Hi Icebox,

Welcome to the forum. There was some conversation on this and I've found one thread for you:


http://www.catforum.com/viewtopic.php?t ... ight=dusty

Also, there was a thread a short time back regarding using chicken feed as litter...it was very interesting but I can't put my finger on it. :?

Christina

 

If it's the Tidy Cats non-clumping litter that you're using, then you've already got one of the least-dusty clay litters. If you're talking clumping litter, then there are a few choices that are better than TC. I thought Cat Attract was pretty good. But it's expensive. It's going to be hard to find something much better than what you've got in the same price range. Believe, me, I've looked, too. :wink:

If you're able and willing to spend the money, you might consider trying one of the non-clay litters: Feline Pine, Yesterday's News come to mind.

 

I have hardwood floors too so I know exactly how you feel. That's why I stopped using clumping litter. I'd much rather clean the box more often than live in a beach! I get a feline pine knock off at Trader Joe's for $2.99 a bag. With two cats that lasts about a week. It's great if you don't mind your bathroom (or where ever) smelling a bit like a forest.
So the choices are: beach, dust storm or forest. Hm. I've opted for Sherwood, at least for now. :wink:

 

I'd much rather clean the box more often than live in a beach!

Uggggh. That brings back memories of stepping out of the shower with wet feet into a floor sprinkled with litter grains. *shudders* I'd always have to brush my feet off before putting on my socks.

 

Somebody remind me to get some chicken feed next time I go to the feed store for horse food. I'm going to try it to see what it's like. I'm pretty darned tired of the dust, too.

 

Hey, CataholicsAnonymous, don't forget to buy chicken feed next time you go to the feed store! :idea

 

Hey, CataholicsAnonymous, don't forget to buy chicken feed next time you go to the feed store! :idea

Not now, silly. Next time I go! :roll:

Hmmm, I was going to say I'll let you know when I go next time, but that would mean I remembered why I was reminding you, and I wouldn't need to be reminded......Geez, Louise, a mind is a terrible thing to lose.

 

Louise? Louise who?

I forgot










:lol:

 

This IS a dilemma!
What if we start another 'click daily' thread except this one would be to remind you to buy chicken feed?
Who is Louise anyway?
Oh, did Tim already ask that?
I forgot. :crazy

 

Who ARE you people??? 8O

Truthfully, I don't know anyone named Louise......

Though I did once have a sheep named Mary Louise. She wasn't the brightest bulb in the box. :roll:

 

I use flushable litter, which is made of wood. I find it has less dust, smells better and of course is flushable. However it gets tracked around more I find (although being wood it won't hurt your hardwood floors stepping on it).

It's more expensive per bag, but I find it isn't used up as fast. And it must be healthier for that cats to breathe dust from that in as opposed to clay dust.

 

Who ARE you people???

We're cat people. :wink:

The rest of the world thinks we're a little crazy. Maybe we are. :lol:

 

If it's the Tidy Cats non-clumping litter that you're using, then you've already got one of the least-dusty clay litters. If you're talking clumping litter, then there are a few choices that are better than TC. I thought Cat Attract was pretty good. But it's expensive. It's going to be hard to find something much better than what you've got in the same price range. Believe, me, I've looked, too. :wink:

If you're able and willing to spend the money, you might consider trying one of the non-clay litters: Feline Pine, Yesterday's News come to mind.

Should have mentioned that I use CLUMPING litter. I can do a thorough floor cleaning and within a couple days you can see a new layer of dust. I lived in south Florida before here, so maybe the humid weather kept the dust to a minimum down there.
I am so sick of TC Clumping because I believe TC is the dust culprit.
If I use Pine litter, or non-clumping litter, I assume when I change the litter I will have to dump the entire box contents. Is that correct?
Thanks...
Dusty in Dallas, TX

 

I lived in south Florida before here, so maybe the humid weather kept the dust to a minimum down there.

I WISH!!!

But then again, I'm not as far south as you were. :wink:

 

I lived in south Florida before here, so maybe the humid weather kept the dust to a minimum down there.

I WISH!!!

But then again, I'm not as far south as you were. :wink:

I was in Marathon Key, but talk about Island-Fever! Wow. The Keys have changed as has Florida since my youth, so moving back to Texas was the best thing I have done in a long time.

 

I was in Marathon Key, but talk about Island-Fever! Wow. The Keys have changed as has Florida since my youth, so moving back to Texas was the best thing I have done in a long time.

I've actually never made it to the Keys yet, but I'd like to go. I've heard a lot about how much it's changed, though, and how it's becoming unaffordable for almost everybody.

Central Florida is pretty much the same as it's always been, just more crowded. And still very humid.

 

I was in Marathon Key, but talk about Island-Fever! Wow. The Keys have changed as has Florida since my youth, so moving back to Texas was the best thing I have done in a long time.

I've actually never made it to the Keys yet, but I'd like to go. I've heard a lot about how much it's changed, though, and how it's becoming unaffordable for almost everybody.

Central Florida is pretty much the same as it's always been, just more crowded. And still very humid.

Central Florida, to the west, Tampa/St Pete, and the southwest to Naples are still OK for now, but not long. Property values, tax, insurance, makes FL the "Place" to leave these days. I was born in north FL, and lived off and on around Tampa/Clearwater. Moved to TX many, many years ago. When we retired, we thought we wanted to go to FL. It did not take but a couple years to determine we wanted to move back home to the prairie.

 

NOW I remember: Pet Gold bulk litter sold in my local Petco store is the least dusty clumping litter I've tried. However, I wasn't as happy with its clumping properties. And since it's bulk, I have no idea where it comes from and what's sold in your local store may not be the same stuff.

 

NOW I remember: Pet Gold bulk litter sold in my local Petco store is the least dusty clumping litter I've tried. However, I wasn't as happy with its clumping properties. And since it's bulk, I have no idea where it comes from and what's sold in your local store may not be the same stuff.

I bought a 20lb bag of "Feline Pine" yesterday, but it may be difficult to get my kitties to use it. I have two litter boxes, so at next cleaning I am going to replace the TC Clumping in the small box with FP.

I have never used non-clumping litter, so how much do I use? How often is it necessary to empty and start over? The salesperson at my PetCo said I had to dump the entire box every couple of days. Is that true?

Thanks.

 

With the Tidy Cats non-clumping clay litter I've been using, I change out the litter and clean the box about once a week. I don't know about Feline Pine. I guess just let your nose tell you when it's time.

 

With the Tidy Cats non-clumping clay litter I've been using, I change out the litter and clean the box about once a week. I don't know about Feline Pine. I guess just let your nose tell you when it's time.

I assume then, since you dump weekly and start over, that you use a small amount. I use three inches or more of TC Clumping litter, but the salesperson said about one inch of FP would be enough. Does not sound right to me.

 

I use roughly 12 pounds in a jumbo-sized box, which gives roughly a two-inch depth.

 

What is the best way to switch a cay from a clay clumping litter to a litter such as Feline Pine?

I know with other similar clay litter, I would just add a little more of the next stuff to their old litter until they were completely using the new brand -- but not sure how to go about it with such different types of litter.

Also - does the Feline Pine reduce smell? and does it clump both urine and feces?

 

I used this procedure with my chicken feed litter (and I believe this is recommended by one of the non-clay litters, Yesterday's News I think):

put a thin layer of the new layer on the bottom and cover with the old litter; at the next changeout, put a thicker layer of the new and less of the old on top; at the third changeout, put mostly new on the bottom and just a thin layer of old on the top.

this way the cats discover the new litter for themselves while scratching in the box, and their scratching (and your scooping) mixes it up.

 

So, after months of dealing with tracked litter at my new apartment with hardwood, I'm thinking of switching to a non-clumping. I'm confused though. If I don't scoop the clumping kind every 3 days it is really nasty. Doesn't that mean I would have to swap the non-clumping every 3 days as well? I don't see how else it could work. I'm also not looking forward to lugging bags and bags of litter (both unused and used) around.