Oh my goodness! Thank you so much for sharing this information. I just
checked both types of litter I have in the house and neither have an
ingredient label. One is Fresh Step and the other is Premium Choice All
Natural Unscented. I just found the Premium Choice at Pet Supplies Plus and
haven't opened/tried it yet.
I tried Feline Pine previously, but the cats didn't like it. I used to use
something by Arm & Hammer that was almost like saw dust, but it was getting
so expensive as I took in more cats that I went back to the clumping clay -
not realizing the risks. I'll try the method you described using regular
litter and baking soda.
Thanks again for sharing this info. I'll be sure to pass it on to others I
know who are using the clumping litter.
Cindy
----- Original Message -----
From: "Natalie" <at...@optonline.net>
To: <felvtalk@felineleukemia.org>
Sent: Friday, July 08, 2011 8:36 AM
Subject: [Felvtalk] Clumping litter =
Here's more, and this is just the tip of the iceberg!
The #1 Authority On Pet Products, Care and Services Pet Owners Trust Most
Kitty Litter with a Serious Warning
Vets have been reporting more and more kitty illnesses related to litter.
Certain litters are actually causing serious problems for our feline
friends
including asthma, bronchitis, intestinal blockage and possibly even lung
cancer.
Most litters are loaded with chemicals to reduce odor and help with
absorption. These chemicals are released into the air when your cat digs
in
the litter box. The dust from the litter gets into the cat's lungs and can
wreak havoc on its immune system, putting his or her health in jeopardy.
With every visit to the litter box, your cat may be polluting its lungs.
Damage can occur in just a short period of time.
Clumping clay litter, which forms a hard ball when it gets wet, is one of
the most harmful types on the market. Several brands use this clay to make
their litter easier to scoop. What makes it clump? It's a natural clay
ingredient called sodium bentonite. In this case, "natural" is not always
safe. Here's the problem: When this clay gets wet it expands and forms a
hard mass. So when your cat or kitten digs in the litter box it's stirring
up clay dust and breathing it in. Once it gets into their lungs, it
expands
from the moisture, and in time builds up, causing all sorts of lung
problems
like the ones mentioned above.
Some clumping litters actually post a warning right on the bag; "Do Not
Let
Cat Ingest Litter". It is ridiculous to think that you can stop your cat
from breathing while visiting the litter box .You cannot stop your cat
from
grooming itself with its tongue or stop your new kitten from swatting and
nibbling on the litter. Anything their tongue contacts gets ingested. Once
the clay litter is inside the cat or kitten and expands, it not only could
cause dehydration by absorbing all the body's moisture, it could also form
a
hard mass in the intestines over a period of time, which could be fatal.
The problem of health difficulties and even deaths resulting from clumping
litters extend far beyond cats and kittens to ferrets, rabbits, and even
dogs that raid litter boxes. So what can you do? The solution is easy,
simple and inexpensive. Switch to a biodegradable, dust and clay free,
non-clumping litter. Many of these biodegradable litters are made from
recycled paper, which will help to save the environment as well as your
pet.
You can find these products almost anywhere, just read the label. If
you're
worried about odor, sprinkle a small amount of baking soda in with the
litter. It works better than litter deodorizers that just cover up odors
instead of absorbing them. You can also find a litter box with a top that
has a filter for odor control.
Now that you know some of the dangers and their solutions regarding kitty
litter, hope you will pass this information on to a friend. You could be
saving the health or life of an animal.
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