Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

The litter tray

Join our community of cat lovers on the Mumsnet Cat forum for kitten advice and help with cat behaviour.

Cat Litter to clump or not to clump

46 replies

Vitalogy · 16/11/2018 17:44

Had to start using a litter tray again, well, not me, cat! Been a few years since he's had one. I notice a lot of the bags say non clumping. Surely clumping is best? I've had a couple of bags of non clumping because wasn't handy to get clumping type. I'm about to open a bag of clumping and sadly looking forward to it. Do you find you waste so much more gravel with the non clumping? Why do people prefer non clumping? And those wood chips are even worse, well, from what I can remember anyway,

OP posts:
MrsSchadenfreude · 16/11/2018 17:46

Clumping sets like concrete to the bottom of the tray and is a bitch to remove.

Aph413 · 16/11/2018 17:49

I like clumping but I also have a very deep tray and put almost a whole 8kg bag in so that it doesn't stick to the tray.
It lasts about a month of daily scooping with no smells until it's pretty much just too shallow

Alizzle · 16/11/2018 17:49

The wood is easier and smells less. The wee disintigrates the wood pellets it touches so you end up just sieving in over a bag and changing fully once a week. I dont get clumping... if it all sticks together surely you'd waste more?

chumbal · 16/11/2018 17:51

I really liked the basic cat litter at Sainsbury's when we had our cats.

Cheap, non clumping and no nasty smells

Vitalogy · 16/11/2018 18:03

See I'd rather not have to change it so regularly but get rid of each deposit totally. I understand what you're all saying though. What ever suits best I suppose.

He's not very active shitting when I'm out, so when I'm in, as soon as he does anything I get rid of it as quickly as possible. I put it in nappy bags, what are you all using?

OP posts:
Aph413 · 16/11/2018 20:47

I use nappy bags too if I can. Although with 3 cats it's usually a bin bag Blush
I've been forking out for pets at home antibacterial clumping litter and it's been a godsend. I used to buy aldi, non clumping originally but I was getting through ridiculous amounts of the stuff so switched to clumping which was better but smelt.
The pets at home stuff is actually costing me less overall

Vitalogy · 16/11/2018 23:14

3 cats will be keeping you busy for sure!

I've just had a look at the Pets at Home one. Looks good. I just paid £4.20 for Sainsbury's clumping 5L, so £8.49 for 10L is about the same.

OP posts:
gingercat02 · 16/11/2018 23:16

We use Catsan non clumping for an old cat and 2 6 month old. She's out they aren't.

gingercat02 · 16/11/2018 23:19

Oh and Sainsburys basics nappy sacks

LizzieBennettDarcy · 16/11/2018 23:22

Our elderly cat takes much pleasure in spreading cat litter all around the house. No matter what kind I buy.

I dread coming home from work and seeing how many rooms I need to hoover. I HATE the bloody stuff. We've got Catsan at the moment and it's everywhere Sad

Vitalogy · 16/11/2018 23:24

Yes, basic nappy bags! I think I've got the basic Tesco ones atm. There's a hint of fragrance to them, not that they stop the bin smelling.

OP posts:
123bananas · 16/11/2018 23:26

Short haired cats - Sanicat oxygen power clumping litter.

Long haired the same brand but non clumping.

Best I have found for smell and reducing scattering.

Vitalogy · 16/11/2018 23:30

Drives you potty the spreading doesn't it. He does it just in the kitchen though getting overly enthusiastic with his covering up!

How does yours manage to get it into different rooms?

OP posts:
toomuchhappyland · 16/11/2018 23:31

Flushable (paper based). Litter tray in downstairs loo. Sanity restored.

dementedpixie · 16/11/2018 23:35

I like a mix of clumping litters. Cats best smart pellets/worlds best mixed with clay clumping. Is easier to scoop out and fewer changes needed. Catsan went smelly too quickly

Vitalogy · 16/11/2018 23:37

Wow, that's cheaper for such a large packet! Looks like Pets at Home have a big selection. I'll have to go in and have a look. Luckily there's one close by and I pass it on the way home from work. I'll be carrying it and it's heavy!

OP posts:
dementedpixie · 16/11/2018 23:37

I use dog poo bags although my cats rarely use the tray now

dementedpixie · 16/11/2018 23:38

I order online from zooplus

WinkyisbackontheButterBeer · 16/11/2018 23:41

I like oko plus. It is like tiny wood pellets but also clumps so I can lift out wee as well as poo. It holds smell in really well and, although it is more expensive, I do a complete change less often so it works out cheaper.

Vitalogy · 16/11/2018 23:41

Flushable paper based, will look at them too.

Thanks for all your posts, been really helpful.

OP posts:
MissConductUS · 16/11/2018 23:41

I've done both. Clumping is so much easier and cleaner. The non clumping just becomes a mix of clay and urine that has to be discarded so much more often.

diamantegal · 16/11/2018 23:44

We swore by Sainsbury's clumping with previous cats, but when we got new kittens we were told not to use clumping in case they ate it?!?

Now using paper pellets from Pets at Home (can't remember the brand and too lazy to go upstairs and check). In fairness, it works pretty well - probably a better alternative than the non-clumping gravel.

Still wish they'd go outside though, but apparently no interest...

Vitalogy · 16/11/2018 23:46

Zooplus minimum spend £29. I suppose I could do bulk order.

OP posts:
Howhot · 16/11/2018 23:50

I get clumping litter from zooplus. Yes to bulk buying! For some reason I would never remember to pick up more litter like I would milk or bread so I kept making extra trips just for litter and found it annoying! Definitely bulk buy if you have the space. I get food from there too.

KatyMac · 16/11/2018 23:57

Mine (my cat's) is crushed up walnut kernals - it clumps it's biodegradeable (how it goes in a plastic bag?)
It doesn't track very far and tbh the smell is barely there - we have a kitchen bin next to the litter tray and empty that about every 5-7 days (more often in the summer)

But annoyingly I can't remember the name!