Saving Money on Cat Litter

Cheaper Kitty Litter

As the proud mother of twelve cats, I have found a cheaper way to keep them in kitty litter. I DON'T USE IT! While working in a feed store, it was suggested to me by a customer to try the wood pellets sold for pellet stoves. They run around $3.89 for a forty pound bag. I only put an inch or two in the bottom of the pans and a bag lasts a decently long time.

As they are used, the liquid breaks the pellets down into a sawdust-like form. I then take them out to the back forty (no more bagging up and sending to the landfill!). There the poop breaks down, the pellets break down even more in the rain, and it then becomes mulch for my non-edible plants, such as roses.

I wouldn't use anything with cat poop in it to mulch tomatoes or anything edible, although when I use them under my rabbit cages, that all goes into the compost, which eventually ends up in the vegetable garden. (Rabbit manure is safe for vegetables).

I have, at times, used the product designed for horse stalls. The brand name is Dry Den and it has an odor control in it and the pellets are slightly smaller and break down easier. It is also more expensive. When I moved, I couldn't find anybody in this area who sells it so I went back to the stove pellets.

You can sprinkle with baking soda, if you like, to help control odor. And I imagine cats not familiar with the pellet form might hesitate, at first, to use it but you could mix with their familiar litter at first until they are adjusted.

By Janis from Cinebar, WA

Use Sand Instead Of Cat Litter

Better than cheap cat litter, free! Indoor cats were using sandboxes long before the current craze for pricey cat litter.

Open a garbage can liner into your litter box, fold the top back over the outside of the box and tuck the ends underneath the box. Lay a thick layer of old newspaper in the bottom of your litter box. Sprinkle on a generous coating of baking soda. Add approximately 1 1/2 inches of sand or even plain old dirt, just make sure it is dry.

I keep a 5 gallon bucket of sand sitting by the litter box. Each day, I add another 1 inch of sand. Every third day +/-, depending on how many cats you have and how often they use it, lift the bag out, seal it, and throw it away. Refill the box. It takes about 5 minutes.

If changed often, there are no odor problems. If you sit your litter box on a rubber backed doormat, it will prevent them tracking sand all over the house.

By slee15 from Alabama

Better Litter Versus Cheaper Litter

Unless cheaper cat litter is a lot cheaper, which sometimes it is, it's worth paying more for a name brand. I have found over the years, after using all different brands, that the cheapest, usually the sandy kind, too, gets gummy, and has almost no odor control. I end up actually using more of it, so I'm not saving, unless it's drastically less money, which once in a blue moon it is. So look for sales, use coupons, and buy the better cat litter!

By julrobs from North Augusta, SC

Making Newspaper Cat Litter

Shred some newspaper and soak it in a Tbsp. of dish soap and water. Allow it to soak until the water gets dirty. Drain it off in a colander and re-soak it in plain water. Drain it again and mix in some baking soda. Squeeze out some of the water, breaking it up, and leave flat to dry for at least 48 hours. Now you have homemade cat litter.

By Karin from Benbrook, TX

Shredded Paper As Cat Litter

I have a tip for recycling paper. I shred all my flyers and newspapers and use them as litter for my cat. It saves so much money and is not as heavy to take out to the garbage. It works great.

By Linda

Using Mini Flake Wood Shavings

I purchase a product called Dust or Mini Flake made from wood shavings but very fine. I use it for my cats' litter box. I have several cats because I rescued them so I change the box every morning.

The "dust" in my area is purchased at a garden supply store and costs under $7. It lasts 30 days because I have more than one cat and change it so often. It is economical, but it is also much better for the environment then other litters. It can be used in compost.

I have a lasagna vegetable garden and used it last year with newspaper to start the process. It absorbs moisture and helps breakdown the paper. The brand I am using now is called American Choice Mini Flake. Put the box in an area that is easily swept because it will track a little on paws. I purchased mine in NJ from Rosedale Mills.

By Barbara W.

Recycled Items For Cat Litter and Box

I use phone pages for the garden (weed barrier), flower pots (crumpled pages set in the bottom up to halfway. It all compresses with the weight of the soil) AND to line the cat litter boxes (I do cat and dog rescue). The cats don't use clay litter, although, I do, in the beginning, put a handful of it on top of the paper and then wean them off of it.

I also use newspaper (I get the newspaper from the neighbors) for the litter box AND all my porous JUNK mail. I can guarantee you, no one wants my name and address after the cats have had their way with the junk! Not to mention I don't incur any expenses in clay litter and the cats seem to prefer the paper. They can wipe their paws far cleaner and no scattered litter!

By the way, I traverse the neighborhood and people throw out their plastic chest-of-drawers, the large ones. People break one drawer and so the other three or four get pitched, along with the frame. I pitch the frame and use the drawers, individually, for the cat "litter." Every day, I switch to a clean drawer, reline it, pitch the poopy papers from the cats, hose down the drawer, let it dry and start over again the next day with a clean drawer. So, so easy and a much cleaner method (and cheaper) of litter removal.

By Jana L. from San Antonio, TX