Hi All,
New Member, I'm the "Facilities Manager" at the Port Penn Cat Colony
TL; DR:
I need advice on cheap (obviously), lightweight; easy to store cat litter. I've been using Pets Pick 141L Cedar Shavings (which are kiln-dried to remove toxins) in the cat boxes. We'd go through a bag for three XL litter boxes every 1 - 2 weeks , depending on season (they can use an outside box when it isn't snow-covered or raining). But, it has recently gone from $8.50 to $10 a bag, when I can find it. I tried the Tractor Supply Softwood Shavings, but volunteers noted it was much more dusty. Does anyone else use anything similar?
Long Story:
I help run a feral / stray cat colony in Port Penn, DE. The 8 cats are all FiV, so they are in a shed (10x10) and adjacent run (10x30), and get daily visits from volunteers. It is totally off-grid, with no services - so what is cleaned up must be taken out & home by the volunteer to dispose of. In addition to 3 XL boxes, we also have a large (6ftx6ft) raised "bed" of mulch & sand that I lime every 2-4 weeks when the cats use it (3 seasons). We also have LIMITED storage - we have a small "air lock" inside the front door to the shed where we keep cleaning supplies, and a couple of large plastic bins / seats outside that we can store some things. Pallets of supplies have to be stored at a volunteer's (usually my) location. As part of the deal* with the volunteers, all supplies are provided (cleaning, food, water, litter) - between myself, the primary founder of the colony, and donations via Facebook. So, keeping costs as low as possible is ALWAYS a concern (we have a meager amount in a checking account, but we try to save it for vet visits and other big-ticket items (solar systems, etc.)
* A volunteer typically only needs to show up, take cleaning supplies out of the cabinet, use them to clean the inside of the shed, clean the litter pans, refill the water bowls & dry food dispensers, and grab two cans of wet food from the heater and put them in bowls. The only thing they need to take OUT with them is the dirty litter, used paper towels, empty cat food cans (we even supply the garbage bags).
And yes, I haven't looked around yet as to where to post, but I'd be happy to share my failures and successes that I've had, including a very cheap off-grid way to keep canned cat food and water bowls from freezing!
New Member, I'm the "Facilities Manager" at the Port Penn Cat Colony
TL; DR:
I need advice on cheap (obviously), lightweight; easy to store cat litter. I've been using Pets Pick 141L Cedar Shavings (which are kiln-dried to remove toxins) in the cat boxes. We'd go through a bag for three XL litter boxes every 1 - 2 weeks , depending on season (they can use an outside box when it isn't snow-covered or raining). But, it has recently gone from $8.50 to $10 a bag, when I can find it. I tried the Tractor Supply Softwood Shavings, but volunteers noted it was much more dusty. Does anyone else use anything similar?
Long Story:
I help run a feral / stray cat colony in Port Penn, DE. The 8 cats are all FiV, so they are in a shed (10x10) and adjacent run (10x30), and get daily visits from volunteers. It is totally off-grid, with no services - so what is cleaned up must be taken out & home by the volunteer to dispose of. In addition to 3 XL boxes, we also have a large (6ftx6ft) raised "bed" of mulch & sand that I lime every 2-4 weeks when the cats use it (3 seasons). We also have LIMITED storage - we have a small "air lock" inside the front door to the shed where we keep cleaning supplies, and a couple of large plastic bins / seats outside that we can store some things. Pallets of supplies have to be stored at a volunteer's (usually my) location. As part of the deal* with the volunteers, all supplies are provided (cleaning, food, water, litter) - between myself, the primary founder of the colony, and donations via Facebook. So, keeping costs as low as possible is ALWAYS a concern (we have a meager amount in a checking account, but we try to save it for vet visits and other big-ticket items (solar systems, etc.)
* A volunteer typically only needs to show up, take cleaning supplies out of the cabinet, use them to clean the inside of the shed, clean the litter pans, refill the water bowls & dry food dispensers, and grab two cans of wet food from the heater and put them in bowls. The only thing they need to take OUT with them is the dirty litter, used paper towels, empty cat food cans (we even supply the garbage bags).
And yes, I haven't looked around yet as to where to post, but I'd be happy to share my failures and successes that I've had, including a very cheap off-grid way to keep canned cat food and water bowls from freezing!
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