Corn based cat litter - a money saver.

[HappyHollyDays]

I had always used Worlds Best cat litter for my girls but it was getting more and more expensive so I switched to Catsan natural which is also corn based. I ran out a week ago and didn’t have time to go to PAH so I improvised with the chickens Smallholder Layers Crumble.

It’s just corn and works exactly the same as the litter plus the best thing about it is the price.

Worlds Best Cat litter is £18 for 6.35kg or £31 for 12.7kg
Catsan natural is £23 for 20lts which is equivalent to 11kg

Smallholder layers crumble is £15 for 20kg at the local feed store.

Thought I would pass it on in case anyone else is finding the cost of owning pets increasing at an alarmingly rate.

 

[Widgeon]

Isn't cat litter supposed to be really bad for the environment? Much as I wince at the thought of giving your cat what is essentially food to poop on, you do seem to be onto something good here!

 

[ihatework]

Interesting!
I feed that to my chickens anyway.
Does it clump?

 

[HappyHollyDays]

Isn't cat litter supposed to be really bad for the environment? Much as I wince at the thought of giving your cat what is essentially food to poop on, you do seem to be onto something good here!

It’s completely biodegradable which was why I use the corn based one. Years ago I used paper pellets which is also biodegradable but they were to dusty for the fluffy blind one who is half Persian and has a very sensitive nose.

 

[HappyHollyDays]

Interesting!
I feed that to my chickens anyway.
Does it clump?

It does, it clumps exactly the same as the two more expensive versions and they scrape it over their poo the same.

 

[MagicMelon]

I use Brites wood pellets which are actually meant for burning in stoves I believe. Its 100% wood and not dusty at all. I get it from my OH's work so with discount its like £3.50 for a 5kg bag. Usually about £4.50/£5 I believe full price. Its natural too so I cant see how it would be bad for the environment.

 

[Widgeon]

Its natural too so I cant see how it would be bad for the environment.

it was a genuine question, I thought I'd read somewhere that the "standard" clay based litter wasn't brilliantly well produced and didn't degrade well, but it sounds like cat litter technology has come on quite a lot since then - no more clay!

 

[HappyHollyDays]

You can still get the clay and silica type litter. The clay is cheap but horrible to use and weighs a ton.

That’s a good price for wood pellets MM, another one to add to the saving money on cat litter thread ?

 

[HorseyTee]

I use horse shavings lol, much cheaper than any cat litters. I've got hemp based shavings. Soaks up really well and lasts me ages.

 

[KittenInTheTree]

You could just as easily use soil from the garden, bagged compost, or even sand as litter, instead of wasting literal food that could have been needed by someone else to feed their birds.

 

[HappyHollyDays]

You could just as easily use soil from the garden, bagged compost, or even sand as litter, instead of wasting literal food that could have been needed by someone else to feed their birds.

Don’t be so ridiculous. Its not in short supply, I buy it for my chickens so have it anyway. Sand stinks when cats wee in it, I’m not about to go and dig up my garden to have mud traipsed through the house nor am I going to keep a bag of compost in the bathroom.

 

[Arzada]

You could just as easily use soil from the garden,

My cat was anti litter trays but in times of in dire need, like when we had a snow covered garden, she would use one with soil. I had 2 large bags of wood pellets which remained unused until her final fortnight.

 

[Lady Jane]

OK maybe a stupid question. I have used Nettex for maybe 30 years. I do like a clumping cat litter but I didn't realise cat litter had changed so much. What do you all recommend for a clumping litter for adult cats

 

[HappyHollyDays]

I’ve never heard of Nettex cat litter before. In all my years of cat owning I’ve only ever used wood pellets which don’t clump and I found were a bit smelly with boy cats. Paper pellets which also didn’t clump but didn’t smell. The Worlds Best/Catsan which clumps really well. My three are 13, 16 & 17 and they are fine with the corn based and I wouldn’t change as it suits them and me.

There are loads of really good bio degradable litters available now which clump but they are more expensive than the cheap and cheerful clay types.

 

[Lady Jane]

I’ve never heard of Nettex cat litter before. In all my years of cat owning I’ve only ever used wood pellets which don’t clump and I found were a bit smelly with boy cats. Paper pellets which also didn’t clump but didn’t smell. The Worlds Best/Catsan which clumps really well. My three are 13, 16 & 17 and they are fine with the corn based and I wouldn’t change as it suits them and me.

There are loads of really good bio degradable litters available now which clump but they are more expensive than the cheap and cheerful clay types.

Whoops - its Pettex

 

[Esmae]

I used to use shavings which worked really well and was easy to dispose of.

 

[Blanche]

I’ve been using Natusan cat litter and it is very good. It is also expensive. It is wood based and clumps really well. I started using it as I have one with pillow foot and it is very soft on the feet. It can track so does need a mat in front of the litter tray. It vacuums up easily though. I am going to try the crumbs though as I was looking for a new one as Natusan appears to have been bought by Mars.