Probably not in Manhattan, but we get our pine litter from Tractor Supply in 40 lb. bags sold for horse stall bedding. About $6.00 for 40 lbs. And we've noticed that the pine litter does a BETTER job of controlling odors than anything we've used in 50 years of having cats. If a kitten (we have five right now, plus two adults) does not cover their poop, it's simple to just sprinkle a handful of pellets over it or even use the scoop to cover it with pellets already in the box until you have time to clean the box.
Ooh, we have a Farm Supply store locally. I'll check there. Thanks for the tip. I don't know if my picky cat would like walking on rough litter, but it's worth trying. I spend $30 a month on litter, and that's buying on sale litter, in 60 pound chunks.
For those who don't have Tractor Supply: You can also buy them packaged as pellet stove fuel. It's the exact same stuff, $7-$10 for a 40 lb bag. They have it through the fall and winter at most Home Depot/Lowes and other large hardware stores. I actually get mine from a Kroger grocery store, and I've seen it at Walmart. At the end of winter, you have to stock up, because they mostly don't have it in the summer. Also, make sure you're getting the plain, pine, pellet stove fuel (for heating), NOT the hickory or other wood pellets for smoking meats.
I use a sifting litter box designed for pine litter which I use on the grid. Instead of using the disposable pads underneath which just absorb stinky odor i just buy $6 clumping litter to put in the tray underneath
I've just started using pine pellets as litter yesterday. It's been 24h since I introduced my cats to it and so far I'm very pleased. It feels a lot more hygienic, since it stays dry all the time, though the cleaning process is indeed a bit more of a hassle. The cleaning process is a bit more of a hassle but I think I'll take sifting daily over scraping silica/clay litter off the bottom of the boxes and inhaling all that pee smell while doing so. I'm really amazed with pine pellets so far, and if it keeps up like this in the long run, then I'm absolutely in love with it.
if you have a sifting box, and your wallet can take it, buy the puppy pads and line the "under the sifter" box with the pad. every 8 to 10 days, I lift the sifter onto a plastic sheet (i cut to size a plastic paint drop cloth i already had) lift out the entire puppy pad and dispose of the sawdust and empty whatever remains in the bottom tray. I spray with hydrogen peroxide and wipe the entire surface, put in a new puppy pad, put the sifter back. A box of 100 puppy pads is almost a two year supply. I have yet to smell urine. That sawdust is amazing.
In rural and suburban areas, "pine litter" is either called "stove pellets" or "horse bedding pellets" and can be found in most feed stores, hardware stores and even Walmart. Comes in 40 pound bags OR a 1-ton pallet with 50 bags for the cat ladies among us. Just don't buy the expensive stuff sold for BBQ with pellet smokers.
@tensei1710 Sure. I haven't been able to track down any substantive research saying that the usual "stove pellets" are dangerous. I think people are freaking at hearing "phenols" and not understanding that it's a huge group of related compounds, including an amino acid, some hormones, and even a vitamin. I know the process for making them and it's basically wood and bark, ground to a certain size and compressed with heat ... the wood has enough natural resins to bind the sawdust together.
I'll never go back to clay litter. A youtuber raised the sifting tray with pieces of a pool noodle around the edge of the lower tray so that the sawdust falls through better. I used pipe insulation which worked great. I keep disposable gloves by the box to pick the poop out, it's easier for me and I add a puppy pad also for easy cleanup. (Although it is more landfill waste)
If the poop doesn't have litter stuck to it, I flush in the toilet. My kitty has harder poop so it's doesn't stick to the litter. @@carlitosmexican7469
Recently changed over to pine pellets for my kitten in the last month. With baking soda how often do you apply it to the box and how much? My kitten covers her poop with the pellets but I noticed after 2 weeks I have to get rid of all the pellets because even though I get rid of the poop the pellets do have a slight poopy scent when I am up close (can’t notice it when not next to the box but I know my kitten can smell it). I am hoping to get rid of that smell with the baking soda so I don’t have to discard the pellets and can keep using them until they turn to sawdust.
About every 2-3 days I add more baking soda, if you also use a sifting litter box the old baking soda falls through too and removes itself with the pine dust!
@@terrysapartment I don’t use a sifter box, I sift it manually every 4-5 days. Thank you for your reply. I guess I could have thought and realized I could add more baking soda after every time I sift but I am sat here being dumb 😂
I havent been using pine litter very long but I think it's honestly better to just scoop out a bit of the pellets too. If the pellet has been pooed on, it's gonna smell like poo and have poo germs, so logically I'd remove it. With clay litter, which is far more expensive, clay sticks to the poos and gets thrown out too. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Just an quick tip on the litter boxes. Each litter box has an high side and a low side, On the high side of the Litter box should be facing the wall. The low side should be facing out it's easier for your cats/kittens to go into.
PLEASE please make sure your cats are given options when you switch cat litters (to any kind of litters). A lot of people recommend mixing litters a bit so to "introduce" new litter to your cat but this is not really an ideal method. The best way to change your cat's litter is to give them two litter boxes, one with clay and ther other with a different kind (walnut, pine, tofu, corn, bamboo..) and monitor it for at least a week to see how they like each box. Clay litter is usually left as option #1 as it mimics the natural sand the best. If your cat doesn't use whatever litter you're trying to introduce to them, please do not try to "train" them any further and just stick with what your cat likes to use. Cats are very good at hiding conditions so you'll never know if your cat is actually loving the new pine pellet litter you bought or not, until you get hit by a hefty bill from your vet because of a serious urinary issue caused by holding pee.
The main problem with the pine pellets is the parts that are not saturated will be picked up by the sifter, while the saturated pellets turn to dust and pass through. Dr. Pol makes a "Pine Cobble" litter, which is the same size as the granules in clay litter. I have multiple cats and use mostly clay litter with the Pine Cobble mixed in. At 7-10 lbs in each box, it lasts a full week.
Great video! I have tried every type of litter and ended up with a really expensive cassava and corn litter that works great! Except it tracks so badly, I feel like our house is a sand box! The pine seems like the best choice. Could you maybe do a video on the necessary litter box and scoop for the pellets?
One thing I noticed is it doesn't stick to the bottom of the litter box when it is wet like the clay stuff does. With the clay any clumps that touch the bottom stick and they need a fair bit of "persuasion" to fall out only to still leave sizeable clumps behind. I don't want to hose it out because it will just build up where I do that. I do not recommend washing out clay from a litter box inside either. It will eventually clog your drains. I notice with the pine they don't always cover the fecal matter but I am OK with it considering how much easier it is to clean out of the litter box. Just shop around the local pet stores. Some sell it cheaper.
I have a condition of super-sensitive nose and have been using pine pellets,for years, because it has NO odor. I have a small apartment and customers come and lots of people remark that there’s no word or it’s just I don’t know the cat. I convinced lots of people to use this for that reason.
thanks for the baking soda tip. ive been suffering with bad smells after switching to pine litter, even though i clean it twice a day. heres hoping it works
I've started to use grass seed litter. There are several different brands including SmartCat, So Phresh (Petco brand) and Exquisicat (Petsmart brand). Seems to work pretty well.
Where did you get your triangular shaped litter box? I use the breeze one ever since I saw it on Victorias cattery channel, and I like her method because of the depth and puppy pad method but I need something bigger for my two adult cats.
Got it on Chewy if you search for: Frisco Corner Sifting Cat Litter Box with Rim It's quite big but the removable rim is quite useful if there is a miss or diarrhea, etc
I've found pellet litter controls odor BETTER than clay because none of the urine sits in the box, it all gets sifted out. Only a slight "lumber" scent remains.
I loved using pine pellets until my cat (probably tricking me) decided his paws were too delicate for the stuff, and would go, standing on the edge of the litter box. I’ve been using PetCo’s own unscented grass seed litter since then. I would love to go back to pellets…
I got the breeze pellet system that I use pine pellets with. I scoop the poop every morning and I have literally no odor issue. I only have one cat tho. Will never go back to clay!
A layer of crystal litter under the pellets catches any liquids and odor. I found on Amazon 1/4 inch sieves for sifting. I'm getting this one for $19 which is large and includes work gloves: Wenses Metal Dirt Sifter, 11 x 9 Inch, Galvanized Steel with 1/4" Wire Mesh . I don't work for them or get anything for referring, just being helpfull:)
Pellets are good for pee it turns into saw dust, super saver for money and doesn't leave powdery residue into the room which in the long run could ve a health issue for you and your cats
I wouldn't care what is said on this video. The hardwood pellets are WAY better than regular cat litter. I will NEVER go back. Here are some reasons that hardwood pellets are superior in every way: no dust; little odor, except for a woodsy scent; WAY less expensive; lasts WAY longer; the box is easier to clean; very little mess on the surrounding floor (the few pellets that are on the floor are easy to pick up); using hardwood pellets is more environmentally friendly.
What about Catmate Cat Litter, do you recommend this cat litter for me ? I’m from Australia and I’m looking for a good and healthy cat litter for my cat, thanks
I got mine from Amazon, they're cheap… also he's not telling you you can use pine pellets for Horse and animal bedding… it's a lot cheaper and it works just the same… they sell that on Amazon as well. I went down from $35 a month to about $11.
Yes buying the pine pellets from feed store will save you so much more money. Also, I stopped using my scooper to scoop out the poop as it can make the scooper messy. So another, easier alternative: Dog poop bags. I just started using these and it has made it so much easier. So if you guys have doggos at home, use some poop bags for the pine pellet litter, or buy some online.
@@terrysapartment Have you looked for pellets that they market for wood-burning stoves? You have to do a bit of research to make sure that they're safe for cats (e.g. kiln-dried) but many brands are just fine. I buy mine at the hardware store.
I loved using pellet litter when we tried it, but the wood dust generated, even if it's nowhere near as dusty as clay, gave allergic reaction to my wife. So we has to return to clay. 😩
I think bentonite dust is more lethal since it can hold on to moisture in your nasal passage besides wood dust are bigger in particles to stay afloat in the air
I think anything you breathe on a regular basis that isn't air is going to cause health issues, your lungs are designed to only breathe are and does a very poor job of filtering anything else out. Just wear a mask when you clean the box.
Also that may have been referring to dust from treated wood, like if you saw or sand it for projects on a regular basis-construction workers or crafts people.
