Conference misery::feline_v1

    
    Karen, thanks for the information.  I am currently in search of new cat
    litter.  I recently had to stop using Everclean because of major
    prroblems with Bailey's eyes (yes folks, you were right ;') ).  I went
    back to the Tidy Cat 3 but it just does not cut it with more than one
    cat. The absorption just isn't there, it's like scooping mud. I'll look 
    for the Control. FWIW, it is amazing how many more options you East Coast 
    Feliners have as far as litter goes.  We don't have nearly as many products
    to choose from as you folks do.
    
    

    I am going to go and look for it tonight - sounds too good to be true!

    re: .1
    
    But no -- this is the west coast....
    

    The neighbor I cat-sit for uses Control litter for her cats and I was very
    impressed with this stuff!  It doesn't smell perfume-y, and it absorbs
    very well.  I'm with you, Marlene, on the TC II... it's mud city!!
    
    For you Stop & Shop-ers, their brand of dust-free litter is wonderful
    and inexpensive.  A 10 lb bag is $1.29.  The cats love it and have
    never broken litterbox with it.
    

    
    re: .3  I know that you're out here with us Karen!  After I entered the
    note I realized with my wording you probably thought that I had my coasts
    confused! :')
    
    
    
    

    
       I just tried it on my gang (had had a $1.00 off coupon) and was
    impressed.  Wish it came in industrial size bags.
    
       Denise and the gang of 11

    This sounds great, I'm going to get a bag tomorrow also!  I just tried
    a new brand, Scoop Away (I think this is it), that claims you just
    scoop, flusg and add more, but I don't like it.  If I miss a day in
    between scooping, it's hard and compact on the bottom of the pan. 
    Also, since it's so much finer in size than other litters, the mess is
    unbelievable...all over the place. Odor control is very effective
    though.  However, the "one jug will last up to a month" lasted me only
    2 weeks with my two kitties, at $3.99 That's no bargain!!
    
    Thanks for the great info!
    
    Lola  

       I use Scoop Away and they do tend to make a mess with it, but I 
    bought an extra large litter pan.  It's 6 or 7 inches deep.  They don't
    seem to be able to throw out as much of the litter.  I like the Scoop
    Away better then regular litter.
    

    To stop our kittens thowing out the litter we have one with a lid!!
    It's just like a little house, and they don't mind using it, but they
    do try and scrape the plastic sides, maybe they see a reflection, cos
    their claws are in, so it's not scratching. 

    Am I in twilight zone or something?  I thought Control litter had been
    around for at least 1 year?  It's the one with a white cat on the
    cover, right?
    
    I agree that it worked pretty well, but I noticed a strong ammonia
    smell after my cat uses it.  So nowadays we alternate between Fresh Step 
    and Control depending on which one is cheaper...  Luckily our cats have
    no problem with the switching of the kitty litter.
    
    -Stella

    Yes, it's a white bag with a white cat on it.  I only noticed it in
    Safeway a couple of weeks ago;  dunno how long it's been available out
    here.
    

    Yes, Control has been around on the East coast for quite a while.
    
    I picked up a trick from Lynne Mandile and I think the garbage men
    are probably pretty happy about it.  I go though between 25-50 lbs
    of litter a week.  All this ends up in the trash and I really feel
    bad for the trash folks who have to pick this up.  They must HATE us.
    I know they empty the barrels one bag at a time instead of picking
    the barrels up (hernia time) and just dumping them in the truck.
    
    The trick?  Line the bottom of the box with about 1-1.5 inches of
    pine shavings.  I get these from Lynne, mostly, as they are the
    shavings she uses in her horse stalls.  They smell good, absorb
    well and are considerably lighter than the clay litter I add on
    top.  The only drawback is that they REALLY track even with covered
    boxes.  In my case the benefits outweight the liabilities.
    
    I found some "Ponderosa Pine shavings" in Agway yesterday and they
    look to be the same texture as what I've been using so I'm going to
    try those.  I haven't been riding recently due to my bruised ribs
    and I've run out of shavings.  I'll have to let you know how they
    work.
      Nancy DC
    

         Interesting ...  Once the shavings are stirred up with the litter,
    do the cats still use it?  Or do you have to keep the shavings covered
    with clay?
    
         We use shavings for our rabbits and chickens.  It's great for the
    rabbits, who make droppings like cat droppings, and pee like cats; we
    put out two huge bags for the trash people but the bags are a lot
    lighter than they look ;-) .
    
         The chickens are worse; bird droppings don't look like cat
    droppings at all and make a real mess, but imagine if I didn't use
    light shavings ;-) ???
    
         Please keep us informed about the shavings; I have 15 bales in the
    basement now, and could save a lot of money if it works out okay ...
    
    					- Andrea

    Andrea-
    
    Having plenty of experience when it comes to shavings
    (I've mucked out quite a few stalls (-; ) Very few
    cats would refuse to "go" in a litter box filled with
    shavings.  I mix mine 1/3 litter & 2/3 shavings.  The
    cats (all 4) never even noticed the change.  And, the
    fresh pine smell helps, too! (-;
    The shavings I get are more like the size of the kitter
    litter grains, rather than those baled shavings, but the
    barn cats I know enjoy using them, too!
    
    
    Lynne   

    The Ponderosa Pine shavings are roughly the same texture as
    the shavings you use, Lynne.  They have worked out just
    fine so far.
      Nancy