Pine pellet cat litter is used by spreading the pellets on the floor of the cat litter box evenly until it is about an inch thick. When your cat pees on the pellets, they will absorb the liquid and lock in the odor. The litter will then break down into sawdust. Scoop out the solid waste and shake the litter box to collect the sawdust in the bottom tray. Remove the sawdust from the bottom tray and clean it thoroughly. Refill the litter box with new pine pellets about one inch high.
If you are considering using pine pellet cat litter for your kitty and are wondering how to use it, just keep on reading.
Is it safe to use pine pellets as cat litter?
Yes, wood pellets, in general, are an excellent substitute for non-biodegradable cat litter. They are environmentally friendly because their substrate is wood. Pine pellet litter is made of compressed wood fiber. It is made from a variety of organic materials such as wood shavings, wood chips, and sawdust. Pine is a softwood, just like redwood, fir, cypress, and cedar.
Pine pellets are a great biodegradable substitute because the raw material is readily available and sustainable. It is a lot cheaper than the widely-used clay litter. Because of the pine pellets’ non-clumping nature and large size, it does not stick to your cat’s paws. This avoids the possibility of your cat licking the litter off of its paws and ingesting it, possibly causing gastrointestinal obstructions.
Before using pine pellets for your cat, make sure your cat is not allergic to it. Some cats may react negatively to the resins found in pine and cedar pellets. The same goes if your cat has asthma, as the sawdust may trigger a reaction.
What are the benefits of using pine pellets?
1. Environmentally-friendly
Pine pellets are obtained from a sustainable and renewable source, which means it is safe for the environment. It is biodegradable, so it is compostable after using.
2. High absorbency
Pine pellets are formed by compressing wood fibers. When it comes into contact with liquids, it will absorb the liquid and start expanding. Pine pellets can quickly absorb up to three times their weight in moisture; this quality allows you to use the pellet litter for an extended period of time without replacing it.
3. Affordable price
Since most of these pellets are simply made from the leftovers found in lumber mills, they are much cheaper than other types of cat litter.
4. Less tracking
Because of pine pellets’ non-clumping quality, it does not stick to your cat and get tracked around the house.
5. Biodegradable
Pine pellets can be compostable and may even be used as natural fertilizer for flower gardens.
6. Lightweight
Pine pellets are lightweight and will disintegrate into sawdust when soiled, making them easier to clean.
7. Controls odor
Pine pellets have a natural scent that effectively controls the ammonia smell of cat urine. If you want to double the odor control, you can sprinkle baking soda into the litter box.
8. All-natural
Pine pellets do not have additives, chemicals, or artificial scents like other cat litter, so it is safer to use. Some clay-based litters use bleach for treatment, which pine pellets do not need.
9. Less dust
When pouring the pellets into the litter box, there is little to no dust spread. This is because the pellets are compressed tightly during processing.
10. Hygienic
Pine pellets are compressed under intense heat during manufacturing, which kills all the harmful bacteria.
11. Easy to clean
When the pellets disintegrate into sawdust when soiled, it is easy to clean. And because of its high absorbency, it lasts longer and does not need to be replaced as frequently as other types of litter.
How to use pine pellet cat litter
When using pine pellet litter, make sure you are not using too much. Do not overfill the litter box because the pellets will expand and swell up when exposed to liquid. When pouring the pellets into the litter box, make sure the pellets are covering the entire surface and that it goes about an inch deep.
Maintaining the litter box on a daily basis consists of removing the solid waste, scooping out the sawdust from the bottom tray, and refilling it with fresh pine pellets.
How to scoop pine pellet litter
It can be tricky figuring out how to scoop pine pellet litter, but it will get easier over time. First, remove any of the solid waste. Next, collect the sawdust using a scoop. Make sure the holes are large enough for the sawdust to fall through but small enough for the fresh pellets to stay on top.
Shake the scoop carefully so the sawdust falls into the container with the poop. Keep the dry pellets separate and put them back into the litter box. Lastly, refill the litter box with enough new pellets to keep the pellet layer one inch deep.
How often do I have to change my cat’s pine pellet litter?
The frequency of changing the pine pellet litter will depend on a few factors. On average, empty the entire contents of the litter box at least twice a month. Scooping out the sawdust is the first major factor. If you scoop out most of the used sawdust regularly and add more fresh pellets, the litter box will stay cleaner for longer. Instead of emptying the contents of the whole box, it should be sufficient to just tilt the pellets to one side, while giving the bottom layer a quick wash.
Other factors to consider are the number of cats in the household as well as how often your cat uses the litter box.
Conclusion
You use pine pellets as cat litter by spreading it evenly on the floor of the litter box until it is about an inch deep. Pine pellets absorb liquids and will disintegrate into sawdust. When cleaning the litter, sift out the solid waste. Shake the upper layer of the box so the sawdust falls into the bottom layer. Clean the bottom layer by washing it with soap and water. After removing any of the wet pellets and sawdust, refill the litter box with fresh pellets until the litter is one inch deep. Empty and clean your cat’s litter box at least twice a month.
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