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Cat Forum / Health and Behavior / April 2004clumping litter stuck in paw!
ack. a few questions and thanks in advance. I noticed miss boots limping a bit yesterday and being after checking her back feet, I saw that she has dried clumping litter stuck all in between her toes and her pads. yuck. I tried pulling some of it out by hand, and using a wet washcloth but the stuff is like cement! she's also a squirmy one and after a few minutes of *that* she just wasn't into letting me near her long enough to work on it. will anything clean this stuff off or do I have to take her to the vet to have it cut out ? she's relatively old...15...and has a bit of arthritis in her hip which she's being treated for, but she's not flexible enough to groom her back legs and feets like she used to which I think is what may have caused the situation going on now. she's been using the regular large curd clay litter all her life...fresh step brand only...she's suuuuuuuuper picky...any other brand and i'm running around with the simple solution sprayer... I switched her to clumping a month or so ago to better monitor her urine volume...she had some very mildly elevated levels of this and that, and her vet wanted me to watch her fluid intake and output for any changes for the next few months. so, I thought the clumping stuff might be a good solution. shyeah, right. i'd like to keep her on the clumping stuff, but if they all cause this masonry problem, yikes. is there a brand or type of this kind of litter that isn't so...adherent? or should I just switch her back to the regular clay? > ack. > [quoted text clipped - 37 lines] > is there a brand or type of this kind of litter that isn't > so...adherent? or should I just switch her back to the regular clay? When this happened to one of mine, I just kept picking at it and gradually got it out over a few days. It all will clump like that. Probably (ick I know) she accidentally stepped in damp litter. Karen >From: boot's mom x@x.net >will anything clean this stuff off or do I have to take her to the vet >to have it cut out ? >i'd like to keep her on the clumping stuff, but if they all cause this >masonry problem, yikes. When my last cat was 17 and very sick with CRF, she started getting that clumping litter stuck between her paws too. You're right, that stuff is just like cement. I had to use cuticle scissors to cut it out. I recommend taking her to the vet though as it was very difficult to cut out. For a clumping litter, I highly recommend Shweat Scoop. It is all natural, doesn't have any of those nasty chemicals like Fresh Step, clumps naturally but doesn't turn to cement on their paws. Lauren ________ See my cats: http://community.webshots.com/album/56955940rWhxAe Raw Diet Info: http://www.holisticat.com/drjletter.html http://www.geocities.com/rawfeeders/ForCatsOnly.html Declawing Info: http://www.wholecat.com/articles/claws.htm "PawsForThought" ---------------> > >From: boot's mom x@x.net > [quoted text clipped - 11 lines] > of those nasty chemicals like Fresh Step, clumps naturally but doesn't turn to > cement on their paws. Just because I'm tired of the dust and mess of the clumping litter I've been using thru my kitties 4 years, yesterday I bought a bag of SwheatScoop. Put it out today in one tray and so far they prefer it to the clay, clumps nicer and not as hard, seems like less dust. bill n [Smoochie and Mooch] >From: "billn" li&st@wi.rr.com >"PawsForThought" ---------------> >> >From: boot's mom x@x.net [quoted text clipped - 23 lines] > >bill n [Smoochie and Mooch] I'm glad to hear Smoochie and Mooch like their new litter :) Just a tip, I use a large garbage bag to line the box. It's must easier to scoop it. For some reason the Shweat Scoop tends to stick to the box if you don't use a liner. I believe the manufacturer suggests using a non-stick spray like Pam. But I find the liners to work really well. Another good thing about Shweat Scoop is that unlike clay litter that is mined and never decomposes, it is biodegradable. Lauren ________ See my cats: http://community.webshots.com/album/56955940rWhxAe Raw Diet Info: http://www.holisticat.com/drjletter.html http://www.geocities.com/rawfeeders/ForCatsOnly.html Declawing Info: http://www.wholecat.com/articles/claws.htm >> From: "billn" li&st@wi.rr.com > [quoted text clipped - 39 lines] > Lauren > ________ I tried that corn one one time and the cats wouldn't use the box it was in. I left it next to the regular one for months. I wonder if they would like Swheat scoop. I sure would like less dust. karen >I tried that corn one one time and the cats wouldn't use the box it was in. >I left it next to the regular one for months. I wonder if they would like >Swheat scoop. I sure would like less dust. > >karen I've got to take the plunge and change litter. We're still using old-fashioned Tidy Cat clay litter. Now that we have more cats, it's disturbing how much of it I'm disposing of. I'd like to use something with less volume to throw away. Maybe a scoopable litter. Right now I change five litterboxes every other day/third day. I just hate to mess with a good thing. I'm afraid if I screw with the equation, *someone* will show their protest by wee-wee-ing on the carpet. Or worse. Sherry > I just hate to mess with a good thing. I'm afraid if I screw with the equation, > *someone* will show their protest by wee-wee-ing on the carpet. Or worse. Always leave one box with the regular litter and the rest with the new litter until you know they're using the new litter. That way, they have at least one you know they'll use. I'm REALLY glad I did that. :)  Signature-- ~kaeli~ Murphy's Law #3020: Quality assurance doesn't. http://www.ipwebdesign.net/wildAtHeart http://www.ipwebdesign.net/kaelisSpace >>I tried that corn one one time and the cats wouldn't use the box it was in. >>I left it next to the regular one for months. I wonder if they would like [quoted text clipped - 11 lines] > >Sherry I have never noticed any reaction when I changed litter types or brands. I originally used clay and on switching to scoopable there was no difference as far as the cats were concerned. The only problem I have encountered is that some give me "hayfever". Right now I am using A&H and I interchange it with Scoopaway. The important thing IMHO is to keep it well scooped. "Karen Chuplis" -----------------> > I tried that corn one one time and the cats wouldn't use the box it was in. > I left it next to the regular one for months. I wonder if they would like > Swheat scoop. I sure would like less dust. Hmm, they sure can be funny like that sometimes. I looked at the corn litter too yesterday and did consider it for a short time, but the Swheat Scoop seemed to be a little cheaper. I paid a bit over $11.00 for a 25 pound bag at Pet Supplies Plus. To be honest it seems that a lot of stores don't handle the product around here. But so far still so good ;-) bill n > I tried that corn one one time and the cats wouldn't use the box it was in. > I left it next to the regular one for months. I wonder if they would like > Swheat scoop. I sure would like less dust. > > karen Karen, I recently switched to "Special Kitty" marketed and sold by Walmart. It is a finer type of clay and is 99% dust-free. I switched over gradually and my two have accepted it.... it *does* have a mild deodorizer in it, which I'd normally avoid, but has worked out great. Linda >> I tried that corn one one time and the cats wouldn't use the box it was > in. [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] > > Linda I used to use Special Kitty. It seemed much less dusty, but then got worse as time went on. Maybe it's gotten better again. Karen >From: Karen Chuplis kchuplis@alltel.net >I tried that corn one one time and the cats wouldn't use the box it was in. >I left it next to the regular one for months. I wonder if they would like >Swheat scoop. I sure would like less dust. If you try it, add a small amount at first to their old litter, then gradually add more and more of the Shweat Scoop. I"ve found this method works pretty well. Lauren ________ See my cats: http://community.webshots.com/album/56955940rWhxAe Raw Diet Info: http://www.holisticat.com/drjletter.html http://www.geocities.com/rawfeeders/ForCatsOnly.html Declawing Info: http://www.wholecat.com/articles/claws.htm >I tried that corn one one time and the cats wouldn't use the box it was in. >I left it next to the regular one for months. I wonder if they would like >Swheat scoop. I sure would like less dust. Mine seemed to like eating it more than anything, and for me it produced even more dust than clay does (which I scale by how "dusty" the book shelves near the box get). So we are still on the hunt for the lowest dust producer which also gives a good indication of urine output amount. Suggestions always appreciated. Teri "PawsForThought" ----------------> > >From: "billn" li&st@wi.rr.com > [quoted text clipped - 34 lines] > Another good thing about Shweat Scoop is that unlike clay litter that is mined > and never decomposes, it is biodegradable. Good idea. I just might do that. Right now it isn't a problem as it's very deep, but as it goes down I'll probably run into that problem. bill n When my 21-yr old mostly blind cat ran into the same problem due to failing kidneys and 200 cc per day fluid infusions I'd hold her with her back foot in a container (like margarine tub) of warm body-temp water. The stuff softened in minutes without irritating her feet, which could then be gently towel dried. Elizabeth This happened with my Pepper cat and I made her stop putting her paw in my bath water. She was going into the litter with a wet paw so it was clumping onto her paw. I got the litter off by soaking the paw in a paper cup of warm water. -- Barb Of course I don't look busy, I did it right the first time. >From: "Barb" bguzzino@suffolk.lib.ny.us >I got the litter off by soaking the paw in a paper cup of >warm water. I had tried that but it didn't work in my case. It got some of it off though, but not enough. I'm trying to remember which clumping litter I was using at the time. Could have been Tidy Cat, Everclean or the Arm & Hammer one. ________ See my cats: http://community.webshots.com/album/56955940rWhxAe Raw Diet Info: http://www.holisticat.com/drjletter.html http://www.geocities.com/rawfeeders/ForCatsOnly.html Declawing Info: http://www.wholecat.com/articles/claws.htm > I had tried that but it didn't work in my case. It got some of it off > though, but not enough. I'm trying to remember which clumping litter > I was using at the time. Could have been Tidy Cat, Everclean or the > Arm & Hammer one. I've used A&H for years and the only clumping on body parts has been on poor Shadow's butt hairs. SignatureCheryl >From: Cheryl jlhshadow@NOSPAMhotmail.com >> I had tried that but it didn't work in my case. It got some of it off >> though, but not enough. I'm trying to remember which clumping litter [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] >I've used A&H for years and the only clumping on body parts has been on >poor Shadow's butt hairs. LMAO, poor Shadow :( Does A&H come in a plastic tub? I think the one that turned to cement on Queenie came in a plastic tub if I'm remembering right. ________ See my cats: http://community.webshots.com/album/56955940rWhxAe Raw Diet Info: http://www.holisticat.com/drjletter.html http://www.geocities.com/rawfeeders/ForCatsOnly.html Declawing Info: http://www.wholecat.com/articles/claws.htm I use A&H. -- Barb Of course I don't look busy, I did it right the first time. > ack. > [quoted text clipped - 37 lines] > is there a brand or type of this kind of litter that isn't > so...adherent? or should I just switch her back to the regular clay? Just use the cheapest that you can find. They're all the same. If you think not, then you've been sold a false bill of goods. We don't even use regular litter. We use paper run thru a shredder. That way, it doesn't cost us a dime AND we don't have the kind of MAJOR WORRIES that you seem to be entangled in. I mean, really... Aren't we making a mountain out of a molehill here? IBen G. > ack. > [quoted text clipped - 11 lines] > is there a brand or type of this kind of litter that isn't > so...adherent? or should I just switch her back to the regular clay? I have never had this happen. I have used Better Way for a number of years. It can be hard to find, but it is an exceptionally soft type of clumping litter. It does not form hard clumps from urine -- they are soft, and I am careful when scooping to avoid breaking them. If it did happen, I think I would take my cat(s) to a vet or groomer for cleaning because this sound like they could be injured while trying to clean between the toes. It may even painful for her when you try to work on her paws since you say that she has arthritis in the hips (and therefore could also have some in the feet). Incidentally, have you checked to make sure your cat's stools are well-formed? This almost sounds like the cat is stepping in diarrhea. MaryL when that happens to Chloe's paws I just run her little paw under the sink and try like the dickens to rinse it off!!! |
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