Another Litter Question

[Nela]

I'm sure this has been asked in the past and I do know that generally cat litter is a no-no...

However...

If the bunny has only a litter corner and that litter corner is covered with a snap on grid so that the bunny cannot eat or dig at it could it be safe to use? I would check the litter corner regularly to make sure it is snapped on correctly. I figured if she can't eat it she can't get intoxicated and if she can't dig it then she won't be inhaling the dust?

Any ideas?

 

[Maureen Las]

I am not sure about it ; if it wasn't a scented cat litter it might be OK and if there was like a screen grid so dust couldn't escape
wait for a few more replies

no one has asked this yet....

 

[Nela]

Thanks :rose:

 

[AngelnSnuffy]

It should be a "safe" litter like Feline Pine for the bun. What litter are you using? If it's a safe litter, then yes, it's fine.

 

[tonyshuman]

Yes, generally cat litter is not ok. However, if you can keep the dust down and keep them from eating it, it could be fine. At my shelter we use non-clumping gravel cat litter for the bunnies (with a lot of hay). I don't put the gravel in the boxes when I change them (don't tell anyone!), and I don't recommend anyone to use it, unless money is very tight and a wood-pellet based litter isn't available. The cheapest and best litter is wood stove pellets made from kiln dried pine. They could eat it if they want (they usually don't), it absorbs smell and moisture, and they're cheap as dirt.

 

[Nela]

I think I will give it a go and see if she pays too much attention to it. I believe the two risks were the dust and the risks of them eating them correct? If there those are covered then maybe this could work. If I find she is paying too much attention to it I will use carefresh.

 

[tonyshuman]

Yup, that's the risks. I have heard of a way to make your own carefresh from newspaper, so that might be another option. I do personally prefer the wood stove pellets myself.

 

[Nela]

I am extremely allergic to the wood pellets so that's why I don't use them. Not sure how come I don'T react the same way to cat litter quite frankly :?I have learned to stop asking the whys and just accept the yes's and no's lol.

 

[AngelnSnuffy]

Nela wrote:

I think I will give it a go and see if she pays too much attention to it. I believe the two risks were the dust and the risks of them eating them correct? If there those are covered then maybe this could work. If I find she is paying too much attention to it I will use carefresh.

Have you tried Yesterday's News litter? It's recycled newpaper pellets, I love it. Maybe something to check into, should help your allergies too!

But, I have chosen most recently to change to Feline Pine for cats, as it's acceptable and cheaper! As far as what you use now, I believe another risk is liver damage from just being around the litter, maybe just depositing in it, but I'll have to read up to recall the "damage" that can concur.

Here's what I just found on alink of ours from the Library 101-Diet and Care from Ontario Rabbit Education Org:

"Things to consider when choosing a litter:

1. Corn cob bedding or litter may cause a blockage if ingested. Rabbits can't easily digest pieces of corn.
   
2. Clumping cat litter may also cause blockages if ingested.
   
3. Cedar and pine wood shavings do not control odours well, and may lead to liver damage or respiratory problems. In addition, these litters are messy.
   
4. CatWorks Litter (by the makers of CareFresh) contains zinc oxide, which may cause zinc poisioning if ingested. This product is not intended for use as rabbit litter.
   
5. Do not use any litter that your rabbit enjoys feasting on (with the exception of hay over top of newspaper). "

 

[tonyshuman]

Feline pine is ok because it is kiln dried--it's basically the same thing as wood stove pellets. Most pine and cedar shavings are not kiln dried and as such can cause liver and respiratory problems. I know of at least one person who uses kiln-dried pine shavings (Cathy-Bluegiants) as well,and those are safe. The non-clumping gravel cat litter doesn't give off the aromatic oils, or anything other than dust, so it's ok, as long as the dust level is low.

 

[Nela]

Thanks for the info guys I cannot use anything like corn cob or wood-based because of my allergies. The Yesterdays News is a cost issue here as it is very expensive and I was hoping for something a bit better. I will try with the non-clumping kind and see how that goes. If not I still have the carefresh which isn't too too bad in cost as there are smaller bags available at Wal-Mart. Thanks again ^_^