Kitty Litter Warning...

[rosie]

This is something I recently learned about and have stopped using the clumping cat litter.
I now use the older cheaper kind. I cut shreds of newspaper and cover the bottom of the box, then cover it with litter. This actually makes the litter somewhat scoopable and is workking out just find and saving me money and better for the cats health. All Good.
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The Dangers of Clumping Cat Litter More Everyday Pet Care Solutions
Adapted from Why is Cancer Killing Our Pets? by Deborah Straw (Inner Traditions, 2000).

Clumping cat litters hold great appeal for cat-lovers because they are so convenient. But what many pet-owners don’t realize is that two ingredients in most clumping cat litters have been implicated in diseases and even the deaths of many animals and humans.




Sodium bentonite is often added as a clumping agent to traditional cat litters to create the “scoopable” clay litters on the market. Sodium bentonite acts like an expandable cement, which is why these litters should not be flushed: they swell to fifteen to eighteen times their dry size and can be used as grouting, sealing, and plugging materials.

Cats often lick themselves after using the litter box, ingesting pieces of the litter. If litter gets inside them, it expands just as it does in the plumbing.

Also, the dust from such litters can coat our cats’ lungs, leading to respiratory problems. The Hennepin Center for Poison Control in Minnesota has reported instances of poisoning in humans from chronic ingestion of sodium bentonite, so just imagine what effect it can have on our kitties!

Quartz silica (sand), the other ingredient in most clumping litters, is a known carcinogen for both humans and household pets when inhaled.

Switch your cat litter to one made from a plant-based material, better for your pet and for the environment. There are many commercially-available products using compacted pine shavings, cedar, newspaper, or corn cobs that make healthier alternatives.

[TexasLady]

Good info, Rosie.    I have already sent it to my son who just loves his beautiful tiger stripe cat.    I'd hate to see it get sick!

Thank you!

[rosie]

  Oh Good Texas, I think we all appreciate convenience in something as unpleasant as kitty box cleaning,but nobody wants to risk their cat's health to do so. I think we will be hearing more about this subject.

[SensoVision]

thanks for warning, Rosie! I always suspect that there should be some downsides of using such litter. Personally my cat always had empty box with second bottom, it works very well IMHO.

PS what about food, have you feed your cat or dog with special food for them or rather give food you eat yourself?

[rosie]

That's interesting Denis. You mean an empty cardboard box with a nother one on bottom? I cannot picture what you mean?

I always keeps food out for my cats which consist of can fish or chicken cat food and a bowl of Dry kibble. I don't use a particular kind. They also eat table scraps. They love my cooking!  Chicken is a favorite, They love shrimp and raw hamburger. I put a bowl of milk out once a day also.

My 3 legged cat "ranger" has a thyroid condition so it's very important that he always has food available. I took him for a checkup a couple weeks ago and the vet said he had gingivitis and to give him chicken necks to chew which would help his gums...

Oh and the favorite treat would definitely  be catnip!

[TexasLady]

I enjoyed your cat picture, Rosie, and just had to add this one - not my cat but looks kinda like my son's cat.


My son feeds his cat one type of dry cat food, highly nutritious and recommended by vets.    Lassie doesn't even miss other food; when Jim buys him canned food he doesn't particularly like it.    But he does love catnip!

P.>S.   Yes, it's a fixed boy cat, but Jim just wanted to call him Lassie.   

[rosie]

Ha! Cute Kitty Picture! Made me laugh!  And about the Lassie for a boy... ;)All my animals I have ever had have a middle name and that's Marie! No matter boy or girl and they loveit! Well I think they do! 


I know there is a great debate really, whether to feed animals the science diet  type diet and nothing else, but I know that animals like variety, are sensitive to good smelling tasting food as we are and it is an enjoyment in their life.My little dog will be 16 in August. He eats dry kibble with some chopped meat or entree and always a vegetable in it.

I just feel that meals are such a big point in an animals life they should have some excitement and of course be nutritious.

[SensoVision]

That's interesting Denis. You mean an empty cardboard box with a nother one on bottom? I cannot picture what you mean?

that's right it's totally empty and has two bottoms one solid and top one with dots.

My son feeds his cat one type of dry cat food, highly nutritious and recommended by vets.    Lassie doesn't even miss other food; when Jim buys him canned food he doesn't particularly like it.    But he does love catnip!

just like mine cat, she prefer dry food to one from our table. She not eat meat at all, even when it's in dry food she reluctant to eat it. She like fish with vegetables in dry food. And she also eat usualy fish but only baked one. Don't drink milk at all, but sometimes could eat other milk based goods. very wired cat

[Queen Bee]

I had no idea... Thanks for the info, Rosie.
I used to use clumping cat litter for my cat's box, but since we had a dog (and thus, a dog door), I always caught my cat venturing outside to get fresh air and... you know the rest. So I decided to get rid of the litter box altogether.

This is still good to know, incase I ever move to a location where my cat will not be able to roam around freely.