Things You'll Need:
- transportation
- a cat litter pan
- some of your cat's usual brand of litter
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Step 1
The biggest secret is to know where your local Tractor Supply or large feed stores are in your area. In Texas there is a chain of store called Atwoods that is a good source too. The point is that these stores carry a natural pelleted pine bedding for horses and animals that is the same thing that is being marketed in small packages as natural cat litter under several brands in your grocery store. The difference is that you can buy a 40 lb. bag for not much more than the small bag you buy in the grocery store. Prices may vary regionally but a bag of pelleted horse/animal bedding is less than $6.00 for 40 lbs. You do the math. The bedding is made of highly compressed and dehydrated pine sawdust. It is natural and does not produce dangerous silica dust like some clay litter, nor does it have any added chemicals. Unless you or you pet is allergic to pine, it is a very healthy alternative to other litter.
I started using it for my indoor cats because one of them has asthma that is made worse by commercial cat litter. -
Step 2
Getting your pet to use the new litter. If you already use a pine based litter, you are in luck. For others, here are a few tips.
First, put in a layer (at least a couple of inches) of the new pelleted pine litter. To make it softer and more familiar feeling, sprinkle the pellets with water until there is a layer of pellets that have softened and expanded. Don't saturate all the pellets, as they will lose their absorptive property. -
Step 3
Spread a layer of the cat's usual brand of litter over the above. Don't mix it, the cat will do that. Note that if you have been using scoopable litter, it will probably not retain it's clumping action. Pine bedding/litter does not clump and must be changed more often than the clumping type.
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Step 4
Gradually reduce amount of old brand of litter with each change. Remember to always soften the top layer of the pine bedding to encourage the cat to use it.
