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Kat

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Dec 7, 2009, 4:59:18 PM12/7/09
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I did notice you haven't posted for a while, but I'm thinking maybe you've
been busy, away or maybe even the weather over there??
Anyways, since I know you have cats, I thought I'd see if you had a
recommendation on kitty litter.
I can't stand the smell of the cat box, especially since it's sitting in the
bathroom under the counter in a convenient space that it fits perfectly in.
It's a covered box, but the smell - I don't know if anyone can honestly say
they *like* a cat box...
I am looking for some kind of kitty litter that doesn't smell or somehow
hides the odor. Just one indoor cat. I've always just used the cheapest
kind as the box was always in the basement and the cat was going outside
often as well, so there wasn't any point in investing in kitty litter other
than the cheapest for a just in case situation for the cat.
I've noticed there's a million types of brands AND purposes (multi cat,
kitten, old cat, indoor, outdoor, ordorless, odor blocking, clumping, non
clumping, flushable, non flushable, color changing, you name it) and I am
wondering if you might know of a more common brand that would be ideal for a
cat with a litter box in a small, more closed in area.
One thing is that I do not like - and will not even consider - those silicon
balls... Or whatever they are. The ones that are usually small little white
balls and they change blue when it's time to change them (or is it the other
way around? Blue then turn white??) anyways, I do NOT like that kind. I
also don't like the kind that is either the style that is pine shavings
turned into pellets and turn to a huge mess of sawdust when it's time to
change or the "Yesterday's News" type that is like recycled paper or
something? Just a regular kitty litter that doesn't smell. Impossible??


Alistair McAlister

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Dec 7, 2009, 6:08:44 PM12/7/09
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We use "Tidy Cat for multiple cat households." Basically we use it because
that is the only brand they sell at Sam's Club. However, it does seem to
work pretty well. It's not the clumping kind--just the old fashioned kind
but it has some colored granules in it that I think have some sort of
deoderizing stuff in them.

Having said that--I change the boxes twice a week--because even our cats
can't stand it if the box gets stinky--so to keep the peace around here--I
change them Sundays and Thursdays.

If you only have one cat, I would think changing once a week would do--but
we have more than one--including Rusty (Rustoleum that we adopted when his
human parents passed away) that is huge and thus makes a bigger
errrr...impression on your nose. I'm amazed he adapted to using a box
because he had been an outdoor cat in his first home.

Brenda (also wondering where everyone has been lately)

"Kat" <xk...@none.com> wrote in message
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Kim Olson

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Dec 8, 2009, 1:21:38 PM12/8/09
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I use woodstove pellets for my three kitties (yes, that "pellets that turn
to sawdust" stuff you say you don't want), plus just a little bit of clay
litter (Tidy Cat multi-cat around here) sprinkled on top of a fresh box
change, because the hard pellets seem to be unpleasant for one of my kitty's
feet when fresh. Once things get used just a little bit, the clay litter
mixes in with the sawdust to the point where it's unrecognizable, and it
probably helps keep odor down just a little bit.

Actually, the sawdust doesn't scatter much, and the hard pellets REALLY
don't scatter, because they are really too heavy to. I noticed a lot less
"tracking" around here once I switched from plain clay to the pellets, and I
noticed a lot less litter box odor, too. And, it's MUCH cheaper. A 40
pound bag of pellets lasts me probably six weeks to two months for three
cats, and it costs about five dollars at the local home improvement store
here. (I used to use a litter called Feline Pine, but it's very expensive
and the woodstove pellets are basically the same thing without the pine
scent, which the kitties didn't like much anyway.)

The only disadvantage I found to using the woodstove pellets is that you
have to stock up a little bit during the cold months because at least around
here, they don't carry them during the warmer months. So I buy several bags
in March and then another several bags in September, and things work out
just fine.

I change two boxes (for three kitties) twice a week, using just 4 to 5 cups
of pellets in each box and then a sprinkling of litter on top (maybe half a
cup); I use garbage bags as liners for the litter boxes, which have "hood"
covers that keep the bags in place on the boxes. Using "liners" makes
changing the boxes a lot easier and quicker. But I would bet my litter box
costs (and smell, and the labor of cleaning them) have been cut at least in
half since I started using pellet litter as opposed to plain clay.

--
Kim Olson
Writing and Editing Services
Email Kime...@earthlink.net for rates and information
Free newsletter, The Lazy Vegan, is now a mailing list!

Read about it or join the discussion by visiting:
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And read The Lazy Vegan blog at:
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"Kat" <xk...@none.com> wrote in message
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>.


kevinsmom

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Dec 8, 2009, 1:34:27 PM12/8/09
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"Alistair McAlister" <turkey_...@hotmail.com>
wrote in message
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> We use "Tidy Cat for multiple cat households."
> Basically we use it because that is the only
> brand they sell at Sam's Club. However, it does
> seem to work pretty well. It's not the clumping
> kind--just the old fashioned kind but it has
> some colored granules in it that I think have
> some sort of deoderizing stuff in them.


I use Tidy Cat, too. Sometimes the red and
sometimes the blue, depending if I'm at the
grocery, Wal-Mart or Sam's. It's still going to
smell some. DH puts baking soda in it too,
bought from Sam's in industrial sized bags.

--
You can't have everything. . . where would you put
it?


Stormmmee

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Dec 20, 2009, 3:08:55 AM12/20/09
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ok here are some random thoughts,
-clean the box with a good enzyme cleaner, never use bleach or amonia.
-put baking soda in the bottom before you put in the new litter, just a
light sprinkle... and you can also do this in between changes just after you
scoop.
-even if i only had one cat, and i have more than i will admit to... i would
always buy multi cat types because i think it seems to nutralize the urine
order more so more than one cat will use the box.
-i try to get unscented because the perfumes they put in some smell worse
than the cat deposits to me and take my breath away wors..
-i use clumping, partly because that is what the electric box needs and
honestly it is easier to pick up just the deposit and not waste litter that
hasn't been used yet, also since it clumps and you can see that readily you
get what smells out faster.
-clean it two or three times a day, morining and night is what i try to do.
but never go over 24 hours.
-there is a very very pricey deoderizer called zero odor that actually does
kill the smell of just about evrything... you ould spray a shot of it in the
air when you actually have to be in/near there, hth, Lee

--
Have a great day


"Kat" <xk...@none.com> wrote in message
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Stormmmee

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Dec 20, 2009, 3:10:54 AM12/20/09
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rl has been a bit rough lately, but i think i can at least start checking in
now, Lee

--
Have a great day

"Alistair McAlister" <turkey_...@hotmail.com> wrote in message
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Kat

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Dec 22, 2009, 10:39:17 AM12/22/09
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"Stormmmee" <rgr...@consolidated.net> wrote in message
news:7p68na...@mid.individual.net...

> ok here are some random thoughts,
> -clean the box with a good enzyme cleaner, never use bleach or amonia.
> -put baking soda in the bottom before you put in the new litter, just a
> light sprinkle... and you can also do this in between changes just after
> you scoop.
> -even if i only had one cat, and i have more than i will admit to... i
> would always buy multi cat types because i think it seems to nutralize the
> urine order more so more than one cat will use the box.
> -i try to get unscented because the perfumes they put in some smell worse
> than the cat deposits to me and take my breath away wors..
> -i use clumping, partly because that is what the electric box needs and
> honestly it is easier to pick up just the deposit and not waste litter
> that hasn't been used yet, also since it clumps and you can see that
> readily you get what smells out faster.
> -clean it two or three times a day, morining and night is what i try to
> do. but never go over 24 hours.
> -there is a very very pricey deoderizer called zero odor that actually
> does kill the smell of just about evrything... you ould spray a shot of it
> in the air when you actually have to be in/near there, hth, Lee

Thanks.
I did read the other replies from others, but I don't think we have many of
the suggested brands where I am.
I did end up with one that is apparently intended for "small spaces" - Maxx
Cat or something by Purina?? Something like that. It's Small Spaces, and
says it's ideal for a cat box in a bathroom, laundry room, closet, etc.
When I was at the one pet store, the lady actually did say the same thing
about the multi-cat formula. She recommended, for what I said my needs
were, either the Maxx Cat Small Spaces or the Maxx Cat Multi-Cat one, both
of which she said worked very well. This Small Spaces one seems to be good,
though.
I'm lucky if I can get the box cleaned every 2 days, though. With one cat,
though, it's not horrible. Apparently along with pregnancy, breastfeeding
is another time that it's not recommended to clean the kitty litter if you
don't have to, and since N is willing every couple days, that's good enough
for me.
I'll also definitely try the baking soda. And using ammonia is just the
same as cleaning with bad smelling pee to me anyway... I think I'll give the
multi-cat type a try for the next box I buy. This brand is a little more
expensive, but it definitely seems worth the few extra dollars.

Stormmmee

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Dec 23, 2009, 6:27:46 AM12/23/09
to
try a few things to see what suits your nose best... also watch carefully to
see if kitty has a preference, i have one cat that goes insane if i change
the litter or where the box is...

also, if you smell the kitty pee but can't figure out where it is, get a
blacklight, use it at night with no other lights on, black lights show kitty
pee very well, but be warned, they can also show lots of other forms of
"genetic,bio type samples"

Lee

--
Have a great day
"Kat" <xk...@none.com> wrote in message

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