suggestions on kitty litter.

[diabeticman]

My wife and I have tried various brands of kitty litter for the past 7 years and we cannot find one that will not leave a resolve the lingering oder we have. My wife wonder if it is fully the kitty litter we are smelling but something else as well.


We are moving to a new place and want to try and make it so the litter or whatever the smell is--IF that smell comes with us-- NOT be so bold.

[politicat]

1. We use yesterday's news (or similar store) or pellet fuel.

Pellet fuel is just compressed sawdust, bound with cornstarch. (It's also cheap -- $5-8 for a 50 pound bag that lasts about 4 weeks, with bi-weekly litterbox changes for 2 cats.) Yesterday's news is a similar product, but made from recycled paper. The pellets look like broken pieces of wide diameter spaghetti and it doesn't fling very well.

We don't have an odor problem. Our cats (we've had two for most of the time, but we're down to one now) don't like scoopable. We change their box on Monday and Thursday, and replace their box about once a year. (The plastic will get scratched and it does eventually absorb some odor.)

[GoCubsGo]

2. I tend to use "natural" litter, such as World's Best.

World's Best is corn-based and clumps great. I have not noticed any odors, other than right after my cat takes a dump. I have also used other corn-based litters, such as the store brand from PetSmart, and they're just as good. Even Walmart has a version of it. There are some that have cedar and/or pine mixed in with them, such as Nature's Miracle, Arm & Hammer Natural, and the new one out by Tidy Cats. Those might help with odors.

I have also had good luck with wheat-based litters, such as Swheat Scoop. Right now, I am using the store brand version from PetSmart, which has some cedar mixed in with it. It's fine. No smells, and the litter itself doesn't smell unless you are right up by it. On occasion, I also use Feline Pine scoopable. It's okay. No odors, but doesn't clump as well as the corn and wheat-based litters.

One other option is the litter that Blue Buffalo sells. It's made from walnut hulls. It's pricey. It clumps, no odors, but I find it too dusty.

I will also add that I use a covered litter box. It might help with odors, too. Most models have filters on them to absorb odors. They also help keep the litter from tracking.

[Rob H.]

3. I use Fresh Step clay litter with activated carbon for my cat

I find that it works REALLY well.

Edited to add that she has a covered litterbox, too.

[PivotalDude]

4. Feline Pine

I've read that clumping litter can be toxic

[Lokey]

5. Fresh Step or Scoop Away

Been using Fresh Step for quite some time...a little pricier and it does have a scent to it not nearly as dusty as the others. But it keeps the smell at bay. Scoop Away is rather hard to find now.
We have 2 Covered boxes here 1 up and 1 down for kitty convenience.
The boy kitty we have is very concerned about smell. I have seen him come out of the box whiff a bit and go back in and cover some more.
He is very meticulous about the litter as well. I tried Tidy Cat and Arm and Hammer and he would literally evict the liter out of the box through the door so I would have a huge pile of litter in front of the box.
He seems to like the box with the door flap the best. But uses both covered boxes and they have a charcoal filter on top to keep in the stench.

[fleur-de-lisa]

6. Crystal Cat Litter . . .

My brother recommended it to me. I started using it a few weeks ago. It definitely cuts out the urine smell. Poop still smells like poop, but the strong urine smell is the worst, so this stuff works for me.

The crystal litter is more expensive than clay, but it's well worth the cost because I use less and have to change out the litter less often.

Petco sells it, so I'm sure most pet stores carry it. I haven't seen it at any discount stores (Target, KMART, etc) or grocery stores yet.

[benld74]

7. We have 4, 2-14yr and 2 1-yr old. HAve been slowly switching,,,,

them over to natural litter made of wheat or walnut shells. A little more expensive, BUT it is flushable! No more taking container of used litter out to trash every day. Just into any toilet and flush away,,,,,,,

[blogslut]

8. I put an air freshener thing right by the litterbox

Of course, I suppose there are cats that would try to eat the thing but my cat has never tried to.

[zen_bohemian]

9. I use tidy cat and scoop the boxes 3-4 times a day

but I do have 4 cats, I have 4 litter boxes, and rarely can smell their boxes. I take all the litter that is left after a week, dump it, clean the boxes with soap/water and start over with new litter.

[GreenPartyVoter]

10. If you can take perfumey smells, cat "deodorant" will cover other smells.

[GoCubsGo]

12. Be aware that some cats don't like the perfumes.

If they don't like the way the litter box smells, they won't use it. Remember, the litter box is for the cat, not you.

[GreenPartyVoter]

14. Oh yes, that is very true. My boy kitty doesn't care for it, but the girl is all cool with it.

[MH1]

11. "World's Best" is excellent for odor control

it's a bit pricey (I think - I've been using it so long I don't know how it compares any more)

Also I have problems with dust if I let the box go too long without fully dumping and changing it. Which I usually do, because it controls odor so well, and it's pricey. But if you want an answer on the odor issue this might be a good one to try.

[GoCubsGo]

13. You can often find coupons for it.

Sometimes their web page has them. Coupons.com has had them available for the past couple of months.

[MH1]

15. Thanks, that's really good to know!

I buy it at PetSmart and just stock up when it's on sale. But I'll go look for coupons now.

[GoCubsGo]

16. A lot of the grocery stores and Target carry the small bags.

Sometimes you can get a better deal there. The PetSmart store brand, ExquisiCat puts out a clone that is equally good, and a little cheaper. There's one at Walmart, too. Way cheaper. I have never tried it, however. I suspect it is comparable.

[DakotaLady]

17. High quality dry cat food ...

that is tad expensive. A change in diet may be your answer to lessen odors.

My cat has a skin allergy and must eat a Hills Product-Prescription Diet purchased from the veterinarian. There are Prescription Diet products for the general cat population as well.

Plus side to this is her poop has only a slight odor - very slight. I use Tidy Cat and scoop at least once a day. Change the litter every 5-7 days.