I use clumping litter for this exact reason. A good brand is "Ever Clean" which is sold only in pet stores, not groceries, so it's kinda pricey. $9 for ten pounds.

Yes, clumping litter is worth the extra $$$. In the long run, you use less since you're not throwing out a panful once or twice a week, as with the clay. We use ShopRite's store brand which isn't terribly expensive. Especially, if you're going to have the boxes in the living or sleeping area of the house, I think the clumping makes sense. Maybe try just one jug of it to see what you think, but remember to change over gradually (at first, mix it with your clay, until the cats get used to it. Some balk at an abrupt litter change). Your scoop will work fine with the clumping.

However, if you do decide to stick with the clay, I'd recommend against using any kind of utensil that's normally used for food. Get a garden trowel or something similar that wouldn't ever be used for food--a child's plastic beach shovel might be the right size. YOU might know that ice cream scoop is for the kitty's litter, but it would be terrible if at some point, someone confused it with an actual cooking/serving/eating utensil!

Clumping litter is definitely worth the extra money. The litter box stays cleaner because all waste is removed and there is less smell.

I use the clumping litter, but instead of the plastic litter scoop I use a slotted metal kitchen spoon (one of the large ones) that I purchased for that purpose. Much more sturdy and the holes are smaller.

I like the idea of the slotted spoon, Lydia. We have a restaurant supply place that might have a good one if I can't find one at Walmart, etc. No danger of getting it mixed up with utensils used for food, as I keep my litter scoop in a plastic bag inside a decorative box--and not in the kitchen.

Cost is a big factor in my decision not to use clumping litter. I haven't checked out the clumping products in a very long time, but I might at least take a look at what's available. In addition to not wanting to use an expensive product, I also wouldn't want one that contains sodium betonite. In any case, clumping litter isn't an option right now because it looks like I'm keeping one of the kittens (the orange one).

Thanks!

I only occasionally use a litter box in the garden shed. When I first used clay, I can't say I had much success with any scoop. I was frustrated with the smell, plus the cats would scratch it all over the place. Finally went to clumping crystals and I'm a believer! Used far less grains, easy to remove and it smelled so much better, for longer periods of time.
Gave the clay to my dh for oil spills.

Susan - you need a CatGenie. You'll never have to touch dirty litter again! It's a real innovation in feline accomdation -and it "washes, scrubs, scours and purities" the litter! It's a time saving miracle. It's only $269. plus several hundred more in dust free cat litter each year. And according to the web site it will allow you more free time to spend loving your cat.

Why stop there - now that you have 3 cats they could each have their own 'throne'.

Why I may just get a cat so that I too may own a CatGenie.

Here is a link that might be useful: cat genie video

When I had my cats I would buy a boc of Sifting Cat pan liners from Walmart (or ny place that sold them) They come 10 in a box You unfold all liners and place in the box the bottom liner has no holes It comes with a gigantic rubber band to fit around the box to hold the liners in place . Then it is simple to "lift" out the top liner and dispose of it easily. This is made for clumpong liter The old fashioned gravelly litter I use in the driveway on icy spots in the winter or to line a BBQ pit

I've been using clumping litter for over 25 years. You definitely use less than the plain clay litter. And there's far less smell because it dries quickly. We don't use the liners either - so that saves cost as well.

We buy the Exquisicat 40lb. box at PetSmart for $12.

That said, I can understand the challenge of scooping clay litter. It's not meant to be scooped so I'm not sure what you could use.

Way back when I used it, I just had to change the entire box and liner frequently. The box also used to get really dirty because the cat scratched the liners and the pee got underneath and soaked the bottom. I don't use a liner with the scoopable clumping litter because everything stays pretty dry. We just bleach out the boxes once every other week.

Maire, my birthday is in April, and I think three Cat Genies would be the perfect gift........if I can wait that long, of course!

LOL You're funny!

Exquisicat doesn't sound too atrociously expensive (although it's still double the cost of the stuff I buy). I'll check it out when the kitten is old enough to use clumping litter.

Thanks!

I hate, hate, hate clumping litter. For one thing, it gets tracked around and it feels like sand under my feet; I absolutely cannot stand it. For another thing, there have been times that I've noticed a cat limping and upon observation of their paws, I've found hard balls of litter stuck to their poor little paw pads. I hate the stuff and will not use it.

I use clay litter, but not the dollar store stuff. I think there are better qualities. I use Cat's Pride and pay about $3,50 for a 20 lb bag. I "scoop the poop", but I don't try to scoop the pee, for the same reason you mention. I change the litter boxes about every 2 days and the cats seem very happy. Also, no smell.

I use Dollar Tree's cat litter for filling a small sand bucket that smokers uses for an ashtry. Outdoors!

I would not use clumping litter due to the hazards to cat health, I was using the clay based litter then my vet suggested litter that was made from wood by product(feline pine) and there is also one that is made from newspaper(yesterdays news). It is a good healthy alternative.
one of many informative articles on the dangers of bentonite containing clumping litters with good alternatives.
Bad kitty litter

I like the EverClean as well. It's more expensive but it clumps really well and never, ever, ever smells. Seriously I can stand by it on a warm afternoon before it's been cleaned and I can't smell a thing. You also never have to dump the whole box because it clumps so well so it saves money.

I use the special kitty brand from walmart. It's 6.22 for 28 pounds. It just says scoopable on the box.

How dangerous can clumping litter be? I have a Himalayan cat who has never used anything but clumping litter--the average lifespan for her breed is 12-13 years. She'll be 20 on her next b'day, and other than one incident of food allergies when I extravagantly sprang for 'good' cat food for her, she's never been sick or under the weather a day of her life.

There may be a danger in some circumstances, but hey--it can't be that bad if my cat's lived as long and healthily as she has.

Ah yes - the boutique litters - the crystals, the pine, the newspaper - are all just lovely. And expensive.

We have rescued strays, and the boutique litters would be too expensive to allow us to take in as many cats as we do. I doubt many shelters are able to use them either.

And as Azzalea points out - clumping litter has been around for years and there is no evidence that it is harmful. Our oldest cat lived to be 20 - the youngest died at 15.

The clumping litter scare has been around forever, and there has never been any proof that it is harmful. Surely it would have become obvious by now. Use what works for you and don't feel guilty about it.

Here is a link that might be useful: The Other Side of the Story

The clumping litter thing is good fodder for emails and that's about it. Not one reputable place has ever supported that hysteria. But back to the topic.

Do you have a Mill's Fleet Farm nearby? Possibly other farm type stores might have deals too but I can buy 40# clumping cat litter at Fleet Farm for $7.49 full retail and they often put it on sale for as low as $5.50. Excellent cat litter too. Worked well in the Litter Maid and not all of the cheap stuff will. I don't go there often anymore so I haven't checked for a while plus I stocked up on different sales at Target. They often have sales where you buy 2 and get a $5 gift card at the register. That made the Tidy Cats 35# bucket about $9.50 and one time I had a $1 coupon so that's $8.50 for 35#. Tidy Cats is pretty good. Also bought some Scoop Away that netted out at about $11 for 2-28# (56# total) after the gift card deducted.

The worst stuff I ever used was Cats Pride. I got that for what I thought was a great deal but ugh, awful stuff. Never again.

We too have used clumping litter for a very long time, my cats have lived long lives, all we have had pass have done so over the age of 15. All the breeders I know use clumping litter in their catteries, that's good enough for me!

I keep 4 boxes going for 3 1/4 cats (3 maine coons and one kitten!) and we use the bulk Petco litter in them all. No complaints about it all, I don't seem to have tracking troubles and have only rarely found it clumped on paws.

Clumping litter has been around FOREVER. It's used by shelters, by animal hospitals, by tens of millions of cat owners over decades.

Use what you can afford, and don't worry about it. You are taking care of an animal that otherwise might not have had a chance. Good for you.

One more thought about clay litter and then I'm done.

One of the reasons I switched to clumping when it first became available was because I was always concerned about bacteria and parasites and other creepy crawlies thriving in litter where the waste just sat. I worried about urinary tract infections with my first male cat.

At least with the clumping litter, the pee and the feces dry out pretty quickly and nothing is left to "marinate". I think it's much more sanitary for all concerned. In a multi-cat household, I feel more comfortable with all that waste being desciccated immediately.

We have 10 cats, downstairs we have two very large bins that we use extra fine cedar shavings. We have two diabetics that have to be kept upstairs for food and shots. One of them is declawed and had a horrible time with the shavings and the clay litter was almost worse for him. He hated the clumps on his feet and the dust. I hated the dust even more. Upstairs we now keep a 30 gallon rubbermaid tub/lid with two cut out doors on the side. We only use corn litter. It can be found at tractor and supply stores. It's costly initially however we use just as much of it as the clay stuff we were going through. There is no smell, no dust and it clumps well. It was definately worth the extra cost initially but to maintain it, like I said it's about the same as the clay litter.