Thread: Cat Litter (UK)

This is a question that you will get a dozen answers to and they're all right .

When you have other cats, I think incomers see the toilet arrangements and instinctively copy. I did have a slight problem with Sophie as I had no other cats when she arrived. The litter tray was new and clean and the litter was too and it took almost a day before she could be persuaded to go to the toilet - presumably because it didn't smell right. I tried a couple of types of litter including what the breeder used but she was still unsure and I was worried she would burst .

I use Sophistikat clumping gold. There are other litters that I prefer but unfortunately Max has very fixed ideas about what he will use. I would say clumping litter is economical in the long run and I would not use any other kind.

Chick crumb mix is very popular and lots of people swear by it, unfortunately our furbabies just didn't like it. I swear by Extreme Classic Baby Powder Scented Ultra Clumping litter which I get from Zooplus, we buy 2 x 15kg bags at a time which the postman loves - not! It clumps fantastically though so the wastage is minimal.

It worked for me to use the same type of litter tray as the breeder (a covered one with the door removed) but to choose the litter I preferred. My breeder used a variety of litters, so maybe this helped. My kitten recognised the litter tray straight away and has had no problems at all. I'm thinking that using a similiar one to the breeder helped. My kitten seems to like the privacy of a covered tray and it's in a very quiet spot for her with no passing traffic.

Originally Posted by Rachel-C

Chick crumb mix is very popular and lots of people swear by it, unfortunately our furbabies just didn't like it. I swear by Extreme Classic Baby Powder Scented Ultra Clumping litter which I get from Zooplus, we buy 2 x 15kg bags at a time which the postman loves - not! It clumps fantastically though so the wastage is minimal.

Thats the one I used to buy Rachel-C & with three was very affordable & very good at four purse began to waver & six chick feed became the best option & luckily still disguises smells very well I am happy to say, we did get some of the nice smelling powder to add in just in case but that backfired as China RIP being asthmatic & Pansy P flat chested it choked them up so into the dustbin that went & we kept it plain & simple...

By chick crumb - do you actually mean chick crumb or is it a brand of litter? (Used to feed chick crumb to the ducklings) I am now going to show my catty ignorance - what is clumping litter???

In a litter tray, solids are relatively easy to remove whatever type of litter is used, the difference is in the way different litters deal with liquid waste. Most litters I guess will absorb liquid. Ordinary ones spread the liquid throughout a large area and as a result the whole tray needs to be changed very often. Clumping litters confine the liquid to a small area and it can be lifted out in a 'clump'. As a result the rest of the litter doesn't get contaminated and usually just needs topped up.

Yep do mean baby chick crumb mixed with layers pellets to help it "clump" better.
All clumping means is it balls into a near solid lump to make cleaning out a lot easier,some litters such as the wood or paper spread around when you try to clean out so means you actually waste a lot more litter each time,I tried some of the paper litter we were given as a free sample from shows & was jolly pleased it was free as I had to empty the whole tray after someone had peed in it & then scratched to cover up,it was everywhere & not a chance of saving any to reuse,plus I found it rather smelly ! The extreme might seem a bit expensive compared to some others but as it holds together so well all you ever clean out of the tray is the used bit so nothing gets wasted & does last a good while....x

Clumping sounds the way forward then I don't think I will go the hen food route as we do have a house chicken (Leanne) and the dogs all enjoy layers pellets too .... I am hoping the litter tray won't be quite so enticing to them all Poor cat would never get to go to her loo!

My practice manager just about cried when she found out what I used in the trays as she has lots of chickens so I reckon if a sack or two disappears from the shed I know exactly where it has gone.
I can just picture your poor babe going to the toilet & it all starts vanishing from around her,that would be worth a photo or two....