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What's your cat's current favorite cat litter? Is it relatively dust free?

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meti57b Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Mar-22-06 06:28 PM
Original message
What's your cat's current favorite cat litter? Is it relatively dust free?
Well, actually I mean what is "your" favorite cat litter.

I would like to have the most dust-free cat litter possible, (in addition to the litter having all the other desirable qualities). A few years ago, I tried Swheatscoop and World's Best Cat Litter and found each one extremely dusty. I've read that each have been improved since then. Has anyone used either of these recently?

I've tried Feline Pine but thought it deteriorated too fast. Maybe I should try it again?

I don't believe I've tried Yesterday's News. Is it dusty? Does it have other drawbacks?

Those ratings of "99% dust-free" seem to still produce a lot of dust!

Thought I would ask for opinion, first. My cats don't appreciate a lot of experimentation. Thanks in advance.
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CC Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Mar-22-06 07:02 PM
Response to Original message
1. I use Yesterday's News
Edited on Wed Mar-22-06 07:02 PM by CC
for my ferrets since most litters are lethal to them. It is pretty much dust free and easy to use. In the winter I use wood pellets for them which work really well and are cheaper. Can't get them in the summer. I think they would break down too fast for cats though. I have a diabetic cat and when we were trying to get his insulin right we used (and still use for him) the Smart Cat Box and litter. http://www.felinediabetes.com/pet-supplies/smart_cat_box.htm I would like to switch all the cats over to it. They are a bit expensive to start though and have 5 cats that pick their own litter box so for now they are still using scoopable litter. (I forget the brand Precious Cat I think.)


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meti57b Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Mar-23-06 09:21 AM
Response to Reply #1
3. Thank you! That cat box looks interesting.
The webpage talks about rinsing the litter with a solution of water with a little Clorox in it. I'm wondering if that takes a long time to dry and a cat would avoid the wet litter. About how large is the box? Their literature doesn't say.

Other than that, the "Smart Box" looks like a practical solution. For me, I think the big problem with a cat box is the litter gradually turning to dust.

I'll plan to give Yesterday's News a try.
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CC Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Mar-23-06 03:28 PM
Response to Reply #3
5. The box is about the same
size as a regular litter box. 20"L x 15 1/2"W x 7 1/2"H are the dimensions. We've only been using it for about 3 months, since the cat was diagnosed. Though we don't test his it did help with watching his urine output and now that his insulin levels are normal its easy, not as much urine. Though keeping it so that should his water/urine levels increase we know to get him to the vet to be checked. We got the waxed corn and it doesn't take long at all to dry after a rinse. I usually try to do the cleaning soon after he has used it so it has time to dry. My biggest problem is keeping the ferrets away from it, so the cat has learned to scratch on the door to let us know he needs the bathroom.


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Beaverhausen Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Mar-22-06 07:21 PM
Response to Original message
2. I use regular old Fresh Step clay litter
Edited on Wed Mar-22-06 07:21 PM by Beaverhausen
it is the only thing that (almost) covers up the stinkies!

It is a bit dusty when I first refill the box but after that it isn't bad.
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bettyellen Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Mar-23-06 01:09 PM
Response to Original message
4. i've use Swheat scoop and World's best, but my cats EAT them.....
they are fine grained, but i didn't think i would call it dusty.
feline pine does break down quickly- although they also have a clumpimg kind now that might be better.
i myself am looking for very flushable, and not tempting to eat. LOL.
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shanti Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Mar-27-06 10:49 PM
Response to Original message
6. costco brand
it is very economical at about 8 bucks for a LARGE box. i have two cats, so this is important. my home doesn't smell either.
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japple Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Mar-28-06 10:57 PM
Response to Original message
7. Cedar Fresh Scoop. I hate the smell of scented litter and don't think
cats like it either. This stuff is pretty good at not getting smelly from pee, it clumps well, and isn't too costly. It doesn't have as much dust as clay litter. In the past, I used rabbit pellets (alfalfa pellets--bunny food) because I had a Persian whose fuzzy paws collected so much litter which then got tracked all over the house. It was acutally pretty good at clumping, too, and I put the clumped litter into the toilet and flushed it. Also, the litter didn't cling to poop, so I could just scoop that out and flush it, too. Now that I'm living in a house with a septic tank, I can't flush it. Rabbit pellets are incredibly cheap, too.
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Eurobabe Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Mar-29-06 10:00 PM
Response to Original message
8. Special Kitty green 28lb box
we've tried everything. This one puts off the least dust, the least odor, and is inexpensive. Cat's Pride is the WORST!
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Justitia Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Mar-30-06 03:39 PM
Response to Original message
9. I use Swheat Scoop and love it, not dusty at all. All natural, no clay
so it won't hurt them if they lick it off their paws.

It never stinks and clumps up nicely. I LOVE that I can flush the clumps down the toilet (it's biodegradable) since the box is right next to the toilet. It lasts me forever (one cat).

Maybe the new product has really improved over what it used to be, but I've used it for a few yrs now.

I buy it at Target.
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meti57b Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Mar-30-06 09:11 PM
Response to Reply #9
10. Thank you, Justitia,... maybe I'll try Swheatscoop again, too.
Edited on Thu Mar-30-06 09:12 PM by meti57b
When I used it, it wasn't dusty when I got it out of the bag. It just deteriorated into dust really fast from usage.

Also, if I remember right, globs of it would dry stuck to the catbox and I would have to chisel it off. Does that still happen?
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Justitia Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Mar-31-06 12:44 AM
Response to Reply #10
11. I kind of remember reading about it previously getting "stuck" like you
mention, and I think they have worked specifically to improve that. The way it seems to work now is that it can still stick to the sides (if that is where the cat goes), but the clump stays "gummy", so it is really easy to roll it up and "peel" it off - does that make sense?

In fact, it's one of the things I like about it - if it is towards the side of the box, I put the scoop easily between the clump and the box and it gums together for the scoop very easily - the clump does not fall apart as I'm scooping it (like clay litters can). It definitely does not stay stuck to the box, if that was a past problem.

I'm probably not describing it well - ha, ha! I'd say it's worth giving a shot to buying a box if you haven't had it in a while. Another tip - it works best if you keep a higher level in the box - plenty of room to form clumps, 3 " deep maybe? I've also heard of people using non-stick Pam spray in plastic boxes before putting litter in, but I use disposable cardboard, so I dunno about that.

Good luck and report back!
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Samurai_Writer Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Mar-31-06 10:32 AM
Response to Original message
12. Tidy Cats Small Spaces
It's relatively new. I have a very fussy cat (Sterling the Persian, gee, what a surprise, right?) and I had to try out several different litters to find one he liked. I like it because it smells good. It's dust-free also.
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meti57b Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Mar-31-06 12:30 PM
Response to Reply #12
13. What type of litter is Small Spaces? clay? silica crystals? organic wheat?
Hi, Thank you for your reply. I googled on "Tidy Cats" "Small Spaces" and can't really find a description.

Thanks in advance for more information. It sounds interesting.
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superconnected Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Mar-31-06 01:47 PM
Response to Original message
14. I just use tidy cat scoopable litter.
Edited on Fri Mar-31-06 01:48 PM by superconnected
The problem is blackie likes to roll in it and lay there for awhile, every morning after I clean the box and add more litter.

Sasha and mischief can't wait to jump in and be the first to defile the box every morning. I have 3 litter boxes.
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