June 25th, 2011
The product:
Purr & Simple All-Natural Cat Litter pellets formula, which is made from a blend of fibrous material from tree-nut crops
Benefits:
- Can be used as compost with removal of solids
- Is natural and biodegradable
- Is made from an annually renewable resource (nut shells)
- Conquers ammonia smell
- Low dust compared with clay formulas
Things to Note:
1. A pellet is not always a pellet. The pellets do break down somewhat with use, but not entirely as with Feline Pine.
However, the loose litter, which has the consistency of dirt, can be tracked or stick to the bottom of the pan in a wet clump. Stirring the litter frequently can help reduce the formation of wet spots or balls that look a bit like chocolate truffles (see pic).
2. Individuals with tree nut allergies may need to use caution with this litter. If you have concerns, consult with your doctor.
3. Scientific testing done by Pacific Testing Laboratories, Inc. of Valencia, California shows that Purr & Simple had a much lower ppm ammonia reading compared with pinewood cat litter pellets and clay cat litter. They used ammonia for testing, not kitty pee.
4. If you already have the Feline Pine self-cleaning litter box and scoop (pictured above), you can use these items with Purr & Simple pellets, making switching easier. The Feline Pine scoop actually works better with Purr & Simple as all of the pellets fall back through the slots after scooping for solids.
What it’s Like to Use:
This litter reminds me a lot of Feline Pine, but with better odor control. Both of my cats used the litter box containing Purr & Simple pellets, and I also had another box available with their usual kitty litter, World’s Best. (Disclosure: I received a free sample of Purr & Simple pellets and clumping litter.)
As for being an eco-friendly cat litter, it seems that Purr & Simple beats out World’s Best, which is made of corn, not handy leftovers like tree nut shells. In case you haven’t figured it out yet, I’ve been using World’s Best for about a year. Before that I used Feline Pine for six years.
Purr & Simple does make a Kwik Klump formula, which I’ll also review here in a few weeks. If you prefer pellets, consider using them with the self-cleaning litter box designed for Feline Pine, or a similar litter box sold at pet stores. Of course, you don’t have to do this, but the advantage of such a box is that it traps all the loose debris that forms after some of the pellets break down. If you do use such a pan, you’ll need to empty the bottom a few times before the litter change.
You’re supposed to rake the litter with a scoop to mix in the wet and dry litter. If you do that with the self-cleaning box mentioned, then the broken down litter will fall to the bottom. In the photo below, you can see the dirt-like debris that collects under the sifter part of the pan. If you don’t use a pan like this, you could notice tracking.
The color of this litter is pretty much the color of wet dirt. If you’re looking to hide your cat’s poop, then this is the litter for you, but it’s more difficult to find the solids when scooping. Also, if you have light-colored carpet, the pellets are really noticeable if they get kicked out of the box.
As for odor, I didn’t notice any at first, but after two cats used the box for two weeks I did start to pick up on a very earthy sort of scent, maybe akin to tea tree oil. I guess this is how ammonia smells with this litter. The litter is supposed to last for two to three weeks before changing, so I don’t think scent will be an issue. I’m pretty sure that the earthy scent I detected is a message to change the litter.
To sum it up:
If you’re looking for a natural and very eco-friendly kitty litter that controls odor, then Purr & Simple pellets are worth trying out with your kitties.
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