Most absorbant litter?

[Free2Dream]

We are on a quest to find the most absorbant litter for Oliver. He eats a lot of hay, so he drinks a lot, and, consequentially, he pees a lot. We started out with “Critter Litter” (I forget the exact brand name, but they advertise it as Potty Training Pearls for small animals, so we just grabbed a bag), but it sucks so we got some Feline Pine. The FP bag we bought was the smallest one they offer, and we went through it in one day because it gets so mushy and he tends to prefer to pee in the exact same spot over and over. Does Yesterday’s News not get as gross? Any other suggestions? 

[Beka27]

Does Feline Pine become sawdusty where he pees? That’s what happens with woodstove pellets, altho wsp are much cheaper. If he pees in the same spot, can you just scoop out the wet corner?

[Sarita]

We did an absorbency test on litter in the Lounge Section awhile back…but darn if I can find it…I’ll keep trying.

[Andi]

I am a believer in the Pine Pellet litters. I find it’s the best for smell and absorbancy so far, plus it doesn’t track around either.
At the shelter we use scoops to scoop out poop and wet spots each day to help save on the cost of litter. If he likes useing one are you may want to try this.

[Monkeybun]

I still like my Carefresh, although its a bit more pricey.

[bunnnnnnie!]

I use the pine pellets, BUT I also clean the box in a slightly different way.

I don’t immediately remove all wet spots.  When he’s enjoying his out of cage time, I take out all the poops, then mix the rest of it all up.  Mix the wet spots in with the dry pellets, so there’s no longer one specific spot of wetness, it’s all broken up and distributed all over the box.  I then allow it to dry while Zeus is still out.  By the time he’s back in his cage, the wet stuff has dried and it no longer smells like pee anymore, either.  I continue doing this until there’s more of the broken up powdery stuff than there is dry pellets, then strip the box and start over.

This is actually how you’re supposed to use the pellets when used in a horse’s stall, it’s the same principle only on a smaller scale.  You take out the poops, mix in the wet with the dry and let it air out, and you’re good.

[MissKris&Koji]

Anyone have advice on where someone (like OP or… myself ) could get a solid little scoop to take out the wet spots? I too have a pee in one spot bun, but I think the normal litter scoops won’t work too well with the wet wood pellet stuff? Doesn’t it fall through?

[MissKris&Koji]

Also, as far as which brand, I REALLY like the “Green Aspen” wood pellet litter sold at Petco, also in larger bags from other retailers online. I used to use Yesterdays News but I think the odor control is better on the wood pellets VS the paper. When the pellets break down when wet, they stay stuck together rather than getting dusty with that stuff. And even if his little corner box (his choice, not mine, he has a big one too!) is half caked and wet with pee there is no smell whatsoever.

Now, that said, I haven’t used the pellet stove wood pellets, I’m still looking for a source around here. So I can’t comment about how they stack up compared to the “pet branded” stuff, but I can say I’m definitely a fan of aspen pellets.

[jerseygirl]

Many of us use pelleted wood. Horse stall bedding or wood stove pellets that are accelerant free. YN seems to be popular (tip: buy the cat one, it’s the same stuff only cheaper) and Carefresh.

Anyone have advice on where someone (like OP or… myself ) could get a solid little scoop to take out the wet spots? I too have a pee in one spot bun, but I think the normal litter scoops won’t work too well with the wet wood pellet stuff? Doesn’t it fall through?

The litter scoops actually aren’t that bad but try kitchen or toy departments in a variety store for a solid scoop. Something like a sand pit toy maybe?

[Monkeybun]

My PetCo actually had a mini dustpan and brush thing called a Litter Sweeper that I use for scooping my litter. The dustpan part, not the brush It’s about the same size as a typical cat litter scoop.

[Beka27]

Posted By jerseygirl on 07/23/2010 05:15 PM
Many of us use pelleted wood. Horse stall bedding or wood stove pellets that are accelerant free. YN seems to be popular (tip: buy the cat one, it’s the same stuff only cheaper) and Carefresh.

Anyone have advice on where someone (like OP or… myself ) could get a solid little scoop to take out the wet spots? I too have a pee in one spot bun, but I think the normal litter scoops won’t work too well with the wet wood pellet stuff? Doesn’t it fall through?

The litter scoops actually aren’t that bad but try kitchen or toy departments in a variety store for a solid scoop. Something like a sand pit toy maybe?

I was also thinking about a child’s plastic sand shovel… that would be about the right size… you and me Jers, great minds! 

[Beka27]

Posted By bunnnnnnie! on 07/23/2010 12:49 PM

I use the pine pellets, BUT I also clean the box in a slightly different way.

I don’t immediately remove all wet spots.  When he’s enjoying his out of cage time, I take out all the poops, then mix the rest of it all up.  Mix the wet spots in with the dry pellets, so there’s no longer one specific spot of wetness, it’s all broken up and distributed all over the box.  I then allow it to dry while Zeus is still out.  By the time he’s back in his cage, the wet stuff has dried and it no longer smells like pee anymore, either.  I continue doing this until there’s more of the broken up powdery stuff than there is dry pellets, then strip the box and start over.

This is actually how you’re supposed to use the pellets when used in a horse’s stall, it’s the same principle only on a smaller scale.  You take out the poops, mix in the wet with the dry and let it air out, and you’re good.

 

Very interesting!  I do something kind of like this (but not really)… I give the litterboxes a shake everyday to mix the sawdust in with the dry pellets, and then after a day or two, I rotate the box so the back “pee corner” is in front, and they start peeing in the dry corner.  I don’t scoop poops tho, altho I might have to try it.  I figured that the poops are dry so they don’t really make a difference… don’t horses have “wet” feces?

[Moonlight_Wolf]

Hmm bunnnnnie, I might have to try your way of changing the litter, seems interesting and it sounds like something that would work well.

[bunnnnnnie!]

Posted By Beka27 on 07/23/2010 08:36 PM

Posted By bunnnnnnie! on 07/23/2010 12:49 PM

I use the pine pellets, BUT I also clean the box in a slightly different way.

I don’t immediately remove all wet spots.  When he’s enjoying his out of cage time, I take out all the poops, then mix the rest of it all up.  Mix the wet spots in with the dry pellets, so there’s no longer one specific spot of wetness, it’s all broken up and distributed all over the box.  I then allow it to dry while Zeus is still out.  By the time he’s back in his cage, the wet stuff has dried and it no longer smells like pee anymore, either.  I continue doing this until there’s more of the broken up powdery stuff than there is dry pellets, then strip the box and start over.

This is actually how you’re supposed to use the pellets when used in a horse’s stall, it’s the same principle only on a smaller scale.  You take out the poops, mix in the wet with the dry and let it air out, and you’re good.

 

Very interesting!  I do something kind of like this (but not really)… I give the litterboxes a shake everyday to mix the sawdust in with the dry pellets, and then after a day or two, I rotate the box so the back “pee corner” is in front, and they start peeing in the dry corner.  I don’t scoop poops tho, altho I might have to try it.  I figured that the poops are dry so they don’t really make a difference… don’t horses have “wet” feces?

Yeah horse poo is “wet”, so probably you could leave the bun poos and be okay.  I just clean the litterbox like I’m cleaning a stall. 

 

[bunnnnnnie!]

Posted By Moonlight_Wolf on 07/24/2010 04:56 AM

Hmm bunnnnnie, I might have to try your way of changing the litter, seems interesting and it sounds like something that would work well.

It really does work well, and it makes the wood pellets last quite awhile.  One big bag (I think it’s 40lbs maybe?  I’m not sure) lasts me well over a month for one bun.

 

[GHbun]

At Petco I buy the Kaytee brand Soft Granule Bedding (the style without the dye).

[mocha200]

Posted By misskrisnyc on 07/23/2010 03:04 PM
Anyone have advice on where someone (like OP or… myself ) could get a solid little scoop to take out the wet spots? I too have a pee in one spot bun, but I think the normal litter scoops won’t work too well with the wet wood pellet stuff? Doesn’t it fall through?

 

i would try to use a food scooper for cats or dogs, i think that might work.

[lashkay]

i too have used Carefresh all through my first bunny’s 7 years and 4 months (she too was a Netherland dwarf) and for my second and third bunny and they all were mighty content with it. It stays dry to the touch when absorbed and is nice and gentle on the bunny’s tushie.I never tried anything else but I might switch to Petco’s Green Aspen pellets if it proves to track less than Carefresh. I’ve read lots of reviews of Green Aspen and they pretty much all claim that the odor control is very good and has a nice lemony woodsy scent even when soiled. I love Carefresh though, it’s become pretty much of a tradition for us! It may not be an easy choice.

[lashkay]

I read one review of a man saying his guinea pigs were sneezing from the Green Aspen litter because it essentially turns to “sawdust” after used. But the rest of the 39 out of 40 buyers had no such problem with it.

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