Automatic Litterbox Central

Hello Everyone,

I use World's Best Cat Litter (Extra Strength) and have been for about a year with my Litter Robot. They work well together, but in the last couple of months, I've also had an epidemic of little bugs. Not inside a new bag of WBCL by any means, or even where I store it (I clip the bag very well and then store that in a heavy duty plastic trash bag with the end rolled and cinched tight). The problem is that litter gets spread all over and while my Roomba can pick up a majority of it, there might be some getting stuck in cracks or corners that the little vacuum can't get to.

If I had thought of the whole corn-meal/bug relationship a little sooner, I would have been more meticulous about keeping the kitty bathroom area's corners well vacuumed. Now it would seem that my only choice is to stop using WBCL, vacuum a whole lot, and hope that the little bugs will get sucked up or starved to death. What really irks me is that we have a lovely cat tree in the same room and I've seen one or two (I think they're carpet bugs, long (for its size), brown larvae looking things with fast little legs. I didn't know larvae HAD legs.... and if that's the larvae then where in the world are the adults?) running up and down the tree. I've even seen them in the adjacent room, where there shouldn't be any food. I'm pretty irritated and in for a lot of cleaning the next few months. I'll drop a note once I'm sure they're gone and my methods (I'll be going the cheap route). There is probably bait out there to help... if anyone knows of any -cat friendly- bug bait, I'd love to hear about it.

I can't imagine how this is related to these corn-eating bugs, but I've also been getting weird mosquito-looking bites that itch like crazy all over my skin. At least two will appear daily and it takes a good week for the bite to stop itching and weeks for it to disappear. I don't know if beetles or whatnot bite human skin, but my fiance hasn't had any bites and we sleep in the same bed. I know it's not a skin disease or anything because I'm on vacation and haven't had any new bites appear since I've left. The bites started appearing around the time I really started noticing the bugs but... This community has all kinds of cat-loving people so I threw this in just in case someone does happen to know of a corn-eating-but-also-likes-certain-humans-for-dessert type bugs and how to KILL them!

Anyhow, it pains me to switch because I really like WBCL. I'm sure there are more cost effective routes since I'm using the LR, but nonetheless, I'm curious if others have this bug problem, or are just much better about vacuuming than I am? I've also seen some people put their litterboxes (specifically their LRs but I'm hoping to reach a larger reader-base) in cabinet-type furniture with a kitty door added to it. Do any of these owners use WBCL and does that contain the litter spreading and bug problem? I live in Hawaii, so I'm not sure if the lack of cold weather is directly related to more bugs.

I don't really know why I like WBCL so much. I just do. I'd like to justify this somehow by asking about cost. We buy 34 lb bags for $35 (US). In the last year, we've used four bags, though for three months we were using a manual box, which means we were using more litter. I throw away the litter and fill up with a fresh batch (maybe 1/5th or 1/4th of the bag) every time I clean the LR which is about 3 - 6 months, probably safe to just say four months. On a weekly basis, I'm refilling it with about 3.5 cups. So, let's round up with tax, $160 a year for litter with two cats.

How is everyone else doing?

I've also been playing with the idea of adding a CatGenie (or switching over) which would be more along the lines of $200 a year but no bugs and a sanitized bathroom and dust-free paws for my babies (cat babies =P). After they come out with the hood, of course. I'd like to keep the LR though, and maybe build a cabinet for it with an easy to vacuum bottom or something. Anything to contain litter spreading. Our girl cat walks out daintily but our boy cat hops out and likes to take a bunch of litter with him.

After all that rambling, I better provide a recap of what I'm asking:

* WBCL + bugs (not bugs that come with it, but bugs from litter spreading on the floor) anyone?
* WBCL + cabinet = no bugs?
* Any suggestions on how to get rid of the bugs and keep my sanity
* (corn-eating-but-also-likes-certain-humans-for-dessert type bugs?)
* Your litter cost per year and cat count

Thanks for taking the time to listen to my post, even if you can't relate!

Zanira wrote:... WBCL + cabinet = no bugs?

I don't think a cabinet would help...

Out of curiosity, are most people with the bug problems from southern or more humid/warm states? Anyone in the northern states having problems with bugs?

I know you have to watch out for bugs with bird food. I have a bird, and I guess the little larvae or eggs or whatever are already in the food when it is processed...then, if you leave it out, they hatch and you have these little flying bugs everywhere in your house! I have to keep the food in the freezer before I use it.

Since large quantities of kitty litter probably can't ben kept in the freezer, you might be out of luck. So...the bugs might be in there before you even open the bag...just not hatched!

Just an idea...

Someone else posted about bugs, World's Best, and the litter Robot... Am not sure where the post is but I remember reading it...

I think World's Best is processed and if there are any bugs before the processing, bugs may not live through it. WB is certainly not corn that has just been ground up... I foolishly tried that one thinking I could create World's Best... Not so... I did get corn meal! (If anyone is tempted, I advise against it... It doesn't work well as cat litter.)

I have bought bags of birdseed and found it polluted by bugs, mainly larva that turned into moths. And a friend bought something that had larva in it and whatever that was got into much of her pantry stored food!

If I were you I would get rid of both the World's Best (for now) and get rid of the bugs. Call your local extension office and see what they think... I don't know if this is true, but your bug infestation may not go away just because you rid yourself of the litter (and at this point, the litter may not have caused the infestation... you have made an educated guess)... the bugs may find another source of food (looks like they have selected you as a possibility...)

So, if I were you, I would find-out what the bug is and how to get rid of it.

I have one more thought to share in response to one of your questions... This occurred to me this morning as I stared at one of my cat boxes (one the cats use for urine) thinking, "Hmmm.... I wonder if those crystals would last another week?" I think us litter fanatics may get into some false agendas such as stretching out the litter as long as possible... It becomes a passion for us (Wow, three weeks of using the same crystals for two cats... pretty good statistics, good cost savings, etc., etc.).

Well, I changed the crystals after that little thought 'cause the truth is the cats use that box three or more times a day and they've used that litter enough for 14 days now -- if both cats pee in the litter three times a day, that's 84 times the litter has been used. Sure the litter could absorb some more urine if I forced the issue but should it?? Is it better for the cats? Am I just saving a little bit of money at their expense? Maybe we need to change the litter more often to keep everything more sanitary for the cats.

Anyway, just some thoughts on that issue...

I used it and managed to keep the bugs away (although we did have some slugs that would eat the tracked WBCL off the floor ).

What I did:
1. Buy the big ziploc storage bags.
2. Double seal the WBCL inside of said bag, then in another bag (double bagged it)
3. Stored the excess that I wasn't using right away in a big freezer (chest freezer).
4. Stored some for immediate use in air-tight litter containers (i.e. those plastic ones you get for "free" when you buy clay litters like tidy cats, or the petco brand).

With these methods, I kept a 50lb bag of chicken feed (using that in place of WBCL) bug free.

I am from the south east, so very humid and can be hot here. I would ONLY use organic litter if you can put it in an airtight container to store...freezing is a good idea too, as that will kill any bugs that might already be in it.

Art