[coco & little guy]

Hi again all,

I have been using tidy cat products, placing the crystals at the bottom of the litter box, then the litter overtop of the crystals. It seems to be working well for us, and my two guys. However, I have been destroying some of my ignorance (with the help of you all) and discovered the Swheat. Upon checking further at the store, a 40 lb bag is $22!

I am all for helping the environment, but I could by 200 lbs of tidy cat for that same amount of money. Is it all it is really talked up to be? How / where are you folks that use it getting it? I just don't think the price is tolerable at all.

Thanks for any input.

Bryon

 

[shlanon]

I use the Swheat because I have heard bad things about the clay dust that gets kicked up everytime the cat goes to the box. Apparently that dust is bad for them.
But also (and this a huge thing) you can flush the Sweat scoop! I live on the third floor of my apartment a long way away from the nearest dumpster. It is a big pain in the butt for me to haul litter to the dumpster once a day. So it is worth it to me! I think I paid about $19 for a 40 lb pound bag.

 

[kungfukitty]

Obviously, I live in the wrong area! A 40lb bag of Swheat is $31. I usually buy a 14lb bag for just over $11. Even at that price I'd never go back to Johnny Cat. The 14lb bag lasts thru 2 weeks of adding after scooping. It controls odor very well. I too live in an apartment -on the second floor, and getting to the dumpster isin't always the easiest. It works well for us.

 

[faile]

i think the environmental benefits far outweigh the monetary costs. i get a 14 pound bag for about 8 dollars.
but it is a grat litter nonetheless.

 

[drjean]

Swheat

I went through a phase of testing every litter on my gang of 5. Once I got them on 100% Swheat, the house started smelling like a barn. Now, I like a good barn, and it wasn't really unpleasant, but it did get a bit overwhelming.

I finally ended up using World's Best, which is made from corn, and I believe it's flushable (though I'm on septic so I don't). It's a good alternative to clay, but similarly expensive. I like it because it doesn't glom itself onto the sides and bottom of the box, clumps well, and controls odor fine. I have to say, once I went to World's Best, *my* asthma improved about 99%! That definitely made me think twice about clay & scoopables!

Cheers,
Dr. Jean

 

[faile]

i tried world's best, but after kitty used it, i had a very hard time cleaning it because it smelled like vomit and made me want to do the same. maybe it was a freak bag or something else weird, cause i haven't heard any other complaints.

 

[drjean]

worlds best

Yeah, World's Best has changed their formulation at least twice in the two years I've been using it, not always for the better! I find it somewhat dustier now than it was a few months ago, but still not too bad.

It *is* really nice now to have so many good alternatives to clay!

Cheers,
Dr. Jean

 

[ForJazz]

What is bad about clay and scoopable litters? I don't notice much dust with scoopable unless I'm pouring a bunch of new litter in the box, and with clay I really don't notice any at all. Could someone educate me?

 

[Rayona]

Clay litter create environmental problems both when is it strip-mined and then again when it is thrown away, since clay does not break down easily. The clumping agent in most (all?) clay litters is extremely harsh and is toxic if ingested in large quantities.

Alternative litters made of corn, wheat, paper or wood shavings are non-toxic and bio-degradeable. Many are flushable as well.

 

[AngelZoo]

Litter seems to be a very personal thing (sounds nutty I know) but each person has their own strong concerns on what is important to them in a litter. There's no wrong or right, there's just what works for you.

To me, paying a little more for a digestable/biodegradable litter that REALLY works, is fully worth it to me.

 

[JungleKitty]

I've noticed that if you want to buy anthing that's natural and better for the enviroment...it's going to cost you. Even if you want to buy better quality food. I guess that's just how the world works...and maybe that's part of the problem with all our enviromental issues...along with the rising rate of cancer. :x

 

[coco & little guy]

I don't mind spending extra for high quality food, and I do. But we change completely the litter boxes every week. As in empty, clean, refill. A 40 lb bag of litter will do 5 litter box cleanings, or roughly 2 1/2 weeks, as we have 2 litter boxes. So, doing the math, that would be roughly ..........

52 weeks per yr / 2.5 weeks per bag = 20.8 bags / yr
20.8 bags / yr X $22 per bag = $457.60 / yr.

Tidy Cat @ Sam's club (40 lb bag) = $4.88
20.8 bags / yr X $4.88 per bag = $101.50 / yr.

I do a lot for the environment now, we recycle everything we can. But I just can't tolerate that price being almost 5 times more than what we are paying now. So, it's flushable...........I am on a septic tank and don't think that is a good idea anyway. I'm not knocking anyone who uses it, I just can't afford to is my point. Wheat is a renewable resource, so I just don't understand why the HUGE price difference. Maybe if you all would stop buying it, they would adjust the price? I know wishful thinking. I'll just wait until it becomes more affordable.