Scoop the Poop..Tidy Cats Scoop Crystals Blend.
Written: May 31 '04 (Updated May 31 '04)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Clumps around urine and easy to clean. Reasonable price.
Cons: There's no way to make this a pleasant job.
The Bottom Line: The bottom line is, there is no way to make this a pleasant job, but this may come as close as you can come.
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| 4paws's Full Review: Tidy Cats Scoop Crystals Blend |
In the beginning there were no cats. Life was bland, quiet and relaxed. Nine years ago cat one came into my life, followed within about 6 months later by cat # two. Life has never been quite the same. Thank goodness! One just doesn’t understand until cats have owned them what a real pleasure they bring to your life. There are two things I wish they didn’t require me for, however. That is picking up hairballs and cleaning the gross litter box. I have always wanted to make a hole in the wall to outside that would be just big enough for their little hineys’ to stick out of to do what they must. But, I guess we all know how that would go. It wouldn’t. So, the bane of my existence is the dreaded litter box.
When I first had cats, I bought just clay litter. It was cheap enough that I could just dump the whole thing every couple of days. Then, I finally decided that might not be such a good idea and began trying different clumping litters the last 3 years and have finally settled on Tidy Cats Scoop Crystals Blend.
Tidy Cats Scoop Crystals Blend is a product of Purina, which is a product name I trust. This particular Tidy Cat is advertised as “hard clumping litter” plus “dehydrating crystals”. All I can tell you for sure is the place smells better and it is easier to clean up than any I have tried to this date. Therefore the last 5-6 purchases have been Tidy Cats Scoop Crystals Blend. It is stated to have an antimicrobial agent that inhibits growth of bacterial odors. The only time I notice the odor is when it is being used and then that odor rapidly disappears or I’m just nose dead. That’s always possible and it IS allergy season here, big time.
Tidy Cat states: Patented dust-control system eliminates 99% of airborne dust. High cat acceptance due to the blend of crystals with the familiarity of clay. At any rate, my cats both took it in stride when I changed from clay products to these blends. I don’t know why I resisted the blends with “crystals” in them so long. I always had the feeling they were not safe, but that may be throwback to when I used cat litter in my business ashtrays instead of sand and was always told not to get litter with the “blue crystals”, because they caused toxic gases when combined with lit cigarettes. I don’t even know for sure if that was a valid assessment, thinking back to that time. Further, Purina states that Tidy Cats Scoop Crystals Blend “crystals dehydrates odor causing moisture” and “Odor controlling power that lasts longer than clay alone. I’ll attest to the latter statement, because it does do that. The former, I just trust that they know what they’re talking about. Anyone who shares a home with a cat knows that, no matter what, cat poop stinks. But, to me, the urine almost smells worse and is noticeable longer. That may just be me.
Ingredients
Natural clay and silica product with deodorizing system and odor-causing bacteria growth inhibitor.
Well, that’s pretty enlighting isn’t it? I guess they don’t want to give away trade secrets.
By the way, did you know Purina is a child of Nestle? Makes you think, huh? If you ever find a lump in your Nestle’s, I think I’d throw it all out. It’s probably not, but, food for thought. Actually, the container states: Manufactured by: Nestle Purina PetCare Company, St. Louis, MO.
If you are interested in the Tidy Cat Website, which also has a link to Purina, you can find all kinds of helpful information about your pets in their database and to my knowledge, it has all proven to be accurate and unbiased. You’d have to make that call for yourself. But, I learned some intriguing things about cat behavior and other things in which I was interested.
Directions
1. Pour Tidy Cats Scoop Crystals Blend into cat box to a depth of 3-4 inches.
2. Tidy Cats Scoop Crystals Blend quickly forms Balls around liquid waste for complete, easy removal.
3. Remove solid waste and the balls formed by the liquid waste daily.
4. Add more Tidy Cats Scoop Crystals Blend to maintain a depth of 3-4 inches.
If you are using liners, it is recommended that the cat box be cleaned with warm water and a mild detergent between liner changes.
Disclaimer
It seems crazy that they would need disclaimers on cat litter, but you can’t blame them.
Used litter is not recommended for garden use. Flushing of cat litter or disposal in drains is not recommended. Store in a dry place. We want to remind those with suppressed immune systems and pregnant women that a parasite sometimes found in cat feces can cause toxoplasmosis. This product does not protect users or others against disease-causing bacteria. Please wash hands thoroughly after handling used cat box filler.
Cat Box Diseases
(From www.tidycats.com)
You are more likely to contract a disease from another human than from your cat.
However, if you are pregnant or have a suppressed immune system, we want you to know that a parasite sometimes found in cat feces can cause toxoplasmosis.
Therefore, we suggest you wash your hands thoroughly after handling used cat box filler. Or ask someone else to assume the litter box changing responsibilities at this time.
For more information on toxoplasmosis, contact your doctor.
Remember that all Tidy Cats brand products are non-toxic and won’t harm your cat’s digestive system.
Personal Experience
Since I have been using the Tidy Cats Scoop Crystals Blend, I have been quite pleased with the outcome. To begin with, although many sources state that there should be a box for each cat, my two girls don’t mind using the same box. It just means being more diligent, on my part, to scoop when needed. The dust level is lower, but if that’s 99% lower, then I shudder to think what 100% would be like. When my allergies are active, like now, any additional mold or dust sets me off on a sneezing event of major proportions. I’ll have to say, when I pour the Tidy Cats Scoop Crystals Blend into the litter box, I sneeze. When I scoop or the cats use the box, I don’t. So, I guess that is an improvement. Since I have moved into an apartment, I have less space than previously and the one box stays in my bedroom. If I keep it scooped daily, I don’t have a problem with odor, but occasionally, I am not so gently reminded by the odor that I have been negligent when I crawl into my bed at night and jump right up to scoop and by the time I finish and crawl back to bed, the odor is gone.
Other times, when I haven’t been tidy enough for the “girls”, they get quite
creative about “covering things up”. I have found magazines, pieces of cloth and a sock in the litter box. I always figure it’s my own fault.
Final Thoughts
To be honest, one of my biggest concerns about cats and litter boxes revolved around toxoplasmosis. This stems from Nursing school eons ago when they impressed us with the possible dangers. The biggest risk, as we were taught, were to pregnant moms-to-be. I have clipped a paragraph from the cat-chow health information in regards to this disease: Toxoplasmosis is a very tricky disease. The infective stage of this organism is an oocyst (egg) that has sporulated and is found in the feces. It is highly unlikely that a cat could become infected by casual contact with a Toxoplasmosis positive cat. The feces of an infected cat are more of a risk than the cat itself. Also making it more unlikely is the fact most infected cats will only shed the Toxoplasmosis oocysts for a short period of time after they are first infected. Most cats become infected not from other cats but by eating an intermediate host that is infected, this could be a mammal in the wild or it could be from uncooked meat. It is also possible for cats to be infected in utero. This is just something I have always been concerned about and even my own daughter who is now a Veterinarian said they did not teach them anything about this when she was in school. I think she thinks I’m just an alarmist and perhaps I am, but I still think it’s a good practice for women, who are pregnant, not to care for the litter boxes. It should be taken care of by someone else in the family. That said, I didn’t have cats when I was pregnant, so it was not a concern at that time. The other people who should be concerned are those with immune diseases.
I have been quite pleased with Tidy Cats Scoop Crystals Blend and plan to stick with it. As my Daddy used to say, “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it”. The cats don’t seem to care much one way or the other. What they do car about is having a clean place to go and this is much easier to keep clean. I have decided that even thought per equal weights, this may cost a little more, that it actually seems to last longer because of the clumping. So, I’m sticking with Tidy Cats Scoop Crystals Blend until someone shows me something else better or the girls learn to use the toilet, whichever comes first.
This has been another entry in the Pet "May"hem W/O. Write as many pet reviews as you can between now and midnight and you might win a prize. Be sure to email the link to your review to ladysmomm@aol.com
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
4paws
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Location: Tulsa, Oklahoma
Reviews written: 250
Trusted by: 79 members
About Me:
The human race has one really effective weapon, and that is laughter.
Mark Twain
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