Animal Welfare Professionals

This message was posted by a user wishing to remain anonymous

I am with a very small, municipal shelter. Like almost everywhere else, we have seen an influx of animals coming into our shelter and staying longer. We have been running out of cat litter very quickly, despite our best efforts to conserve it! Our budget was also cut significantly this year, so we are trying to find some help with making sure we have cat litter available to care for all the cats we've been getting. I've looked into the GiveLitter grant, but it states that you must be a registered non-profit to qualify for the grant. Does anyone know of any other grants or places to look into for less expensive litter? We literally ordered a pallet of litter (about 60, 20# bags) roughly 2-2.5 months ago and we are down to 10 bags left. It has been INSANE!! The company we bought it through will not sell us another bulk order of litter this soon-as I understand it. Any help or ideas would be greatly appreciated! Thank you!
#AccesstoCare

Have you tried using wood pellets? Our rescue uses the ones that are sold in farm stores for use with livestock. Most cats will use it, however we do also keep clay litter on hand because occasionally some cats won't use the pellets. The pellets are cheaper than traditional litter, and it also doesn't track as much.

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Samantha Maurice
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Have you tried reaching out to your local community yet via social media? Maybe set up an Amazon wish list? Buying cat litter is an easy, relatively cheap thing people can do, and many people love to help with things like this.

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M Saucedo
GIS Analyst
Pets for Life
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There are several litter manufacturers or retailers that give to shelters and rescues. It involves work and sometimes a few trucks.  Volunteers are amazing for helping us get it to where we need it.

1. https://www.worldsbestcatlitter.com/donate-cat-litter/
2. Cats Pride has a program Litter for Good. You usually have to pick it up and it may be a long drive.  And you have to do social media stuff.
3. Petsmart, Petco, Walmart, Costco, etc.  Hit each of these up in your area for broken bags.  Even smaller pet stores and feed stores.  Some have a requirement to return, some tape it up, take a pic, and give it away to rescues and shelters.

I suggest becoming best friends with the managers and employees at pet stores.  They can run fundraisers at the checkout (donate a can of food to a kitten) and get you some wonderful stuff.

Where do you buy it at a discounted price?  That's the list I need.  We either pay full price or beg for free stuff.

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Frances Alford
Director
Big Bend TNR Cat Rescue
Tallahassee FL
8507569776
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I order our cat litter once a week from Walmart. It is about 19 cents a pound, and they sell a brand called Special Kitty that comes in 25 or 50 lb bags and can be shipped for free to you. We are also tax-exempt, so I submitted tax exempt paperwork to them so that helps as well.

That is how we get our in-house litter.

For our Pet Resource Center, we solicit community donations to fulfill that need. If you start an Amazon wish list or a wish list with Cuddly, that is a super easy way to get what you need!

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Alexis Pugh
Director, Memphis Animal Services
www.memphisanimalservices.com

Organizational Management
& Pet Support Services Specialist
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Hey Alexis, try sams club, 50# for 10.50 - $11 and sometime 4 bags around $9 each (limit 4).

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Carolyn Kostera
NA
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Original Message:
Sent: 09-14-2022 02:01 PM
From: Alexis Pugh
Subject: Help with Cat Litter

I order our cat litter once a week from Walmart. It is about 19 cents a pound, and they sell a brand called Special Kitty that comes in 25 or 50 lb bags and can be shipped for free to you. We are also tax-exempt, so I submitted tax exempt paperwork to them so that helps as well.

That is how we get our in-house litter.

For our Pet Resource Center, we solicit community donations to fulfill that need. If you start an Amazon wish list or a wish list with Cuddly, that is a super easy way to get what you need!

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Alexis Pugh
Director, Memphis Animal Services
www.memphisanimalservices.com

Organizational Management
& Pet Support Services Specialist
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Our shelter started using the pine pellets. It breaks down with urine, but remains absorbable while all you have to do is scoop out the solid feces. When it's mostly broken down you replace it. It lasts a while, but you have to train volunteers not to over fill the pans. No matter what you're using, it won't last if it's wasted, like in our shelter. 
I also agree with the comments about asking pet stores for broken bags. PetSmart does that.

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RuthAnn Davidson
Medical Volunteer
Forgotten Cats
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I second the wood pellets comments.  I'm up in Canada, and I can find 40 lb bags for $6-7$ (CAD). I get mine from RONA or Canadian Tire but I'm sure other hardware stores in the states would have them as they are meant for those wood pellet BBQs. Just be sure they are not treated or scented ones.  I have only had the odd kitten who won't use them, so always have some other substrate of litter on hand. (maybe 1% of kittens.

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kenzie makowsky
SCAT
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Why not consider organizing a fundraising event like bingo, or perhaps reach out to a local pet-friendly restaurant? You could inquire if they'd be willing to set up a small table with some cats, where patrons can contribute to support these furry friends in need.  

Really I Hope you can find the $$$ support that you need it. 

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Myriam Martinez
President
Mujeres Latinas SC
SC
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We have done pine pellets for years. we have a large trash can that holds 3-4 bags worth. there is a metal bowl in the can. on the lid is  a sign for how many bowls/ per size of pan. We change the pans daily.  We have a "wish list" of supplies in our website. we have this list printed on 3"x6" colorful paper. left at desk, tucked into adoption bags, take to events with the rest of our handouts. We also set up " shop for the shelter" events at local grocery stores. Storefront entrance,greet customers, hand out wishlist,have a shopping cart there for them to place the  items in at exit Thank customer profusely. We do this 2x a year at each store. Generally 4-5 carts of product.

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Rochelle Hamp
Executive Director
Headwaters Animal Shelter
MN
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Original Message:
Sent: 11-08-2023 01:49 PM
From: Myriam Martinez
Subject: Help with Cat Litter

Why not consider organizing a fundraising event like bingo, or perhaps reach out to a local pet-friendly restaurant? You could inquire if they'd be willing to set up a small table with some cats, where patrons can contribute to support these furry friends in need.  

Really I Hope you can find the $$$ support that you need it. 

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Myriam Martinez
President
Mujeres Latinas SC
SC
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Hi Anonymous,

Thank you for your work with animals! Definitely utilize an Amazon Wishlist & don't be afraid to put anything and everything you need on it! Then use your social media to get the word out about the list and that you need help! We use corn cob pellets and we are very careful about how much goes in the litter boxes, our boxes are cleaned and changed a couple times a day, but we never fill the box to the top, we use scoops and each litterbox gets 2 scoops. If you can find a way to measure the litter and portion it out, it will last longer.  Maybe you could host a donation day once a month and have folks donate things you need. A local charity parks a moving van and has a "fill the truck" day once a month for things they need, they get the local radio and tv to talk about it for them and people bring all kinds of stuff and literally load the truck. (utilize your volunteers for this kind of thing)

Good Luck!

~M

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Mary Millenbach
Director of Development & Fundraising
Paws & Whiskers Cat Shelter
OH
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We use the equine pellet bedding from Tractor Supply-it is so much cheaper, lighter and smells like wood! We only cover the bottom of the pan and dump it every day. We do not get a discount but are a rewards member so do get credit that we use towards buying more every now and then. 

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Cheryl Koenig
Volunteer Executive Director
Sullivan County Humane Society
NH
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