Pet Products Review - Close To Nature Soybean Cat Litter

Wow... okay, this is a hard review for me.  I've been using the big 10 lbs sample bag of Close To Naturenow Cat Litter.  What do I think?  Gosh.... call me old fashioned, but as a cat owner I need to see blue crystals turn from bright blue to green and have the cat extrement practically float to enjoy using a cat litter.  If you're like me, you probably won't love this product, it is different, very different.

Now, ask my cat. I was sure my cat Stinky was going to turn up his nose immediately like he did with Yesterday's News and Feline Pines and express anger by going outside the box.  Well, this time he did not.  In fact, he wasn't even phased by the fact that I introduced him to a new litter.  I did so gradually just like the instructions told me.  By week 3 he was completely used to the litter.

Here is what I like:

Close to Naturenow is a great all natural, organic and environmentally safe product that is made in the USA.  I love that.  It is a cellulose litter one of the most ecologically friendly choices. Litters made from corn, wheat, beet, soy, pine, pulp, and recycled newspapers are biodegradable. The all natural biodegadability is so superior that it can even be used in compost; do remove the feces of course.

It is light weight, so no more heavy litter boxes and bags.  Now that I have a puppy in the house, I feel safe using this product.  Everyone knows how puppies like litter boxes, well now I don't have to freak out if he's near it.  And I know immediately if he has because the yellow soybean husks stick to his nose.  And speaking of noses, Close to Naturenow does a superior job of keeping odor out.  Who knew that soybeans contain natural enzymes and proteins that allow the litter to be inherently absorbent to moisture, neutralize odor and make it easy to scoop? And speaking of tracking, with exception of the few grains that occassionally end up on my puppies nose, there was no tracking at all.

What I don't like is that it does such a good job clumping, I use more.  Because the clumps may be flushed down the toilet, something you would never consider with clay or silica based litter, you clean your box more often.  Another negative, and its a silly one, the color yellow doesn't match the tiles in my bathroom.

All in all Close to Naturenow Soybean Cat Litter is a refreshing environmentally friendly product that I recommend.  If you are looking to make your home and greener home with more safe and all natural products, switching your litter to Close to Naturenow is a good start.

A 10 lbs bag is only $9.99 that is 30% less than the price of Arm & Hammer or Fresh Step.  You can order directly from the manufacturer here: 

http://www.theorganicfarmstore.com/products/view_item.asp?id=17&cat=

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Pet Products Review - ARM & HAMMER^® Essentials™ Clumping Litter

If you read my blog you know I am super fastidious, and a maniac about keeping my house clean and free of odor.  Especially when it comes to the cat litter.  There is nothing worse than an apartment that smells of litter box.  ICK!  So I make it a duty of mine to keep on top of what's new and what works.

Well over the weekend I went to the apartment of my friend Donalee. Now Donalee has 3 big, I mean like Maine Coon Cats, big chubby ones.  Well, walking into her apartment was so pleasant.  Not a hint of cat odor.  So I asked her what she uses.  She told me that recently she switched to ARM & HAMMER^® Essentials™ Clumping Litter.

She told me that she switched mostly because a friend of her's lost a cat to cancer.  And it made her think that maybe it was the chemicals in the fragrant litter the owner was using.  Well, when it comes to green, there is no greater green company than Arm & Hammer, I mean come on, everything is made with baking soda.  But this product is made, not only with baking soda, but super absorbent corn starch fibers.  They soak up urine and urine odor instantaneously.  Plus, because its not clay or rock, its lightweight, so you can carry those bags of old litter to the garbage can with ease.  It is litterally half the weight of othe litter brands. 

And because the grains are small they are soft for the cat's footing.

It clumps so a daily, sometimes hourly scoop of the box is easy, even with three cats.  But don't flush it.  Its not a flushable litter. 

I looked all over, and the best prices are online at National Pet Pharmacy both for the 7lbs and 10lbs bags.  Order here: 

http://www.nationalpetpharmacy.com/store/product_detail.asp?pf_id=30635811&cm_mmc_o=2mHlCjCWVVCjCWVV2tzEEwklCjCWR2RJVRW&zmam=90031077&zmas=22&zmac=84&zmap=30635811

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Pet Products Review: Mimi Litter Silica Cat Litter only at Walmart 4 lbs bag

Ok here is a blog post that I'm having a bit of difficulty with.  I have a cat, Stinky, so of course litter, only the highest quality, odor absorbing, paw friendly litter will do for my kitty.  Personally, I love the crystal litter.  So does Stinky.  When I use litter such as Fresh Step, I never, ever smell any cat urine odor.  Only problem is Fresh Step is expensive.  I'm sorry, it really is.  So, I've been on the search for an alternative.

Now I shop at Walmart frequently.  Quite simply, they have the best prices of any pet or department store, period! and their selection is awesome.  One of the products they carry is a Silica sand type litter called Mimi Litter.  It is different from anything I've seen before.

Now Silica is a porous granular form of sodium silicate which absorbs odor. It is the same stuff that comes in those little packets that you frequently find in snack foods or imported good.  The bag of Mimi Litter claims that it inhibits bacteria, its totally environmentally friendly and it absorbs and cotrols the odor of urin and feces in second.  They also claim that you spend much less money because one bag will last 1 full month.  

Well, I can tell you, it does certainly do a great job of absorbing odors.  As for saving money, yes, 1 bag is only $4 compared to over $8 for Fresh Step or Tidy Cats.  But I don't believe 1 bag lasts a month.  I don't care what brand it is, or what claims, I change Stinky's litter every week. 

Environmentally friendly?  well it is approved by the UKAS Environmental Management, which I looked up and is a 3rd party environmental standards organization, but let's face it, the product is manufactured in China which does not have a reputation for making anything environmentally friendly.  Which brings me to the point, why is this product only sold at Walmart?  I couldnt find it anywhere else.  This I am not completely fine with.

So all in all, I guess you can say, Mimi Litter has everything I'm looking for in a litter, my cat likes it, the price is right.  But I may opt to spend a bit more money on either Fresh Step Crystals or Tidy Cat Crystals because I know they come from American companies that make safety its top priority.

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Hi Kelley,

I am interested in your ideas and teaches learning about your knowledge on training tips for dogs. I have german shepherd solid black and he is now 5 mos. old. I have a very big problem on him; he eats his feces whenever he urg's his butt he turned around, smell it and grab!! ew!. What i always did is i keep on eye with him whenever he had a heavy play after sometime when turned around by itself then it will be. When he started to smell it i will immediately shouted to him "NO" then he leave and play again. Please help, what should i do? because when i am not around he still eat his feces.

Jo-ann G. Neri

Philippines

Dear Jo-ann,

I know that Poop Eating (Coprophagia) is a disgusting behavior, but it is unlikely to MAKE your dog sick, so at least you can let that worry go.  It will be easier for you and your dog if you remain calm during training -even if he relapses.   The causes of Coprophagia are not fully understood.  However, veterinarians, behaviorists and trainers generally agree that it is a behavioral problem.   On the other side of the coin, there are a handful illnesses that can cause coprophagia (poop eating), but they generally present with more symptoms, including diarrhea.  To be on the safe-side, take your dog to the vet, especially if your dog has diarrhea and or has not been to the vet for vaccinations.

Once you know your dog is healthy, the following training plan should help.  

1. Know that STRESS is the enemy.  Your dog is very young and he may still be nervous, or stressed out about going to the bathroom.  Stress is the cause of many undesirable canine behaviors.  Believe it or not, there is a lot that can stress a 5-month old a puppy.  They are learning to hold their bladder and bowels, as opposed to just going whenever they feel like it.  They are also still in the process of learning when and where they may go to the bathroom.  I know your shepherd is getting big, but he is still a baby.  Potty-training a pup can be frustrating, but avoid punishing mistakes.  Instead tighten up on management and forgive mistakes.

2. Do NOT let GOOD BEHAVIOR go unnoticed.  Reward your dog every time he goes to the bathroom in the appropriate place.  As soon as your dog has finished PEEING or POOPING, use your best happy voice to praise him.  Then feed him a tasty treat.  Toss a second treat away from the poop to distract your dog while you remove the poop with a scoop or bag.  If you have already been doing this, continue and make sure that you do it for BOTH pees and poops.  I would skip shouting "No!" this could cause more stress.  Just wiggle the dog treat and praise your dog, so that his attention is on you and he leaves the poop alone.  

3.  CLEAN UP!  Always join your dog on potty walks so that you can reward your dog and scoop the poop immediately.

4. INCREASE EXERCISE & MENTAL STIMULATION.  Make sure that your dog is getting plenty of vigorous exercise each day.  A 5-month old Shepherd could probably use at least two 1-hour play sessions each day.  This means running, fetching, hiking, playing with dogs.  More is always better.  And, when you leave your dog alone, make sure that your dog has plenty of things to CHEW.  Bones and Kongs are best.

5. Try adding a supplement to your dog's food so that the poop will be unappealing to your dog.  There are several products, listed below, but I have also heard various recommendations on adding enzymes to your dog's food.  The theory is that if poop-eating is caused by under-digestion (eat the poop to give a second go at getting all the nutrients), then the enzymes help the food become more digestible.  

At this point, regardless of the CAUSE, there is also a BAD HABIT.  I recommend trying the supplements IN ADDITION to doing the behavior modification work.  If you are only going to do one, try the behavior stuff first (its free), then buy a supplement if there is no change in behavior after 3-weeks.

• Forbid (TM)(R)
  
• Deter (TM)(R)
  
• Papaya, Fig or Pinneaple (These food contain enzymes that break down amino acids).  
  
• Meat Tenderizer (from a grocery store) contains enzymes that break down protein.

Do you have a question for Kelley? by DogTime blogger Kelley Filson

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