz, but became fascinated with the swirling, fleeing water; at first, they were all How Cute , until they started getting the climbing water bills, finally set up a bathrom cam & kitty flushed the toilet non-stop from the time they left for work in the morning until the key turned in the lock signalling a return & kitty raced out to greet his people.
Special Kitty clumping at WalMart, 28 lbs for about $7. That is the best I’ve found in my area. Cats like it fine.
I get Litter Purrfect from Costco. Around $5.50 for 35 lbs, and no perfumy smell - just natural lemongrass.
I use the litter that Petco has loose. You buy a bucket initially for 9 or 10 i think and refills are about 6. It’s 30ish pounds I think. It works just fine for me and my kitties.
I like the Target brand clumping litter. Very similar to Tidy Cats, but much less expensive. Absorbs well and not dusty.
I wonder if this stuff is regional at all? I used it for awhile and hated it–waaaaaay dustier than anything else, and just did not control odor at all.
Thanks you guys. I’m relieved to know about so many choices.
I used to be in Wegman’s territory. I have political issues with Walmart. Not a member of Costco. I live in a forestry/papermill kind of state. You’d think I could do this all cheap and politically correct. But I will look around for some basic stuff.
Oh, and Kitteh might be too old a dog to teach the new toilet trick. The cat has some hip arthritis, not to mentions some roommates who would laugh at my cat-training efforts.
NOT A KITTY LITTER suggestion, just a vent of sorts…
I left Rochester in 1993 and I am STILL missing Wegmans:(
:(
Have lived in the midwest (ie further midwest than Rochester) and now the south and there just ain’t another like it…
I detest the clay-based litters–an environmental nightmare. I use something called “Swheat Scoop” made of ground wheat. Clumps hard, smells like bread, a tiny bit dusty, both flushable and biodegradable, which is great. Cost is $28/ 40lb bag at PetSmart. Only issue is my dog loves to eat it–not the poops, the actual litter, and she’s allergic to grain. Dumb dog:lol:
[QUOTE=2tempe;5997711]
NOT A KITTY LITTER suggestion, just a vent of sorts…
I left Rochester in 1993 and I am STILL missing Wegmans:(:(
Have lived in the midwest (ie further midwest than Rochester) and now the south and there just ain’t another like it…[/QUOTE]
When Weggo’s opened in Ithaca, NY, it became a bit of a tourist destination. Life is just that grand in Central, NY.
When things are not on sale, Boots & Barkely from target is cheaper than Arm&Hammer, Fresh Step, and the other one.
I hate Tidy Cat, so that’s not “the other one”
B&B is slightly less clumping, as in, it doesn’t take as much of an effort to break up a pee ball, though it’s not like it falls apart with the slightest rattle. It’s simply a finer clay, which I think does it.
I love it, cats love it, but then the like FS and A&H and “the other one”
Oh, Scoop Away, that’s it :lol:
But Target often has A&H on sale, the big boxes, the “3 more pounds free” type boxes, and usually that puts it a little cheaper than the B&B
I use Purina chicken crumbles. Clumps just like cat litter but is far cheaper. I can get a 50 lb bag for around $16.
I use something called “Swheat Scoop” made of ground wheat. Clumps hard, smells like bread, a tiny bit dusty, both flushable and biodegradable, which is great. Cost is $28/ 40lb bag at PetSmart. Only issue is my dog loves to eat it–not the poops, the actual litter, and she’s allergic to grain.
Be very careful with using this litter- my cat and several foster kittens thought it tasted wonderful as well. Definitely not something you want them to eat, especially with the potential gastro problems from the clumping formula.
I use Dr. Elsey’s Precious Cat Ultra as well, but the red bag. Its fairly dust free, and unscented.
I totally second Precious Cat ULTRA! I have tried everything, Tidy Cat, Arm & Hammer, Worlds Best, Scoop Away etc! Since I have 4 cats, and more litter boxes than I like to count, I need something affordable. So I said WTH, for $12 I’ll try 40lbs of Precious Cat. And honestly, I put it in two boxes, and the Tidy Cat my husband liked in the other two. After a week, I asked him which boxes were easier to clean. He swore he didn’t want the ‘cheap stuff’, and when he siad which boxes he liked better, it was the ones with the Precious Cat!
Personally I won’t go back!
Oh, and a tip from a client, for multiple cat households, get 1-2 of the underbed storage boxes from Target/Wal Mart etc. It helps keep the litter from falling through the cracks between boxes, while giving ample space for the cats to spread ‘movements’ out!
Katherine
Vet Tech
ETA: Oops!! Guess I third it now!!
Just a quick note on toilet training. My cat is super smart, and when we got her as a kitten, we decided to do this. We got one of the kits for it and she understood the concept right away, and begrudgingly used the training tray on top of the toilet but made it very clear she was not a fan.
She’s a very fastidious, clean girl, and in an effort to “bury” her waste, she managed to kick out all of the litter that was in the training tray, along with all of her #2s all over our bathroom floor every single time she had to go. Maybe if I’d had the patience to carry this through to the point that the training trays (and the litter) were gone, it would have worked, but after about a week of cleaning dirty, scattered litter off the bathroom floor 4-5x a day, I decided a litterbox was actually much more hygenic than toilet training. Needless to say, it was a stressful period for both me and the cat.
On the litter question, I’ve never found a litter I’ve liked more than Tidy Cats, which I buy in bulk, but I might try the Costco brand since it comes recommended.
Not to hiijack, but why are clay litters so terrible?
[QUOTE=allikat819;5995855]
I use the litter that Petco has loose. You buy a bucket initially for 9 or 10 i think and refills are about 6. It’s 30ish pounds I think. It works just fine for me and my kitties.[/QUOTE]
I also buy the Petco litter.
I wonder if this stuff is regional at all? I used it for awhile and hated it–waaaaaay dustier than anything else, and just did not control odor at all.
I don’t know, but I can say I’ve been happy with it. I only have 1 cat, but no odor/dust issues thus far.
By submitting your email, you agree to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. You may also receive promotional emails from The Chronicle of the Horse. You can opt out at any time.
For Customers
Company
Terms of Use
