The Great DCUM Discussion on Kitty Litter of All Time

[Anonymous]

We used disposable trays, or a dome with yesterday's news or feline pine. With a mat catcher in front. Nothing else was great

[Anonymous]

We have tried so many and have had issues with everything. A decade ago we had good luck with feline pine (non-clumping) for covering odor but the pellets were huge. We switched to their scoopable but it didn’t work as well but once our cat tried that one he refused to go back in to pellets. Then they changed the formula a few years ago. It was not absorbing odor so we moved to Fresh Step. We tried every single Fresh Step formulation. Some were unbearably dusty or tracked terribly. Others didn’t control odor. Now we use Worlds Best (low tracking). It’s much better than the others but still dusty. I’m still on the hunt! Maybe I’ll have to try Dr Elseys.

Before our current cats we had tried Tidy Cat and Arm & Hammer but didn’t like them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We have tried so many and have had issues with everything. A decade ago we had good luck with feline pine (non-clumping) for covering odor but the pellets were huge. We switched to their scoopable but it didn’t work as well but once our cat tried that one he refused to go back in to pellets. Then they changed the formula a few years ago. It was not absorbing odor so we moved to Fresh Step. We tried every single Fresh Step formulation. Some were unbearably dusty or tracked terribly. Others didn’t control odor. Now we use Worlds Best (low tracking). It’s much better than the others but still dusty. I’m still on the hunt! Maybe I’ll have to try Dr Elseys.

Before our current cats we had tried Tidy Cat and Arm & Hammer but didn’t like them.

I’m the PP who switched from World’s Best to Dr. Eliseys due to the dusty, tracking issues with World’s Best. And what convinced me was the Wirecutter recommendation. It’s not perfect, but it clumps well enough (not as well as WB, but we’ll enough), but is significantly less tracking while still offering a sandy texture for a cat who needs that. I wouldn’t call it the platonic ideal (that would be a cat who independently uses the toilet), but it’s a happy medium.

[Anonymous]

When I had a cat (RIP), after years of trial my final set up was:
-Fresh Step clumping litter, get the giant box or the big two-pack
-Booda Box dome box with the walk up ramp
-Extra large liner that fit the booda box.
-Heavy duty litter scoop not the cheap metal one
-litter mat that was big enough to set the entire box on, the big gray one that looks like artificial turf
-entire setup in basement on concrete floor
-scoop daily


That setup worked well as long as I kept it clean daily

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Tidy Cats Free & Clean + top entry litter box. I love the top entry so much.

+1 for top entry litter boxes. It keeps them from shoveling litter out the opening, and most of the litter comes off their paws when they jump out.

[Anonymous]

I'm fascinated that so many of you say that Dr. Elsys's does not track or isn't dusty. I've tried several bags, and it tracks considerably on my domestic short hair kitty, and generates a cloud of dust every time I scoop around.

[Anonymous]

With my previous cats, I tried a lot of different litter and boxes. I think in the end, I ended up using World's Best the most. When we got our new cat a year ago, to get us started I bought the largest open litter box at Pet Smart and Ever Clean Extra Strength litter. I've been very happy with it. I thought I wanted to try something like pine pellets. But, I have no reason to switch now. Maybe later. I also got a huge stainless steel litter box but haven't used it yet.

[Anonymous]

Where is Martha Stewart when you need her?

[Anonymous]

https://www.amazon.com/Naturally-Fresh-Cat-Litter-Quick-Clumping/dp/B07CJJQK8D
Not mentioned yet is Naturally Fresh walnut litter. No dust, no tracking everywhere. Just a little scatter when our cat hops out.

[Anonymous]

Dr. Elsey's here also.

[Anonymous]

I've have had cats for 20+ years. Tried all the litter/box combinations, including spending more than 1k for 2 Litter Robots. The house always had an odor till I got it down 3 years ago.

--- eWheat cat litter, no odor and low dust, minimum tracking;
--- 2 huge stainless steel pens, easy for the cat to use, easy for me to wash and no lingering odor like the plastic pens or litter robot drums;
--- 2 small pop-up greenhouses over the cat boxes to limit dust and tracking;
--- non-sticky litter scoop for daily scooping.

Finally the cat is happy and the house is odor free.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I've have had cats for 20+ years. Tried all the litter/box combinations, including spending more than 1k for 2 Litter Robots. The house always had an odor till I got it down 3 years ago.

--- eWheat cat litter, no odor and low dust, minimum tracking;
--- 2 huge stainless steel pens, easy for the cat to use, easy for me to wash and no lingering odor like the plastic pens or litter robot drums;
--- 2 small pop-up greenhouses over the cat boxes to limit dust and tracking;
--- non-sticky litter scoop for daily scooping.

Finally the cat is happy and the house is odor free.

Wait, I need more info about the pop up greenhouse. How does that limit dust? It's not like a plant inhales dust like a vacuum.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Tidy Cats Free & Clean + top entry litter box. I love the top entry so much.

That's what we use, too, for our three cats It does still track litter but it's manageable - I just sweep/vacuum a lot.

[Anonymous]

We use Boxiecat Extra Strength. Ridiculously expensive, but we only have one cat now. She’s old and she likes it.

We used Dr Elsey’s World’s Best for years, but it changed during the pandemic— clouds of dust everywhere.

We have a relentless Lab mix and no basement so my solution to him raiding the box:
* Ikea lack side table, fits perfectly over top of
* Amazon Basics No-Mess Hooded Cat Litter Box, Standard, Multicolor, 21 in x 16 in x 15 in

Underneath I put this mat, also Amazon:
Pieviev Cat Litter Mat Double Layer Waterproof Urine Proof Trapping Mat 1 Pack (30''X24'', Gray)

It is set up in a corner, with the box entrance facing a wall with a small alleyway for my cat to enter between the chest and wall. There is a heavy chest next to the table which hides it and keeps our dog out. Just slide the box out to scoop and slide right back in. Super easy.

Zero smell. No tracking. Took 30 years of loving with cats and dogs to find an easy solution!