Automatic Litterbox Central

I read on another thread about millet seeds as substitute granules. I am looking for info from anyone who has tried this or uses these, and their experiences with them. I have a cat that hates the granules and prefers soft things, such as towels and rugs to pee on. I am wondering if one type of millet, red or white, would be better than another. Would the white be softer than a mixture or red alone? Does the white fall down the cracks in the bowl? Any info at all would be helpful. Thanks.

I'm not sure if anyone else has used them, but I use the red millet or the red/white millet mix. I get the mix or the all-red from the feed supply store here. I think the white millet feels softer, but then again, I'm not the one standing on them .

Thank you so much for posting!! Do you have any problems with them? I was wondering if they hold up or get moldy. I was also wondering about the drying, do they blow everywhere? Since they are smaller, do they dry adequately? I got some wet and it seemed like they stuck together so I wasn't sure how they would dry. Do you use less so that way they all dry? Do you think red and white mixed are more like the texture of clay litter? Thanks in advance for all of your info. I really appreciate it! O- one more question, do you use the scented or unscented solution on them? Thanks!

I haven't had any problems with mold or them drying. The white seem to blow around a little more during the drying, but the red stays put much like the CG pellets do. I also use the same amount of millet as requested with the CG pellets. My pickier cats seem to like the mix better, probably because it does feel more like the litter they're used to, but the rest of the cats don't care either way. I think this may be because the millet is round rather than chunky like most litter granules. I did use the scented and un-scented solution on them until I ran out. At the moment, I use my own mix for the cartridges as well as hot water, and still no deterioration or problems with the seeds.

Buy red miller seed at ( http://www.birdseedcentral.com ) 24 dollars for 10 Lbs delivered.

The red actually looks more like the CG pellets that I have seen so far.
Any chance ghostbean you a set of calipers and I can get a mm size on the red Millet?

I am still using the CRS Craft Pellet and the Black sinking PVC pellets from Ebay
and CG pellet mixture BUT forund that my one cats trouble with using the CG was not the pellet,
like I thought it might be. He hates the Sani-solution, and I tried the sented and non scented.
As soon as I changed to the Simple Green my cat went right to the CG and stopped using his litter box.
Like a Shinning Light hit him in the head.

Caution with the CRS craft pellets. the sani solution makes them stick together. So when they stick to the
poo and get in the CG, sometimes the CG gets clogged with them. Then stops working from a clog. Also be
cautious with the black PVC pellets from the EBAY guy. They are a non uniform length so check and remove
the extra long one's before adding them to the pellet pile. only about 15 per cup full.

Thanks for the link for the red millet. I haven't been able to find red millet where I live, only white. I tried that but it sprouted. It seemed like it never dried entirely. I even tried only using a little bit. Do you have to change the millet out often? I only had the batch in for about four days before it sprouted. Thanks.

I did read where someone was trying those airsoft pellets as a replacement but never saw any feedback.

I tried the airsoft pellets and was not impressed. They are expensive and even though they don't track as much as the pellets they are larger so they are easily seen. I recently purchased poly pellets from moldingman2 off of ebay. They are way cheaper for the volume compared to airsoft and are smoother than the standard pellets so tracking is way down. I would go with the pellets from moldingman2 without a doubt. I was always leary of having organic material (seeds) tracked around the house.

The millet seeds are the same size as the CG pellets except not flat...I believe the CG pellets were 1/8x1/8x1/16, whereas the red millet is 1/8 round. So far: no mold, no clogging, holds up well to dryer temp, holds up well to the hot water (temp 140*).

My baby is going to be crawling in the next couple months, and I don't want him eating plastic granules off of the floor all the time so I decided to try white millet seeds for the last few weeks as an organic alternative. My seeds are smaller than the granules, and I have found that they don't tend to dry out as well; I'm guessing the smaller size = more "pellets" per unit volume = more total pellet surface area for water to cling to = more water to blow dry during a cleaning cycle, plus the added surface tension must keep them from separating as easily against the GenieHand. I've cut the amount of seeds in the bowl to about halfway up to the fill line and that seems to have helped with the drying.

I've also noticed that the seeds have started to stink during the drying cycle (but not nearly as bad as baked brownies!) and leave a slightly sour odor downstairs for about 15 minutes after it's done, so maybe they have a ~3-week useful life. Or maybe this batch is just waterlogged due to above and needs to be tossed.

I would like to thank everyone for sharing the information in millet as a replacement for the sharp edged little pellets that PN provides.

I tried a CG two years ago, and four out of four of my cats hated it. One did use in on occasion, and I was convinced that the sharp granules played a large part in it. I commented on this to a few of the PN reps, and of course they dismissed my suggestion along with similar suggestions by other CG owners that posted here long ago.

I adored the device, otherwise, but since I wasn't the one who needed it use it, it got returned (and 1500 square feet of carpet and padding got pulled up afterward).

This millet idea gives me hope! Please do post how the millet (red or white) holds up in the CG as the months go on; I would be thrilled to give the Genie another chance in my house if this is truly a viable alternative. I will keep an eye on this thread, and hope to hear more. Thank you!

the cat we had when we purchased the cat genie adapted instantly to it. Our two kitens (8 months now) first saw it at 6 weeks and tried it but jumped out almost as fast as they jumped in and did not touch it until about 3 weeks ago after I replaced the original granuals with Red Millet and took out an original cartridge and replaced it with Simple Green Sasparella in a 50/50 mix. Now they both use it.

I would like to bump this thread to get results form those that have used alternative granule sources for an extended length of time.

What are you using now, how has it worked for you, and who is your supplier (where do you get it)

Thanks

Mine sprouted and became a huge mess.

Thanks for the update.
Any one else have good luck with any other alternative for an extended length of time?