var json_comments = new Array("
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pecan 3.14159265
July 27, 2009 11:51 PM
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I don't care how environmentally friendly this kitty litter is, there's no way I'd be dealing with bugs.

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7 replies
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Shadowman615
July 28, 2009 4:02 PM
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@pecan 3.14159265: Yup. Another good reason not to buy expensive \"organic\" crap.

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Pipes
July 28, 2009 6:52 PM
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@Shadowman615: Don't paint \"organic\" with the same brush until you've tried it. I currently use World's Best, which is corn-based (I have also used Shwheat Scoop, which is wheat-based). World's Best smells great - NO ODOR whatsoever - it clumps awesome, no dust at all. Best of all, it's flushable. So I scoop the box every day, throw it in the toilet, and it's done. And I've never seen any bugs.

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The Porkchop Express
July 28, 2009 12:43 PM
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@pecan 3.14159265: nevermind that the bugs have now crawled through cat poo and are going to crawl elsewhere...like on your english muffin, leaving bacteria and the like in your nooks and crannies.

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Jim Topoleski
July 28, 2009 3:11 AM
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@pecan 3.14159265: So the shits no problem, its the bugs that bother you?

Methinks your priorities are a bit screwy.

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pecan 3.14159265
July 28, 2009 1:09 PM
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@Jim Topoleski: If I choose to have a cat, I choose to deal with all the things that cats do. Eat food off my plate, chew on my shoes, scratch my furniture, go to the bathroom. I would never choose to accept kitty litter with a free side of insect infestation!

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halothane
July 28, 2009 3:20 AM
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@Jim Topoleski: Shit doesn't fly around or crawl in your ear when you're trying to sleep! Gaaaaaah!

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Stephen Schenck
July 27, 2009 11:53 PM
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All the cats I've ever had LIKE eating bugs.

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6 replies
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glennski
July 28, 2009 12:57 PM
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@Stephen Schenck:

My cat has been in the habit of capturing and devouring houseflies. Of course he is a 20 pound behemoth so maybe I should break him of this habit.

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Trai_Dep
July 28, 2009 3:43 PM
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@glennski: You're going to need to get a bigger housefly.

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Trai_Dep
July 28, 2009 6:33 AM
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@Stephen Schenck: They could get away with repositioning it as combined kitty litter and play-pen and charge extra for it. I'm pretty sure I wouldn't pay extra, but my cats sure would.
The bad news is their currency is hairballs and half-chewed insects.

@madanthony: Mine make enough of a ruckus until I lift them up over my head (so their upper body is free) and run around the room after the moth. They purr and point around the room with their deliriously swiping paws. Let's see a Rotweiller owner try that!

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yggdriedi
July 28, 2009 7:57 AM
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My guess is that cats don't want to associate litterboxes with food, in the same way you wouldn't eat out of your toilet.

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madanthony
July 28, 2009 1:11 AM
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@Stephen Schenck:

My cat will spend hours meowing at a moth on the ceiling. She seems completely uninterested in the ants that seem to infest my kitchen every summer, though.

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mythago
July 28, 2009 1:00 AM
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@Stephen Schenck: Yeah, I was wondering how she actually found the bugs. Maybe the cats were full?

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Zagroseckt
July 27, 2009 11:57 PM
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Solution.

1. Toss out the infested litter.

2. Replace

3. bug spray.

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2 replies
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catskyfire
July 28, 2009 12:00 AM
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I would put the wallet, at least, in the freezer, in plastic. If she thinks the electronics could take it, put them in there as well.

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3 replies
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P=mv
July 28, 2009 12:57 AM
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@catskyfire: I work at an entomological research facility. One of the methods we use to kill bugs on an item before we remove it from quarantine is to place the item in an airtight bag and spray some rubbing alcohol inside, then let it sit for a few hours. It is relatively safe, better than freezing anyways, for sensitive electronics as long as you don't overdo it and works rather well as exterminating pests.

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formatc
July 28, 2009 12:22 AM
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@catskyfire: Heat may hurt electronics, but freezer temperatures are fine. Good way to breath life into seemingly dead hard drives, actually. Defrosting and condensation would be your primary concern. I would advise against it if you live in a very humid climate. If you want to try to use it while frozen, read the owner's manual to check for operating temperatures before you try. Moving parts may be damaged by the extreme cold, and it may be damaged by sudden temperature changes if it produces a lot of heat.

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Daniel Beahn
July 28, 2009 1:24 AM
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@formatc: Uh...except when the *liquid* in the liquid crystal display freezes and the screen cracks, which is physical damage which will not be covered by the warranty.

Technically, if you freeze it, then move it to the coolest part of the house and let it slowly come up to room temp (24 hours) it should be OK, but not always.

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formatc
July 28, 2009 3:20 AM
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@Daniel Beahn: The liquid isn't water, and it has a lower freezing temperature. As long as your freezer isn't too far under freezing, no less than 15°F (-10°C) or so, you should be safe.

I've played a frozen Nintendo DS in freezing temperatures. The screen was certainly sluggish, but didn't freeze.

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Underpants Gnome
July 28, 2009 6:03 AM
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@formatc: Correct. The LCD in my car that I park outdoors in sub-zero Chicago winters doesn't freeze or crack.

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Storm Songs
July 28, 2009 12:03 AM
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This might sound like a really eewwwy suggestion but, do you have a large enough freezer? I'm thinking of freezing the potential critters before they get a chance to hatch..sort of like what folks do to boxes of pasta. Who wants weevils in their Ziti? ewwwww or critters in the litter?

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5 replies
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HiPwr
July 28, 2009 1:09 AM
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@Storm Songs: Depends on the bug. They may just go dormant and revive when the temperatures better suit them.

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Storm Songs
July 28, 2009 4:15 AM
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@HiPwr: Something I hadn't thought about...

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Tankueray
July 29, 2009 8:01 PM
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@EdnaLegume: Exactly. Used to hatch moths out of the bird food all the time. Been storing it in the freezer for years since I figured that out.

OP - either go for storing the litter in the freezer or go to the crystal litter. I don't know how biodegradable it is, but I use tons less of it than anything else I've ever tried. It also works beautifully with the Littermaid box.

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Storm Songs
July 28, 2009 4:13 AM
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@EdnaLegume: I never thought about doing that for bird food. I had to toss a 10 pound bag... Thank for a tip I can use in the future...

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Serenefengshui
July 28, 2009 12:05 AM
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Try using wood stove pellets for cat litter. Cheap, easy to find (in winter months at least--we stock up in the fall for the whole year), and when the cats do their business, it smells nice and piney!

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3 replies
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mmmsoap
July 28, 2009 2:13 AM
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@Serenefengshui: Ah, but that doesn't clump, while the grain ones do.

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PølάrβǽЯ
July 28, 2009 3:10 AM
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@mmmsoap: It doesn't have to. The stuff is so cheap compared to regular cat litter that you can afford to throw it out after a few soilings. It's not harmful to the environment at all, as the only ingredient is wood shavings/sawdust (I work for a company that makes wood pellets).

And it will control odors very well.

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aliasmisskat
July 28, 2009 6:27 AM
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@Don't take anything aaron8301 says seriously: I'm not sure if this applies to cats, but small animals should never have wood in their bedding/litter boxes. Phenols from the wood is bad for their respiratory systems.

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pecan 3.14159265
July 28, 2009 1:11 PM
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@aliasmisskat: Aspen shavings are recommended for rabbits because it's much more friendly to their digestive systems (yes, rabbits will nom their own litter).

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squinko
July 28, 2009 11:31 AM
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@aliasmisskat: Boxes of wood pellets are actually recommended for ferrets so they can roll around in them and it'll absorb their horrible smell. You can also use aspen shavings just fine; it's hard wood (like cedar or pine) that has the harmful phenols in it.

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HiPwr
July 28, 2009 1:10 AM
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@Serenefengshui: I tried that. I had an old cat (20+ years) that wouldn't go near it. So, he went elsewhere!


Old cats are the same as old dogs.

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Stephmo
July 28, 2009 12:10 AM
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Bugs like grains. As someone that enjoys baking, this is the occassional loss I risk with flours if I don't seal up things well. I have 5-gallon glass jars with rubber-seal lids and tightly-sealing plastic containers for grain-based stuff that I'm not going to use super fast.

What you want to get is a nice plastic garbage can with a lid that snaps tight on it - and store the cat litter in it. It will stay dry and bugs don't have the upper body strength to lift up the lid.

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7 replies
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Tankueray
July 29, 2009 8:05 PM
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@Stephmo: @Stephmo: @CFinWV: The problem is that the bug eggs come with the litter, not that the bugs come later. If she seals it well, she'll just let the bugs out when she opens it. Putting any kind of \"shoo fly\" in there will just make the bugs migrate to the rest of the house more quickly when they hatch.

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CFinWV
July 28, 2009 1:41 PM
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@Stephmo: This. And the OP should consider doing more frequent full-box changes if she's getting bugs, or switch away from grain based litter.

My grandmother was a florist and used to use uncooked rice in some arrangements to hold the stems. But you can't leave that there forever, eventually you'll attract bugs.

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SpiderPaintingDollars
July 29, 2009 6:29 PM
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@CFinWV:
I thought for a minute you were going to suggest using uncooked rice for litter..

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kateblack
July 28, 2009 12:43 AM
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@Stephmo: Have you ever seen the roaches in Florida? Those things have 'roid rage.

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Stephmo
July 28, 2009 2:18 AM
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@kateblack: Those aren't bugs - I contend that those things I saw in Florida are rejects from Jurassic Park.

Those will eat your cat. You're on you own with those.

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Chris Walters
July 28, 2009 12:19 AM
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@Stephmo:

and bugs don't have the upper body strength to lift up the lid.
Ha ha ha.
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Stephmo
July 28, 2009 12:14 AM
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@Stephmo: Oh - and for the cat litter already in the pan, I'd suggest adding baking soda and crushed bay leaves. Bugs don't like those and your cats will be fine.

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yagisencho
July 28, 2009 12:17 AM
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We tried around a dozen brands/types of litter before settling on wheatgrass litter. No insects. The downside though is that one of our two cats refuses to use it unless there are absolutely no alternatives (read: lock her in the kitty condo until she does her business).

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Thorny
July 28, 2009 12:18 AM
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I'm not sure which is grosser -- bugs in kitty litter or all the poop that accumulates.

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StarkRavingMan
July 28, 2009 12:20 AM
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First of all, harvested grains almost always contain some insect eggs. That's why you sometimes open a box of flour and find bugs sealed inside the packaging. The only way to avoid it completely is to use nasty pesticides (not worth it, definitely) or irradiation (a better option, but are a few contaminated bags of litter really such a problem?).

Second, why would anyone think it's more environmentally friendly to make cat litter from something that required land, fertilizer and pesticides to produce? What in the world is wrong with plain old clay? Clay is natural, abundant, non-toxic, and cheap. I don't get it.

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9 replies
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Vhalkyrie
July 28, 2009 5:59 PM
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@StarkRavingMan: The dust from clay litter flares up allergies in me AND my cat. Sweat is the perfect litter for us. It clumps, there's no dust, and the litter pan is much easier to clean between changing than the dust.

Just sprinkle baking soda in the pan. It deters bugs, and it absorbs odors.

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fantomesq
July 28, 2009 1:21 AM
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@StarkRavingMan: I've never had a bug problem with clay though. Its not like they are doing the strip mining for the clay either - the clay is a byproduct. I'll take the dust over bugs anyday. Sounds like the bugs aren't the manufacturer's fault - anymore than bugs in flour are.

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greyer
July 28, 2009 7:11 AM
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@fantomesq: The place I grew up in is gone. It was chewed up by a strip mine. I don't care if it's a primary or byproduct; anything that gets those mining companies money encourages them to eradicate more landscape.

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mmmsoap
July 28, 2009 2:15 AM
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@fantomesq: But at least the grain will decompose once you're done with it. I can put it in the compost heap in the summer, or flush the scoops in the winter.

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strouthesm
July 28, 2009 6:45 PM
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@mmmsoap: Cat poo (and other poo from carnivores) kills compost heaps. Don't do it. It also contains parasites that are inimical to humans - and if you're growing vegetables, can poison you.

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mmmsoap
July 30, 2009 3:55 AM
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@strouthesm: Yes, but it's an easy enough matter to scoop out the fecal matter and dispose of that appropriately, and compost the rest. The nitrogen from their urine is pretty darn good for compost heaps. Seriously, cats go outside anyway. I'd rather use the corn litter and return that to the earth than send clay litter to the landfill to live forever.

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johnva
July 28, 2009 1:41 AM
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@fantomesq: I've used one of these grain-base litter brands for years, and I've never had a bug problem, either. And it smells a lot better than most clay-based litter, too (which mainly either don't cover up odors at all, or have a nasty heavy deodorant smell).

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AlexDitto
July 28, 2009 5:32 AM
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@johnva: This was actually the reason I switched to one of the wheat-based ones for my cat, back in the day. I used to use the scoopable clay stuff, but the dust and smell started getting to me, and I noticed cat litter dust was clogging up the filter in my air conditioner; I figured if the filter was getting clogged with silica dust, so were my lungs, so that was enough to get me to switch.

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Brunette Bookworm
July 28, 2009 2:22 PM
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@AlexDitto: Me too. The clay stuff was so dusty and I have a litter box in the bathroom. Any water that hits the clay litter turned it to concrete. So far I haven't had any problem with bugs in the grain-based litter.

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bennilynn
July 28, 2009 1:08 AM
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@StarkRavingMan: The clay in kitty litter (and other things) is obtained through strip mining, most of the time. Silica particles found in clay-type litters can also be harmful to the respiratory systems of living things.

[www.greenlivingtips.com]

Kinda damned if you do, damned if you don't, no matter which product you buy, but it can be argued that grain-based kitty litter is less environmentally damaging than clay-based.

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starbreiz
July 28, 2009 6:57 AM
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@bennilynn: I'll take silica based repiration issues over corn-based death from kitty litter any day. I'm highly allergic to corn, and until this post, I didn't even know they made litter from corn. Another thing to avoid, geez.

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PølάrβǽЯ
July 28, 2009 3:56 AM
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@bennilynn: Hence, you make the cat shit outside. Problem solved.

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pattiesmart
July 28, 2009 3:31 PM
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@Don't take anything aaron8301 says seriously: Um. I live in the middle of the city where there are THOUSANDS of ferel cats. And cars. And people who steal cats. And diseases. NO THANKS.

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squinko
July 28, 2009 11:34 AM
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@Don't take anything aaron8301 says seriously: That's not really a viable alternative most of the time, because people don't want their cats going outside so they don't get diseases, get attacked, kill other animals, get run over, get stolen, etc. Or they live in the middle of a big city and there really is no place for the cat to run around outside.

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johnva
July 28, 2009 1:16 AM
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@bennilynn: Especially since a lot of it is grain byproducts like ground up corn cobs, so it's not like they're growing the grain specifically for this.

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trujunglist
July 28, 2009 12:22 AM
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Hmm, well, it is a grain after all... are you really that surprised? Haven't you had a bag of flour go south in a similar way?
I'd just try different brands until you find one that bugs aren't fond of. Or spray down the litter with something that bugs aren't fond of, like an alcohol and water mixture.

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formatc
July 28, 2009 12:28 AM
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That's rather disconcerting. I just bought a bag of Swheat because I wanted a compost-friendly cat litter. I'm already having bug problems, some sort of gnats, with my previous clay-based brand but I'm also battling a dampness problem in my basement and I assume it is related. No sign of bugs yet in the new litter, but I guess I'll need to keep my eye on it.

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2 replies
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catastrophegirl chooses not to fly
July 28, 2009 3:14 AM
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@formatc: i had problems with Swheat - it would actually mold overnight. i live in a humid climate and once it's wet with cat urine it just wouldn't clump up and left little moist particles when scooped

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formatc
July 28, 2009 1:05 PM
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@catastrophegirl - sometimes makes typos and doesn't care: I have a feeling that will cause me issues, because naturally any compost-friendly cat litter can start composting right in the litter box. Despite the dampness, though, it's been good for 2 weeks so far.

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2 replies
July 28, 2009 12:31 AM
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A few commentators have suggested freezing the wallet & electronics to kill the bugs.
Why not do that with the unused litter too? Freeze the stuff to kill the bugs/eggs. If you're worried about condensation ruining it, throw it in a chest cooler with a brick of dry-ice.

When I was a kid we'd use news paper shredded in strips for the cats. It only stunk like hell when you didn't change it (which is the same for all litter), and it's WAY more eco-friendly than 100% of manufactured litters. (Recycled, no packaging, no additional greenhouse emissions from shipping, manufacturing, advertising, etc).

Or just don't worry about how eco-friendly your cat's shit-box is.
I guarantee you the cat isn't.

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2 replies
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HogwartsAlum
July 28, 2009 2:57 AM
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@Coop:

Here ya go
[www.yesterdaysnews.com]

I think they make this down the street from where I work. I might give them some old newspapers one day.

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mac-phisto
July 28, 2009 10:42 AM
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@HogwartsAlum: i used yesterdaysnew for awhile. pretty good litter & i believe it's flushable. downside was its clumping ability.

i ended up switching off b/c i found it to be too expensive for shit paper.

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catnapped
July 28, 2009 10:56 AM
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@mac-phisto: Mine wouldn't go near it. Shredded newspaper: yes, Yesterday's News: hell no

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Anonymous
July 28, 2009 12:34 AM
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If you see more of the bugs, call an exterminator. Capture a few samples (use tape, perhaps) and let them see what you are up against. Obviously, finding a reliable exterminator isn't easy, but if you can get an honest one, they'll charge you to come out and eradicate what you've got. They may even have suggestions for the laptop, wallet, etc.

I'd go with freezer for the wallet for sure (then vacuum it) and I'd probably try the freezer for the electronics as well (not the batteries, though, and don't try to power up cold!).

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Geekmom
July 28, 2009 12:42 AM
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That would top one of my worst nightmares! I hate bugs!! Makes me glad I have gerbils!

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1 replies
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squinko
July 28, 2009 11:35 AM
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@Geekmom: What kind of bedding do you use?

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JohnnyUtah_GitEmSteveDave
July 28, 2009 12:45 AM
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I mix red cedar shavings into my cat litter, and with three cats, I change litter maybe every three weeks, with no scooping. IIRC, Cedar repels MANY insects. maybe mix some in.

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lestat730
July 28, 2009 12:56 AM
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Keeping the laptop sealed up in a garbage bag with the bugs seems like it might be a bad idea... wouldn't they infest the area more and move inside the laptop in large numbers?

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1 replies
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DoubleEcho
July 28, 2009 3:15 PM
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@lestat730: Not only that, but putting the laptop in a plastic bag, outside, will cause condensation to form in the bag. Then your laptop will be soaked from within the bag.

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Anonymous
July 28, 2009 12:56 AM
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I'm a pest control technician.

Any time you purchase anything from any pet store, check the seams of the product for signs of insect activity. That might be insects, larvae, webbing or holes in the bag.

If it has activity, try a different bag.

If you get home and notice it, bag the product and return it to the store or dispose of it. Most of the time when you remove the source of infestation the problem will disappear. If it doesn't you've spilled something somewhere and haven't cleaned it up (you slobs). Before you claim that you're not a slob, check under your refrigerator, dishwasher, oven, microwave and kitchen sink. Vacuum out your cupboards and start checking any dry stock in the house (cereal, grains, pasta, etc.) for signs of infestation and remove the product.

Half the battle with grain insects is finding the source of the infestation, the other half is sanitation. If you're having to store product in the freezer all of the time to avoid insect infestations you're doing something wrong.

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mythago
July 28, 2009 1:03 AM
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Grain attracts pests. That is why we domesticated cats in the first place, remember?

I admit I'm puzzled by the \"not biodegradable\" thing. Clay is dirt, after all.

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2 replies
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greyer
July 28, 2009 7:22 AM
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@mythago: Clay takes a lot of energy to get out of the earth and turn into cat litter. You have to mine it, too, so the amount of land affected gets bigger and bigger. And clay is basically eroded-off dust from rocks trapped together with water, so it takes a long time to form.

Natural products can be awful for the environment; it's not just what something's made from, but how we get our hands on it, what we do with it and how we dispose of it.

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humphrmi
July 28, 2009 1:05 AM
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All grain based products have some amount bug larvae in them. That's why if you leave even processed flour sitting in the bag long enough, it will have bugs in it (I've seen them in unopened bags that sat around too long). The reason it's considered acceptable from a food safety perspective is because (1) the bugs (larvae) are effectively sterilized in the process, and (2) its nearly impossible to remove them anyway.

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shepd
July 28, 2009 1:16 AM
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Being cheap, I would have placed the kitty litter in a garbage bag and just sprayed most of a can of (probably expired--I'm CHEAP) Raid into it. Seal up the bag, place it in the trash can for a while, and *BAM*, bugs are all dead and the litter is good to go.

Of course, being cheap, bugs can't eat my kitty litter. I actually believe they'd find it rather deadly if there's any borax in it (probably not, but I can dream).

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5 replies
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clickable
July 28, 2009 5:06 PM
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@shepd: Ermmmmm, maybe not such a good idea. The same paws kitty uses to chuff aside the Raid-soaked litter (even expired Raid is toxic) so it can take care of business will very soon be licked when kitty decides to take a bath.


I find I'm a lot more careful with such substances since I got cats. My system is large enough to take more abuse from aerosols, fumes, whatever - they take their time traveling through my system and dissipate, or at least that's what I convince myself. But the kitties are so tiny that the second I pull the trigger on a Windex bottle (for example), the fume - such as it is - is already deep in their system. I'm much more careful now to close off rooms when I clean and keep noxious substances, even milder ones than Raid, away from the cats just to forestall any problems.

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Trai_Dep
July 28, 2009 6:48 AM
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@shepd: And the best part, being cheap, is your cat would soon keel over dead from the can of raid, saving you from those annoying cat food bills!
@gStein: Being even cheaper, I take someone else's cat, then wait for the Lost Cat - Reward flyers to appear.

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shepd
July 28, 2009 2:43 PM
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@Trai_Dep:

I wouldn't spray the CAT... it doesn't have fleas! :)

And yes, of course I'm using clay litter as it is. That's why bugs won't eat it.

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Trai_Dep
July 28, 2009 3:53 PM
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@shepd: Heh.
Seriously, though, for others considering Raid, the poison from the litter (and there will be scads of it, no matter how much you air it out) will glom onto its fur, which it will then clean, which will then fry its central nervous system to a crisp until it's dead. Dead. Dead.
I never thought about how green clay is (I like the clumping action). I'll have to give it some thought, though.

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shepd
July 28, 2009 4:42 PM
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@Trai_Dep:

Good point. Borax it is then (Well, the borax-type stuff I bought when I lived in the past hellhole killed off some of the silverfish and it said it's pet friendly). :)

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fantomesq
July 28, 2009 1:29 AM
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@shepd: Being cheap, I'd have bought the clay litter to start with.

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MJDeviant
July 28, 2009 1:18 AM
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I think the easiest solution is to get a dog........sorry, mine is looking at me, I had to.

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varro
July 28, 2009 7:28 AM
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@MJDeviant: Dog: \"Yum! Kitty cookies! Fresh and warm!\"

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Trai_Dep
July 28, 2009 6:49 AM
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@MJDeviant: Shh! Don't read cat-related articles aloud. Dogs can't read!

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Chaoss
July 28, 2009 1:35 AM
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Awesome.

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Jeanne Heinemann
July 28, 2009 1:45 AM
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I've used Swheatscoop for years. It is the only product on the market that does not give my cat urinary tract infections from the dust and/or chemicals. Last week I had bugs from Swheatscoop that had been stored in plastic containers once used for cat litter. I closed the lid, moved the container outdoors to release the bugs, then brought the container inside after stirring to make sure all bugs were gone. Newspaper has formaldehyde, a substance to which I became poisoned from overexposure. Cats are more sensitive to chemicals than other animals so products should be screened carefully. As to the environment, like our bodies, we can only take care of it once. After that it is too late.

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ihazakitty
July 28, 2009 1:56 AM
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I had this problem with some baking supplies. To get rid of the bugs I had to freeze all the things from the same cabinet and started using closed containers for everything. Lots of sites will tell you vinegar, bay leaves, or hot pepper will keep them away. The thing that worked was Terro ant killer placed in the cabinet corners (away from cat).

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H3ion
July 28, 2009 2:03 AM
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I'd get a bug bomb, make sure everyone (including the cat) was out of the house for the day, and let it fog the place. That should kill whatever is still there. No reason not to leave your laptop, etc. on the table. Make sure there are no food products exposed and, when you come back, air the place out. A fan in the window would be a good idea. Follow the instructions on the can. There are probably a half dozen brands available and they're all pretty much the same.

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mythago
July 28, 2009 3:55 AM
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@H3ion: Bug bombs do not kill all bugs, don't work all that well, and are sorta beside the point if you're using a kitty litter brand intended to be environmentally friendly.

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ChuckECheese
July 28, 2009 6:37 PM
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@mythago: I will add that cats are more sensitive to insecticides than dogs, so you need to be careful that any insect killer you might use is safe to use around cats.

I recommend vacuuming up the bugs, taking the vacuum outside, turning it on for 10 seconds while you spray some insecticide into it. Shut it off and leave it outside for a couple days.

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Trai_Dep
July 28, 2009 7:04 AM
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@mythago: ...So I take it you're against sloshing a gallon of gasoline around the living room and lighting a match?

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H3ion
July 28, 2009 7:24 AM
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@Trai_Dep: Aircraft fuel. There was a \"real\" story on Darwin Awards about some guy who tried doing just what you suggested...and got the usual result.

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mermaidshoes
July 28, 2009 2:28 AM
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aww, my roomies just started using swheat for their cats. it totally smells better, but now i will be living in fear of a bug infestation! can't have it all, i guess.

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keepher
July 28, 2009 2:32 AM
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Why is everyone so surprised? Its grain, people. Common sense says that the chances are very good that there will be a bug problem. Unless that grain was heated before packaging to kill eggs and any larva then its only a matter of time before they become a problem.

Ever seen what happens if you leave flour in a non air tight container?

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fynoda
July 28, 2009 3:15 AM
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This happened with my 20 pound bag of bird seed. The moths were inhabiting my bedroom. I caught most of them and put them outside, which discouraged breeding. I froze the remainder of the bird food, and then transferred it to the fridge. I check all servings before giving it to my birds. It's frustrating, but inevitable.

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catastrophegirl chooses not to fly
July 28, 2009 3:20 AM
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a black plastic garbage bag, tied tightly shut, in full sun for a few hours usually heats up enough to kill bugs in things i've owned but i don't know that i'd try it with a laptop since i'm not familiar with the temperature ratings of the components.

personally, my cats and i love the tidy cats breeze. it has reusable pellets that let the pee run down into a tray with an absorbent pad underneath. the intial cost was a little off putting but the math comes out to less expensive than anything but plain clay litter and it just doesn't smell anything like as much as any others.

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geeniusatwrok
July 28, 2009 3:20 AM
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After using expensive plant-based litter for years I went back to the $7 44lb boxes of generic klumpi-kat from Costco. World's Best litter is indeed good stuff, but it's nearly $40 for the large bag which is clearly too much. The cat doesn't seem to care, and as much as he pees, I go through a LOT of litter, so it adds up.

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kolacek
July 28, 2009 3:48 AM
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@pecan 3.14159265: I'm with you, pecan.

Is this story for real?

1) Why in the world would anyone want their animal urinating and defecating on material which is considered food by any form of life? Those are immediate ingredients for a biohazard.

2) \"Clay\" is a fancy word for mud, aka \"dirt.\" The last time I checked, bugs don't eat dirt or clay and are not likely to be stowaways in a bag of Johnny Cat.

If a person is really that paranoid about the environment why not get a bag of plain sand from a nearby plant nursery and mix it with baking soda as a deodorizer. When I'm too poor for the store I get (clean, dry) sand from the beach and it works beautifully.

.

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mythago
July 28, 2009 3:57 AM
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@kolacek: As far as I can tell, the issue is the mining of the clay and the fact that you don't want to compost it in dirt intended for gardens (because of the risk of toxoplasmosis).

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PølάrβǽЯ
July 28, 2009 3:58 AM
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What is so horribly wrong with making cats crap outside?!? Newsflash, they've been doing it for millennia!

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Trai_Dep
July 28, 2009 7:07 AM
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@Don't take anything aaron8301 says seriously: Because no matter how many times they promise, they never bring today's newspaper back in with them when they're done.

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settsu
July 28, 2009 4:20 AM
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Will someone please remind me again why someone wants an animal that urinates or defecates inside their living space?

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banmojo
July 28, 2009 4:21 AM
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oh good jesus - ConCon printed this 'tip' but not MINE from a few weeks ago about a scam going on RIGHT NOW on CL??!! FTWFTWFTW!!!???

you guyz really SUCK HARD sometimes. I'm sorry, but NOT cool to print kitty litter bugs and not a serious phishing scam on CL that people RIGHT NOW might be falling victim to. SUCK HARD!!

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89macrunner
July 28, 2009 4:28 AM
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train your cat to dump in the toilet.

its pretty easy actually

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Kimaroo - 100% Pure Natural Kitteh
July 28, 2009 4:15 PM
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@89macrunner: I would love to do this, but we only have one bathroom at the moment.. If we had a second one, I'd totally give it a shot.

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Tallanvor
July 28, 2009 6:39 AM
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So, just out of curiosity, was the story posted on Consumerist first, or here: [www.gizmart.com]

Because somebody is stealing content, I just don't know who...

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H3ion
July 28, 2009 7:27 AM
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1. Get a dog.
2. Get an electric cat (Blade Runner).
3. Get the cat it's own house.
4. Let the cat sleep in your bed. I assume your mattress is not organic.

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nagumi
July 28, 2009 9:00 AM
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This is bad? This happens occasionally - I've always taken it as a bad sign of my not cleaning out the litter often enough.

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feline
July 28, 2009 11:40 AM
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Clay-based litters, because they clump, can be bad for cats. this is especially true for kittens, who inevitably end up ingesting some of it when they groom themselves. Tiny kitten stomachs + material that clumps in stomach like a rock = unhealthy and even dead kittens.

I switched to a corn-based cat litter when I was caring for an elderly cat with multiple health problems. that was 4 years ago, and I have had one small moth infestation since. My only complaint about the stuff is that it's expensive compared to the clay-based litter. But healthy cats and lower vet bills seems worth it.

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ekthesy
July 28, 2009 1:07 PM
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I'm a big fan of the pine litter, switched from clay. If I ever did have bugs...what I would suggest is to get rid of everything except the cats. Buy new litter box(es), and a new box of litter. Inspect new box of litter before using. EVERY box can't be infested. As for getting rid of the existing bugs...that is above my purview.

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Aphex242
July 28, 2009 1:45 PM
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I use the pine-based litter out there. It works great. The brand name is Feline Pine, they even make a cool litter box designed specifically for it. I highly recommend that box.

Protip: The litter is exactly the same as \"pine horse bedding\" you can find at any equine supply store.

40lb bag that last months for $6? Priceless.

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ElizabethD
July 28, 2009 1:57 PM
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My parakeets' bird seed frequently comes with flour-moth weevils in it. I can't see them until they hatch and start fluttering around. We put one of those sticky-inside moth traps on the molding right above the bird cage, and it does a great job of intercepting the little devils. Also, all flour products in my kitchen are sealed inside plastic canisters, ziploc bags, etc.

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Steeb2er
July 28, 2009 2:06 PM
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Can you microwave the litter before putting it in the box? I used to do that with pine shavings (for my hedgehog) that came with mites.

Litter is dry, so the microwave should concentrate on the liquid in the bugs ... but now you'll have the problem of dead bugs in the litter ...

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Smashville
July 28, 2009 3:13 PM
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Did I miss the brand name? I don't want my cat pooping in bugs...

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henrygates
July 28, 2009 3:50 PM
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Shouldn't be something to freak out about. When you shift to more natural sources, you're going to get what comes with it. When you buy vegetables from an organic farm they are going to have dirt and bugs on it. When you buy organic grain kitty litter, it's going to have impurities and bugs in it.

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justsomeotherguy
July 28, 2009 4:27 PM
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Um, what is wrong with clay liter? Freaken hippies.

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kevjohn
July 28, 2009 4:54 PM
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Reason #13 why \"cat people\" annoy me. In case you didn't get the memo, there are bugs here on planet Earth. Any no matter how clean you think your house is, you have bugs in there as well.

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clickable
July 28, 2009 4:59 PM
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Wow, that's geeee-rosss. Poor OP. Unfortunately, my tips won't work for her because kitty litter bags are too large for this treatment, but here are two, to help prevent critters crawling out of your flour (or similar grain product):


When you bring the bag home from the store, either:
1. Zap the whole bag in the microwave for a minute. It won't affect the product and will incinerate any microscopic icky things that might be gestating in there.
OR
2. Pop the whole bag into the freezer for several days, or in general, store flour and grains in the freezer. Same principle, this will destroy any icky things that might be gestating in there.


I learned those handy hints after a meal moth infestation following a health food store purchase of whole grain flour, and have been doing one of those - whichever I think of first - for years, with no reoccurence of any problems. I store grain products in airtight containers and visually examine them before opening them anyway, and when I have enough freezer space, I store flour, rice, barley, etc. in there.


Of course OP can't do that with kitty litter bags, but I share in her horrified shudder.

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Tankueray
July 29, 2009 8:28 PM
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Just to repeat one of my previous comments because no one else has mentioned it...
The crystal litter works great and there is a lot less of it that would go to the landfill. With one cat, I go through maybe one 4lb bag a month. I use a Littermaid box and clean it once a week (it takes a month for it to get full though). The only thing that goes in the receptacle is the feces. The urine is soaked up by the crystals and dries quickly without any smell. I've used Littermaids for about 15 years now and crystal litter for about 10. It's more expensive than clay, but probably less expensive than the natural stuff.

If you can convince your cat to use it, it's great.

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e.varden
July 30, 2009 7:04 PM
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\"Raid\", while toxic to insects, birds and expecially fish, is relatively benign to mammals. Your more likely to kill your cat by feeding it canned tuna (kidney failure) than by having it come in contact with Raid (pyrethrins, chlorpyrifos, piperonyl butoxide...).

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