Ways to save on cat litter?

[Graceful-Lily]

I'm going over my monthly expenses budget because Felix needs another dental and I currently spend ~$68.42 a month for both cat litter and food. I've already cut cost in the food department and I'm wondering now if there are clever ways to make that 40lb bag of clumping litter stretch for 2 months between 3 cats. Or if there is another type of litter I could try that would last longer. I'm in Canada by the way in case anyone has any suggestions.

 

[Willowy]

If you scoop it REALLY well at least once a day, you shouldn't ever have to completely change clumping litter. You just have to top it off to replace what you scoop out.

 

[Graceful-Lily]

Maybe I could try softwood pellets? Thinking I'll pick up a 40lb bag today and see how that goes...

 

[arr]

Maybe everyone already does this, but I never dump litter when I do a deep clean of a box. When the boxes start running low, I divide the litter from one box into the others and then wash that box and fill with clean litter. I rotate the box that gets deep cleaned.

 

[Muggs]

Maybe I could try softwood pellets? Thinking I'll pick up a 40lb bag today and see how that goes...

Hi!

I‘m in Canada as well! If you go to a local feed store, you could use pine pellet horse bedding. This is what I use and my guys love it! It’s approx $10 for a 40lb bag! Plus is smells great!

 

[Graceful-Lily]

I ended up getting a 40lb of softwood pellets for $6.99 at Canadian Tire. I mixed it in with the clay litter but they are still kind of indecisive about it. I think one of them pooped in the pellets but they try to avoid it as much as possible. It's not the most comfortable thing to walk on. Hopefully they will take to it eventually. Fingers crossed.

 

[Muggs]

I ended up getting a 40lb of softwood pellets for $6.99 at Canadian Tire. I mixed it in with the clay litter but they are still kind of indecisive about it. I think one of them pooped in the pellets but they try to avoid it as much as possible. It's not the most comfortable thing to walk on. Hopefully they will take to it eventually. Fingers crossed.

That’s awesome! I’m glad you found stuff! Its a bit of an adjustmemt for them but it will happen
I tried gradually switching it from clay litter and it really confused one of my guys I just ended up putting 100% wood pellets instead of transitioning.

 

[CatladyJan]

I'm going over my monthly expenses budget because Felix needs another dental and I currently spend ~$68.42 a month for both cat litter and food. I've already cut cost in the food department and I'm wondering now if there are clever ways to make that 40lb bag of clumping litter stretch for 2 months between 3 cats. Or if there is another type of litter I could try that would last longer. I'm in Canada by the way in case anyone has any suggestions.

Does Chewy deliver in Canada?

I'm going over my monthly expenses budget because Felix needs another dental and I currently spend ~$68.42 a month for both cat litter and food. I've already cut cost in the food department and I'm wondering now if there are clever ways to make that 40lb bag of clumping litter stretch for 2 months between 3 cats. Or if there is another type of litter I could try that would last longer. I'm in Canada by the way in case anyone has any suggestions.

Im in US and I’ve been ordering 35 lb bags of Frisch unscented litter for about $13.25 bag.

 

[Bobsk8]

I started with Pine Pellets after I adopted my cat months ago since the shelter said they used it. After a couple of months, my cat started pooping next to the litter box. This would happen once or twice a week. I started thinking about returning the cat to the shelter, which I hated to do. Luckily I followed my daughter's suggestion and switched to Arm and Hammer Clump and Seal. That immediately solved the problem permanently. Some cats do not like covering their poop with pine pellets, so be careful if that starts happening.

 

[Graceful-Lily]

That's what I'm afraid of
The idea of it is nice but the pellets are so hard and uncomfortable and a nightmare to scoop when mixed with clay litter. The only reason they are using the pellets now is because it's mixed up with the clay.

 

[EmersonandEvie]

It took mine about a month to transition from clay to pellets. That month was hard because, like you said, the litter mixed with the pellets was very hard. I would start even slower- add a handful to their litter, and every 4 days ior so, add more pellets until it's mostlly comprised of pellets. I also have a box of only pellets for them to get used to ehile still offering the clay/pellet mixture. It's tedious, but the pellets are stupidly cheap, and I'm no longer dealing with litter all over my house.

Also, when/if they do fully transition, invest in some sifting litterboxes. I bought precut 2-inch rounds of PVC pipe to put under the sifting part of the box so that the sawdust has somewhere to accumulate.

Good luck!!

 

[Graceful-Lily]

Just a little update... I think I've successfully gotten them on to pine litter. I left out a little box with only pine along with 3 mixed ones. Eventually, they all started using the one with only pine in it so I emptied the mixed ones and added only pine back. It's been a few days and they have continued to use it with no problem so fingers crossed it sticks.