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dogs and cats

Cat Litter Alternatives or Tips

Anne Miller

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posted 2 years ago

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Now that we have Tiny Kitty, she has decided to be a housecat rather than the outside cat she was supposed to be.

Okay, I get that it is cold outside.

And now she trained herself to use the cat litter box rather than go outside.

I am not looking for fancy electric models just a way not to use so much cat litter.

Are there any tips for making it last longer or be less smelly?

I assume it only gets smelly when it needs to be changed.

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S Rogers

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posted 2 years ago

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we have actually moved from cat litter to wood pellets. Like the kind you get for you pellet stove. Apparently they are the same as some of the expensive eco friendly cat litter. We have 2 adult cats (2yr + 19yr) and a baby kitty. It is surprisingly not stinkier than the clay litter and lasts just as long.

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Eric Hanson

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posted 2 years ago

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Anne,

I love my cats but they can make their stinks!

One trick I learned a long time ago was that every time I change the litter I dump one 2-pound box of baking soda in the litter and mix up with the litter scoop.

The baking soda is cheap and easy. If you want to get even more technical, this would be a great place to add just a bit of actual charcoal (not briquettes, but crushed up cowboy charcoal will work).

Other than that all I can recommend is to scoop the litter every day.

Good luck!

Eric

Some places need to be wild

Carla Burke

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posted 2 years ago

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You could teach her to use the toilet. It's not difficult, and it's the easiest way I've ever had a cat in the house.

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Anne Miller

steward

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Location: USDA Zone 8a

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posted 2 years ago

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S Rogers, thanks for the tips about wood pellets.

Does it clump?

Eric thanks for the tip about the baking soda. I have lots.

Dear hubby is in charge of the litter box since it was his idea. I had said "No!" though he bought it anyway.

He removes the clumps or piles almost as soon as the cat makes them.

The only time I have had it smell was a urine smell so I thought it was time to put in new litter and dispose of the old. Was I wrong?

Invasive plants are Earth's way of insisting we notice her medicines. Stephen Herrod Buhner
Everyone learns what works by learning what doesn't work. Stephen Herrod Buhner

Eric Hanson

Steward and Man of Many Mushrooms

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Location: Southern Illinois

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Anne,

Clumping cat litter is pretty amazing at removing the urine odor when the clumps get removed. The baking soda make it dry out even faster/better so the clumps come out easier and more completely.

My experience is that the urine smell comes from clumps that break up on removal and fall back in. Eventually those residual particles will add up and stink and the litter will have to be removed.

But again, baking soda can help this a whole lot!

Eric

Some places need to be wild

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