Litter vs Sand

[matt&roxy]

I was wondering if Sand would be cheaper to use in the catpans than kitty litter. Has anyone tried this, doing this, think it would work?

[kimmee]

I used sand in Phoenix - It is alot cheaper but it doesn't control the smell - I used Baking soda in it to help with smell - and it has no antibacterial properties - But I am wondering about grapeseed oil extract - Lynn (CountryBumpkin) has been talking about it and I just ordered some - I was thinking of not only diluting it and spraying it in the pan but spraying the mat in front where they jump out. I know - I am a freak...

[Mom23boys]

I have never tried sand before. When I run out of cat litter I use shredded newspaper. My cat uses it just the same. I take my old newspapers and shred them myself.

[matt&roxy]

I'm very picky on my litter. It has to be scoopable!!!

Kimmee, yes you are a freak....... but I love ya just the same........

[kimmee]

Yeah - but they track "black" on the carpet, I noticed it when I washed the carpet and the water that sucked up by the pan was black like ink. plus it is way Shtinkee when the ammonia hits that newsprint.

[frugalmel]

Our biggest cat is very picky. He won't use anyting but litter. After he had his front nails out, the vet recommended the shredded newspaper. He just wouldn't go in there. I switched to the pelleted kind of litter and he didn't like that either. He would rather go use my garden. So we stick with the clumping kind so its easier for ds to clean the pan. His cats = his litter pan chore.

[COUNTRYBUMPKIN]

ok my friends, would you believe that if you switch your cats food to an all natural food, such as eaglepack.com or www.omhpet.com the Wellness brand, or Life's Abundance fro www.shirleyswellnesscafe.com , your cats poo-poo will not smell at all. It is the foods with byproducts and chemicles etc that is hard on your cats system and makes the poo-poo stinky My cats can go in their boxes right here next to the computer, and I will not smell a thing But before I got them on their holostic foods, OMG......man did it stink!

[matt&roxy]

I'm gonna have to check into the food..........I hate stinky cat poo............

[COUNTRYBUMPKIN]

Originally posted by matt&roxy
I hate stinky cat poo............

Me Too!

[COUNTRYBUMPKIN]

I will add this too........The all natural foods make them produce less waste(poo) as well. The poo stools are much smaller because they are eating less and absorbing more.

[dhmunoz]

Have you tried that Feline Pine cat litter? It is made of biodegradable wood-type pellets that break down into sawdust. I have been using that for my cats for over a year now and I would never go back to ordinary litter. It controls odor better than anything we have ever used...and I am really obsessive over stinky smells--believe me this stuff WORKS! It lasts longer than regular cat litter too. I buy mine at Wal-mart for 2.97 a bag. It lasts at least twice as long as litter, well worth the price IMHO. The first time I put it in the boxes my cats walked around and around in it trying to figure out what was going on..LOL but then when my big cat laid down on it and rolled I knew that it was going to work!

[gkp1031]

I've never tried sand, I don't like the clumping litter, I use the regular clay kind. I change the box often with 4 cats!

[mrscornbread]

I have been using tidy cat, but I HATE the mediciny smell that stays on the cat after he comes out of the box.

It is also very expensive.

[kimmee]

I use the pine shavings for my weezils and it works great with them - my cats and weezils eat Iams which is generally a clean pure food (though it is made of Sammy's ) and it is mostly absorbed and doesn't "leave the building" nearly as badly as some foods do - but Raymond - my older fart cat is allergic to pine so I need to use Tidy cat for the cats - actually Raymond prefers to use clean clothes - evidently they make him feel "unverclempt"

[matt&roxy]

Well, right now my catpans have newspaper in them.......... I ran out of cat litter, shame on me!!!! Kricket and Harley do not seem to even notice that it isn't litter, or at least it hasn't stopped them from going potty!!!!!!