alternatives to cat litter???

giantmutantbroccoli

I've used soil as an emergency litter in the past and it worked well in terms of not stinking up the place, but it got everywhere.
I read in a veterinary textbook that cats prefer to dig in sand if given the choice, so anything that mimics sand (or, you know, is actually sand) and doesn't smell would probably work. I find the sainsbury's basic stuff smells pretty bad when it's wet, even without the pee!

I think newspapers are treated with chlorine to bleach the recycled paper, and that is what causes them to smell so bad. They really, truly reek horribly if you use them for anything like that! I was using them as rat bedding for a long time, and I didn't think they smelled at all. My parents took them on for a few weeks, and complained about the smell and I was all offended on their behalf because I knew they didn't smell.
One rat-free week later I went back for my serving of humble pie - they stunk rotten! I'd gotten used to the smell in my flat, so it took a week without it for me to notice. Now they're on cat litter and hay (heat-treated to kill mites) and they really, truly do not smell.

So yeah, dont' use newspapers! I use sainsbury's clumping stuff, but would also love to find a cheaper alternative.

juliethemuse

i use Asdas cheap litter too, its only just over a pound a bag, it dosent quite last me a week with having 5 cats, so the last few days before shopping i use garden soil, if it rains and i cant use soil i use shredded newspaper,

juliethemuse

ooh you have just reminded me of years ago my SIL was so poor she just used to let her cats/kittens wee on the carpet, and then wondered why no-one ever visited her :rotfl:

EmptyPockets

juliethemuse wrote: »

ooh you have just reminded me of years ago my SIL was so poor she just used to let her cats/kittens wee on the carpet, and then wondered why no-one ever visited her :rotfl:

:eek::eek::eek::eek::eek:

eamon

Above all get something that doesn't set like concrete and bags that mentions "clumping" will tend to do this. By mistake I purchased Catsan Ultra instead of Hygiene. It is expensive compared to other brands £5.35 per 10 litres.
If you end buying litter instead of devising your own then buy the biggest bag that you can afford. Clean the tray regularly and it will be more effective as well

Owain_Moneysaver

juliethemuse wrote: »

ooh you have just reminded me of years ago my SIL was so poor she just used to let her cats/kittens wee on the carpet, and then wondered why no-one ever visited her :rotfl:

Maybe she had other problems.

PinkTiger

i have found the sainsburys basics litter to be the best, a bag last about a week & a half with 2 house cats using it & lazy boy using it if he cant be bothered to go out / its too wet to go out / or im not home to let him out & he needs to go!

next best is tescos value, & one i really didnt like was the asda one, it was like clay when used & it was a terrible job trying to clean the litter tray (its no picnic at the best of times:eek:). i have also tried the newspaper but thought it was too smelly.

i guess its trial & error & what suits you best but i found that the expensive ones wernt worth the extra expense, but thats just my opinion.

rita-rabbit

helzbelz_57 wrote: »

hello all, i was just wondering if there is any alternative to cat litter.

im tightening purse strings and intend to do weekly shop by foot, the only thing thats putting me off is the thought of carrying a heavy bag of cat litter home ( all uphill). i would hate to have to use the car simply for the sake of cat litter. is there anything else i can use thats just as effective.

The alternative to cat litter is a garden!

maggie111

You can buy non absorbent cat litter. Our cat has urinary issues and needs to get his wee tested so we have some. It's purpose is only to assist the cat in kicking and feeling like he's covering his business with the pebbles. It apparently can scatter out of the tray - but our vet said we didn't have to use all the packet and our litter tray is very deep.

Frankly - I've no idea about the long term usage, I've just used it for two goes on the toilet and then swapped it back for regular litter. He did have a number 2 and the pebbles stuck to this - so depending on your cat, his constitution and your stomach this will quite possibly be an issue.

It does strike me as being VERY mse - I personally couldn't be bothered to wash the litter and tray every day, dry it etc. But some of us are more frugal than others and this could suit someone so thought I would mention it.

When we looked at hamster bedding etc - shredded paper was a big no no due to paper dust being a problem for animal's lungs. My neices have a hamster and his cage is filled with it and he doesn't suffer but just wanted to mention it.

charlies-aunt

I have had a multiple cat household in the past - down to one very grumpy old lady at the moment - but I have devised my own little stategy for saving on cat litter

Use two identical litter trays, I use stacking boxes as the sides are higher to stop them kicking litter out ...but as longer as one fits inside the other, it will be okay.

For the top tray - perforate it all over the base, I used a skewer heated on gas cooker and then sanded it down.

Put a thick layer of newspaper on the bottom tray so that its sandwiched between the bottom and top trays.

Add cat litter to top tray - you will find that the newspaper draws down the urine through the perforated holes and stops the litter getting saturated - and although you may want to change the newspaper daily - your cat litter will last considerably longer.

I buy bags of compressed bedding for horse stables from local feed shop instead of cat litter - a really big square shaped bag is about £6 - its very absorbent & odour-reducing and one bag lasts my cat approx a year.