Kittly litter as rat bedding. Pro's and Con's

[tomfromtheshade]

No pros. All cons.

kitty litter = f'd up rats.

Don't do it.

[hovafl]

I used to sprinkle it in the bottom before I added pine shavings. I never noticed any health issues, but there was a good layer of shavings between the rats and the litter. I have since switched to a combination of softwood shavings and the compressed wood pellets for horse stalls. The wood pellets are easily as absorbent as the cat litter and they are affordable. The downside is the dust and weight (also a downside to cat litter), but combining the pellets with shavings moderates those negative aspects.
- Paul

I like your idea best. I'll change to a more solid litter that doesn't produce dust and use just enough to eliminate the smell. I'll combine that with plenty of pine shaving. I'll loose the luxury of just scooping poop and less cleaning time but I'll avoid future problems from feeding dusty rats. I'll have to use some scented absorbent prevent the phrase from guest of "What's that smell". I have a very sensitive nose and can smell 1 rat after 3 days so I'm not gonna completely change my method, but alter it and see my result. Thanks for the feed back everyone.

[littleindiangirl]

Why not, instead of cat litter, use a product like Sweet PDZ, or baking soda? It's an alternative that you may like.

[ice#1]

to cut the smell spot clean there cages i only breed mice for now. but have noticed all my mice seem to love the corners to pee in they might poop anywhere but always wet in the corners of the cages and usually if don't want no ammonia smell got to spot clean the corners every 2 to 3 days. only good part about using a glass cages can see where its wet at with-out it having to be soaked

[SlitherinSisters]

I wouldn't use it. There is so much dust and all the chemicals in it....no way. It's terrible for the environment, I couldn't imagine what it would do to such a tiny creature who has to lay on it all day.

Pine works pretty well in my opinion, and although people say it's bad, as long as it's kiln dried and good quality, you shouldn't have any problems. I've kept my rats on it for three years, and I have one rat that turned three this month, and a couple that are really close to three years old if not older. I've got Aspen with my pet dumbos right now, but it has a really strange sweet/sour smell, but I don't think you would notice if you don't hold the rats.

Otherwise you could also use the carefresh or recycled newspaper pellets. I don't like the colored carefresh, because of the extra chemicals. Recycled newspaper pellets-yesterday's news-is on the pricey side, just like carefresh. There's also Pine Fresh cat litter. It's pine pellets, but I don't know if it's safe for rats. I loved it for the cats, but Wal-Mart stopped selling it. It did an amazing job with the smell. It's breaks apart into a dust, so it probably wouldn't be a good bedding for rats.

[BAMReptiles]

to cut the smell spot clean there cages i only breed mice for now. but have noticed all my mice seem to love the corners to pee in they might poop anywhere but always wet in the corners of the cages and usually if don't want no ammonia smell got to spot clean the corners every 2 to 3 days. only good part about using a glass cages can see where its wet at with-out it having to be soaked

my mice do this, my rats dont. so its kind of a moot point since, at least in my experience, rats dont discriminate where they pee

[AkHerps]

Yeah no, you can't even use cat litter for ferrets in their litter box because it can mess them up big time, rats are the same way. Cats don't go in the box and stick their faces in the litter box, or play in the box, and they don't nibble on it. Rats and mice are both very curious and I see my pet rats all the time nibbling on their care fresh bedding, or anything else new that is put in their, same with when I keep feeder mice. They often take shredded newspaper and build their own nest.

You could try the pellets that are used for pellet stoves, or the cat litter that is recycled newspaper or pine, but no clumping kitty litter.

And rats can be litter trained quite easy to go in one corner, most rats only go in one specific spot in their cage.

[snakesRkewl]

Remember too when you mask the smell it doesn't alter the fact they are breathing ammonia and it will make them sick if they live and breath it.

The best way to keep the smell down is to clean more often.