Two weeks and counting
Today (January 24), Aimee’s cute kittens turn two weeks old. That was the first time I witnessed how a frail, preggy, 5 month-old cat labored to deliver her kittens. Mother Nature is really a mystery. I bet the two tricolor ones are females. Of course you know that only one in 3,000 tricolor cats will be born male. It’s a genetic rarity, and who knows we’re one of the lucky ones to own a male tricolor cat. After all, we haven’t brought the kittens yet to our vet for their first check-up, and to ask her what their sexes are so that we can already give them the names we have prepared (Lily, Rick/Rica, Waldo, Penelope, Simon/Simone, Zelda).
Our next mission is to train our kittens to use the kitten litter the way we did with Aimee. For those of you who might be interested to adopt one of our kittens, you might be interested to know more about kitty litter and their uses. Clumping litter is what we use.
Clumping litters were first developed in the UK in the 1950s by the Fuller’s Earth Union, later to become a part of Laporte Industries Ltd. The type of clumping litter developed by the FEU was calcium bentonite (Bentonite is an absorbent aluminium phyllosilicate, generally impure clay consisting mostly of montmorillonite. There are a few types of bentonites and their names depend on the dominant elements, such as K, Na, Ca, and Al.), a less swelling and less sticky type than American bentonite. Subsequently in America, clumping bentonite was developed in 1984 by biochemist Thomas Nelson. Most are made from granulated bentonite clay which clumps together when wet and forms a solid mass separate from the other litter in the box. This solid clumped material can be scooped out and disposed of without changing the entire contents of the litter box. However, the entire contents should be changed on a regular basis to prevent buildup of bacteria; every four to six weeks is recommended. At the same time, the litter box itself should be disinfected.
sources: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cat_litter
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bentonite
Admittedly, we have to think of a more environment-friendly way of disposing our clumping litter. What we do right now is scoop out the clumps with trowel, wrap them in layers of
old newspaper and throw them in trash for non-biodegradables. So, calling all feline lovers. We need your help for tips in disposing clumping litter. We can’t afford biodegradable kitty litter at the moment yet.
Meanwhile, do you know that there are other uses of kitty litter? Think about these:
As a Deodorizer -
- Skip the baking soda and just use clean cat litter in a small container in your fridge to get rid of unwanted odors.
- Stinky diaper pails and trash cans can be deodorized by sprinkling a few tablespoons of litter at the bottom.
- Clean litter can replace your odor eaters in a jiffy. Simply place a cup or two of cat litter in knee-high pantyhose, tie a knot and leave it in the shoe overnight.
As an Absorbent-
- Mechanics are aware that you can use litter to clean up oil in the garage. A 10-pound sack of litter will absorb more than a gallon of liquid, including paint and gasoline.
- Ever unpack your tent to find it’s moldy? Next year, place a tied-off sock full of litter in the tent before packing it away.
As a Beauty Treatment-
- Make your own clay mask (think spa treatment) with an all-natural, 100-percent clay cat litter that is scent-free. Mix three tablespoons of cat litter with about three tablespoons of water, then mix with a mortar and pestle. This is a great detoxifier as well.
source: http://www.wisebread.com/really-great-uses-for-kitty-litter
Very useful information, particularly the last one. Next time your moms look for alternative spa treatment, tell them to visit the website I found.
