subject:"Check out Clumping Clay Kitty Litters and Your Cat's Health"





Thanks Hideyo,
I did a search on "sweet scoop". It's actually spelled "Swheat Scoop", a little clever word play, as if
English isn't confusing enough! I was surprised to find out just how
great a hazard the regular clumping litter can be, (thanks again
Michelle), and I don't want to support the companies that make it, or
endanger my cats. It is discouraging to find yet another expense and
inconvenience trying to do what's best for my fur family. I did a
little snooping and regular, non scented clay litter like Johnny cat,
seems to be safe. Has anyone heard anything that would make you
suspect otherwise?
Nina

Hideyo Yamamoto wrote:

  Nina, I was using it for years until my distributor continued to carry
(since I buy stuff from a wholesale distributors) you can get petsmart,
petco.. or now just about most of pet supplies..

I use sweet scoop, which is much cheaper than worlds best ---I
personally prefer worlds best,, but with the volume I have and since I
can no longer get them from a distributor, I switched,, and it does what
it needs to do, and still safe..

Re: Check out Clumping Clay Kitty Litters and Your Cat's Health

2006-07-05 Thread moonvine

- Original Message -
From: Nina [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Date: Wednesday, July 5, 2006 11:43 am
Subject: Re: Check out Clumping Clay Kitty Litters and Your Cat's 
Health
To: felvtalk@felineleukemia.org

 Thanks Hideyo,
 I did a search on sweet scoop.  It's actually spelled Swheat 
 Scoop*, 
 *a little clever word play, as if English isn't confusing enough!  
 I was 
 surprised to find out just how great a hazard the regular clumping 
 litter can be, (thanks again Michelle), and I don't want to 
 support the 
 companies that make it, or endanger my cats.  It is discouraging 
 to find 
 yet another expense and inconvenience trying to do what's best for 
 my 
 fur family.  I did a little snooping and regular, non scented clay 
 litter like Johnny cat, seems to be safe.  Has anyone heard 
 anything 
 that would make you suspect otherwise?
 Nina
 *
I use regular, non scented, non scooping litter for my kittens as tiny 
kittens will eat scooping litter - I don't know why, it doesn't look 
like it would taste very good.  It is so cheap I just dump the whole 
kitten litterboxes out and refill them daily.  I think 20 lbs is about 
$2.50 on sale around here.

Re: Check out Clumping Clay Kitty Litters and Your Cat's Health





I just called Sally to ask her about which litter she uses, (many of
you guys probably remember "Sally from San Jose" that used to be on the
list). She had a very sad time with kitten mortality not too long ago
and I just wanted to make sure she wasn't using the hazardous litters.
I should have known better. Anyway, what she uses is corn chicken
feed. It's called "laying chicken crumbles" and she says it works
almost as well, (for clumping properties) as the World's best litter
and is very inexpensive. It's doubtful that this is organically grown  ;-) , but it is
biodegradable and ingestible. I'm going to call around and see if I
can find it at feed stores. Sally says she prefers it to the clay
because it's not as heavy and there are no chemicals added. I'll let
you know how well it works for my guys,
Nina

[EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:

  
- Original Message -
From: Nina [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Date: Wednesday, July 5, 2006 11:43 am
Subject: Re: Check out Clumping Clay Kitty Litters and Your Cat's 
Health
To: felvtalk@felineleukemia.org

  
  
Thanks Hideyo,
I did a search on "sweet scoop".  It's actually spelled "Swheat 
Scoop*", 
*a little clever word play, as if English isn't confusing enough!  
I was 
surprised to find out just how great a hazard the regular clumping 
litter can be, (thanks again Michelle), and I don't want to 
support the 
companies that make it, or endanger my cats.  It is discouraging 
to find 
yet another expense and inconvenience trying to do what's best for 
my 
fur family.  I did a little snooping and regular, non scented clay 
litter like Johnny cat, seems to be safe.  Has anyone heard 
anything 
that would make you suspect otherwise?
Nina
*

  
  I use regular, non scented, non scooping litter for my kittens as tiny 
kittens will eat scooping litter - I don't know why, it doesn't look 
like it would taste very good.  It is so cheap I just dump the whole 
kitten litterboxes out and refill them daily.  I think 20 lbs is about 
$2.50 on sale around here.

Re: Check out Clumping Clay Kitty Litters and Your Cat's Health

2006-07-05 Thread Kat

Nina,
There are 2 kinds of crumbles - one of them is laced with antibiotics, so
double check when you call around.
Kat (Mew Jersey)

On Wed, 5 Jul 2006, Nina wrote:

 Date: Wed, 05 Jul 2006 10:53:23 -0700
 From: Nina [EMAIL PROTECTED]
 Reply-To: felvtalk@felineleukemia.org
 To: felvtalk@felineleukemia.org
 Subject: Re: Check out Clumping Clay Kitty Litters and Your Cat's Health

 I just called Sally to ask her about which litter she uses, (many of you
 guys probably remember Sally from San Jose that used to be on the
 list).  She had a very sad time with kitten mortality not too long ago
 and I just wanted to make sure she wasn't using the hazardous litters.
 I should have known better.  Anyway, what she uses is corn chicken
 feed.  It's called laying chicken crumbles and she says it works
 almost as well, (for clumping properties) as the World's best litter and
 is very inexpensive.  It's doubtful that this is organically grown ;-) ,
 but it is biodegradable and ingestible.  I'm going to call around and
 see if I can find it at feed stores.  Sally says she prefers it to the
 clay because it's not as heavy and there are no chemicals added.  I'll
 let you know how well it works for my guys,
 Nina

 [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:

 - Original Message -
 From: Nina [EMAIL PROTECTED]
 Date: Wednesday, July 5, 2006 11:43 am
 Subject: Re: Check out Clumping Clay Kitty Litters and Your Cat's
 Health
 To: felvtalk@felineleukemia.org

 Thanks Hideyo,
 I did a search on sweet scoop.  It's actually spelled Swheat
 Scoop*,
 *a little clever word play, as if English isn't confusing enough!
 I was
 surprised to find out just how great a hazard the regular clumping
 litter can be, (thanks again Michelle), and I don't want to
 support the
 companies that make it, or endanger my cats.  It is discouraging
 to find
 yet another expense and inconvenience trying to do what's best for
 my
 fur family.  I did a little snooping and regular, non scented clay
 litter like Johnny cat, seems to be safe.  Has anyone heard
 anything
 that would make you suspect otherwise?
 Nina
 *

 I use regular, non scented, non scooping litter for my kittens as tiny
 kittens will eat scooping litter - I don't know why, it doesn't look
 like it would taste very good.  It is so cheap I just dump the whole
 kitten litterboxes out and refill them daily.  I think 20 lbs is about
 $2.50 on sale around here.

Re: Check out Clumping Clay Kitty Litters and Your Cat's Health

Thanks Kat!  The chicken feed certainly wouldn't work for Michelle, or 
anyone that might have a rodent problem.  I can just see the little guys 
lined up at the buffet.  Was it someone on the list that wrote about 
weevils being a problem with wheat litter?  You'd think I had tons of 
time on my hands!  I can't even remember where I read what.

Nina

Kat wrote:


Nina,
There are 2 kinds of crumbles - one of them is laced with antibiotics, so
double check when you call around.
Kat (Mew Jersey)

RE: Check out Clumping Clay Kitty Litters and Your Cat's Health

2006-07-05 Thread Hideyo Yamamoto









Does corn chicken feed clump?











From: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
[mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On
Behalf Of Nina
Sent: Wednesday, July 05, 2006
11:53 AM
To: felvtalk@felineleukemia.org
Subject: Re: Check out Clumping
Clay Kitty Litters and Your Cat's Health





I just called Sally to ask her about which litter she
uses, (many of you guys probably remember Sally from San Jose that used to be on the
list). She had a very sad time with kitten mortality not too long ago and
I just wanted to make sure she wasn't using the hazardous litters. I
should have known better. Anyway, what she uses is corn chicken
feed. It's called laying chicken crumbles and she says it
works almost as well, (for clumping properties) as the World's best litter and
is very inexpensive. It's doubtful that this is organically grown ;-) , but it is biodegradable and ingestible.
I'm going to call around and see if I can find it at feed stores. Sally
says she prefers it to the clay because it's not as heavy and there are no
chemicals added. I'll let you know how well it works for my guys,
Nina

[EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:



- Original Message -From: Nina [EMAIL PROTECTED]Date: Wednesday, July 5, 2006 11:43 amSubject: Re: Check out Clumping Clay Kitty Litters and Your Cat's HealthTo: felvtalk@felineleukemia.org 

Thanks Hideyo,I did a search on sweet scoop. It's actually spelled Swheat Scoop*, *a little clever word play, as if English isn't confusing enough! I was surprised to find out just how great a hazard the regular clumping litter can be, (thanks again Michelle), and I don't want to support the companies that make it, or endanger my cats. It is discouraging to find yet another expense and inconvenience trying to do what's best for my fur family. I did a little snooping and regular, non scented clay litter like Johnny cat, seems to be safe. Has anyone heard anything that would make you suspect otherwise?Nina* 

I use regular, non scented, non scooping litter for my kittens as tiny kittens will eat scooping litter - I don't know why, it doesn't look like it would taste very good. It is so cheap I just dump the whole kitten litterboxes out and refill them daily. I think 20 lbs is about $2.50 on sale around here.

Re: Check out Clumping Clay Kitty Litters and Your Cat's Health





Sally says it does. Not as well as clumping litter, but enough to make
scooping urine possible. She says it stays cleaner than regular clay
litter too. I'm going to try it. You might want to consider trying it
since it costs so much less. Did you read Kat's warning to be sure the
chicken feed crumbles don't contain abx?
Nina

Hideyo Yamamoto wrote:

  
  

  

  
  
  
  Does corn
chicken feed clump?

Re: Check out Clumping Clay Kitty Litters and Your Cat's Health

2006-07-04 Thread TatorBunz



Thanks! 
I have forwarded this to many I know that do use it. There is a lot of truth in it and it does make sense.

 Terrie Mohr-ForkerTAZZY'S ANIMAL TRANSPORTSSIAMESE  COLLIE RESCUEOwner/DriverCheck sites for available Siameses for adoption!http://www.tazzys-siameses-collies.petfinder.org/Click Here to Join WASHINGTON SIAMESE RESCUE Yahoo Group!http://groups.yahoo.com/group/wasiameserescuehttp://groups.yahoo.com/group/SNOHOMISH_COUNTY_PETS_in_WAhttp://hometown.aol.com/tatorbunz/index.htmlhttp://hometown.aol.com/tatorbunz/myhomepage/petmemorial.htmlPetfinder.comAdopt a Homeless Pet!http://www.petfinder.com/http://www.felineleukemia.org/http://www.petloss.com/TAZZY'S ANIMAL TRANSPORTShttps://www.paypal.com/http://www.frappr.com/wasiameserescue

Re: Fwd: Check out Clumping Clay Kitty Litters and Your Cat's Health





I use clumping litter, so I appreciate your posting this to the list.
The brand of clumping litter I get at Costco is LitterPurrfect. It
doesn't contain sodium bentonite, but it does have silica gel. Do you
know if this is dangerous as well? The box still warns against
flushing the litter, so it makes me wonder. It says it's 99% dust
free, so that should help with the inhalant risks. I did a quick
search and this is what I found on the Arm  Hammer website about
their litter, (couldn't find a website for LitterPurrfect). I'm always
skeptical of any manufacturer's claims of safety etc. What do you
think?

 The silica gel beads used in "crystal" cat
litters have an amorphous structure and pose no health hazard to the
consumer (both the cat and its owner). Silica gel used for cat litters
is chemically similar to silica gels used as desiccants (humidity
absorbents found in bags, purses, etc.) but are structurally different,
designed to remain intact in the presence of liquids (desiccant silica
gels fracture in the presence of liquids). Silica gel crystals used for
cat litter absorb cat urine into its internal pore structure, then
allows the water to slowly evaporate. 

When mixed at appropriate levels with scoopable or clumping clay,
silica gel crystals add its absorbing properties to that of the clay,
without interfering with the clumping properties of the clay and
without having the negative properties associated with 100% silica gel
crystals, such as potential cat rejection. The presence of silica gel
crystals in our clumping litter also signals that the product is
different and better than conventional clumping litter. 

I hate to give up the convenience of clumping litter, but of course if
I'm putting my cats at risk there's not debate. The website link
doesn't seem to be that current. While I was composing this post, I
did some more searching and I came up with an "all natural",
ingestible, corn based clumping litter called "World's best cat litter"
that talks about the dangers of respiratory aliments associated with
silica gels The problem is it doesn't seem to be available in the US.
Does anyone know of a natural clumping alternative that's available in
the US? Here's what I found on the wbct website:

 SILICA CAT LITTER
 
Silica gel litter is made from silica dioxide sand (the same material
found in quartz), oxygen and water. The gel contains millions of tiny
pores that can absorb up to 40 times their weight in moisture. It comes
in spheres (also called pearls), half spheres and crystal shapes.
Some manufacturers add dyes and scents, so you want to watch out for,
and avoid, those. The most worrying part of silica is that it is a
well known carcinogen (a substance that promotes cancer).


[EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:

  
  
  
  FYI, my mom sent me this.. I do not use this kind of litter, but
maybe some of you do... Hideyo-- what kind of litter do you use? This
website talks about kittens having problems from the litter.
  
  Michelle

Re: Check out Clumping Clay Kitty Litters and Your Cat's Health

I think that one of the websites my mom sent me mentioned silica being bad
also. I can see if I can find it. You can probably find info on it by
doing a search on cat litter and silica.

Michelle

In a message dated 7/4/2006 4:57:26 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time,
[EMAIL PROTECTED] writes:
I use
clumping litter, so I appreciate your posting this to the list. The
brand of clumping litter I get at Costco is LitterPurrfect. It doesn't
contain sodium bentonite, but it does have silica gel. Do you know if
this is dangerous as well? The box still warns against flushing the
litter, so it makes me wonder. It says it's 99% dust free, so that
should help with the inhalant risks. I did a quick search and this is
what I found on the Arm Hammer website about their litter, (couldn't
find a website for LitterPurrfect). I'm always skeptical of any
manufacturer's claims of safety etc. What do you think? The silica gel beads used in "crystal" cat litters have an
amorphous structure and pose no health hazard to the consumer (both the cat
and its owner). Silica gel used for cat litters is chemically similar to
silica gels used as desiccants (humidity absorbents found in bags, purses,
etc.) but are structurally different, designed to remain intact in the
presence of liquids (desiccant silica gels fracture in the presence of
liquids). Silica gel crystals used for cat litter absorb cat urine into its
internal pore structure, then allows the water to slowly evaporate.

Re: Check out Clumping Clay Kitty Litters and Your Cat's Health




This is what i found on one of the web pages my mom sent me:


Most, if not all, clay litters contain silica, which is potentially harmful. 
>From a Web 
page at The Andersons' Web site (manufacturers of FIELDFresh): 
"Crystalline Silica, once airborne, shows the ability of causing Silicosis. This 
can cause incurable lesions on the lungs and throat, rendering that tissue 
useless for transferring oxygen. Crystalline Silica is a naturally occurring 
element, also known as Quartz, and is found in some of the clay litters. ... 
According to government standards, silica is a known carcinogen and a Prop 65 
material in California." 

Yours is mostly dust-free, so maybe it is ok. I would be paranoid 
about it, though. The dessicant stuff that Arm and Hammer compares it to is 
definitely harmful if eaten (that's what all those little bags in vitamin 
bottles are filled with, and they always say "caution: do not eat" on them), and 
they do tend to get litter on their paws and lick their paws.

The websites my mom sent recommend using corn or wheat litter, or using 
recycled newspaper litter (they say that the chemical that used to make ink 
harmful is now illegal for newspapers to use, but I still don't like the idea of 
any ink being in the litter box). I use Worlds' Best Cat Litter, which is 
made of corn, and is great. It clumps just enough to be able to scoop it, but 
the clumps are soft, not hard, and it is just corn, which is digestible if 
swallowed, and safe. One of the websites my mom sent me said it is the 
safest, healthiest, and most environmental of the litters. Another said it is 
not the best because the corn is not organic and hence has some pesticides on 
it, and recommended using an organic wheat litter or recycled newspaper litter 
instead. There are apparently other plant-based litters also, like ones 
made out of kanaf.

Hope this helps,
Michelle

Re: Check out Clumping Clay Kitty Litters and Your Cat's Health

Thanks.  So you can get World's Best Cat Litter in the US?  When I found 
their website they didn't have a retailer listed in the US.  Where do 
you buy it?  I'm guessing it's pricey too.  I'm pleased about using 
something that is biodegradable and not a health risk to me or my 
babies, but I'm not to worried about my cats pooping in non-organic 
litter. 
N


[EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:

I use Worlds' Best Cat Litter, which is made of corn, and is great. It 
clumps just enough to be able to scoop it, but the clumps are soft, 
not hard, and it is just corn, which is digestible if swallowed, and 
safe.  One of the websites my mom sent me said it is the safest, 
healthiest, and most environmental of the litters. Another said it is 
not the best because the corn is not organic and hence has some 
pesticides on it, and recommended using an organic wheat litter or 
recycled newspaper litter instead.  There are apparently other 
plant-based litters also, like ones made out of kanaf.
 
Hope this helps,

Michelle

Re: Check out Clumping Clay Kitty Litters and Your Cat's Health

2006-07-04 Thread Tad Burnett





I have heard that a problem with corn litter is that dogs can't eat
just one !!!
And some have been hospitalized from eating too much
Tad

[EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:

  
  
  
  
  Yes, I have to say I found the organic thing kind of amusing. I
eat organic food myself, and try to buy it for the animals, but never
really thought about organic litter! :) 
  
  I have found it in every pet food store I have shopped at,
except maybe the big ones like Petsmart. Basically any place that
sellshealthycat foodslike Wellness and Innova should carry it. 
  
  It is pricey. I think it's $17 for a 20 pound bag. But it lasts
a really long time. You can scoop it, and it keeps odor down better
than any cat litter I have ever found. It has no odor itself, other
than a faint corn smell.
  
  Michelle
  
  In a message dated 7/4/2006 6:15:26 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time,
[EMAIL PROTECTED] writes:
  Thanks. So you can get World's Best Cat Litter in the US?
When I found 
their website they didn't have a retailer listed in the US. Where do 
you buy it? I'm guessing it's pricey too. I'm pleased about using 
something that is biodegradable and not a health risk to me or my 
babies, but I'm not to worried about my cats pooping in non-organic 
litter. 
N

Re: Check out Clumping Clay Kitty Litters and Your Cat's Health





I did not use this in the house when my dogs were alive, so it's possible. 
I have been worried that it is attracting mice (we have a lot of mice in the 
house, judging from Lucy's hunting exploits), which is why I had switched to 
pine. I switched back because Lucy got sick around the same time I 
switched. If the mice like it, which I think they do (it's probably like a 
buffet to them), dogs might also.
Michelle

In a message dated 7/4/2006 7:11:12 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time, 
[EMAIL PROTECTED] writes:
I have 
  heard that a problem with corn litter is that dogs can't eat just one 
  !!!And some have been hospitalized from eating too 
muchTad

Re: Check out Clumping Clay Kitty Litters and Your Cat's Health





On second thought, though... the corn litter I use is tiny little hard 
pieces of corn. Are there really a lot of dogs who would eat that? Or is there 
another kind of corn litter that is in another form?

I guess it's hard to predict what dogs will eat, though!

Michelle

In a message dated 7/4/2006 7:11:12 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time, 
[EMAIL PROTECTED] writes:
I have 
  heard that a problem with corn litter is that dogs can't eat just one 
  !!!And some have been hospitalized from eating too 
muchTad

Re: Check out Clumping Clay Kitty Litters and Your Cat's Health





Lucy just kills them, but does not eat them. Patches just watches 
them. Not sure what to do about them. I tried changing the litter, but the pine 
I switched to may have made Lucy sick. Wheat would probably attract mice too. 
Clay isn't good for the cats. And I am skittish of the ink in the recycled 
newspaper. What to do? maybe I will try to order the kanaf litter online. Do 
mice eat kanaf? i don't think it is a grain, I think it is something they make 
paper out of, like a bamboo-type plant...
Michelle

In a message dated 7/4/2006 7:25:28 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time, 
[EMAIL PROTECTED] writes:
And the 
  cats might get sick from eating too many mice 
Tad

Re: Check out Clumping Clay Kitty Litters and Your Cat's Health

Speaking for my dogs, they might be more apt to forage freely if the 
chewy goodness was contained in a more palatable crunchy coating!  Most 
of my litter boxes are in dog free zones.  I have a couple that are in 
the aforementioned trouble spots were litterbox aversion has occurred 
in general population areas.  I'm getting tired just thinking about 
this, ah for the days when I didn't know better about anything.

N

[EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:

On second thought, though... the corn litter I use is tiny little hard 
pieces of corn. Are there really a lot of dogs who would eat that? Or 
is there another kind of corn litter that is in another form?
 
I guess it's hard to predict what dogs will eat, though!
 
Michelle
 
In a message dated 7/4/2006 7:11:12 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time, 
[EMAIL PROTECTED] writes:


I have heard that a problem with corn litter is that dogs can't
eat just one !!!
And some have been hospitalized from eating too much
Tad

Re: Check out Clumping Clay Kitty Litters and Your Cat's Health