I’ve noticed that some people use wood pellets (the type used for heating) as cat litter. Have any of you given this a go? We’ve got 3 cats in total at home and I was wondering if it’s actually any good, as the reviews online seem to be a bit mixed. The mess on the floor isn’t really an issue for us since the litter trays are in the garage!
Thanks in advance!
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The best thing about wood pellets is that they have a lovely woody scent. They don't absorb that well on their own, but I’ve tried mixing them with Catsan mineral litter like someone mentioned earlier, and it seems to absorb much better.
Wood is brilliant for masking odours, it smells really fresh—give it a go and you'll see. (Mind you, heating pellets do seem a bit dustier than the wood pellets meant for small pets and rodents, which are dust-extracted, but heating pellets are definitely more budget-friendly when you've got several cats.)
I’d advise against covered litter trays as they trap odours; while some cats get used to them, none would choose them given the choice.
Wood pellets are easy to clean and don’t damage the plastic of the tray. They’re completely dust-free. Clumping litter is a different story. Let’s just say that wee is less visible than on mineral litter, where you spot it instantly. With pellets, the wee makes the wood crumble into sawdust, but I’d recommend putting a layer of mineral litter at the bottom of the tray to catch any bits of urine that the wood doesn’t soak up.
As for poo, there’s no problem at all—it’s exactly the same as with mineral litter. A lot of cats don’t cover their poo, and the smell clears quite quickly, unlike wee which gets pongier as time goes on.
Silica litter is great for holding smells, and you can see the wee clearly (yellow against the white silica). However, it doesn’t have the same ‘give’ as mineral litter; it’s harder for the cat to move around when they’re trying to bury their business. Plus, it’s a bit of a nightmare for the wallet if you have several cats. I’ve given up on it.
Cleaning the tray with bleach once a week is a good routine to get into.
I think that’s pretty much everything I know about cat litter! 👌
Many cats take to a covered litter tray quite easily, but others can feel a bit trapped or vulnerable inside as there’s only one exit if they feel under threat.
No worries, same as Temis, I get them for about £4.30 for a 33lb bag at the supermarket in the heating section (premium quality). Have a great weekend.
I've got five cats at home and I recently tried out wood pellets. Every single one of them will only use it to wee in, though – they prefer to leave their poos right next to the tray!
Because of that, I’ve got two other trays with normal litter for their business.
When the wood pellets come into contact with liquid (my cats' urine), they turn into sawdust. You just have to scoop out the sawdust regularly and top it up with fresh pellets. I have to say, I’m really happy with my choice as it’s much cheaper than the supermarket litter I used to buy (it’s about £4.30 for a 33 lb bag of wood pellets).
Those wood heating pellets have a bit of a smell when you first get them out of the bag, but it fades a lot once they've aired out. I'd avoid using hooded litter trays, though. I live in a flat too and have 3 cats. As I've said elsewhere, they aren't particularly clumping but they are completely dust-free.
