Automatic Litterbox Central

Damn, just missed it. Thanks for the tip. They're out.

The cleaning solution smells and looks just like one of the disinfectant solutions we use in the veterinary clinics I work. The common name is Chlorhexiderm. There are solutions using it made for ear cleaning and disinfectanting counters, litterboxes, etc. Most clinics will sell you a jug of it if you ask. It needs to be diluted! We use 30cc Chlorhexiderm disinfectant mixed in a 1 gallon jug with 1 gallon water. To get the solution in the existing solution container we use the "drill the hole in the top" method already suggested by another user.

Would you be willing to drink it?

Michael & Duncan,

You know what....I probably wouldn't drink the stuff from Litterfree either!

The cats are not drinking the liquid, they are getting trace amounts on their paws. The same way you get trace amounts on your food when you clean your counters with say, 409 and then prep your food there.

You two sound pretty extreme to talk about drinking it. There is a far cry from drinking the stuff and getting trace amounts on your paws/hands.

I have heard that you can put Hydrogen Peroxide in the container. You can add a couple of drops of catnip and peppermint oil to the solution to give it some scent.

The litterbox uses about 3/4 oz. of this fluid to about 1 gallon of water.

I want to keep my cats safe too, I just think we need to keep things in perspective.

Jeff,

I agree that we need to keep things in perspective, and this is my perspective. The average human probably weights about 150 pounds, while the average cat probably weighs about 10 pounds. Thus, there is a significant difference in the amount of a substance needed to produce deleterious systemic effects. Thus, what you refer to as a "trace amount" may indeed not be harmful to humans, but may very well be harmful to cats. Also - I wash my counters with plain water after cleaning, so I don't get any amount of cleanser in my mouth. I suspect others do the same.

You have also not addressed the issue of localized (as opposed to systemic) effects at all. The mouths of both cats and humans are lined with mucous membranes, which are particularly susceptible to damage by caustic and acidic chemicals. The solution contained in the factory Litterfree cartridges (and virtually all other cleaning solutions) does not have a neutral Ph (the Ph of Roccal-D, which is widely believed to be the active ingredient in the Litterfree cartridges, has a Ph ranging from 6.5 [slightly acidic] to 9 [highly alkaline]; a Ph of 7 is neutral), and thus has the potential to create localized damage to the mucosa in the mouth even in the absence of systemic damage. This is not good for the cat.

The MSDS for Roccal-D can be viewed here:

http://www.sefsc.noaa.gov/HTMLdocs/Roccal.htm

The advantage of using dishwashing detergent is twofold. First, the manufacturer has clearly contemplated that at least SOME people will ingest small quantities of it (since not everyone washes their dishes thoroughly), and the Ph of such substances is neutral or very close to it as a result - the manufacturer has an interest in avoiding legal liability. Second, by not placing it in the cartridge and instead adding it at the beginning of a cycle, one can be reasonably assured that that the vast majority if not all of it will be rinsed out by subsequent cycles.

I prefer to err on the side of caution.

I use distilled water and 100% therapeutic grade essential oils. The oils are GRAS by the US FDA and can be taken internally as a dietary supplement. In addition to removing harmful bacteria and making the air smell better, the oils also benefit the animals health. Animals are not as sensitive to the phenol and sesquiterpene constituents so the oils can be appiled full stength.
The oils I use are Oregano and one of the following; Peppermint, Lemon or Rose. It works great, the cats don't seem to mind and the air smells better. I used Lavender on a cat's burn and healed it completely within a week. I also used it on my Lab's ear infection and healed it just as quickly. The Lavender I use is made by http://www.youngliving.us which grows their owns plants. Most Lavender plants are hybrids which reduces the strength of the oil because it's not pure.
You can order all of the oils directly from Young Living. Go to the above web page, click on Sign Up and enter my member number, 752780, in the boxes where they ask for Sponsor and Enroller ID.

David Webb

PS - I am willing to drink this solution, and I have taken many of the oils internally. I feel 100% better than I have in twenty years.

Michael & Duncan,

You don't practice your own logic. Humans will ingest some dishwashing detergents (true), which are typically highly caustic (usually use caustic soda as the detergent). They are not intending on cats ingesting some. So their bodies could become toxic with that. By putting dishwashing detergent in your box (first or last), your cat is being exposed to trace elements of that. When it comes to detergents, you are picking the lesser of evils (neither is really 100% safe). Also, since you only use plain water on your counters, they are probably teeming with bacteria.

The rule of thumb should be use organic, environmentally safe cleaners whenever possible and less is better than more!

P.S. - I forgot to mention using chemicals that are no-toxic and not harsh as well.

Also, I wouldn't drink water mixed with dish detergent either! Just reminds me of getting your mouth washed out with soap!

Jeff,

We can agree to disagree, I guess. I don't think you read my post carefully.

David - spam such as this has no place here.

jeffjs wrote:Also, since you only use plain water on your counters, they are probably teeming with bacteria.

He said that he washes [rinses] his counters with plain water AFTER cleaning. I'm assuming that he cleans them with something that disinfects, be it soap or some type of cleaner, which is the same that I do. I don't want nasty cleaner residue left on my counters.

The answer: Use Simple Solution.

Q: Is SIMPLE SOLUTION® safe to use around young children and animals?

A: SIMPLE SOLUTION® is safe and contains no hazardous ingredients. It is made with a natural bacteria/enzyme formula with a blend of mild surfactants and a small amount of isopropyl alcohol that helps the product evaporate and dry quicker. If a dog or cat walks over the wet area that has been treated and licks its paws, there is no need for concern.

 
 
 

PetSmart is having a sale on LitterFree Cleaning Solution. For a limited time they are offering LitterFree Cleaning Solution for $12.99 and NO shipping costs! There are about 400 bottles left.

Petco is also offering LitterFree Cleaning Solution for $19.99 PLUS shipping!

Supplies are limited at both places. If you want to buy the solution, I would encourage you to do so ASAP.

Petco still has the solution at 12.99 and PetSmart has the solution at 19.99 and the granules at 24.99. I ordered 4 boxes of the granules but I'm going to be honest with you, I've found that putting the few drops of dishwashing soap AT THE BEGINNING of the cycle once a week actually keeps the granules MUCH cleaner than the solution did. I found with the solution that I was getting A LOT of residue build-up on the underneath of the machine and a horrible ring around the pan. Now, with the soap, the pan stays much cleaner. My kitty no longer poops just outside of the pan like she used to, although I don't know that this has anything to do with it.

It looks like a new company, Pets 'N People (instead of Petcentric), are selling cleaining solution. I ordered a few from PetCo but it smelled like detergent! Does anyone else have any thoughts on this?

Susanna

shfwilf wrote:The solution contained in the factory Litterfree cartridges ... does not have a neutral Ph ... and thus has the potential to create localized damage to the mucosa in the mouth even in the absence of systemic damage. This is not good for the cat.

Jeff's not the only one who disagrees. When I started reading this thread (and others) and the many posts about not using any solution one wouldn't be willing to drink, I thought as Jeff did, "Umm, I wouldn't drink the Litterfree Solution!"

Anyway, many people who are looking for alternatives to the Litterfree solution are doing so because it is not available anymore, but would certainly use it if it were.