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Love My Cats - Could Leave the Litter

Cats are amazing... I have two. And as many of you know, I am not just a "cat person" - I have The Cricket, the Ideal Bite Mascot (mainly because Heather doesn't like dogs, but she like The Crick, and The Crick just LOVES being the product tester for all our all natural dog treats, beds, collars, etc.).

However, I wish I had taught them how to be potty trained... cleaning the litter box kind of just sucks. And with two cats, if you don't stay on it, it definitely emits a yuck odor.

However, life got better around the litter for two reasons:

1) I found ONE PLANET at the co-op... totally affordable, and works better than the other 3 eco varieties I have tried for multiple cats.

2) Spring is starting to show her pretty face, and so my cats are going outside a bit now. Now if only they'd stop digging up earthworms and placing them in the kitchen as little gifts.

-Jen... off to do my weekly changing out of the entire box... well, those snuggly funny little things are worth the 15 min a week dealing with the dirty aspects...

Posted by: tmeronek on 04/10/2007
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OhGoddess  on April 12, 2007 at 11:03 AM 31
My two kitties use Feline Pine. I won't use anything else, it's a great product. I am a gardener and I use the sawdust once a year around some of my plants, mainly the lantana, as they seem to like it. Used kitty litter contains lots of nitrates, which the plants do like but not in too large amounts. Hence I use it sparingly and only once a year. Also, it's not that great for the water table to use it too much for mulch.
Angie  on April 12, 2007 at 04:09 PM 32
On a somewhat related topic, I have a very sick kitty. He was diagnosed with FIP almost a year ago. It is affecting his kidneys/urinary system the most. He drinks much more water than normal and therefore goes through a lot of litter. We use World's Best Cat Litter Extra Strength (we have another kitty who is not at all sick). Just wondering if anyone has any advice. We have had to go from one large litter box to three through out the house and he still pees on any sort of cloth left on the floor. He never had any litter training problems before his illness. Any advice would be great.
Susan Mullen  on April 12, 2007 at 04:16 PM 33
Angie, I just wanted to express my sympathy for your cat who is suffering from FIP. How is his quality of life? Have you talked to your vet about sub-q fluids? Just a couple of thoughts.
elena  on April 13, 2007 at 10:59 AM 34
Purina earns $10 million a year from "Dog" litter ?? Dog Litter ??
Idealbite Team Member tmeronek   on April 13, 2007 at 11:12 AM 35
Hey Katja- Check these articles from the American Veterinary Medical Association: http://www.avma.org/onlnews/javma/mar03/030315e.asp http://www.avma.org/communications/brochures/toxoplasmosis/toxoplasmosis... There's a strong possibility that there's an otter death-cat feces connection.
Lauren  on April 16, 2007 at 01:35 PM 36
Hey everyone, There is a connection - here's a PBS show you can watch online about it: http://www.kqed.org/quest/television/view/25 Thanks!
Melissa  on April 25, 2007 at 09:58 AM 37
Just watched the video. Wow. But if flushing kitty poo is the problem, what about run off from landfills where we scoop into the trash? Or run off from yards that outdoor kitties have pooped in. What's the answer to saving the otters? We can't do away with our feline angels. What's the cause of the toxic entity in their poop? Is it in kitty food? Is it in all kitties or is it passed on from one to another like feline Leukemia???
Sam  on April 27, 2007 at 03:30 AM 38
I have a cattery with two litter boxes. 1) Clay clumping litter is the only one that works with multiple cats. 2) Clay is a natural antimicrobial; in fact, some birds eat clay which then removes bacterial etc. by adsorption, AND, some nutritionists suggest ingesting some clay (bentonite). 3) Since clay IS earth, how can putting it in landfills be anything but recycling? 4) I live in Florida, and in the hot humid months, organic litter (corn or wheat) FERMENTS and ATTRACT insects. 5) I've tried the A&H High Perf. clumping litter and it doesn't clump all the urine -- so the box eventually smells. 6) Paper-based litter (even clumping) are okay for one or two cats, but, for multiple cats, it doesn't do a thorough job.
bright strangely  on April 30, 2007 at 12:16 PM 39
what's becoming increasingly clear is that we have very poor ways of qualifying what a good cat litter is. i use swheat scoop and have for years, happily... but i see articles about toxoplasmosis and otters and have exactly the same concerns as melissa. i can't imagine that the quantities of litter i'm putting in the toilet can compete with what a person living in monterrey with an outdoor cat is producing... or am i? and humans carry the bacteria as well, are we sure it isn't us? should i stop pooping too?
Michelle  on May 01, 2007 at 08:56 AM 40
This is so stressing, I'm adopting a cat soon, and I wanted to start going the eco route as much as I can, and this blog caught my interest. After reading about the Sea Otters, I have to say that I'd go w/ disposing the litter in the garbage; Sam's #3 makes sense to me. Then the whole "humans carry the bacteria as well" is now concerning me. Whew, this is just so controversial, but I'm glad I'm informed.
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