What Is The Best Way To Dispose Of Pine Cat Litter
Pine cat litters can differ in their texture properties, granule size and ingredient makeup. These factors will determine the best way to dispose of your pine litter. First and foremost, we suggest following all instructions on your cat litters labeling to dispose of your cat litter in the most appropriate manner.
Pine litters are often biodegradable since its a natural resource. It has to be 100% natural to be biodegradable, and free of chemicals and toxins. The packaging that your pine kitty litter comes in will tell you if it is biodegradable. If it is, you can compost it yourself or throw it in the trash and it will decompose into the environment.
Think About Your Kittens Comfort
Kittens have delicate paw pads and should use a comfortable litter.
Regardless of their age, cats usually prefer fine-grained litters that resemble the sand and soil that appears in natures litter box. Fine-grained litter is easy to dig in and is soft on kitten paws. Although fine-grained litters, including non-clumping clay, are the usual favorite, paper pellets are also known for their paw-friendly softness.
Paw-friendliness typically varies from product to product, but there is one type of litter that has an almost universal reputation for not being very comfortable on the paws: silica gel crystals.
Silica gel crystal litter is made from the same combination of silica dioxide, oxygen, and water that youll find within the desiccant packets commonly found along with moisture-sensitive products. Although the silica gel is non-toxic, the crystals have a hard, harsh texture that isnt ideal for delicate kitten paws.
Why Are Pine Litter Safe For Cats But Not Ferrets
People often wonder why some of these litters that are good for cats are not good for ferrets. I once told myself that ferrets can handle anything thrown at them since their natural habitat is in the wild. That does not turn out well in so many cases, as my own ferret developed health issues until I traced the cause down to the type of litter I use.
So, why are pine litters good for cats, and arent good for ferrets? Ferrets are much smaller with short legs, and that gives them a low stature. Their nature makes them more susceptible to inhaling and ingesting anything around them.
Their immune system is also not as strong as cats, thus leaving them vulnerable to all sorts of illnesses. But cats immune systems are better equipped to fight off infections. So, what works well for a cat might not work well for your ferret.
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Fresh News Cat Litter
Fresh New Cat Litter is fittingly made from 100% recycled paper. It offers several of the typical pellet litter benefits it is dust free, its biodegradable and the pellets are hypoallergenic. Each pellet is formulated with baking soda for maximum odor control, a trait that makes this pellet cat litter unique from the rest. The pellets absorb 3x more liquid than the average clay litter. Fresh News pellet litter is also a cost-effective option.
Why Do You Need A Pellet Litter Box
So why would you need a special litter box for pellet litter? The answer is that you do not but there are definitely some benefits that are worth considering. Especially if you are using pine pellet cat litter.
- Easier cleaning
- Throw away less unused litter
- Save more money by making the pellets last longer
Cleaning routine for pine pellet cat litter scooping vs sifting
Pine pellet cat litter works differently than other cat litters, because the pellets dissolve when exposed to liquid. The used litter turns into sawdust, and settle on the bottom of the litter box. The unused pine pellets remain on top.
To clean the litter box, you need to remove the used litter on the bottom, along with any feces. Removing the cat poop is easy. But how do you separate the sawdust from the pellets? What is the best way to avoid throwing away fresh pine pellets, along with the used cat litter?
There are a couple ways you can achieve this.
Scooping pellet litter: Granted, pine pellet cat litter does not provide you with neat clumps to easily scoop up but that does not mean that scooping is not an option. Basically, you are actually just using the scoop as a smaller sift. .
Sifting pellet litter: If you want something scoop free, pine pellet cat litter gives you that option as well. Instead of scooping the litter, you can use a sift to separate the used litter and the fresh pellets.
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Feline Pine Original Cat Litter Review
Non-clumping pine pellet litter
Feline Pine uses highly absorbent pine fibers to naturally absorb liquid and lock in odors. The 100% pine pellets are safe for your kitten to dig in, dont create clouds of dust, and are completely free from artificial ingredients, including added fragrances.
Instead of clumping, the pine pellets break down into sawdust when they come into contact with moisture. Each day, youll need to scoop out solid waste and gently stir the litter to move fresh pellets to the top and the sawdust to the bottom of the pan.
Some kittens may not like the feeling of the pellets underneath their paws. Buy It
Pros
- Unscented with no chemicals or additives
Cons
- Kittens may not like the sensation of pine pellets under their paws
How Often Do You Clean Pine Litter
Changing your litter depends on the type of litter and the number of ferrets you have. Some can be changed every 2 weeks or 3 weeks. While some change their litter 3-4 times a month.
Getting a litter is one thing but knowing the one perfect for your ferret is another thing. People often think ferrets cannot use pine litter, but that is not totally true as pine litters vary, so you are left with knowing what your ferret needs.
Here we have presented various forms of litters. The most suitable pine litter is the wood stove pellets being that it is absorbent and dust-free.
Also, it is free from harmful chemicals that can cause harm to your ferret. Though wood stove pellets are made of hardwood, it serves your ferret well when it is well processed.
Other forms of pine litter are to be avoided at all costs because of their harmful chemicals.
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Can I Flush Wood Pellet Litter
Yes, you can but its typically not the best practice. While the wood pellets will break up enough to make it through most pipes, its not exactly easy on your plumbing and large amounts may cause problems. But the bigger issue comes from the risk of toxoplasmosis which is a disease that can be spread through the feces of cats.
Toxoplasmosis is one of the worlds most common diseases and can cause a wide range of symptoms in humans depending on your age and overall health status. When cat poop is flushed down the toilet, along with wood pellets, it can push toxoplasmosis into nearby bodies of water or even the human water supply in some cases.
When you consider that one study found a prevalence as high as 74% in adult cats, it becomes clear that flushing wood pellets with poop on them is a bad idea. Not only for the risk it presents to humans but also other animals.
Researchers believe that flushing kitty litter could have contributed to the death of hundreds of California otters. Autopsy results showed the presence of the toxoplasmosis parasite in the brain of the sea otters, which is unusual for sea creatures. While it could be related to runoff from cats and other animals, theres a strong case to be made that kitty litter was the culprit.
So even though wood pellets on their own are safe enough to be flushed down the toilet, its still not a good practice if theyre being used for kitty litter.
What Are The Disadvantages Of Using Silica Gel Crystal Litter
Comfort can be a problem. Cats often dont like the sensation of the crystals under their paws.
Its expensive.
The longevity of the litter offsets the price, but sometimes it doesnt last very long.
Once the crystals have reached their absorbency limit, the urine will pool in the box.
In a single-cat home, its easy to maximize the longevity of the litter by stirring it daily.
Silica gel crystals are not safe to flush.
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Feline Pine Original Cat Litter
Feline Pine Original Cat Litter is our choice as the best overall wood pellet cat litter. Its chemical-free and contains no harmful dyes. It produces very little dust, even as you dump it into your litter box, and its surprisingly absorbent. It quickly absorbs urine and locks in odors. Its also extremely fragrant with a natural pine scent that helps mask bad odors and freshen your home. The natural pine wood used to make the pellets is sustainable sourced from tree farms.
We liked Feline Pine, and it was our favorite of the three. However, its only available in a large bag, so its quite expensive, especially if youre not sure about using it.
Kaytee Wood Pellets for Pets contains very little dust, and its available in multiple sizes, so its a good choice if you havent tried wood pellet litter before and arent sure if its right for your cat. The larger pellets wont stick to your cats paws, so they wont track into your home. It not only makes a great cat litter, but its safe for all animals and is a great choice for rabbits, hamsters, guinea pigs, and more.
Kaytee Wood Pellets are great and are extremely absorbent, but sometimes they break down into sawdust which can create quite a mess. The sawdust will also track into your home, so you need to change the entire litter box when you notice it. It also didnt control odor too well, and our litter box would smell if we didnt replace the litter every few days.
What Are Wood Pellets
Wood pellets are made of compressed wood fiber. Animal bedding pellets are created from dry sawdust placed under high pressure and high temperatures making them super absorbent. Energy Pellets of America makes pellets from discarded pallets that are no longer useful in the shipping process. Our pellets are renewable, biodegradable and all natural.
Wood pellets are commonly used as heating fuel and animal bedding. Wood pellets are an increasingly popular replacement for cat litter, too.
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Now Youre A Cat Litter Expert
Starting in a world before litter when the indoor cat was rare, weve followed the tale of cat litter from inception to present day.
Weve learned how cat litter is made.
We know why it works. Weve become familiar with the brands and varieties that fill pet store shelves.
Todays cat litter market can be confusing, but educated shoppers like you can make intelligent choices based on your cats unique needs, the demands of your household, and of course, your preferences.
If youre interested in finding the best litter box for your cats personality, check out our lowdown on cat litter boxes!
Happy scooping.
QUICK TIP:
Modify your litter box system: Im sure you could do this to any litter pan or box:
Does Wood Pellet Cat Litter Reduce Odor
Yes wood pellet litter has a pine scent that naturally represses unpleasant odors. This is not an added fragrance, it is the natural scent of the wood. You should never use a litter that has an add-on scent that can cause headaches both for people and cats.
Wood pellets are also extremely absorbent of liquid. Therefore, they trap urine and keep the litter dry, which blocks unpleasant odors from escaping into the air and around your home.
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How Do I Get My Cat To Use Pine Litter
Are you confused and unsure of how to get your cat to use pinelitter? Would you like to have a litter box you can call his own?
Did you know that your cat is probably much happier when he has his own place to go to the bathroom?
Follow the tips below and you will be able to discover how to get your cat to use pine litter!
When your cat knows where his box is it makes the litter boxitself so much more important, as if its not a part of the house! Cats who usepine litter love having their own area in the house.
This is because they understand that the litter box is there to provide him with a comfortable place to relieve himself. It also means he wont feel threatened by the box being in the house.
They would rather stay in the box and be safe than roam about the house which leaves you and everyone else a little bit safer.
If you dont want your cat being left alone in the box all the time then make sure you bring it inside for a wee nap.
It could also learn that litter boxes are safe so that it feels that way when it is outside. If it likes it and finds it comfortable to use then you will know exactly what you need to do next.
You might think that you just have to walk in the house once in a while and take your cat out of the litter box.
However, there are several reasons why you should do this on a regular basis so that you can try to encourage your cat to use pine litter.
Megan Stratton
Final Thoughts On My Attempt Of Transitioning Cats To Wood Pellet Litter
While it didnt work out for me, my cats are old and stubborn. Im definitely not trying to tell you that you shouldnt try this for your cats, but rather it might be more difficult than you think. And sometimes, cats just refuse to use it altogether.
If your cats are younger this might work out much better for you. Im currently trying to get my sister to try it out with her cats, Bear and Chickadee. Theyre much younger than my cats and might take to it better, but only time will tell. Ill update after she gives it a shot.
I really wanted to save a bunch of money on litter each month, but I want my cats to continue to use their litter box even more. Id rather spend a bit more on litter than deal with cats who pee outside their litter box! Everyone knows how awful and hard to get rid of cat urine smell can be.
Dont let my failed experience hinder you from trying though if you are determined to make the switch. As I said, I didnt go all in with the switch because I was too scared theyd rebel and pee elsewhere in the house .
Theyre inexpensive enough that Id say its worth a shot if you really want to give it a try.
Remember if you cant find horse bedding or you dont want to deal with a 40 lb sack, you can find pretty good deals on pine pelleted cat litters here that can be delivered right to your door!
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Why Is Pine Bad For Cats
Pine trees are toxic for cats, notes Petcha, because they may cause liver damage and can be fatal. If you wish to have a live tree, choose a fir or spruce. Additionally, you should regularly dispose of any stray needlesno matter the tree typebecause theyre sharp and may be dangerous to your kittys internal organs.
Pine Litter Dust & Tracking
Ah, the dust. If you or your furball has any respiratory illnesses or you have allergies, a dusty litter can be a big problem. Even if you dont suffer from anything, it can still coat your lungs and nose. Whats worse, dust that has silica in it can cause lung cancer.
When it comes to pine, however, there is little to no dust from the pellets. Another tough thing about dust, though, is it can track throughout your house and cause a mess. Litter is known to get stuck to your pets paws and track all over the place in its questionable sanitary condition. Pine has a lower track rate , but the wet sawdust can stick to your pets feet.
As we mentioned in the last section, it is important to sift the box which brings the clean pellets to the surface. When this is done, you are less likely to have paw prints on your furniture.
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Transitioning To Pine Pellet Litter In Multiple Cat Households
- If you have multiple cats like mine, I assume that you also have multiple litter boxes. I would have one litter box with the regular litter and one with the pine litter.
- I would actually put some of the pine litter with the regular litter box and then some litter from the regular to the pine litter box. This is so can associate the smell of the pine litter with going to the bathroom.
- Watch and keep a record of who uses the pine litter box. Once all your cats have used the pine litter box at least once, you can remove the traditional clumping cat litter and litter box.
The switch will be fairly quick because cats will likely realize that the pine litter is the one that smells a bit fresher than the regular litter box, which still contains some soiled litter at the bottom.
How many litter boxes should you have with multiple cats using pine litter? I developed a great guide for people living in apartments: how many litter boxes do you need in an apartment?