litter

[PeanutsFriend]

Every time I see that Blue Buffalo commersal about their walnut shell litter, it drives me further away from any of their food too.
Are not cats allergic to nut shells? Or am I wrong? If I am remembering correctly... Then they are not in their field for the animals! You think?

[Lilith]

Hi there - being in the UK I haven't seen this ad (also I don't have a TV lol) and I hadn't heard anything about cats being allergic to nuts - though it's the outer shell of the nut, not the aromatic oily bit, that's used to make the litter.

But I do know that walnut-shell litter is used by a lot of snake keepers in the US - there's a very interesting series of videos on youtube by a guy named 'Viperkeeper' (he specialises in keeping and rescuing venomous snakes) and he uses it a lot. Snakes are really sensitive to anything scented, aromatic, you name it. Conifer woods, even as a climbing branch - no. They can have aspen shavings as a bedding, and cocoshell and some stuff called orchid bark, but pine shavings, no way.

I've always seen cats as much tougher in this respect than snakes, though of course cats have the run of the house instead of being kept in a specially heated box.

Also, wouldn't the walnut-shell litter have to be well-tested for safety before it went on the market?

But, only conjecture on my part.

ps hope you and yours are going on ok

[PeanutsFriend]

Pretty good Lilith! Having three old cats at the same time is a roller coaster ride and messy. Hope you doing well . been busy a puppy ... Thankgoodness for the cats! They help so much.
That's all I was doing on my post just mulling things over. I thought I remember coca shells were killers to cats. ??? Maybe the walnut shells are OK for litter...

[Kay]

Applaws Nature's Calling is made from walnut shells and my two prefer it to other clumping litters

It isn't brilliant at clumping but it is lightweight and I like it because I can burn it on my multi-fuel store

[Mrs Kane]

*High 5's Lilith for the lack of TV* I don't own one either

[Lilith]

Lol Mrs K - never thought I'd find another non-TV person!

I stopped watching the thing in '95 I was married then and just never went into the front room when my husband was watching it...I just decided I didn't like it I guess and when I moved into my own house it was quite hilarious; apparently a detector van lurked round the corner every night and I had numerous pestiferations from annoyed personnel from the TV licensing whatsit...in the UK not to have a TV licence is as serious as dealing in class A drugs it seems. Eventually they gave up.

Recently I have been known to watch occasional programmes (such as Essex Jungle) on youtube and even have a big collection of DVDs - mainly 'gritty' 60s stuff like 'Cathy Come Home' but current TV tempts me not at all. Funny, everyone who finds out I don't own one (unless they throw up their hands in horror at my 'poverty') says, 'I don't blame you!' Lol!

Hey, Peanutsfriend, I've never heard of cocoshell being toxic to cats (but I'm not that knowledgeable.) I do know though of someone who used coconut oil to soften her cat's nipples (the cat was a pedigree breeding queen) which is the usual practice before kittening, though olive oil is generally used and I thought, this woman has to be crazy! Those kittens will hate the taste and smell of coconut. When I tried coconut oil for myself, chiefly as an aftersun oil, I realised it didn't smell or taste of anything - and the kittens were fine. But if cats can be allergic to nuts it would be interesting to find out - I know some cats are allergic to cows' milk and fish - just been reading a thread about the fish allergy.

[Mrs Kane]

Lilith, I was never really a TV person once I started working because everything I really wanted to see I was always working through. (That was the joy of being a manager, your free time was seriously limited, just forget about being home for prime time) And I've always hated Daytime TV with the exception of "The Wright Stuff" which I always found quite interesting, if a little biased.
When I moved to Spain I didn't see the point of getting a satellite installed (Spanish TV is notoriously bad) when I had the internet so I just made do with youtube and getting anything I really wanted to see via an online sub or ordering the DVD when it came out. It's worked well for me so far! Sometimes if I want to see a show I get spoilered by someone I talk to but it's pretty rare.

[PeanutsFriend]

Hummmm... I guess I didn't remember about the nut shells right. Guess the Blue Buffalo company is alright. Thanks.