Alternative Cat Litter - Shredded Straw

[Cypress]

What started out as a go to for a bale of straw turned into quite a find on a new product. My local Agway sells a large bale of shredded straw neatly bagged in white plastic. It's about the size of a large bag of peat moss and very light weight. The original use is for my strawberry patch. But, it's such a fine shred that I tried it in the cat litter pan.

The cats gave it the okay. There is no odor, very clean and biodegradable. No it does not clump but the wasted litter is very visible and scoops out with a normal scooper. The bag cost $14.00 Highly recommend it for savings on cost and quality of product. I often wonder what is in the clay litter and where does it come from.

[awakenedsoul]

That's great. I use straw in my chicken coop. When I clean the coop, I put the manure and used staw in the compost pile. Once it breaks down, I feed it to my fruit trees.

[CeciliaW]

Ujm, clay litter is Clay, with different amounts of baking soda and other things added.

I know a potter who has on his property a large clay deposit. They make more money selling the kitty litter than the pots.

Wierdness.

[mamalatte]

I am taking care of a friend's kitty right now and the kitty litter she gave me to use is made out of pine.

[rodeosweetheart]

That sounds good, Cypress. I will check it out, as clay litter--even the cheapest unscented kind--has gotten expensive. Plus, clay litter is difficult and unsanitary to compost and really doesn't make good soil, unless you add many times the volume of vegetation to it. In this area, straw is a commodity, so someone is making a product similar to what you found. Will investigate and advise. Thanks.
Packy, we used straw for bedding the horse last winter and have utilized all the straw bedding in the garden. Not only does it biodegrade, it improves the soil tremendously, so I think the straw litter is a wonderful idea. It also masks any scent and is light to carry.

[Tussiemussies]

Would make sure the straw is organic.....

[Packratona!]

Horse bedding pellets. My sister swears by them for her 2 cats.