Now that we’re recovered from Litter Week, it’s time to start thinking about the next theme. Here are a few ideas that I’m playing with:

• What’s To Eat Week - Featuring info on new diets and nutrition for cats, the latest feeding gear, and tasty treats.
• Spa Week - Everything you need to know about grooming and pampering kitty.
• Non-profit and Rescue Week - This doesn’t have to do with fancy gear, but it’s a chance to highlight those special organizations in the US and elsewhere who work so hard to make the world a better place for our feline friends.
• TNR Week - What it is, why it’s important, and how you can get involved, including lots of online and local resources.

So please, send me an email (kate [at] moderncat [dot] net) and let me know what you think of these ideas, or sugguest other themes. I want to know what you’re interested in! And if you have product recommendations or other info related to these themes, please send that in, too!

Congratulations to Jessica, winner of the designer cat ID tag from Pretty Paws Accessories! Don’t worry if you didn’t win this time, because Pretty Paws is offering a special discount code for Moderncat readers.

Get 10% off and free worldwide shipping on any designer cat ID tag!

Just enter MODERNCATTAG at the checkout page. The discount code will be applied only to any cat ID tags that you purchase and it is good for all orders placed through December 25, 2008.

Muppet is going to get her surgery! In fact, the surgery is scheduled for December 3rd because so many generous people made contributions and enough money has already been raised. Muppet’s mom Cheryl sent me an email thanking everyone from the Moderncat community for helping to save Muppet’s life. Cheryl and Muppet are incredibly grateful!

If you’re on Catster, you can read updates about Muppet’s surgery on her profile page.

Thank you all so much!

The super-cool vintage fabric cat beds from Like Kittysville, originally made with a wood base, are now available with an ultra-mod clear acrylic base. These beds look like they’re floating on air! Check out the Like Kittysville Etsy store to see what’s currently available. Also, take a look at these fabric selections, all available for custom orders.

Check out the place that this handsome cat gets to call home. Fetaured on a recent AT House Tour, Marvimon is an incredible industrial loft space in Los Angeles that functions as home to owners Sherry and Miguel as well as a location for high-end special events.

As you may recall, last year we got involved with a massive cat rescue through Best Friends Animal Society. As a result of our volunteer experience with this project, four of the almost 800 cats who were rescued from this institutional hoarding situation, are now members of the Moderncat household — Flora and Dazzler call me mom and Sebastian and Ginseng are happy to have Peter as their cat dad.

Well, we just learned that another cat, Muppet, who also came from this rescue, is in serious need of an expensive operation to relieve the intense pain in her ears. Muppet’s mom is one of the brave people who helped bring attention to the horrible conditions that these cats were in. Please see this story on Caster for more information on Muppet’s condition and for ways that you can help.

Ando really wants a Roomba!

This one gives Bumper Bed a new meaning!

Go Suki!

There’s nothing better than a product design company that listens to its customers and actually makes changes based on what they hear. That’s exactly what Hepper Home has done. They used customer feedback to improve their already super-cool Pod Bed. The new design features a larger opening, a sturdier frame, and a removable, washable pad liner that is two-sided with coordinating microfiber or herringbone weave on one side and snuggly sherpa fleece on the other. Wow! I didn’t think they could improve the Pod Bed, but they did!

Don’t worry, the top is still removable so kitty can find interesting new ways to be entertained with it, just like our favorite fluff-ball Goma demonstrates here:

Moderncat luvz Goma!

Another elegant new product from The Refined Feline — Cat Clouds climbing shelves. These super stong metal shelves give the impression that cats are floating on a cloud. The platforms are covered with soft pillows to make a comfortable perch for kitty. Cat Clouds will be available in December in a variety of colors, still to be determined.

These stylish ID tags for cats are not only cute, but they are quite durable, too. Made from stainless steel with enamel designs, they come in a variety of colors and styles. The manufacturer, Pretty Paws Accessories, will engrave each tag with your customized message. Pretty Paws is based in the UK but they ship anywhere. They also have a big selection of adorable cat collars.

BONUS GIVEAWAY!

Pretty Paws Accessories is offering one free cat ID tag to a lucky Moderncat reader! To enter the drawing, please visit the Pretty Paws website then come back HERE and leave a comment ON THIS POST telling us your favorite cat ID tag design and what color you would choose. Entries must be received by midnight on Friday, November 21, 2008. A random winner will be chosen on Saturday. The best news: this giveaway is open to EVERYONE, EVERYWHERE!

Congratulations to Beverly from Los Angeles, winner of a Bumper Bed from West Paw Design! Beverly customized her new bed by choosing a chocolate bumper with a putty pillow. Enjoy!

Thank you to everyone for making Litter Week such a huge success! Thanks for all the great comments and emails — it’s so nice to see that we all share many of the same concerns around this topic.

We sure did cover a lot of ground this week! From which litter to use, to where to put the litter, to how to control the odor, to what to do with the waste — I hope everyone learned a little something that can help make their lives, and the lives of their cats, just a little bit better.

And now for the giveaway winners!

• Andrea (comment 283) is the winner of a brand new LitterPod modern covered litter box!
• Keatra (comment 133) will get to test all the Odorzout products to combat the odor in her basement!
• Heather (comment 175) gets her very own Smart Cat Box so she can see just how easy it is to empty the pee tray!

The winner of the Kick Litter book will be announced next week.

Didn’t win, but still want to try these awesome products? Here are some great deals just for Moderncat readers:

• $2.00 off your order of any Odorzout products. Just place your order at www.odorzout.com and enter coupon code: ModernCat at checkout.
• Get a 20% discount when you order either the Smart Cat Box Starter Kit or the Value Pak. Enter discount code: MC1108 at checkout. discount code is good through December 31, 2008.

So thanks again and please leave a comment or send an email to let us know what other topics you would like to see featured in a theme-week.

This is a follow-up to my first natural cat litter comparison in which I tested Arm & Hammer High Performance, Swheat Scoop (regular strength), World’s Best Cat Litter (multi-cat strength), and Nature’s Miracle. If you haven’t read it yet, please also see the original post What’s In Your Litter Box to learn more about the dangers of clay and silica based cat litters and why natural litters are the way to go.

. . .

As the grand finale to Litter Week, I had to post about my recent findings in the world of natural cat litter. Since the last comparison, I found three more natural litters to test, all available at PetSmart. This time I tried PaPurr Scoop, Swheat Scoop multi-cat strength, and Feline Pine Clumping. Here are my observations:

PaPurr Scoop

I really like this litter but it is hard to find. I purchased it at one Petsmart in my area, but I have never seen it at any other stores. I also can’t find the manufacturer online, so if you have any information, please leave a comment. PaPurr Scoop really does look and feel like clay litter but it is made from recycled paper. The texture is like soft little beads and it is a bit dusty, but not nearly as bad as clay litter. It has a soft scent that smells like lightly scented paper, and it did a pretty good job at odor control. Good clumping, especially if liquids are left alone for awhile before scooping. This one is safe for flushing in small amounts because it is biodegradable.

Swheat Scoop Multi-cat Strength

Swheat scoop multi-cat strength seems to be slightly better than the regular strength. Better clumping but still a lot of dust, so I’m avoiding it because of my gluten intolerance. If you like Swheat Scoop, I’d go with the multi-cat strength.

Feline Pine Clumping

Feline Pine clumping litter is from the same company that makes the Feline Pine pellets. A lot of cats don’t like the pellets, including mine, so I was excited to try this one. This is one of my favorites because it has a pleasant scent of sawdust and it clumps reasonably well. It is very light and easy to carry, which is great, but that also means that it tracks easily. However, it doesn’t hurt when you step on it, like the pellets do. The cats seem to like the texture, but it’s not outstanding on odor control and I find that the clumps sometimes get stuck to the bottom of the box and you really have to scrape to get them off. I have to do a complete hose-down of the litter box more frequently when using this litter.

A word about the pine pellets

There are a few different brands, including the original Feline Pine pellets. These pellets break down when they come in contact with liquid and turn to sawdust. You are supposed to shake the box to let the sawdust settle to the bottom and scoop the solids. I thought it became a big mess and most of my cats hated the pellets, but lots of people and cats love them. If you do, you may want to know about the special litter box that was created for use with the pellets, the Feline Pine Self-cleaning Litter Box. It has a perforated upper compartment that lets the sawdust fall into the lower portion of the box, making things a little neater. This also extends the life of the pellets because they are not being thrown away with the sawdust, plus it reduces tracking because the sawdust is contained in the lower part of the box.

Arm & Hammer High Performance Has a New Name

Just a note, the Arm & Hammer High Performance natural clumping litter reviewed in our first natural litter comparison has changed it’s name and packaging. It is now part of the Arm & Hammer Essentials line, but as far as I can tell, it is the same corn-based litter but with a new, incredibly obnoxious scent. The old A&H High Performance had a strong perfume-y smell and the new Essentials litter has a different and even stronger perfume-y smell. At first I liked it because it’s kind of fresh smelling, but after living with it in the box, I just couldn’t stand it. Otherwise it performs about the same — light and fluffy texture, low dust, okay clumping.

Warning! Fresh Results Natural Litter is Not the Same Quality!

I found a natural corn-based litter called Fresh Results at Walmart for a really good price. It looked and smelled exactly like the Arm & Hammer natural litter, so I assumed they were the same. They are not! I really noticed a difference in the quality of the Fresh Results - very bad clumping and almost no odor control. It’s certainly better than the clay choices available at Walmart, but please know that this is not the best natural litter out there. It’s very disappointing because that was a great move for Walmart to put in a natural litter, but now people might switch back to clay after having a bad experience with natural litter.

New natural litters to try

I found some new natural litters at the pet expo, although they are not easy to find yet. Here are a couple that I have yet to test:

Green Tea Leaves Clumping Cat Litter

Green Tea Leaves clumping litter is wood-based plus it is made with green tea leaves that contain catechin, a natural tannin that helps fight odors and is anti-bacterial.

Close to Naturenow Organic Soybean Cat Litter

This one sounds great! It’s from The Organic Farm Store. The litter is 100% organic and all natural. It is made from soybean meal for superior clumping and granulated potato starch to enhance odor control. It is biodegradable and flushable and supposedly low tracking. I can’t wait to try this one!

What are you using?

Please leave your comments about these natural litters or any others that you have tried. If more of us show interest in natural cat litter, it should trigger the litter manufacturers to make improvements and continue developing new alternative natural litters that are healthy for cats, people, and the environment.

. . .

Please read the following posts to learn more about flushing cat litter:

• Flushing Cat Feces May Be Harmful to Wildlife
• Test Before You Flush

I can’t believe I got this photo! Here is Ando doing the thing I mentioned in the Litter-Robot review! That’s his poo face!

“Mom! How embarassing!”

Composting is one of the best ways to reduce your contribution to the landfill, but it can be a lot of work. Also, as we’ve learned this week, cat waste needs to be handled carefully to avoid the possible spread of certain parasites. The Naturemill pet-friendly composer addresses both these issues. It makes composting very easy and is designed specifically to handle pet waste.

This special version of the Naturemill composter can take all kinds of pet waste, cat litter and even cage bedding. You can also throw in kitchen scraps. It is rated for heavy use, including outdoor use all year round.

You simply add waste — up to 120 lbs per month — to the upper chamber where “hot composting” conditions destroy odors, pathogens and seed germination. The compost is automatically transferred to the lower cure tray where it continues to compost, allowing you to add more items to the upper chamber. Read more on their How It Works page.

They recommend using pet waste compost on trees and shrubs only, not on fruits and vegetables for human consumption, but it will provide you with an endless supply of nitrogen-rich compost. The Naturemill composter is energy efficient (only 5 kwh/month, or about $.50/month), it’s made from recycled and recyclable materials, and one unit can divert over two tons of waste from landfills over its life. That’s huge!

I’ve had my Smart Cat Box in use for about a week now and I’m happy to report that I am very pleased with it. There were several questions from readers, so I will try to address as many as I can.

First, they have been using it! At least Flora has. I’ve seen her several times, but she has only been peeing in it. The reservoir is incredibly easy to empty and very stable when moving it to the toilet. I do have mine set-up right next to the toilet, so that makes it easier, but the container is sealed quite well with a lid that has a pour spout at one corner. Just pour through the spout and you’re good. I haven’t really noticed much odor, but I’ve been emptying it right away because I’m so excited every time she uses it. I have to say, if I needed to test the urine (and could isolate exactly whose urine I had) this would be a godsend! It would make it incredibly easy and sanitary.

NEWS FLASH! Sophie, my senior floor-peer, just used the Smart Cat Box last night! Up until now she has just been peeing on the bath mat right next to the box, but last night I heard someone in there and I couldn’t believe my eyes, it was Sophie! She peed and then hopped out and went to the kitchen for a bite to eat. Five minutes later she came back a pooed in the Smart Cat Box — the first one! Yea Sophie!

Some people asked about how well the safflower seed litter covers solids and conceals odor. I’d have to say probably no better or worse than any other natural litter. If you scoop right away and use some Odorzout it helps. But not having to dig around, breaking up the clumps of pee and making a horrible mess like with other litters, that is a huge improvement! Separating solid from liquid is a great idea.

Does the seed litter track? Yes, a fair amount. It seems to get stuck in their toes but they don’t get very far with it and if you step on it, it doesn’t hurt nearly as much as stepping on the pine pellets.

Since I’ve only had it in use for a week, I haven’t yet had to worry about extensive cleaning, but the instructions say, to refresh the seeds, spray lightly with Clorox Anywhere (apparently it has a small amount of bleach and is considered non-toxic) and allow to dry. For more extensive cleaning, remove the litter, clean and dry the box thoroughly, then replace the seeds. Apparently, one 5 lb bag of seed litter can last weeks or months, depending on how many cats are using the box. You really only loose a few seeds each time you scoop, if the solids are well-formed, because the seeds do not really stick to the solids.

The winner of the Smat Cat Box giveaway will be announced later today, so stay tuned!

Now that I’ve done some research on flushing cat litter (please see post #1 and post #2 regarding this controversial topic) I can safely say that if you have taken the necessary precautions and considered the pros and cons of toilet training your cat, then there are some terrific resources out there to help you with the challenge.

For one, check out this adorable new book Kick Litter by Perre DiCarlo. It is the story of his two “litter addicts” Moxie and Cooper and how they got over their addiction to the sandy stuff and now prefer porcelain.

With some very hip graphics from San Francisco-based design firm Chen Design Associates, this little book would make a great gift for anyone considering making the change.

The author is an award winning Hollywood web designer and a great cat dad. He has created two hysterical blogs, Miss Litter (Moxie’s) and Dig Litter (Cooper’s), where his two fabulous felines blog about their experience with toilet training, complete with tons of videos and photos.

BONUS GIVEAWAY!

As the final giveaway for Litter Week, one lucky person will get a special advance copy of Kick Litter. Please leave a comment on this post telling us about your experiences with toilet training or why you think your cat would take to it. I’ll give you a few extra days so you have until next Friday, November 21 to enter. The winner will be chosen in a random drawing and announced next week.

This is a follow-up to the original post Toilet Training Your Cat…Flushing Feces May Be Harmful to Wildlife. Please note that I made some modifications to the original post, including changing the post title and changing the headline “Flushing cat feces is killing sea otters” to “Flushing cat feces *may be* killing sea otters.” I also added a note at the bottom of the post with further clarification about cats and the parasite.

*  *  *

Thank you so much to everyone who sent in emails or left comments on yesterday’s post about the possible connection between flushing cat feces and dying sea otters. It is definitely a controversial topic and I’m glad we can have an open forum here where everyone can contribute and hopefully come to a better understanding of the situation.

As pointed out in the original post, there is scientific evidence that the parasite Toxoplasma gondii can be found in cat feces and that the same parasite has caused the death of sea otters in California. However, saying that flushing cat feces is killing the sea otters may be a bit extreme. Several things have been pointed out:

• Not all cats carry this parasite.
• Cats contract the parasite by coming in contact with infected rodents.
• If a cat becomes infected, they only shed the infectious oocysts (egg stage of the parasite) for a short period of time, somewhere between 10 days and three weeks, according to various sources.
• After this period, apparently the cat’s feces is no longer infectious.
• Outdoor cats are more likely to become infected by this parasite.
• The parasite may actually be killed by sewage treatment, although I’ve seen arguments on both sides of this issue. If this is the case, however, it could be assumed that the majority of parasites being passed into the ocean are from feral and outdoor cat waste being washed into storm drains, not from flushing the feces of uninfected indoor-only cats.
• I read in a couple of places that the parasite is not found in human or dog feces, only feline.
• Apparently, when infected feces is deposited into a landfill, it does not leach into the ground water because landfills have a protective barrier preventing toxic debris from leaving the landfill (disgusting, but that’s an entirely different topic and problem.)

So what does this mean?

If you have your cat’s feces tested for Toxoplasma gondii and it comes back negative AND your cat is indoor only AND any other cats that you bring into your house test negative for the parasite, it is probably okay to flush your cat’s feces, either by scooping or by toilet training your cat.

How else can you help?

1. If you find cat feces outdoors from strays, ferals or indoor-outdoor housecats, DO NOT hose it down the storm drain. Instead dispose of it in the trash.
2. GET INVOLVED with a local TNR (trap/neuter/return) program to help reduce the number of stray and feral cats in your area. Help to find homes for the cats who are adoptable and sterilize the feral cats so they don’t produce more homeless kittens. Someday EVERY cat will have a loving home (but that’s a completely different topic, too!)

Thanks again and please keep the comments coming!

There are lots of cute products and books out there for teaching you how to toilet train your cat, so I sat down today to write about some of them as part of Litter Week. But as I researched, I found some very troubling information that I have to share with you.

Flushing Cat Feces *may be* Killing Sea Otters

It’s a complicated issue. Here’s how I understand it:

• Cat feces can* contain a dangerous parasite called Toxoplasma gondii, the same parasite that can cause birth defects in humans, which is why pregnant women are warned not to come in contact with cat feces.
• This parasite is not destroyed by sewage treatment and eventually makes its way into the ocean.
• Once in the ocean the parasite sinks to the bottom where it is consumed by creatures like crabs and sea stars, which are in turn eaten by sea otters. Sea otters are particularly susceptible to the parasite which causes brain damage and death.
• This is of particular concern on the California coast where the sea otter population that was once 15,000 has dwindled to 2,500. Research has shown that “in 17 percent of dead otters examined by the state Department of Fish and Game, the parasite was the primary cause of death” (source: Sacramento Bee, April 2, 2006).
• Flushing cat feces is not the only contributor to the problem. Feces from outdoor cats and feral cats can also make its way into the sewage system.

Please take this seriously

It is said that sea otters act as excellent sentinels, in the same way that canaries once did in mines, signaling larger problems in the ecosystem. So even if you think that by flushing cat feces you can’t possibly be affecting the sea otters in California, please think again.

What can you do to help?

Don’t flush cat feces. Recent legislation passed in California requiring labeling on all flushable cat litter warning consumers about the dangers of flushing cat feces. Instead, it is recommended that you deposit the feces in the trash. To minimize impact on the landfill, use a biodegradable litter and biodegradable bag, like paper bags when disposing of cat feces.

You can also look into some specific methods of composting that use the proper combination of time and temperature and can actually kill the parasite and create usable compost material. Stay tuned for more information.

*NOTE: This is a complicated issue because not all cats get the parasite and when they do they only shed the parasite for a specific period of time. Indoor only cats are less likely to have the parasite than outdoor cats. It is possible to have your cat’s feces tested if you want to toilet train your cat or flush waste. PLEASE do not think that this is any cause for anyone to get rid of a cat! The situation can be dealt with!

Resources:
Toxoplasmosis Fact Sheet from the CDC
Sea Otters and Cat Feces - About.com: Cats
Cat Crap Showcase - Squidoo.com
Cat Poop & Sea Otters - Truffula Tuft
Monterey Bay Aquarium
Friends of the Sea Otter

* * *

Please see the follow-up to this post for more information on this topic.

I made another great find at the SuperZoo Pet Expo back in September and I’ve been looking forward to sharing this one with you. The Smart Cat Box is in my opinion one of the very best natural litter systems on the market. I met the inventor, Sarah Maguire, President of Providence House Manufacturing and immediately understood that she is completely dedicated to creating an alternative cat litter box that is healthier for you and your cat and better for the environment.

The Smart Cat Box is the original patented two-part litter box. You may have seen another two-part box from a large manufacturer recently. This other two part-box uses plastic pellets and replaceable pads, both items that require repeat purchases (see my Litter Locker review to read about how happy refill purchases make me.) This other box has been getting good reviews, but I want you to know about the Smart Cat Box and why I think it is a much better choice.

The Smart Cat Box uses all-natural, non-absorbent litter pellets and a patented two-part box design to separate solid and liquid waste. The top portion of the box holds natural safflower seed litter that allows urine to pass through the slotted floor into a covered urine collection reservoir below. Solids can be easily scooped from the litter pellets and liquids are disposed of by emptying the reservoir. By separating solid and liquid waste and containing urine in a covered reservoir, the Smart Cat Box dramatically reduces unwanted odors.

Healthy for Cats & People
Recent concern about the dangers of using clay and clumping cat litters that contain silica and sodium bentonite has caused consumers to seek out natural litter alternatives. The safflower seed litter used in the Smart Cat Box is completely natural and safe for both cats and humans.

Collecting liquid waste separately also allows cat owners to easily test blood sugar levels in urine for diabetic and special needs cats. This feature of the Smart Cat Box makes it an excellent tool for both cat owners and veterinarians who need to regularly monitor a cat’s health.

Healthy for the Environment
Traditional clay litters have a negative impact on the environment on both ends of the lifecycle since clay litter is a non-renewable resource that is gathered by strip mining and it never biodegrades when placed in a landfill. The safflower seed litter used in the Smart Cat Box is made from a renewable resource that is fully biodegradable and is grown in the U.S.

I am currently testing the Smart Cat Box and so far, so good. The reservoir is very easy to empty and the cats seem to like the safflower seed pellets. I added on the extender walls (shown below) to give the sides of the box a little more height to prevent litter from being kicked out. The pellets are completely dust free and I imagine if there is an issue with odor that sprinkling a little Odorzout over the seeds would take care of it.

SMART CAT BOX GIVEAWAY!

One lucky winner is going to receive a free Smart Cat Box starter kit which includes the box, a 5 lb bag of safflower seed litter and a scoop. To enter, please leave a comment on this post and be sure to include your email address in the email field. All entries must be received by midnight on Friday, November 14. The winner will be selected in a random drawing on Saturday.