Organic Cat Litter
To summarize our take on Clay Clump Cat Litter and Silica Gel Crystal Cat Litter: the first one is very likely to seriously harm your cat, even causing death if not treated in time, and the second one shows evidence that it is best avoided if there are alternatives.
From the point of view of being eco friendly, neither is biodegradable, and adds to landfills, and the process of strip mining adopted to extract the main component of most clay based cat litter virtually mutilates the surface of the earth. Once again, both are best avoided if there are alternatives.
This article lists organic cat litter alternatives that you can use for manual scooping as well as in LitterMaid LM900 Mega Self-Cleaning Litter Box.
Let us also add that we have never used any of the brands in our cat shelter. We use a mix of sawdust and raw wheat chaff, and have found them very effective in both odor control and clumping property. ... Continue Reading
If you are planning to buy a self cleaning litter box and live near the coast, your best choice would be anything but Cat Genie. LitterMaid LM900 Mega Self-Cleaning Litter Box
PROBLEMS WITH LITTERMAID SELF CLEANING LITTER BOX
The basic problem is that LitterMaid works best with premium clay based clump litters which could kill your cat. ...Continue Reading
Automatic Litter Boxes like Cat Genie (also called a Self Cleaning Litter Box)save you the trouble of manually disposing of used litter.
We are personally familiar with only two brands of Self Cleaning Litter Box available in the market: Cat Genie 120 Self Cleaning-Self Flushing Litter Box
Cat Genie 120 Self Cleaning-Self Flushing Litter Box
This is perhaps the most well known among the automatic litter boxes available in the market, and has the unique flush away method of waste removal. Unfortunately, in some areas, you may be breaking the law if you use this particular system of automatic cat litter waste disposal system. For a very specific reason, this cat litter box somewhat unwittingly becomes a hazard to the environment. ,,,Continue Reading
Sodium Bentonite, perhaps the most popular constituent of clump cat litter, is obtained through strip mining.
There is obviously an environmental impact. Sodium Bentonite mining makes business sense only when it is found close to the surface. Therefore, it is strip mined for cat litter. The top layer of the earth (the overburden) is removed, when strip mining, to take out the clay. Even though there are laws that the land must be left as it was and filled and flattened, how scrupulously such laws can be followed is anyone’s guess.
RESOURCE/REFERENCE:
ANNIEKATEC.BLOGSPOT.COM | BEINGGORGEOUSLYGREEN.BLOGSPOT.COM | EARTHOBSERVATORY.NASA.GOV | GREATMINING.COM | GREENLIVINGTIPS.COM | PETGURU.WORDPRESS.COM | PLANETSAVE.COM | NMSEA.ORG
Coal is also obtained through strip mining. The following excerpt is relevant:
The Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act (SMCRA) was passed in 1977. This established federal regulations for surface mining and required federal permits for mining on federal land. The act also created the Office of Surface Mining (under the Department of the Interior) which was charged with restoring abandoned surface mines and enforcing the SMCRA regulations.
Difficulties with Reclamation Efforts
In general, however, reclamation can be very difficult. This is because the original ecosystem removed by the strip mine represents a delicate balance of plants, animals, microbes, and soil nutrients, and soil structure resulting from eons of plant succession and nutrient fluxes in and out of the system. Re-establishing this balance in the short-term is at best a scientifically challenging endeavor.
So much for post strip mining replenishment of the environment. ...Continue Reading
Dangers of Sodium Bentonite Cat Litter
Cat litter manufacturers are aware of the dangers. However, they will point out that it is your responsiblity as owner to keep your cats safe.
If there’s one thing you can be sure of, it is that cats will lick themselves after using the Bentonite Clay litter (or any cat litter) because this clumping agent will stick to their paws.
Every time your pets visit the litter box, they ingest the cat litter through inhalation and licking.
RESOURCE / REFERENCE:
CARE2.COM/GREEN LIVING | GCNM.ORG | THELIGHTHOUSEONLINE.COM | WIKIPEDIA.ORG
The Bentonite Clay litter accumulates in their stomach and swells, forming a hard lump that renders the stomach to the same state as blocked plumbing. The body will try to cleanse itself through repeated bouts of diarrohoea during which time the stomach can hardly absorb any nutrient. Unfortunately, only the diarrohoea is diagnosed by most doctors, and medicines prescribed upon vague diagnosis. The patient eventually succumbs to a very painful death. ...Continue Reading
Silica Gel Crystal is another variety of Cat Litter that is very popular in the market.
Silica gel is cat litter often touted as harmless to humans and animals alike. However, some people use crushed silica gel to kill bed bugs and cockroaches, apparently! Regarding silica gel, the following excerpts might serve to illustrate exactly how harmless it really is as cat litter.
We have been using “crystal” cat litter that is a silica gel for several months. It is far and away the best litter we’ve tried in terms of odor control and ease of use.
However there is a tremendous amount of dust emanating from the stuff. It is so heavy, I fill the box by taking it outside, holding the bag several feet above the box, and pouring slowly so the dust blows off in the breeze. I hold my breath too. If by chance I breathe it, intense coughing is the result.
I’ve also noticed a few times, that when the box is fresh, the cat will leave the box and wheeze a few times
That quote is from a real life user of silica gel cat litter. ...Continue Reading
