Welcome to Sphynxlair! Connect with Sphynx owners & enthusiasts around the world!

Best litter for Sphynx

GoldHazel

Gold Lairian
Notable Member
Joined
Feb 11, 2013
Messages
12,083
Points
653
UPDATE ON SMART CAT Kitty Litter (and some info on a few other litters):

Ok, so I tried it. At first, I liked that it was small pieces, nothing that would hurt their feet like the crystal litters. @Xandria mentioned that her litter box smelled really bad from Max's urine using the Smart Cat. After hearing that, I feared the stench that I experienced with the crystal kitty litter when I tried different types. Nothing comes close to that smell (it was like a zoo and farm put together times 10)!

The Smart Cat litter scooped well and it dried out the urine fairly nicely. If you have a dark floor in the room(s) where your litter boxes are, you might not be too happy because the Smart Cat is a very light color.

I found it to be very light and airy which made it really fly out of the box when two of my boys in particular take flight out of their litter boxes each session.

For a litter that claims to be 99% dust free, I found it to be totally dust-free, which is amazing compared to World's Best that also claims to be 99% dust-free! World's Best is dusty. Leaving everything with an orange tint of dust (including your sphynx). Smart Cat didn't make a dust cloud while pouring either. Plus, the longer the World's Best sat in the litter box, I found it broke down to finer pieces, making it like a sawdust. It was the best for clumping though, I must say. World's Best clumped like no other litter I've ever used. No pastiness on the bottom of the litter tray or the sides ever.

After a few days, I didn't care for the smell of the litter box using the Smart Cat. Mind you, I scoop ALL day long, every single day without fail. I kept thinking the smell would eventually get so bad that I'd have to dump the litter completely much sooner than any other litter I've used.

I didn't want to dump the Smart Cat and start over, it wasn't in the box that long. So I decided to mix in some of the Clump & Seal Lightweight and I found that mixed together made a terrific kitty litter. The box smelled wonderful. The lighter weight of the light colored Smart Cat was way more contained in the box by mixing it with the Clump & Seal Lightweight. It was the purrfect combination for clumping/scooping, smell and better for the floor...UNTIL...

One of my boys that has issues with his eyes quite often woke up one day with swollen, pus filled eyes. He usually only has an issue with his left eye. This time it was both eyes and his good eye (right one) was worse than his left one. I immediately began using his Rx meds I always have on hand. It continued with very little difference using the meds. At that point I knew he had to be put on oral antibiotics which would clear up his eyes in no time. I was a bit concerned that the oral antibiotics along with his Rx eye meds didn't clear up his eyes immediately. It was a very slow process this time which was so upsetting to me to watch him suffer. By the time he was finished with the oral antibiotics, he was finally better. It got to the point where one particular night after I cleaned him up, I thought his eyes looked terrific and I didn't want to stress him out with his eye meds, so I gave him a free pass. The next a.m., I was in tears. He could barely open his eyes, they were so much worse than before I began using all of his meds.

I asked myself, "What's different this time? Why can't I get a handle on his eye problem and why is his good eye so bad?" And I immediately answered my own question! It was the Smart Cat Kitty Litter. It's made from grass!!! I dumped all the litter boxes. Took them outside and scrubbed them down with a brush and bleach and hosed them off. Every inch of the litter boxes, even underneath. I took away all the bags of Smart Cat and cleaned and cleaned the rooms where I keep the litter boxes.

Thankfully I found the culprit! It was caused by the Smart Cat because it's made from grass! There were no perfumes in it, no dust...simply a grass allergy.

I have no plans on ever changing the kitty litter I've been using: Clump & Seal Lightweight. If this company ever decides to discontinue this litter, I will toilet train my cats at that point!
 

Xandria

Gold Lairian
Notable Member
Joined
Mar 10, 2014
Messages
10,020
Points
643
@GoldHazel Thank you for that great report. And thanks to your babies for being guinea pigs. I'm sorry the Smart Cat didn't work out for you. hugs
 

GoldHazel

Gold Lairian
Notable Member
Joined
Feb 11, 2013
Messages
12,083
Points
653
Oh no @GoldHazel! I am glad to hear you got rid of all the litter...can't believe it was causing that reaction!
So happy you caught on quickly and it can all go back to normal now!!

@Nicolemorgan thank you. Normal for Grayson's eyes aren't "normal", but since I got rid of that grass kitty litter, his eyes are the most "normal" they've been in a long time. Amazing.
 

Nicolemorgan

V.I.P Lairian
V.I.P Lairian
Joined
Nov 13, 2012
Messages
3,395
Points
238

@Nicolemorgan thank you. Normal for Grayson's eyes aren't "normal", but since I got rid of that grass kitty litter, his eyes are the most "normal" they've been in a long time. Amazing.

Yes of course, I understand what you mean with Grayson and his eyes.
Just so happy that the grass litter isn't bugging them anymore!! HUGS
 

Mal

Senior Lairian
Senior Lairian
Joined
Aug 5, 2016
Messages
737
Points
148
I initially tried Arm & Hammer Double Duty, but the scent was far too strong so after some very indepth research I decided to try Worlds Best Kitty Litter.......and no dice, will be switching it back to Arm & Hammer - Clump and Seal.
The worlds best I thought would be perfect and I like that it was corn based and didnt have a scent to it but when my Pete would exit his litter box his hind legs were just coated in dust, and it got everywhere and any where. I was sad because it had such good reviews but its far too dusty for my Pete!
 

GoldHazel

Gold Lairian
Notable Member
Joined
Feb 11, 2013
Messages
12,083
Points
653
I initially tried Arm & Hammer Double Duty, but the scent was far too strong so after some very indepth research I decided to try Worlds Best Kitty Litter.......and no dice, will be switching it back to Arm & Hammer - Clump and Seal.
The worlds best I thought would be perfect and I like that it was corn based and didnt have a scent to it but when my Pete would exit his litter box his hind legs were just coated in dust, and it got everywhere and any where. I was sad because it had such good reviews but its far too dusty for my Pete!

@Mal, I had used the World's Best for the longest time, but for a litter that claims it's 99% dust-free, I too found it to be extremely dusty. The longer it sat in the litter box, the more it broke down to more dust!
 

Mal

Senior Lairian
Senior Lairian
Joined
Aug 5, 2016
Messages
737
Points
148
Oh good! That is what I like to hear! That is what I picked up last night, going to slowly integrate it into the litter box to make the switch from the "worlds dustiest" haha. I just cant believe how much it breaks down to dust like you said. Pete will come running out of his litter box and his hind legs will be covered from his toes to where his leg bends, just unreal!
 

GoldHazel

Gold Lairian
Notable Member
Joined
Feb 11, 2013
Messages
12,083
Points
653
@Mal when I used the World's Best, I had dusty foot prints all over me and my family room coffee table trunk all the time.
 

Mal

Senior Lairian
Senior Lairian
Joined
Aug 5, 2016
Messages
737
Points
148
@GoldHazel Same! I have dark laminate flooring and I had huge puddle size dust spots all over them! I just actually cleaned it all up...again haha o_O
 

Chelsy812

Lairian
Joined
Jul 9, 2016
Messages
12
Points
14
Hi all! I'd like to add some input questions about litter myself. When I got my little man he had been using Tidy Cats. Yuck. I can't stand this litter. Everyday I'm scraping mud from the box! It gets everywhere too, under my pillows, all across my bed, I mean you name a place in my home and there would be litter. About 3 weeks ago I switched to Swheat Scoop. I wanted a healthier option and I absolutely loved it! It did track but not even close to the amount tidy cats did. Oder control was fantastic, I was in love. Or so I thought.. last week I noticed his paws were getting red. Upon closer examination he had pieces of the litter in his nail beds where they retract. This was making them irritated and really sore. He had been neutered just a few days prior to this so trying not to stress him too much I was washing his toes every evening with a mild soap. Unfortunately it didn't help matters any and he got an infection in one of his toes. A couple days later I noticed his litter box habits were showing signs of a UTI. Squatting for long periods of time, frequent trips to the box, urinating on the floor. So off to the vet we went. He's on antibiotics and his toes are being scrubbed every night still this time with chlorhexadine. The vet recommended going back to tidy cats as well. My question is, has anyone else had issues with their cats nails collecting gunk and litter? Or am I just lucky enough to wash toes for eternity? Any litter suggestions? I've been noticing even the tidy cats granules are in the toe pockets but the infection and soreness are gone. So maybe I just have to stick with a clay type litter. Especially since I want to avoid possible future UTIs. I've also reduced the amount of litter in the box since he's a low squatter.
Sorry for being so long winded, just thought I'd try to include as many detail as possible!
 

GoldHazel

Gold Lairian
Notable Member
Joined
Feb 11, 2013
Messages
12,083
Points
653
@Chelsy812 I've posted in this thread as well as others about me using just about most kitty litters out there. The one you tried for 3 weeks is not for a sphynx unless you want a totally discolored cat. Which, of course, you obviously don't.

The litter I am most happy with is Clump & Seal Lightweight. It comes in a very convenient box (two different sizes), the box has a handle which not only makes it easy to carry, but also to pour. There is 0 dust...totally 100% dust-free! It has a pleasant scent which never irritated anyone here, not even my most sensitive boy.

I have low and high squatters here and I learned a long, long time ago when my first guy was a kitten not to fill the litter in the box to the point of it touching his privates while squatting. I can't help but wonder if your boy's UTI was from the new litter, the height of the litter touching him while squatting or from the neuter. Regardless, he's on the road to recovery now thank goodness.

No matter what litters I've tried (again most out there), they all track to an extent. Some are painful to step on (for me and probably for all my sphynx cats too)!

Some of my sphynx are "high flyers" out of the litter box, so that surely doesn't help with tracking as they take a half a pound of litter with them "flying" out.

I just love this litter because of the convenience of carrying/pouring, scent, NO DUST which I love, love, love, it doesn't stain the sphynx and it's not pasty like cement when scooping.

Here is a pic of what the box looks like:
gimage_1306.jpg
 

Yoda mom

Moderator
Staff member
Joined
Apr 23, 2012
Messages
30,335
Points
653
@Chelsy812 , healing vibes sent -
We tried several litters with my first sphynx -
I came here looking for litter suggestions years ago- I tired pearls, yesterday news , etc

I went with the often Recommemded Dr Elseys unscented in the blue bag ( did try the purple bag but didn't care for it) hypoallergenic

I have been using Dr eleseys in the blue bag unscented scoopable litter for about 4 yrs now and am very pleased.
It is virtually dust free no more gagging emptying into the storage container -
A little tracking so I do keep a little mini dust pan by the litter box.
Here is a pic of the litter in big you can zoom in on to see clay


Keep us updated :)
 
Last edited:

Chelsy812

Lairian
Joined
Jul 9, 2016
Messages
12
Points
14
Thank you for the suggestions! I'm a big Amazon shopper based off reviews. Clump and seal seems to have several tracking complaints. Dr Elsey's sounds like an all around winner and I've been thinking of trying it. I'm kind of leaning towards trying out a pellet type though. Seems like that wouldn't compact in his toe pockets as much. But the UTI issues are clearing up and he's back to his happy go lucky self!
 

GoldHazel

Gold Lairian
Notable Member
Joined
Feb 11, 2013
Messages
12,083
Points
653
@Chelsy812 they all track. LOL

I used Feline Pine pellets (non-clumping) for the longest time at the beginning with my sphynx. I preferred using it with the double tray so that the broken down pine pellets from the urine sifted down to the bottom of the pan. I have not used this litter in years and occasionally I still find a stray pellet in my house!!!
 

GoldHazel

Gold Lairian
Notable Member
Joined
Feb 11, 2013
Messages
12,083
Points
653
@Chelsy812 oh, don't be bummed. You'll figure out another great litter that works well for you and your baby. It's all trial and error and personal likings.
 

LoveHairless

Lairian
Joined
Jun 21, 2015
Messages
11
Points
14

@Jrs4 I have tried just about all kitty litters out there. I prefer the one(s) that are not dusty. I don't like dust in my house and I don't like a film of litter dust on my sphynx kitties.

The one that I have been happiest with because of scent, NO dust, lightweight and convenient box with a handle is the Clump & Seal Lightweight. Really is my favorite out of all I've tried. But I am always up to try something new, so I recently heard about a kitty litter made from grass. It's called Smart Cat. We just ordered a few bags today. Once I get the delivery, I will write a review on the Lair.

I too use the Clump & Seal. I love it; no dust and great clumping. The litter stays fresh smelling after cleaning for at least a week. It has some anti-microbial additive, but that doesn't seem to affect my babies.
 

Chelsy812

Lairian
Joined
Jul 9, 2016
Messages
12
Points
14
Thanks! Little update, I actually went this weekend and gave in to the masses and bought a small box of clump and seal to try. I got the multi cat version and I've got to say I think it's becoming my new favorite as well. It doesn't have that typical clay kitty litter smell, and the clumps are fantastic. So far no major scraping of mud from the sides of the box has happened either. It does track but I feel like it's much more minimal than what I was using previously. The fine texture of it is also less offensive to my feet :smuggrin:. So far I'm a happy customer of it and my little buddy hasn't had any negative reactions as of yet. Two thumbs up here!
 
Back
Top