On Facebook, there is a page about this cat litter. Kelly Sanford, says she tried this litter recently. She says it is extremely dusty and is so light it clings to her cat's fur because of static electricity on the fur attracting the tiny particles of cat litter. Then of course it can be licked off and ingested. She says that at the moment there has been no response to these allegations about the litter from the manufacturers.
Nina Minster states quite categorically that people should not use this cat litter. She says people should stop using it immediately and throw it away. Nina belongs to a group of cat lovers with 450 members and she has learned through her connections that two cats have died within a couple of days from using the same litter brand. That's what she says. Your need to check it out yourselves (An Amazon commentator states "7 deaths among cats").
She goes on to say that both cats that passed away developed lung issues after only one sack of the litter had been used. In other words it happened very quickly. One of the cats was 14 years of age and the other one year of age. They lived in different households. Nina states that a veterinarian, in both cases, blamed the litter. Nina has contacted the manufacturers who said that they are trying to get in touch with the owners of these 2 cats. She stresses that it is only this specific formula that is under review at this time.
Apparently, this litter is claimed to be 99% dust free! I'm not sure about that but clearly it is not.
Erin Christy states that it is the worst cat litter she has used because it does not mask smell and it is so dusty that she has to scrub down her entire basement and it gets tracked everywhere. She likens the use of this cat litter to "a complete dust storm".
Lynn Colson states that the problem with this litter is the dust. She is very disappointed because her home is now covered with white dust. I'll quote her: “both containers were a shower of dust when poured. It spread through my home and is leaving me with a lot of extra work."
In addition to the health problems alleged, the price has gone up and now it appears to be overly expensive.
Cindy Shepard on this site states that “I tried it for about 10 days and quit using it because of the dust."
Yasmine Lambrecht states on FB that one of her FB cat friends and a dear lady has recently lost her cat to severe breathing difficulties. She is not sure whether it is due to Tidy Cats Lightweight Litter, but she does state that it is probably due to it.
Tidy Cats Lightweight Litter Contains Crystalline Silica
It seems that the manufacturers wanted to make cat litter lighter because in large bags it can be heavy, and it is often the lady of the house who has to deal with it. So, it was a clever marketing method to make it lighter. In order to make it lighter they made the particles smaller. The science behind it is probably that smaller particles result in more air being between the particles so in the tray there is more air. This may be why it is less effective. I don't know and I am just making a supposition.
I don't think I need to go on. This as you may have gathered is a USA product and all the comments come from Americans living in America.
In defence of the product, you will see quite a number of websites stating that this cat litter is good and highly functional so I must make clear that on this page I have quoted criticisms of the product in the interest of cat welfare but at this stage they are what we call anecdotal evidence, and more work needs to be done on this. That said, where there are reports and where there are alternatives it makes sense to not use the product until the situation has been clarified. Source: FB Page.
It seems that the manufacturers wanted to make cat litter lighter because in large bags it can be heavy, and it is often the lady of the house who has to deal with it. So, it was a clever marketing method to make it lighter. In order to make it lighter they made the particles smaller. The science behind it is probably that smaller particles result in more air being between the particles so in the tray there is more air. This may be why it is less effective. I don't know and I am just making a supposition.
I don't think I need to go on. This as you may have gathered is a USA product and all the comments come from Americans living in America.
In defence of the product, you will see quite a number of websites stating that this cat litter is good and highly functional so I must make clear that on this page I have quoted criticisms of the product in the interest of cat welfare but at this stage they are what we call anecdotal evidence, and more work needs to be done on this. That said, where there are reports and where there are alternatives it makes sense to not use the product until the situation has been clarified. Source: FB Page.
Note 1: As this page has become more noticed I am a little concerned that some comments might have been "planted" by paid reviewers to counteract the negative ones. I don't know but these things do happen. Please read comments with caution and decide for yourself where the truth lies. However, many thanks for the comments. They help provide information to visitors and are useful, therefore.
Note 2: One of the comments is by a person who worked at a factory where they made this litter - see link above to a post by him. It is very interesting and provides insider information. The comment is towards the bottom of the page. Load all the comments to see it. If the comments fail to load you can read this article based on his comment.
Note 3: Please read this page about Tonkinese kittens being allegedly killed by this litter.
P.S. Cat caretakers should not assume all is well because they can't see any health problems. Dust ingestion can cause a gradual build up. The health problem may become apparent later when it is too late to do anything about it. Just a word of warning. Cats sniff litter and they are much closer to it than humans. Plus, they kick it up. Just because you can't see it does not mean it is not there. P.P.S. 02-04-2021: I am of the firm opinion that this cat litter substrate is dangerous. I would advise cat owners to avoid it. You may harm your kitten and cats. There is nothing worse than causing injury or death to a family member who you love because of carelessness.
Update 12 June 2022: just a quick update to say that Purina deny that there is anything wrong with their product. They blame social media for spreading lies and that the people who complain about it are always anonymous. I'm afraid it seems to me that they are the ones who are lying because on this page there are named people who have first-hand experience of this product harming their cats. There is also talk online about Purina compensating people for harm caused to their cats by their product. Although apparently there is no firm evidence to support this perhaps because if anybody has been compensated, they do so under a gagging clause. I am speculating because I don't know.
Further update: Going back as far as September 2012, Scientific American recommended not using cat litters made of silica because of the dust which has been linked to upper respiratory issues and the chemical fragrances in some litters can be toxic to cats. Buy fragrance-free.
And sodium bentonite clay as you know is in non-clumping litters and if a cat ingests it can cause serious harm for obvious reasons.
Therefore, they tend to recommend wood-based litter and paper-based litter as both are safer in their view. Paper-based litter is made from recycled newspaper and is reportedly 3 times more absorbent than clay. It is non-toxic and contains no scented fragrances. It is claimed to be 99.7% dust free but I will leave people to make up their own mind.
Plain old sawdust if you can get your hands on it is a good litter substrate. I would certainly do your research and avoid silica and avoid lightweight dusty litters. Personally, I always favoured wood-based litter and I also believe that it is more environmentally friendly although all cat litter has an environmental impact which is regrettable. And as more people are keeping their cats indoors full-time nowadays more cat litter is being used and therefore there is a greater environmental impact.
The Tidy Cats in the bag appears to be a totally different product than the TC in the plastic jugs. A family member using the bagged product has developed pulmonary inflammation, I suspect, as a result of using this product. So there is a possibility that it is dangerous to humans as well as cats.
ردحذفbah, warning from anonymous person who suspects a family members ailment may be the result....hardly valid
حذفYes, I can understand that possibility. The trouble with find dust is that you won't see immediate problems. The problems will cumulative. Therefore they can tend to be ignored.
حذفAll they are saying is that there is a possibility. That is sensible and fair enough.
حذفI realize its anecdotal, but I've been using the large boxed variant from Sam's for over a year with 4 cats, indoor/outdoor, with no issues.
حذفI find it to be dusty, but not particularly dusty when compared to other brands.
Seems like a great product to me, but I'm glad people are analyzing the potential effects of it
Thanks Max. I wonder if there are different variants and also if the manufacturers have done some work on this to improve it. I am pleased you find the product okay.
حذفThanks for this. I have the box as well and haven't notice any issues.
حذفI came to this site because I saw the article on my newsfeed. It caught my interest because both my cats died in the last year - one older but healthy and the others started having breathing issues, bloody noses and a smell. My husband also developed breathing issues around the same time - he was diagnosed with stage 4 COPD ???? with no early warning signs. I was looking to see if any other humans have had problems.
حذفWe have always used tidy cat. But it causes some alarm for me as my husband was in charge of the litter box.
Thank you very much for your comment. Your comment is interesting. It appears to suggest that this litter can cause health problems beyond cats and affects people as well. That makes it a very serious problem or should do to people.
حذفI will do some more research on this. Would you mind me using your comment in another article? I may do that but I may not. I know that you are using what appears to be your son's name and icon photograph. Is that correct?
Either is your comment then unknown.
حذفAnonymous is bah, but you unkown aren't. give me a beak. I used it and broke out in hives big time, dust in my eyes, all over my house.
حذفtidy cats multicat clumping killed my cat in three days. It was in the jugs fyi to everyone it is sad and horrible
حذفVery sorry to hear this. The best of luck and may your cat rest in peace.
حذفAnd we should trust your judgment on its validity because you are ... Unknown ?!
حذفI had used the type in the jug before all thd health warnings popped up. I immediately stopped using after that. I don't remember any dust, it covered the smell very well, it clumped beautifully, and I loved how lightweight it is. I am hoping that they fix the issue because that was the best litter I had ever used
حذفCrystalline Silica IS dangerous to humans...You can get what is called potter's lung...look it up.
حذفI entirely believe it is harmful to humans and animals. I recently purchased it for a litter box in a small room. When I try to clean it, I can feel the dust going up my nose and down into my throat, and I choke for a good while after. It sticks all over the cats feet and tracks everywhere in my home. A lot even remains like glue on the bottom of their feet. I have tried many different litters, but I feel this is the worst and most dangerous litter out there. Anyone with health problems should not be breathing in this litter, human or cats.
حذفThank you for that information.
ردحذفThank you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
ردحذفI use Tidy Cat. The clumping kind. Have never seen the Lightweight! And am so so glad I have this info!
I am pleased it might help you. Thanks for commenting.
حذفI ADORED the lightweight stuff. It clumped better than anything, didn't stick to the box, and had excellent odor control. And...it was lightweight. BUT...after 3 days my entire house was coated in dust, and I was having to wear a dust mask to change the boxes! So...I had to go back to regular clumping litter. I really wish they would fix the lightweight stuff so that it is usable.
ردحذفWow, this litter seems to have a real problem. If you can see the dust and it is that bad think what your cat is breathing in when he/she digs around in the litter. Thanks for sharing your info.
حذفTry the weruva tea tree litter. It's lightweight and the odor control is great.
حذفMy cat got very sick !
حذفMy cat is near death because I bought this product.
ردحذفI am sorry to hear that. I hope she/her recovers fully.
حذفwat do you know, anonymous again...
حذفAnomymous I am trying to gather as much info as possible regarding this product for my Vet. My cat is not doing well either Can you email me at freemolly14@yahoo.com. I suspect some positive comments here may be paid promos by company Thank you much appreciated Honey
حذفMy cat is having respitory issues, sneezing and discharge from his eye....11 year old indoor cat no previous health problems only change is in the last week we switched to this lightweight litter! Now have to go to the vet tomorrow...thanks Purina!
حذفSorry to hear about your cat's health problem. Thanks for sharing and the best of luck.
حذفMy cat would not get into the box at all. I threw it out.
ردحذفGood for your cat! He/she knew what was good for him.
حذفThys anonymous guy gets around...
حذفAnd...why do you care?
حذفSo apparently does Stevie MK... perhaps a Tidy Cats shill?
حذفI tried this product last month & was quite happy with it. I found it to cause much less dust & it clumps so much better than the regular litter. Also, it had less scent to it than the regular Tidy Cats litter I/m using now. Is it possible that the formula has changed?
ردحذفThanks for commenting. Perhaps the manufacturer has rectified what appears to have been (or still is) a genuine problem.
حذفSince it's been so long since this was posted I felt the need to reply. I've used this since it came out. As for "long-haired" cats? Mine is a Himalayan - there simply aren't as many as long-haired as THAT. I have a DSH also. It's been years now. Oldest cat is 12 now & I've never had any issues with it at all.
حذفI've noticed that this stuff is much less dusty. It being lightweight is a big plus. I didn't buy it at first because of the extra expense, but I found it's worth it. Carrying the heavier 30 pounds of litter to the garbage isn't pleasant. My girlfriend did point out that the sent is much stronger. I didn't notice, but I did notice the lower dust and thought the opposite would be the case.
ردحذفThanks for commenting. Are you saying that in your opinion it is not dusty or that the manufacturers have resolved the dust problem?
حذفThis is going to hit the press very soon - lawsuits galore - this shit is killing your cats and you by breathing it. It is a hazard. I will see my attorney tomorrow.
حذفThanks. I'll check online to see if any lawsuits are starting.
حذفprobly not gonna hit the press, its been since at least May and nothing yet...
حذفMy cat is sick because of this product! Dexter is a healthy cat who has never been sick for 9 years. He now has a balder and respiratory infection. I have spent over $500 at the vet this week, but it wasn't until I changed the litter that Dexter turned a corner. I hope my little guy pulls through, he is very sick!
ردحذفThanks a lot for sharing your experience. It all helps to warn others. Pleased that Dexter has turned the corner and is on the mend.
حذفSounds like we have similar situation. My Honey came down with same Bladder infection and his breathing exasperated! I spent close to the same at the Vet he's on Antibiotics now! I had a hunch to search for causes this sure fits and makes me really angry. I just tried the light litter recently because it's easier weight wise but sticks to the cats static issues and dust is everywhere! Excessive licking to keep clean. In the trash it goes . I'll be on the phone to the Vet tomorrow morning: I hope Dexter is better soon. Thank you for the info!!!!!
حذفBeen using it for a year and a half with the cats. Much led dust than the clay variety, less perfume as well. All the cats are healthy and well, the vet was impressed at last appointment that their teeth are so clean and coats so soft and shiney, and what am i feeding them? No issues from this litter. The fresh step light had sawdust in it, and it caused nose bleeds and itchy eyes, was heavy on the dust and perfume. We used it for two hours, then threw it out and got tidy cats version. No issues here. No uti's, no respiratory troubles, nothing.
ردحذفNite, it is NOT recommended for kittens under a year old, as they tend to eat strange things. If they eat this stuff it will form a hard mass in their tummies. That said, unless you're older cat is a litter muncher, it shouldn't be a problem.
Thanks for sharing your experiences. It is appreciated. I just hope that you are a genuine user and not employed by the manufacturers to plant comments on websites. We know that this happens quite a lot and the latest example is on Amazon who are suing fake comment makers in the civil courts.
حذفI've been using this product in Canada with no problems; in fact my husband and I really like it because it clumps so well, though it does seem to get tracked around easily. My cat is already old and not in the best health, but the litter doesn't seem to have made her worse. The accusations are troubling though.
ردحذفThanks for commenting but please confirm that you are independent and not working for a pet product manufacturer.
حذفI don't use Tiddy Cat but I do use Arm And Hammer, Clump and seal. I switched to the light weight and almost killed my Vesace. It said dust free also but I found it to be terribly dusty, and tracked all over. The second day after I switch my cat was sneezing, his eyes were watering and he quit eating.I changed his litter back to the original Clump & Seal and it took about 5 days to a week but he did get better. I felt so bad. No more light weight anything for us.
ردحذفThank you for contributing to the page. You first hand experience is valuable.
حذفI have been using the jugged stuff for a year without problem nor excessive dust. My cats are not dusty nor licking themselves to do any cleaning. It is good know there is concern and I will use an alternate for now.
ردحذفI bought the lightweight Tidy Cat once but didn't like it. It was too dusty, and I didn't think it did as good a job as the regular did. My cats didn't seem to like it either. I went back to the regular Tidy Cat clumping litter. I won't take a chance on my cats' health in any case.
ردحذفI have used Tidy Cats Clumping Lightweight Litter in the plastic container for over a year with no difficulties. Is this the specific type that others are referring to? My reason for switching to this was my inability to lift heavier containers of litter after a car accident and subsequent spinal surgery. I didn't want to rely on family members to shop for me when I needed litter, so I tried this and have been pleased with it. I do not work for a pet product manufacturer - I am a recently retired teacher. I am concerned about these reports.
ردحذفI have 5 cats ages 1 to 16 yes old. I have used the lightweight for a Long time. I love it because it covers the smell well & doesn't stick to the pan. It does have more dust than the original & that has bothered me some. I don't like that for me or my cats yet I have NOT seen any health issues with any of my cats. My sister also uses it for her 9 cats with NO health issues. Therefore I'm not sure if I'm going to change it or not.
ردحذفMeant they are 1 through 16 yrs old. Happy that none have shown Any health problems from it.
حذفI too have found there is a difference between the TidyCat lightweight litter in the plastic container and the box. The boxed litter does seem dustier...it also seems dustier if you just add additional litter to the box rather than refreshing the entire litter box. It's convenient to sift out the clumps and add additional litter, but it also seems to be much dustier that way.
ردحذفi have one cat. until recently i had always yard the tidy cat clump and seal red cap version (in a jug). I've just emptied the first jig of the light weight formula. i loved it right away, my cat didn't have any (and still had not had) any adverse reactions or opposition to it. So I'm getting ready to open the warehouse sized (box) of the same light weight formula, or not now? maybe i should return it and stick to the jug? independent comment, certainly not paid by anyone, love the function of the product, just a little concerned about this dust and respiratory problem.
ردحذفi have one cat. until recently i had always yard the tidy cat clump and seal red cap version (in a jug). I've just emptied the first jig of the light weight formula. i loved it right away, my cat didn't have any (and still had not had) any adverse reactions or opposition to it. So I'm getting ready to open the warehouse sized (box) of the same light weight formula, or not now? maybe i should return it and stick to the jug? independent comment, certainly not paid by anyone, love the function of the product, just a little concerned about this dust and respiratory problem.
ردحذفI run a rescue which includes about 10 cats (at any given time). They are housed in a cat building behind the building that houses the dogs. I also have 3 cats of my own and my 80 year old mother has 3 cats and I buy her cat litter. I thought this lightweight was wonderful especially for my 80 year old mother... UNTIL she developed an ongoing cough... which sent her to the doctor!!!! The dust literally would cover every inch of hers and my house. The a/c filter in the cat building at the rescue would constantly be clogged up with the dust. I immediately STOPPED buying it and contacted Tidy Cats. They did not acknowledge the issues, but instead told us to pour the litter closer to the litter box and sent us 3 coupons for free cat litter. NOT HAPPY! I no longer buy the lightweight... and have resorted back to buying the regular clumping Tidy Cats, which I've never had a problem with. The dust has gone away. Thank GOD my mother's cough finally went away as well. They need to get this crap off the shelves or figure out what's wrong with the formula before anymore cats die or a human ends up dying because of it!
ردحذفHad a coupon for the lightweight so figured I'd try it. Other than its weight I noticed little to no difference in performance, feel, tracking or dust compared to the heavier bucket scented version I've bought for years. None of my three indoor cats seem to have health issues, and they are 3, 9 and 12 years old. All three see the vet somewhat regularly, and no mention has been made to me regarding asthma or odd breathing.
ردحذفI only bought the one bucket, and didn't buy after that as the price is at least twice that of their regular clumping litter in the bucket.
As for being part of "Big Cat Litter" I can well assure you that I am not, not have I ever, been employed by or even vaguely related or acquainted with anyone employed by any manufacturing company producing pet food or products of any type pertaining to pets; unless you want to hold the two days in 1986 that I worked for Petland (until I found they were involved with puppy mills) against me.
Thanks for taking the time to share your experience of this product.
حذفI just bought this product and haven't had any issues and I have 2 cats. It tracks out of the litter box but honestly no dust. I'm going to buy new litter today just Incase but honestly I think all types of litter have issues... Not everyone is perfect. Back to petsmart I go...
ردحذفThanks Claudia. But beware. Sometimes it is hard to tell if a litter is dangerous or not. Dust is hard to see and a cat is much nearer the stuff than humans and they sniff the litter. It is used daily. Problems can build up slowly.
حذفMy name is Kara Irwin and I am the president of The Ohana Project in Fresno, CA We have been in operation for 36 years and finally decided to get our 501 (C)(3) non profit status this pas year. I am a vet tech with 20+ years experience.
ردحذفWe have been using this product for 6-8 mo with no problems at all.Yes it does track more than other products, and yes, I have noticed some dust. But the benefits have out weighed that so far. It works very well clumps dry and the cats love it. It is especially beneficial in the fact that we have 48 cat boxes and that is a lot of weight to lug out to the dumpsters!
I am not employed by anyone in the industry.
Thanks Kara for taking the time to pass on your experience of using this litter.
حذفI run WarmFuzzy's, a feral cat rescue/sanctuary. Recently tried the lightweight litter. It is very dusty, have a cat that has never been sick a day and is now severely congested with URI and inflamed/congested lungs. A second cat is also having nadal congestion. Vet bill over $100 so far. I have developed a bad cough. I will not be using this product and returning what I do have left.
ردحذفThanks for sharing. It all adds up to a clearer picture as to whether this product is dangerous or not.
حذفI have 3 cats and have been using the product since it first came out. Among 2 14-year-olds and a 6-year-old, I've experienced no problems. I have to carry my literally a long way from my parking space and up two flights of stairs. The heavier litter was causing me severe back problems. I'll keep a close eye on my cats, though. And, yes, I'm a legitimate user of the product. I've used both Fresh Step and Tidy Cats.
ردحذفThanks Julie. The concern I have is that problems with dust being ingested even in small doses can build up over time because cats use litter regularly. Sometimes problems can creep up on you and then it is too late. You can't go back.
حذفI have 2 cats ages 3 and 2 both my cats have been in perfect health since I got them as kittens we recently tried the new lightweight tidy cats litter in the jug and suddenly both my cats have bladder infections and respitory infections. The dust is everywhere! I quit using this litter and went back to my old litter I would not reccomend this litter to anyone!
ردحذفThanks Mel for passing on your experiences with this litter.
حذفWe run a rescue and have been having issues with respiratory problems over the last year.... We also moved locations after switching litters so assumed it could be environmental.... I can say the lightweight is awesome for the weight issue.... it does track everywhere and the dust clings to everything the cats step on and even worse if wet paws are involved... but the real issue is the possibility that our culprit behind the respiratory issues is the cat litter. Kitten issues have been constant but really became concerned when adults started having off and on respiratory problems.... it seems we have consistently had one cat or another on antibiotics.... my curiosity became sparked with the cat litter after seeing a post on Facebook....
ردحذفWe are currently using the proplan litter in half the boxes and lightweight in the cat enclosure, and plain paper with my sick kittens...
Those that had respiratory infections (2) are starting to improve... my kittens are completely cleared up but I have one in the cat enclosure (not exposed to any of the current cats with respiratory problems) that has runny nose, eyes, and a slight cough that's now refusing to eat... We are fixing to dump all cat boxes and fill with different litter and put the light weight litter away and See if issues improve...
Thanks for sharing. Interesting. I hope you can resolve the matter and if you think the litter was the problem I'd be pleased if you could return for a follow up comment.
حذفThanks for your comprehensive and useful comment. It all adds to the information about this cat litter.
حذفHaving watched this webpage over the time it has been here I'd definitely not use Tidy Cats Lightweight litter. There is too much wrong with it and when it comes to health you have to be absolutely sure. Thanks for commenting.
حذفHello. I'm really concerned. My cat Spock is a great companion to me and this information is alarming. I've been using Tidy Cats since moving for grad school and taking over his care. I haven't noticed any of the side effects mentioned and I pay close attention to him. Also, I am not seeing the dust that everyone is talking about?
ردحذفIs it only the Light Weight kind I need to worry about? And if I should avoid Tidy Cats period, what do you suggest I switch to instead?
I would greatly appreciate it. Even if this turns out to be false I'd rather just switch than risk it honestly.
Hello, yes, it is the lightweight one which is causing concern. Personally I'd not use it. There are alternatives. World's Best is a clumping litter and it does not contain sodium bentonite or silica as far as I know. Cat litter can be dangerous for all kinds of reasons. The chemicals in it or the dust is too fine and it is ingested.
حذفI never really thought about the litter! I'll keep an eye on my cat and look into better alternatives. Maybe go talk to the vet here in town. Thank you!
حذفGood for you and good luck. Litter is potentially damaging to a cat's health although it looks perfectly safe. Earth, outside, is the safest!
حذفI tried it, it is dusty and does not last very long, (other brands are better) and I have 4 cats, long and short hair and they all seem to be fine, but I'm going back to the brand that lasts longer because we can't take the smell.
ردحذفThanks for that. It adds to user information on this product.
حذفWe have a cat less than a year old. Maverick was perfectly healthy all his vet checks and when he was neutered they did all his blood work everything great. We bought lightweight litter and had used one full container didn't have a clue. Second container we were in the er and they kept him overnight. He wasn't getting enough oxygen and the vet suggested maybe heart failure. She did X-rays and came back shocked he had the lungs of a severely asthmatic cat. We had X-rays less than 2 months before and his lungs were perfectly healthy.
ردحذفMy daughter came in shortly after and saw the cat litter and freaked out. She is who told us we shouldn't use it and why. I will tell you with 100% certainty if we hadn't been told Maverick would have died!
Thanks for commenting Jeff. Your story is shocking. I hope people read it.
ردحذفI have been using Tidy Cats lightweight for several months with no issues. I have two older kitties and a husband with COPD and I have not had any dust issues. I use the jug and the boxed variety (from BJ's and Sams club) not sure if the bags are different. If anyone has any medical evidence, I will certainly rethink using this product....
ردحذفThanks Pat for your contribution. I am surprised because the opinions of visitors varies enormously. I don't understand this wide variation.
حذفأزال أحد مشرفي المدونة هذا التعليق.
ردحذفAnyone had this problem? Switched to Tidy Cats Lightweight recently, less than a week, without any health problems, less dust mess and tight clumping. The problem is now we have a "barnyard" smell coming from the boxes. Has to be the litter, nothing else has changed. Reading other posts has me worried for our cats. Anyone noticed this type of odor from this litter?
ردحذفPerhaps the manufacturers have responded to the dust complaint and added a chemical which reduces dust and this chemical smells. Just a wild guess. Thanks for sharing.
حذفI use cat's pride flushable, light weight. It is a bit dusty, and it does get tracked around, haven't noticed anything out ofthe ordinary but am very concerned. Has anyone had problems using other similar products? Is it best to not use any "light weight"?
ردحذفmy only long-haired cat of three has started grooming (mowing) the fur off his hind legs in the last short while...we started using the Tidy cats lightweight in the last short while...I am planning to go back to regular litter for a few months, in case dust (or some type of allergy pertaining to the litter) is leading to the excessive grooming. Poor thing looks silly right now with less fur in his pants - not to mention the hairballs :-( My two shorter hair kitties seem undisturbed by the litter. I really liked the litter for it's weight (to handle it, scoop it, dispose of it), but HATE how it tracks EVERYWHERE. I don't work for any cat litter company
ردحذفI think you are right to change it. The more I have investigated this litter the more I am convinced it is unhealthy. There are excellent alternatives.
حذفI've been using the light weight cat litter for probably 2 years. I, too, noticed that it was a bit messy as far as tracking and dust but didn't think much of it. I could actually carry this bucket of litter with out asking someone to help me, so it was all good. But....during this time my cat, Indie, developed a terrible sneezing problem. To the point she was snotting all over the place. I worked at a vet clinic and had the vet look at her. We did antibiotics off and on to no avail. I finally read an article about the cat litter being suspicious like the above article. I just cleaned out her litter box on Monday and changed it out entirely. I put the regular Tidy Cat Litter in after the box was totally cleaned. By Wednesday she had almost stopped sneezing. Thursday there was no sneezing and this morning, I felt safe in washing off the ick on the front window she sits in from all the snotting and sneezing she's been doing. I realize that 5 days is not a fair amount of time to 100% decide it was due to the Light Weight Litter but I'm happy with the results so far.
ردحذفGood comment and thanks for sharing. For me, all lightweight litters are out of bounds because there are too many obvious problems with it. It is a bad concept from the cat's standpoint and a good one from the standpoint of a woman caretaker.
حذفI've only been using Lightweight for a week and my cat has began licking himself incessantly. He has a history of upper respiratory issues that come and go but they've never been this aggravated and he's spending a lot of time licking his lips, hours on end. There is no proof of correlation but no other changes have been made to his environment; I would not recommend using this product.
ردحذفThanks a lot for sharing your experience. I trust you have thrown the stuff away and bought something safer and better.
حذفThe Tidy Cats light weight litter is made with perlite. Perlite is extremely abrasive. It wears holes in metal pipes at the plant in a week. They had to replace all kinds of equipment and use stronger alloys that can withstand the abrasion factor of this stuff. All the kitty litter, really, is hard on a respiratory system whether man or cat. I developed asthma while working there before light weight litter, but the dust off this stuff made me cough blood. The guys that unloaded the perlite would wonder what this stuff was doing to them. If you look it up it's supposedly just an irritant. I would say real research needs to be done to see the effects on animals and people. I'm sure there are cats that have pulmonary issues that aren't diagnosed so exposure to any dust can only aggravate that. Besides the perlite the litter also has scent added to it that will take your breath away if too much is added to the product. Tidy Cat light weight litter itself is just perlite and bentonite then additives are added to it before packaging. The other light weight litters look different and I don't know what the heck is in those. I just know about Tidy Cat because I worked where it is made. Just one factory, that's in Missouri, makes it. I gave some to my parents and I used the stuff I got from give away product and it was dusty and tracked. They are still working the bugs out to reduce dust and uncoated perlite, after all it's still fairly new to the market.
ردحذفSuper comment. Many thanks for sharing your insider experience. I'll probably build a page around your comment as it is so interesting.
حذفNo problem Michael. Out of curiosity I was looking at lightweight reviews and came across all of the negative responses the other week. I was just on facebook and saw the comments on the TC page about the litter. A lot of negative comments all around. I never heard any of this from any managers at the plant. I did have an hourly worker tell me about the complaints about a year or so ago, but never investigated it. I knew what my experience was with it and was around it every day so I didn't need to look at anything online. My health is improving. I'm not as fatigued and out of breath as I was when working at the factory, but on recent physicals the dr. and nurse could listen and tell I have pulmonary issues. I will say that the company isn't likely to stop producing this product anytime soon as so many consumers have asked them to do, on the TC facebook page is where I just saw it, because so much money has been invested in this product. The company has built, from what we were told, the world's largest perlite expansion operation that cost millions of dollars so they're not just going to mothball that operation. The Safety Data Sheets can be located on google that tells the ingredients of the product. Just google light weight litter dangerous to cats and you'll find it on page 3 or 4. I found it the same night I posted the above post. I think it would take great media attention, a protest in front of Purina head quarters in downtown St. Louis and/or a lawsuit to stop the production of this stuff. I'll admit I am a disgruntled ex-employee because I was bullied, scapegoated and set up for failure then fired for expressing honest concerns about different issues that occurred at the factory where I worked. Who wouldn't be upset by that? That has nothing to do with you all's cats health I know, but I feel if they were shady in the dealings with their own employees how can you trust them when it comes to any other issues? From my experience around the factory managers, they're not going to come clean about anything. All finger pointing. You all can make up your own minds, but I can't recall seeing so many negative reviews about a product ...ever. We have 2 cats and I'm now buying the unscented clay litter or cheap paper pellets sold at a large pet store chain.
حذفThanks for the further info. Appreciated.
حذفInteresting comments about lightweight Tidy Cat. We've been using it for a few months (because it is lightweight). I notice it is very dusty and a major problem is the stickiness on the litter box, as well as the scoops. Gross. Curiosity brought me to this blog and I find the comments very interesting. Thinking we'll stop using this litter because of the negative comments. I don't want to take chances with the cats or humans in the house.
ردحذفHi, please stop using it. There are risks with it although it seems the company is trying to improve it. I wrote this today based on a comment here:
حذفhttp://pictures-of-cats.org/former-employee-at-tidy-cats-lightweight-litter-plant-blows-the-whistle-on-the-abrasive-nature-of-this-product.html
After 450.00 in Vet bills I am actively seeking an answer that justifies my beautiful inside and out cat Violet being put down on Monday. She was always a ray of sunshine to our entire families day. From the moment we woke until we tucked in for bed. She is 8 yrs old, never any health problems at all until I purchased the Tidy Cat Lightweight Cat Liter!! I have pictures that show her from health to deterioration. In such a short time her health is so bad due to this liter that she is going to be put down on Monday. I fear posting much more than this for now due to my evidence not being complete. After vet bills and meds we have invested well over 500 dollars only to still be forced to say goodbye and grieve our loved family member. If anyone has any information or proof lets put it together and take this garbage off the shelves!!
ردحذفHi, thanks for sharing. I am terribly sad to hear your news. Tragic. When you are ready, if you'd like, please write another updating comment and I'll create a new page based upon it if that is okay.
حذفI am ready!!! I just want this crap off the shelves, however I can help!! My name is Anne, in reading some of the other posts it sounds like how Violet started her illness.
حذفhttp://www.homedepot.com/catalog/pdfImages/96/96ab7cb9-fc30-46a0-a92a-cbc30d9eafab.pdf
ردحذفHere's the link for the Safety Data Sheet on Lightweight Litter.
Thanks.
حذفI wish I had known about the dangers of Tidy Cat lightweight litter . Our longhaired Cat started sneezing and has had laboured breathing and a bout of runny eyes since we started using this horrible product . Thankfully we finally clued in and I've gotten rid of the lightweight crap . We've been using it for about a month and a half - hopefully there is no permanent damage to our girl .
ردحذفI am a registered breeder of purebred Tonkinese, Siamese and Balinese cats. In 10 years of breeding I have never seen anything like this.
ردحذفA few days ago I changed from my usual litter brand to the Lightweight, simply because I was walking home one day and needed litter. I grabbed this product because it seemed that it would be easier to carry home.
Once in the house, I topped up the 3 litter boxes in the cat's room, and left the box in the living room alone, as it still had plenty of the usual brand in it. Later than night, 4 of my 5 Tonkinese kittens (5 weeks old and just starting to explore the litter box) began coughing. There were no other symptoms, and no adult cats had issues.
By morning, the 4 kittens were dead, and the kitten who remained probably only survived because she was not involved in the romping around (as young kittens do) in the fresh litter.
Aside from me having to find that 4 beautiful kittens had suffocated overnight, I had to tell their potential owners that their beloved babies were not going to be coming home with them in 3 weeks.
I told my sister (also a Siamese breeder) about the kittens' sudden unexplained death. Her first question was, "You don't use the Lightweight litter, do you?" She told me about a friend of hers who lost his 4 yr old cat 2 days after switching to this litter. After hearing this, I went online and found far too many common experiences.
Is there a class action lawsuit started yet? If not, there should be! My financial loss was $2800, but even worse was waking up to find dead kittens and then having to email their owners and break their hearts.
Kapush.... After all the comments on this blog, by all means continue using it. Of course, we've been there and seen the suffering of our animals, hopefully we are all wrong and your cat won't have its lungs eaten out by the caustic chemicals in the product. Don't ever listen to warnings of others that have been down the path before. Just have lots of money on hand to pay the vet bills.
ردحذفI have contacted the company and the Florida business commission and now my.lawyer. I lost my 10 y/old cat (a member of my family,)do to this litter.. do not.buy it.or use it..
ردحذفI buy litter in large containers because I have 7 cats, and I switched to the lightweight version of TidyCats because the regular version was really too heavy for me. It works great at controlling odor, but I must say that I have been concerned for my own health that I'm breathing in the fine white powder that rises out of this litter. In addition, I find the small white pieces of litter get tracked throughout the whole room, and I have been so busy I realize I haven't been vacuuming often enough. My youngest cat, Rocky, who is 6, was hospitalized in July 2016 because he had stopped eating and wasn't "pooping." The vet bill, including ultrasound of his abdomen, was about $1,700. Next my oldest cat, Spock, who is 13, was hospitalized because he was barely eating and had lost a lot of weight, and the vet felt a large lump in his abdomen which he thought might be lymphoma, but it eventually turned out to be nothing. The vet bill, including ultrasound of the abdomen, was over $1,300. After reading all of the above comments I am now wondering if my cats had accidentally ingested some of that lightweight litter that is tracked all over the carpet. In addition, two of my cats, Spock and Lily, were sneezing a lot recently. I called my vet, and since all of my cats are indoors only, he didn't think they would have picked up an upper respiratory infection. He said they were probably allergic to something. Now I'm thinking it was the dust from the lightweight litter that might have been causing them to sneeze. SADLY, I AM NOW SWITCHING BACK FROM LIGHTWEIGHT TO REGULAR.
ردحذفI say bring back Max Cat! I have tried to find a litter to replace it and am now using Tidy Cat and hate it. Not using the lightweight, but find the chemical smell obnoxious (using the lightest scent) and it doesn't clump well. Sticks to the bottom of the box and to my Lemmy's paws. If the Lightweight variety produces a lot of dust, it must be terrible stuff and I won't try it due to all the warnings. I heard long ago that clumping litter should not be used for kittens anyway because the small "grains" get into their airways and can kill them,but I wonder about the chemicals (deodourizers) for even adult cats. Wish Max Cat was still on the market as I trusted it.
ردحذفI have 2 cats and have used Tidy Cat since the Maxx Cat litter is no longer available. I have had no problems with the Tidy Cat other than some of them don't seem to have a good smell to them when being used. I like the light weighed ones. The cats are healthy and happy with the litter.
ردحذفI use the lightweight stuff and have recently noticed respiratory problems in both my cats. I'm switching asap! Hopefully my cats haven't gotten too much damage
ردحذفI have been using the box from Sam's club for 3 years now. Yes it is a little dusty better then the others. Do have some litter on them yes, but when they walk out the box we have a litter Catcher. I have not seen any problems so far but again all litter is different. No matter which one is choosen to use. There are warnings on the boxes. If you clean your boxes every other day I pour the litter close instead of pouring higher the dust will not be bad. Mostly all brands say 99% there's always that 1% chance every time you will get some dust your litter on the cat. I have had less litter build up on my cats paws and fur since using TC LW.
ردحذفMy cat has had respiratory issues ever since we started using light weight litter. We have taken her to the vet over 5 + times. Thanks for the posts. We are switching litter asap. I'll provide status updates.
ردحذفWe had problems with it and just switched to swheat cat litter. I'll never use clay again.
ردحذفHi, I just started using this lightweight litter a couple days ago and already my cat Bubba started getting an underbelly rash to the point he licked it raw and now has huge red marks and fur loss. Ive also noticed that he has blisters on his paw pads. I rushed him to the vet as soon as I noticed his belly and the vet told me its an allergic reaction, but she didn't know what caused it. So since then I have been googling like crazy and came across health problems from this damn litter and Ive come to the conclusion that it has to be the litter, because there have been no other changes to the environment or diet. I am throwing this toxic litter away immediately!
ردحذفi had an 8 week old calico that i had searched forever for. She was so beautiful and the sweetest thing ever. To make a long story short I bought the tidy cats instant action litter and the next day we noticed her privates were a little bloody, called a vet friend of mine and he suggested a uti. Was going to see her the next morning because it was after hours and we live in such rural community we have no emergency vets. Unfortunately she didnt make it through the night, theres nothing she couldve gotten into or anything like that, but i found her dead in her litter box which is what is making me question if maybe the litter was the cause. she checked out fine at her first vet appt, but i guess its possible i couldve gotten her and she was already sick. om just so confused and broken hearted. Just glad it was me who found her and not one of my kids. Kind comments only please. ive been through enough watching my 4 year old ask me why she died or he forgets shes gone and I ja sssssssssssssssssssnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn
ردحذفI am very sorry to hear your sad story. Because her illness occurred so quickly after she used the cat litter, I'm inclined to believe that the litter was not the cause and that she was ill with a urinary track disease (infection) before you adopted her. Also this dusty litter gets into the lungs causing respiratory issues. Thank you, anyway, for contributing. Comments are always useful because they add to the overall picture. Once again I am terribly sorry. I can empathise completely with how you feel. May she rest in peace and good luck.
حذفWe were away for a month and our cat sitter bought Arm & Hammer lightweight litter to fill the box (despite us having left PLENTY of the regular litter - grr). Came back to find our 14-year-old cat barely able to eat due to severe mouth pain and also licking her backside constantly. Antibiotics did nothing, now she is on steroids and seems to be improving a week later. Note that we also changed out the litter immediately. Fingers crossed that we make it out of this. There was nothing else different about her situation, no plants chewed, etc. I suspect the litter, especially after reading this discussion chain. Thank you for that!
ردحذفVery sorry to hear this. Cat litter can be so dangerous. I really hope that she fully recovers. It is very tough for owners to see their cat companion very ill.
حذفI tried this litter last year and within a few days my cat was coughing. I took her to so many vets and no one could tell me what was wrong, said it was random onset adult asthma. She lived a few more months but it got so bad and I was using a rescue inhaler when she had coughing/wheezing attacks multiple times a day. I removed the litter within a few weeks of putting it out, but she never got better. It broke my heart losing her that way, with her gasping and coughing. I spent over a thousand dollars trying to save her and nothing helped. I'll never use Tidy Cats litter of any kind ever again because I'm still haunted by her death. She was my best friend and she died because of Tidy Cats.
ردحذفFirstly, thanks for sharing. But I am terribly upset to read your story. It is very hard for you. I am so sorry. Time will heal. The vet was useless. Good luck and may she rest in peace.
حذف