Conference misery::feline_v1

   A reccomendation on Cat litter...

   (God knows if anybody should know about cat litter it's Gary and I.  
5 indoor cats, 1 indoor/outdoor cat and 4 litter boxes.)  

   Try Hartz Mint Scented litter.  It's not really all that minty smelling
but it is pleasant and it really takes care of the smell.  If we can't find it
and use any other brand in the interim we can imediately tell the difference.
(And we don't use cheap stuff either.  We're talking about Fresh Step, 
Tidy Cat 3, and all those other ones that are "activated when the step onto
the litter".  We've also tried plain clay, Litter Green and everything thing 
in between.  We've tried just about everything on the market. (We'd like to 
find another brand that would do us as well since Our regular grocery store 
does not carry the HMS, but so far no luck.))

   Also, how long have they been eating SD?  Sometimes a change in diet will
casue real nasties in the litter box for a few days but in a few days 
everything will settle down.

tlh

I have been using Science Diet with periodic excursions into IAM's and Tami
Ami for 5 years. I have not noticed that any one food has caused any long
term change in the air. I would suspect that it is caused by the switch to
the new diet.

Jack Wickwire

On litters:  Fresh Step, TC III, and Hartz are all good.  The cheap things
should be used as an emergency resort just above shredded newspapers.

Cats are similar people in that they all have different biochemistries.  So
a food that might not cause a problem with one cat may with another.  I've
not used Science Diet, but I've had no problem with C/D dry, and they all
*love* it.

Steve Kallis, Jr.

We have used the GENERIC stuff since the kitties were brought home.  No
problems with it at all.  $2.09 for 25lbs.  I used that fancy stuff that
looks like rabbit pellets one time - they ate it.

--Louise

They have only been on SD for a week or two.  The litter was Tidy Cat 3.
We had used Hartz plain at first, (orange bag, yellow cat)  but it was
VERY dusty.  Is the mint kind less dusty?

It also seems to help to put a good supply of litter in the box.  Minimum
3 inches.  Then the cats have enough to dig a deep hole and bury everything
afterwards, giving the clay a chance to absorb the liquid components before
they evaporate.

The cats are now at the Meow Motel while we go on vacation.  (With yet
another change in diet/litter.)  Experiments will resume upon our
return.

(Thanks for ref to Meow Motel, Steve.  They remembered you this time.)

I use the Hartz Double Deoderizing litter along with baking soda.  I fill the
litter box up about 2.5 inches and pour & mix in 1/2 to 1 box of baking soda and
scoop out their stools and flush them down the toilet on a daily basis. This
combination is usually effective in significantly reducing oders for about four
days and has so far worked out VERY well with my three cats.  I also place the
litter box in the bathtub were anything that's scattered can be washed down the
drain with scalding hot water and cleanser. 

I've however noticed in reading this file that Lysol is dangerous and would
like to know if this applies to all Lysol products, specifically the Bathroom
Basin, Tub & Tile cleaner or just their general disinfectant?  

/Nick + (The Three Stoogies)

Hi, Nick!  I don't think you'd want to eat *any* of the Lysol products, 
or feed them to your cats.  Most things would be pretty safe, provided 
you don't let the cats track through them, and do a good job of rinsing 
the surface that was cleaned with plenty of water before the cats get 
onto it.  The disinfectant is pretty bad because it is designed to leave 
behind a residue.

Tom

That's good - because I use their Basin, Tub & Tile (R) cleaner to clean and
disinfect my bathroom - especially the Tub.  It outperforms ammonia leaving 
everything clean and sparkling along with a pleasant oder (...this is beginning
to sound like a commercial :-) ).  Thanks...

/Nick

All the Lysol products (except for the old fashion "8" shaped bottles) say
something to the effect that "this doesn't contain the same active ingredients
as Lysol brand Disinfectant".  Is that the active ingredient that is harmful to
cats? 

Since Lysol now makes everything from floor cleaner to laundry disinfectant, it
would be nice to know the actual ingredient.   You could then make sure other
products didn't contain it. 

Does anyone know what it is? 

Steve

    
    Just to add...
    
    My wife and I stumbled across some stuff called "Yesterdays News".
    It was all that Stop&Shop had, so we tried it. When at home I noticed
    that it was made up of little pieces of rolled up news paper ! I
    was sceptical at first, but WOW, that stuff keeps a wonderful check
    on the oders, and its heavy enough so Calvin (16 lb neutered male,
    who loves to dig until the cows come home) can't push the stuff
    out of the box and all over the floor. But alas, I can't seem to find 
    it any more. Has anyone heard of this stuff ???
    
    
    					CJM

I was talked into buying IAMS for Cats by a person in a pet supply store.  
He told me that it would help with the litter box smell.  Well, being as 
unbelieving as I am, but in the back of my mind hoping it would work, I 
bought a small bag.  And Viola!!  It works!!  I have to keep the litter box 
in the kitchen...  due to a small apartment and i can't tell it there.  
This stuff is wonderful!

I do believe it is this food that keeps the litter order away.  When I went 
on vacation, the person who housesat my cats ran out of food, and bought 
some Cat Chow or such.  She asked when I returned, what I put in the litter 
box that kept the smell out and promptly told me that I didn't leave her 
any.  After a short discussion, we discovered that she had changed what 
they were eating and the smell returned.  I went at got a new supply of 
IAMS and the order is gone!!

I'll stick with it, it works for my cats!

Angeline

RE: .11

Thanks for the advice.  I have a 9 week old kitten (Max) that we 
have had for about 3 weeks.  Max has had constant soft stool 
(negative worm test twice, I didn't believe the first test) and 
incredible litter box odor.  I had heard that Iams might harden  
his stool and when you said it reduces litter box odor I went 
right out and bought a small box.

Two days later all is well.  We switched Max from Sceince Diet 
for Kittens to the Iams and the smell is greatly reduced and his 
stool is much better.  As a result, Max doesn't make a mess 
of himself (and anywhere he scampers), the box is easier to 
clean, and of course the place smells better.

Thanks,
Bill

    When Eirene was a kitten, she had the same problem that .12 was
    talking about, however, switching foods brands of food didn't seem
    to help. On a whim, my vet suggested that I try feeding her scrambled
    hamberg and rice along with her food. That did the trick!
    
    Deb