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Cat Forum / Cat Anecdotes / May 2007Minor miracle needed
Does anyone know a cheap trick to take the strong odor out of old clumping cat litter that falls through the litter scoop? All my boxes have this odor. I used to just dump them out and wash the box then refill with clean litter but can no longer afford to do that. I've tried baking soda... Even adding the entire contents of one of the large boxes doesn't do the trick. Do you think spreading it out on a plastic tarp in the sunlight for a few hours would do the job? > Does anyone know a cheap trick to take the strong odor out of old clumping > cat litter that falls through the litter scoop? All my boxes have this odor. [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > Do you think spreading it out on a plastic tarp in the sunlight for a few > hours would do the job? You refer to "boxes". Are they wood or cardboard boxes or plastic litter pans? I wash the plastic litter pans with strong chlorine bleach (Clorox). This has been effective . Good luck. On May 14, 4:49 pm, "Pat" <patricia251.catlit...@centurytel.net> wrote: > Does anyone know a cheap trick to take the strong odor out of old clumping > cat litter that falls through the litter scoop? All my boxes have this odor. [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > Do you think spreading it out on a plastic tarp in the sunlight for a few > hours would do the job? I seriously don't think there's anything you can do to re-use litter indefinitely. The odor is caused from bacteria, and to get rid of the odor, you'd have to get rid of the bacteria. Nature's Miracle makes a litter box additive just for that, but it's really not feasible because the product is more expensive than just buying more litter. I don't think moderate sunshine is going to cut it either. Think about all the bacteria you're going to be exposing yourself and your lungs to in the process. Not good. Might be better to just buy the most inexpensive litter to get by on. Sherry | Might be better to just buy the most inexpensive litter to get by on. Inexpensive litter is in actuality far more expensive, in that you have to toss it all, frequently (think, weekly or even more). The clumping litter doesn't need to be all dumped out for months. It's not like this problem is going to go away. My budget gets tighter every month anymore. On May 14, 6:07 pm, "Pat" <patricia251.catlit...@centurytel.net> wrote: > | Might be better to just buy the most inexpensive litter to get by on. > [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > It's not like this problem is going to go away. My budget gets tighter every > month anymore. Actually, I was talking about lower priced clumping litter. They're dustier, but perform pretty much the same way as the premium brands. Cats Pride isn't bad. But *anything* is going to stink if it's not completely changed for *months*. You should be bleaching and sun-drying the pan at least once a month. Sherry | Actually, I was talking about lower priced clumping litter. They're | dustier, but perform [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] | should be bleaching | and sun-drying the pan at least once a month. I've been using the cheapest clumping litters, and I do empty the pans regularly and wash them. But the litter goes back into the clean pans, until it stinks to high heaven. > | Actually, I was talking about lower priced clumping litter. They're > | dustier, but perform [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] > until > it stinks to high heaven. Your cats should not have to use litter that "stinks to high heaven" Ever. Tweed >>| Actually, I was talking about lower priced clumping litter. They're >>| dustier, but perform [quoted text clipped - 10 lines] > > Your cats should not have to use litter that "stinks to high heaven" Ever. What if it's a matter of necessary economy? (Many American families have to choose between health insurance and food and shelter for their chidren - perhaps for Pat it becomes a choice between food or clean litter for the cats.) >>>| Actually, I was talking about lower priced clumping litter. They're >>>| dustier, but perform [quoted text clipped - 16 lines] > chidren - perhaps for Pat it becomes a choice between food or clean litter > for the cats.) I do understand Pat's dire economic circumstances, I have experienced similar myself some years ago and I haven't forgotten what it was like. I had to boil up bones to make soup that I pretended to the butcher were for the dogs so he would give them to me free. However some alternative litter must be found, maybe sawdust from a sawmill or builders sand. It is not acceptable, either for the cats, or for health to have litter in the house that "stinks to high heaven" and you know it. Tweed > | Actually, I was talking about lower priced clumping litter. They're > | dustier, but perform [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] > until > it stinks to high heaven. If you are using litter that "stinks to high heaven," you may soon have an even bigger problem on your hands -- that is, the cats may refuse to use it and may begin urinating in various other places in your house. What you have described is unsanitary and *very* unpleasant for both you and your cats. It simply isn't possible to use litter indefinitely, and there is no "additive" that will help under these circumstances. I do have a suggestion that would be helpful (but again, *not indefinitely*), but you would have to buy the scoop. I began using a "better lifter" litter scoop quite some time ago, and I have found that I do not need to completely change out the litter nearly as often. The litter has wedge-shaped tines, and clean litter just falls through. Used clumps are discarded, and there is no need to shake the scoop, unlike most litter scoops. In fact, that is the secret of its success -- simply lifting and discarding (without shaking the lifter) means that none of the clumps are broken up. Those broken up pieces of litter that remain contain some urine, and that would be the basis of your problem. Here's one location for the litter lifter: http://www.thecatconnection.com/page/TCC/PROD/LTR/LTR-LIFT The litter lifter costs $6.95, but I think you would soon save that in the cost of litter. As I said, though, *nothing* will enable you to continue using litter indefinitely. MaryL | The litter lifter costs $6.95, but I think you would soon save that in the | cost of litter. Shipping from that online store is $8.60 so $15.55 is the total. Pretty steep for a small piece of plastic! I hope I can find one locally. On May 15, 10:58 am, "Pat" <patricia251.catlit...@centurytel.net> wrote: > | The litter lifter costs $6.95, but I think you would soon save that in the > | cost of litter. > > Shipping from that online store is $8.60 so $15.55 is the total. Pretty > steep for a small piece of plastic! I hope I can find one locally. I'm not surprised by that. Postage is getting so expensive on anything you order, no matter where, and it's just gone up again. I do remember the scoop arrived very quickly, they probably sent it priority mail. Sherry > | The litter lifter costs $6.95, but I think you would soon save that in > the > | cost of litter. > > Shipping from that online store is $8.60 so $15.55 is the total. Pretty > steep for a small piece of plastic! I hope I can find one locally. Do a google search for Litter Lifter. It's not available in most pet supply stores, but there are several places online. Perhaps you can find a better price for shipping (but it's *still* worth the price -- I think you will find that you will soon make up for the extra cost by extending the "life" of litter, but nothing can do that indefinitely). MaryL On May 15, 5:29 pm, "MaryL" <stanco...@yahoo.comTAKE-OUT-THE-LITTER> wrote: > > | The litter lifter costs $6.95, but I think you would soon save that in > > the [quoted text clipped - 10 lines] > > MaryL Mary, I think this is the website where I originally ordered mine. The scoop is $8.50 but shipping is free. They ship same-day they get the order. That's why I remembered mine being delivered so quickly. http://72.14.209.104/search?q=cache:WpxXlTp5IFUJ:www.litter-lifter.com/index.htm l+litter+lifter&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=1&gl=us > On May 15, 5:29 pm, "MaryL" <stanco...@yahoo.comTAKE-OUT-THE-LITTER> > wrote: [quoted text clipped - 25 lines] > > http://72.14.209.104/search?q=cache:WpxXlTp5IFUJ:www.litter-lifter.com/index.htm l+litter+lifter&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=1&gl=us Thanks, Sherry. That looks like the site I originally used, too, but I didn't take enough time when I looked for it yesterday. I remember laughing at the video because it made sifting litter look like something that required special skills! But the scoop really is exceptionally good. It doesn't look much different in the pictures, but I have never used anything else that is as effective (and it does save significantly on litter). MaryL > I do have a suggestion that would be helpful (but again, *not > indefinitely*), but you would have to buy the scoop. I began using a [quoted text clipped - 13 lines] > > MaryL That is very much like the litter scoop we have, only I didn't know how to describe it. It makes a huge difference if you can scoop and leave the pee clumps whole. Not having to shake the scoop and break them up. Especially if you aren't good about getting those clumps out while they are still damp and solid. Jo | It makes a huge difference if you can scoop and leave the pee | clumps whole. Not having to shake the scoop and break them up. | Especially if you aren't good about getting those clumps out while | they are still damp and solid. I've found that the still-damp clumps are the ones that break up most easily so I leave those until the dry. The only reason I shake the scoop, usually, is to avoid discarding the dry litter on top of some of the clumps. >| Actually, I was talking about lower priced clumping litter. They're >| dustier, but perform [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] >regularly and wash them. But the litter goes back into the clean pans, until >it stinks to high heaven. If you put used litter back in a washed pan there is no sense in washing the pan cause it is just going to pick up the smell of the litter again which is going to be there regardless of how often you scoop it. I scoop mine several times a day and by weeks end some of mine use the carpet under the boxes because the litter smells and I do not use the cheap stuff but Worlds Best. ***************************************************** E-mail address altered to foil spam. Reply to news groups for all to see please. _ / ) (\__/) ( ( ) ( ) ) ={ }= / / ) `-------/ / ( / \ | ,'\ , ,' `-'\ ,---\ | \ _) ) `. \ / (__/ ) ) (_/ (\__/) )oo( ={ >}= ***************************************************** > If you put used litter back in a washed pan there is no sense in > washing the pan cause it is just going to pick up the smell of the [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > carpet under the boxes because the litter smells and I do not use the > cheap stuff but Worlds Best. I don't have that problem with Swheat Scoops, and I find it much less dusty than World's Best. Granted, I have only one cat... but with daily scooping, weekly washing of the pan and reusing the "clean" litter (adding to it when necessary) there is never a smell.  SignatureJoey DoWop Dee Remember: It is To Laugh > On May 14, 6:07 pm, "Pat" <patricia251.catlit...@centurytel.net> > wrote: [quoted text clipped - 18 lines] > > Sherry I buy inexpensive clumping litter. Walgreen's sells Kitty Diggin's for about $5.99 for the 14 lb. jug and I can't think of the name of the stuff I get at Dollar General sometimes (it's also the name of a cat food, maybe Whiskas?) for about the same price and size. And I've seen Cats Pride scoopable litter at the dollar store too for about $7 (also same size jug). These are *much* cheaper than Tidy Cats. But yes, it has to be dumped completely at least once a month and the box washed. I also use litter box liners so the box doesn't get much contact with the bacteria. (Inexpensive tall kitchen trash bags work in a pinch - put the litter box in, smooth it out on the inside, click the top on to hold the bag in place.) I understand about budget issues but as Sherry said, you're liable to make yourself and possibly your cats ill if you don't replace the litter more frequently than you indicate. And that would be an expense you *really* can't afford. Jill > | Might be better to just buy the most inexpensive litter to get by on. > > Inexpensive litter is in actuality far more expensive, in that you have to > toss it all, frequently (think, weekly or even more). The clumping litter > doesn't need to be all dumped out for months. You have totally lost me here. Months? I have clumping litter for KFC her box needs to cleaned out every day and totally dumped in 2-3. Do you have some sort of super-clumping litter in the USA that doesn't have to be dumped for months? If so, lead me to it ;-) I've tried cheap litter and it all has go daily. Tweed > It's not like this problem is going to go away. My budget gets tighter > every > month anymore. >> | Might be better to just buy the most inexpensive litter to get by on. >> [quoted text clipped - 10 lines] > > Tweed I buy the best clumping litter for multi cat households. I only should change it outright every three or four weeks. It does better if I scoop it out daily. We have two cats and two boxes. I do find it lasts longer and works better if I really give them a nice deep box with plenty of litter in it. The litter is three to four inches deep. If I use less it costs me more in the long run. But then again both cats can go outside anytime they want and they have plenty of nice dirt to use in the vacant lot across the street. Which reminds me, today the trash day and also litter changing day. Charlie reminded me earlier. The house may be closed up for a bit and I do want to leave it with clean litter boxes. Jo | > Inexpensive litter is in actuality far more expensive, in that you have to | > toss it all, frequently (think, weekly or even more). The clumping litter [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] | for months? If so, lead me to it ;-) | I've tried cheap litter and it all has go daily. Are you keeping 4-5" of litter in the box? That's how I do it. Generally, with that much litter in the box, and very careful clump removal (so they don't fall apart), and adding fresh litter every couple of days, my litter will last 3-4 months before it's too smelly to keep. I almost hate to come in on this one, but I only scoop out my kitty's litter box at night, flush the poop and ditch the clumps. She doesn't expect fresh litter all the time and I have not completely emptied her box since - February? She also doesn't go outside - or behind the sofa, on the bed or any of the nasty stuff I've heard that cats do to express displeasure. Maybe my kitty is just a slob like me. :-) Then she fits right in. But she's a beauty. Kathy >> | Might be better to just buy the most inexpensive litter to get by on. >> [quoted text clipped - 13 lines] >> every >> month anymore. I use Arm and Hammer Scoop. It is rather dusty so I keep an airfilter running in that bathroom all the time. When the litter needs changing, I dump the remaining litter into a clean pan and add new litter. Then I use strong Clorox to clean the old pan. IMHO most of the stink can be reduced by better food. The pan gets scooped morning and night and new litter added as needed. My Father used to say: "Cleanliness is next to Godliness. So if you can't be Godly, for H--- sake be clean". Best wishes >>| Might be better to just buy the most inexpensive litter to get by on. >> [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > some sort of super-clumping litter in the USA that doesn't have to be dumped > for months? If so, lead me to it ;-) Maybe our noses just aren't so fastidious? With two cats, I clean the box once a day, adding more litter as the clumping action depletes the total quantity. I used to empty the box and refill it completely once a month, but since I'm living on a limited income, it often goes a lot longer than that! (I buy whatever clumping litter is on sale, although I try to avoid the scented kind - the cats don't seem to mind the perfumy kind, but *I* do.) >>>| Might be better to just buy the most inexpensive litter to get by on. >>> [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] > > Maybe our noses just aren't so fastidious? Maybe so, Evelyn. Tweed >> | Might be better to just buy the most inexpensive litter to get by on. >> [quoted text clipped - 10 lines] > > Tweed I use Better Way clumping litter. I scoop the litter every day but only need a complete change every 3 weeks. There is no odor at all (at least to me) at the time I make the complete change, so it does sound like the litter you are using is not as effective. MaryL > I seriously don't think there's anything you can do to re-use litter > indefinitely. The odor is caused [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > to be exposing yourself and your lungs to in the process. Not good. > Might be better to just buy the most inexpensive litter to get by on. I have to agree! In the interests of economy, I try to use my litter as long as possible, too, just adding more as removing the clumps depletes it. However, eventually you reach a point where there's just no alternative to emptying the box, washing it out and filling it with new litter. I watch prices at PetsMart and my local supermarkets - when one of them offers it at a reduced price, I stock up on it. >> I seriously don't think there's anything you can do to re-use litter >> indefinitely. The odor is caused [quoted text clipped - 15 lines] > watch prices at PetsMart and my local supermarkets - when > one of them offers it at a reduced price, I stock up on it. In my experience, it's usually cheaper to buy the scoopable clumping litter at a dollar store or even a drug store that sells a few pet supplies than it is at PetSmart or a supermarket even if they are having a sale. I don't buy the big name stuff (like Tidy Cats) anymore. I find the lesser brands (as I mentioned, Kitty Diggin's or Cats Pride and there's a third one I've only seen a couple of times at the dollar store) work just as well. I scoop daily and replenish with more litter as the level goes down. But I definitely use all new litter about once a month. I've been to some people's homes where the moment you walk in the door the place screams CAT! I don't want that to be my home! Jill | the moment you walk in the door the place screams CAT! | I don't want that to be my home! Thankfully I've only gotten to the stage where if I bend down right over an open litter box I scream CAT! > I seriously don't think there's anything you can do to re-use litter > indefinitely. The odor is caused > from bacteria, and to get rid of the odor, you'd have to get rid of > the bacteria. I think I know what she's asking, though, because I have a similar problem. Most of the pee in the little box is clumped together beautifully into a large rock. But some of it just doesn't clump that well, and the pee-soaked grains of litter do fall through the scooper and into the box. If that didn't happen - if it *all* would clump into big rocks - then I probably wouldn't have to change the litter that often. I'd just scoop it regularly, and add more to keep the level constant. But I do have to throw out the litter, wash out the box with disinfectant, and start fresh with brand new litter, about once every 3 weeks or so. I think it's because one of my cats' pee doesn't clump as well as the others' do. I'm not sure who it is - I thought maybe it was Smudge, but I'm not sure. It's not that surprising - they probably all have slightly different chemistry in their urine, and some works better with clumping litter than others. Joyce On May 15, 2:48 am, jXwXeXrXmXoX...@sonic.net wrote: > > I seriously don't think there's anything you can do to re-use litter > > indefinitely. The odor is caused [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > into a large rock. But some of it just doesn't clump that well, and the > pee-soaked grains of litter do fall through the scooper and into the box. snipped> > Joyce Oh hey, I did not think of this last night, but I have the same scoop that MaryL mentioned, and I swear, with that scoop, you don't have any pee-soaked grains that sift back into the box. It is hard to describe, but the thing is large enough, and shaped just right, so that you never "shake" the clumps, and by not disturbing them, they don't fall apart. The tines are shaped differently than any scoop I've tried before. All that falls back into the box is the clean litter. I usually don't get excited about poop scoops or tout products, but this thing seriously does save litter. I can't even remember the name of it, so I can't google to find the website where I bought it. If anyone is interested, MaryL probably remembers. It cost $6.95, but I'm sure it has saved me more than that on litter. Sherry > On May 15, 2:48 am, jXwXeXrXmXoX...@sonic.net wrote: >> [quoted text clipped - 32 lines] > It cost $6.95, but I'm sure it has saved me more than that on litter. > Sherry I guess it's true that great minds think in the same direction -- and maybe weak minds, too. ;>) I had posted a message late last night/early this morning with this same information. Here's the link for Litter Lifter, and it really is a great product: http://www.thecatconnection.com/page/TCC/PROD/LTR/LTR-LIFT MaryL >> On May 15, 2:48 am, jXwXeXrXmXoX...@sonic.net wrote: >>> [quoted text clipped - 39 lines] > > MaryL Mine looks almost identical to that. The tines are very close together. Maybe that's why I don't seem to have the problem Pat is describing. Of course, I do also dump the litter at least once a month and replace it with all new. Jill Jill > On May 15, 2:48 am, jXwXeXrXmXoX...@sonic.net wrote: > [quoted text clipped - 33 lines] > It cost $6.95, but I'm sure it has saved me more than that on litter. > Sherry I use one with a hollow handle to the end of which you attach a plastic bag - the solid waste falls through the handle into the bag, which is very helpful. (However, like most scoopers with straight edges, the clumps do shed bits when you scoop them.) > Oh hey, I did not think of this last night, but I have the same scoop > that MaryL [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > disturbing > them, they don't fall apart. Yep, I saw MaryL's post, and have saved the link! I'm going to order one. Sounds like a good buy! Joyce > Does anyone know a cheap trick to take the strong odor out of old clumping > cat litter that falls through the litter scoop? All my boxes have this odor. [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > Do you think spreading it out on a plastic tarp in the sunlight for a few > hours would do the job? Unless you live somewhere like Death Valley, no. Hydrogen peroxide might help, but you'll need a lot. Probably cheaper than replacing the litter each time, but not by much. Maybe packing it into the oxygen-producing side of a water electrolysis cell? Design it so the oxygen bubbled through the cat litter as it was generated, and it might work out cheaper than peroxide. ============== j-c ====== @ ====== purr . demon . co . uk ============== Jack Campin: 11 Third St, Newtongrange EH22 4PU, Scotland | tel 0131 660 4760 <http://www.purr.demon.co.uk/jack/> for CD-ROMs and free | fax 0870 0554 975 stuff: Scottish music, food intolerance, & Mac logic fonts | mob 07800 739 557 | Hydrogen peroxide might help, but you'll need a lot. Probably cheaper | than replacing the litter each time, but not by much. Isn't that a liquid? I can't imagine clumping litter still being usable after being soaked with anything.... | Maybe packing it into the oxygen-producing side of a water electrolysis | cell? What is a water electrolysis cell??? > | Hydrogen peroxide might help, but you'll need a lot. Probably cheaper > | than replacing the litter each time, but not by much. > > Isn't that a liquid? I can't imagine clumping litter still being usable > after being soaked with anything.... Exactly. It's been soaked by pee and now it's unusable, Pat. > | Maybe packing it into the oxygen-producing side of a water electrolysis > | cell? > > What is a water electrolysis cell??? He's playing with you. Tweed | > Do you think spreading it out on a plastic tarp in the sunlight for a few | > hours would do the job? | | Unless you live somewhere like Death Valley, no. How about if I left it out in the sun for several days? > Maybe packing it into the oxygen-producing side of a water electrolysis > cell? Design it so the oxygen bubbled through the cat litter as it was > generated, and it might work out cheaper than peroxide. How about building a rocket every few weeks and just shipping the used litter into outer space? :) Joyce > > Maybe packing it into the oxygen-producing side of a water electrolysis > > cell? Design it so the oxygen bubbled through the cat litter as it was > > generated, and it might work out cheaper than peroxide. > > How about building a rocket every few weeks and just shipping the > used litter into outer space? :) Along with "Scotty's" ashes? ;-) (Except I think they came back down again, for interment on earth - it wasn't a one-way trip.) >> How about building a rocket every few weeks and just shipping the >> used litter into outer space? :) > Along with "Scotty's" ashes? ;-) (Except I think they came > back down again, for interment on earth - it wasn't a > one-way trip.) They sent "Scotty's" (what was the actor's name again?) ashes into space? Wow, that's one expensive funeral. Joyce > > jXwXeXrXmXoXnXt@sonic.net wrote: > [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] > > Joyce James Doohan. Jill > > jXwXeXrXmXoXnXt@sonic.net wrote: > [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > They sent "Scotty's" (what was the actor's name again?) ashes into > space? Wow, that's one expensive funeral. His and those of one of the first (the first?) astronauts. It was on one of the internet news-sites a week or so ago. > Does anyone know a cheap trick to take the strong odor out of old clumping > cat litter that falls through the litter scoop? All my boxes have this [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] > Do you think spreading it out on a plastic tarp in the sunlight for a few > hours would do the job? I am fairly new to this litter box lark, only since Kitty FC started to have accidents inside as she kept forgetting to go outside. It's my understanding that if litter has been peed on that's the end of its useful life, even if it's just the grains that fall through after the clumps are removed. That is, if they have changed colour to darker mode, so to speak. I would say if it smells, dump it. In your situation - and I so admire anyone who has to service multicat boxes - rather than try to get old litter to take up urine I'd go out into my garden and dig up some earth for the boxes every day. It's free and it's what cats prefer to use after all. There hasn't always been cat litter ;-) Tweed >> Does anyone know a cheap trick to take the strong odor out of old clumping >> cat litter that falls through the litter scoop? All my boxes have this [quoted text clipped - 21 lines] > > Tweed In the "old days we used ashes from the stove. It really stunk!MLB | rather than try to get old litter to take up urine I'd go out into | my garden and dig up some earth for the boxes every day. It's free and it's | what cats prefer to use after all. There hasn't always been cat litter ;-) In a month or two I'd have a very deep hole in the yard! The soil is mostly red clay anyway so I don't think this is the answer. > | rather than try to get old litter to take up urine I'd go out into > | my garden and dig up some earth for the boxes every day. It's free and [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > mostly > red clay anyway so I don't think this is the answer. Some cat litter is mostly clay anyway. Look, you have stinking cat boxes and cannot afford litter. You need to find some sort of alternative. Sawdust, sand? You remind me of my mother. She would present a problem with only two solutions and neither were acceptable to her. Either you have to find a cheap source for a litter substitute or fence your yard so your cats can go outside to toilet. You know that. There is no "miracle" available. I don't wish to sound harsh but the solutions are above. Tweed | > In a month or two I'd have a very deep hole in the yard! The soil is | > mostly red clay anyway so I don't think this is the answer. | Some cat litter is mostly clay anyway. Not the kind you can use for sculpture straight out of the ground! It will take a bit of work, but *bulk* cat litter can be found. Except that its not called cat litter, its called diatomaceous earth. Or sawdust. Or sand. Or that recycled paper stuff used for packing. Or even pellets used for sheep or rabbit food that have gone too stale to otherwise sell. As long as it can be dumped in the garden, the cats will use it, and its not poisonous to you or cats, then its a perfectly good cat litter, no matter what is on the label. Heck, just dig a pile of dirt up from the garden, let it dry, then bring it in for the cats. Once they've used it, put it back in the garden again with the bonus manure (make sure its well distrubted) and let nature take care of it. Totally free, if you are preapred to put in just a little bit of extra work. Clumping litter is a luxury item that, whilst conveneient, is far more expensive than many other materials cats will toilet in. You are a creative person, put that creativity to good use. Cats have gotten by for millions of years without clumping litter, you don't need to waste what little money you have on it when a little bit of effort on your part will do just as well - and be better for the environment too (Compare the impact of *making* clumping litter in a factory to the impact of finding a use for a scrap material that would have just ended up in a garbage dump as waste). Yowie > Heck, just dig a pile of dirt up from the garden, let it dry, then > bring it in for the cats. Once they've used it, put it back in the > garden again (snippage) > Yowie Except the "soil" where she lives is clay, and I know the type of clay she means. You could literally shape it into figurines if you wanted to. Yes, I know there are clay litters available but they must be made of a different clay or run through some chemical process that separates it into tiny pieces. Her soil is not like that. Jill >> Heck, just dig a pile of dirt up from the garden, let it dry, then >> bring it in for the cats. Once they've used it, put it back in the [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] > >Jill No, it's the same stuff. Just dried and ground into small pieces. Debra in VA See my quilts at http://community.webshots.com/user/debplayshere >>> Heck, just dig a pile of dirt up from the garden, let it dry, then >>> bring it in for the cats. Once they've used it, put it back in the [quoted text clipped - 13 lines] > No, it's the same stuff. Just dried and ground into small pieces. > Debra in VA I'm sorry but I've never seen that type of clay "dry" unless you fire it in a kiln. It's red clay. Jill > It will take a bit of work, but *bulk* cat litter can be found. Except that > its not called cat litter, its called diatomaceous earth. Or sawdust. Or [quoted text clipped - 10 lines] > it. Totally free, if you are preapred to put in just a little bit of extra > work. I thought carnivore feces tended to kill plants! (I have friends who swear you cannot grow anything where dogs eliminate regularly.) >> Heck, just dig a pile of dirt up from the garden, let it dry, then bring it >> in for the cats. Once they've used it, put it back in the garden again with >> the bonus manure (make sure its well distrubted) and let nature take care of >> it. > I thought carnivore feces tended to kill plants! (I have > friends who swear you cannot grow anything where dogs > eliminate regularly.) Not to mention urine, which is even worse. Joyce >> It will take a bit of work, but *bulk* cat litter can be found. Except >> that its not called cat litter, its called diatomaceous earth. Or [quoted text clipped - 14 lines] > I thought carnivore feces tended to kill plants! (I have friends who > swear you cannot grow anything where dogs eliminate regularly.) Our grass looks pretty darn good in that area. The grass does tend to brown where Kayla pees, if I don't remember to water to neutralize it. Also when we were breeding poodles, the pee from a bitch in heat would kill the grass, at least temporarily. Jo >> It will take a bit of work, but *bulk* cat litter can be found. Except >> that its not called cat litter, its called diatomaceous earth. Or [quoted text clipped - 14 lines] > I thought carnivore feces tended to kill plants! (I have friends who > swear you cannot grow anything where dogs eliminate regularly.) It also can serve as a wonderful attractant to neighborhood cats to come in and use the spot for their own litter disposal (which probably isn't what any of us really want). MaryL >> | rather than try to get old litter to take up urine I'd go out into >> | my garden and dig up some earth for the boxes every day. It's free and [quoted text clipped - 15 lines] >"miracle" available. >I don't wish to sound harsh but the solutions are above. My opinion is that if you can not afford to buy fresh litter at least once a month even if it is the el-cheapo type you really can not afford to have a pet and give it the care it deserves!! ***************************************************** E-mail address altered to foil spam. Reply to news groups for all to see please. _ / ) (\__/) ( ( ) ( ) ) ={ }= / / ) `-------/ / ( / \ | ,'\ , ,' `-'\ ,---\ | \ _) ) `. \ / (__/ ) ) (_/ (\__/) )oo( ={ >}= ***************************************************** | My opinion is that if you can not afford to buy fresh litter at least | once a month even if it is the el-cheapo type you really can not | afford to have a pet and give it the care it deserves!! Well, I do I buy fresh litter every week, but there are 7 cats here. I went from caretaking a horse farm where the cats could run free and my housing expenses were minimal, to living in town where the cats have been 100% indoors for the last 15 months. I live on a small fixed income. I was planning to stay on the farm permanently, had an agreement with the owner - which she broke, and all I could do was leave, and worry about the details later on. > My opinion is that if you can not afford to buy fresh litter at least > once a month even if it is the el-cheapo type you really can not > afford to have a pet and give it the care it deserves!! But no one really ASKED for your opinion, did they? Pat needs the most economical solution for the problem, not someone being judgemental about it! (P-L-O-N-K!) On May 15, 9:03 am, "Pat" <patricia251.catlit...@centurytel.net> wrote: > | rather than try to get old litter to take up urine I'd go out into > | my garden and dig up some earth for the boxes every day. It's free and [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > In a month or two I'd have a very deep hole in the yard! The soil is mostly > red clay anyway so I don't think this is the answer. I use potting mix (i.e. soil) for kitty litter. It's cheaper than "proper" kitty litter and, best of all, can be recycled. I get the cheap potting mixes which cost anywhere from $5 to $10 for a 35L bag, which is larger than your large kitty litter bags. After the cats have used the soil, the poo gets removed and the rest of the stinky soil gets put out in a far part of the yard to get rained on. After many months of this, the soil is ready for use again. I do have several piles of soil "resting" out in the yard, much like people have several compost heaps going. After a while, you don't need to buy any more potting mix. I once used kitty litter. I hated it. Expensive & dusty. Now I spend very little on cat litter. Dewi. On May 14, 4:42 pm, "Christina Websell" <spamf...@tinawebsell.wanadoo.co.uk> wrote: > > cat litter that falls through the litter scoop? All my boxes have this > > odor. > > I used to just dump them out and wash the box then refill with clean > > litter > > but can no longer afford to do that. I don't know if you have a Quality Supply there, but at feed and farm supply places you should be able to pick up a huge bag of something called (I kid you not) "Sweet Pea" for a pretty low price. Don't know if that's the brand name or what, but a friend of mine had dairy goats before she was married last year, and she used that in her goat's stalls to kill the odor. Thinking constructivly, she began using it in her cat boxes inside too (having several indoor cats), and swore it worked. If you consider this you might want to check the ingredients to make sure there's nothing that could harm the kitties. It could be a great discovery!LOL PatM | I don't know if you have a Quality Supply there, but at feed and farm | supply places you should be able to pick up a huge bag of something [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] | sure there's nothing that could harm the kitties. It could be a great | discovery!LOL We've got MFA.... What department would "Sweet Pea" be in? I mean, what the heck is it??? Sounds like a seed.... > | I don't know if you have a Quality Supply there, but at feed and farm > | supply places you should be able to pick up a huge bag of something [quoted text clipped - 11 lines] > We've got MFA.... What department would "Sweet Pea" be in? I mean, what > the heck is it??? Sounds like a seed.... What about ground up corn? There is some kind of cheap feed thing that is just like World's Best Cat Litter and I think it is very inexpensive. Does anyone know what I'm referring to? I've only read about it so I can't quite remember. On May 14, 5:10 pm, "Pat" <patricia251.catlit...@centurytel.net> wrote: > | I don't know if you have a Quality Supply there, but at feed and farm > | supply places you should be able to pick up a huge bag of something [quoted text clipped - 11 lines] > We've got MFA.... What department would "Sweet Pea" be in? I mean, what the > heck is it??? Sounds like a seed.... It's granular. This stuff would be used in horse stalls, like in the corner they pee in, and probably other livestock that has to be confined. But maybe it's mainly a goat-thing. And she didn't use it to replace the litter, but added this stuff to it like you did with the baking soda. You know anyone with a farm? 4-H? Be nice if someone could go halvsies with you. PatM | > We've got MFA.... What department would "Sweet Pea" be in? I mean, what the | > heck is it??? Sounds like a seed.... [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] | You know anyone with a farm? 4-H? Be nice if someone could go | halvsies with you. Half of how much? Does it come in... like.... a one-ton package or something? >Does anyone know a cheap trick to take the strong odor out of old clumping >cat litter that falls through the litter scoop? All my boxes have this odor. [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] >Do you think spreading it out on a plastic tarp in the sunlight for a few >hours would do the job? The thing that reduced my litter odor problem the most was switching to *unscented* clumping litter. It's often hard to find, and I need about 20 pounds a week for makeup - more in winter, less in summer. Some labeled as unscented has a noticeable scent. I found brands at Kmart and Kroger that work well and don't cost an arm and a leg (just an arm). SignatureT.E.D. (tdavis@gearbox.maem.umr.edu) Remove "gearbox.maem" to get real address - that one is dead >>Does anyone know a cheap trick to take the strong odor out of old clumping >>cat litter that falls through the litter scoop? All my boxes have this odor. [quoted text clipped - 13 lines] >Kmart and Kroger that work well and don't cost an arm and a leg (just >an arm). I use horse pellet bedding. It is pretty much the same as Feline Pine, but much less expensive. I pay between 5 to 6.50 (depending on the store) for 40 lbs, at the local farm supply store. When it gets wet, it turns into a powder, which is VERY absorbent. It is a bit hard to scoop the poo, because of the large pellets, but it can be done. It does help with the odor, which with my crew is a good thing! Mishi | I use horse pellet bedding. It is pretty much the same as Feline Pine, | but much less expensive. I pay between 5 to 6.50 (depending on the | store) for 40 lbs, at the local farm supply store. I hope I can find this. Sounds perfect! Mishi kirjoitti: >>> Does anyone know a cheap trick to take the strong odor out of old clumping >>> cat litter that falls through the litter scoop? All my boxes have this odor. [quoted text clipped - 21 lines] > > Mishi I use heating pellets (EUR 5-8 / USD 6.80-10.45 per 20kg / 44 lb bag) and a double litter pan, where the upper one has holes/mesh in the bottom to sift the sawdust the pellets become when they get wet thru into the bottom one. The poo I pick up with a scoop or a coupla pieces of TP and toss in the toilet. SignatureChristine in Laitila, Finland christal63 (at) gmail (dot) com photos: http://photos.yahoo.com/christal63 photos: http://community.webshots.com/user/chkr63 On May 14, 5:49 pm, "Pat" <patricia251.catlit...@centurytel.net> wrote: > Does anyone know a cheap trick to take the strong odor out of old clumping > cat litter that falls through the litter scoop? All my boxes have this odor. [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > Do you think spreading it out on a plastic tarp in the sunlight for a few > hours would do the job? Cat litter is designed to soak up urine and smells. That's why it's recommended for oil spills on your driveway and for removing odd smells from a car (put a dish of kitty litter on the floor for a few days). Unfortunately, once it's soaked up enough, it starts to smell and it needs to be replaced. You are out of luck there. Get new litter. For what it's worth, my apartment with Fin was so small that the litter box was right out in the open, so I tried every litter I could to find the one that smelled the least. Scoop Away is the best, IMHO. My apartments have never smelled like 'cat', so I'm a huge fan of Scoop Away. Jane - owned and operated by Princess Rita >Does anyone know a cheap trick to take the strong odor out of old clumping >cat litter that falls through the litter scoop? All my boxes have this odor. [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] >Do you think spreading it out on a plastic tarp in the sunlight for a few >hours would do the job? There really is no way to de-odorize or sanitize used litter. Keeping it around is unhealthy too. Cheaper alternatives to expensive clumping litter: Hi-Dri or other (preferably no name) clay based oil absorbent. They don't clump, but they are regular cat litter without the perfume. The no name brands are often cheaper than litter but they are made in the same plant. Plain dirt--regular litter is clay so your local red clay will work. I've done it more than once myself with Virginia red clay. With a little planning the spot you take dirt from now can become a new flower bed next spring. Dig some up, and allow it to dry, smack the dried clods with a hammer, and now it's litter. Used dirt can be put in the hole and covered over later. You might be able to buy a pile of dirt and have it delivered for only a few dollars, add some dried clay, then fill a flower bed area with the resulting kitty fertilized mixture. Shredded wood is sold in various forms and might be useful. Check the pricing on mulch, dog bedding, and other such wood products. Buying it in bulk is the way you would get the best price. Avoid sawdust as it's a bigger fire hazard than other wood products. If you live near a river where sand is being dug out, that may be a source for cheap or no cost sand. Not as good as dirt, but the cats will use it. Shredded newspaper. If you already get the daily newspaper put it to work for you after you read it. This may work for the short term, but cats prefer real dirt or litter. It may be better to discontinue the subscription to the paper and use the pro-rated refund money on real litter. Debra in VA See my quilts at http://community.webshots.com/user/debplayshere | Cheaper alternatives to expensive clumping litter: | [quoted text clipped - 27 lines] | subscription to the paper and use the pro-rated refund money on real | litter. Thanks for the many tips! |
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