Have you looked into wholesale suppliers or nearby farm supply stores like Canadian Pharmacy B2B? They might have great deals on non-clumping litter in bulk. You could also try contacting manufacturers for special bulk pricing. Best of luck with your rescue work!

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Anna Watts
UI/UX designer
TeamLab
LA
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Can you tell me what pet store you used for this?  This would be amazing!!  And do you happen to have any idea what that 3000# cost you?

Original Message:
Sent: 07-21-2022 11:35 PM
From: chris zorzi
Subject: Where to purchase non-clumping cat litter in bulk

See if there's a pet food supply store in the area that sells their store brand of litter in bulk.  (The type of situation where they sell you a first bucket, and then you bring back the empty bucket to be refilled for a set price.)  If they offer non-clumping litter, ask them about doing a bulk purchase of their litter in the super sack it is delivered in.  

We did this for our Kitten Foster Program, although we get the clumping litter.  It comes in a 3,000 lb sack and they're nice enough to deliver it to us on a pallet (it helps to have a relationship with the store so they're willing to help you) when we need more.   You'll need a place to store it, and there's a bit of work involved breaking it down, but the savings are well worth it.   We get ~135 filled jugs out of each super sack.

We put out a call for empty tidy cat jugs, and we fill them with a grain scoop and funnel to give to our fosters.  When fosters need a refill, they only get a new jug of litter when they bring back the empty one.  

Suggestion number 2: Pine Pellets.  Find a horse feed/tack store and see if they sell pine pellet bedding.  Same thing as the pine pellets marketed for cats, but a fraction of the price.  I think we were paying $7 for a 40# bag, but that was a few years ago.  Regardless, it was a fraction the cost of Feline Pine or an equivalent.  And like the super sack, if you buy a pallet at a time, they might be willing to deliver.

Suggestion number 3: If there's a big box store in your area, like Target or Walmart, talk to them and ask what they do with their breakage and damaged pet products like litter and cat food.  An open or damaged box/bag of litter can't be sold, but it can be donated to a rescue/shelter instead of thrown out.  Same for opened/damaged boxes of food.   Again, there will be some work (you'll have to send someone on a very regular basis to pick this stuff up) but it can turn into a *lot* of free food and litter.

Oh, and if you do wind up buying multiple (normal) bags of litter or pellets in large quantities, ask if they can give a discount, especially if you're planning to continue purchases going forward.  When you buy stuff a pallet at a time, they're usually willing to give you a break.  (The worst they can say is no, so ask!)

Hope that helps.  Please let me know if you have questions.

-Chris

​​​

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chris zorzi
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Hi Chris,

Could you tell me which store is able to get the 3,000 sacks of litter for your rescue? I'm wondering who their distributor is that they get this from. I checked with multiple stores in my immediate area and discussed the sack with them and was told that wasn't something available with their distributor. I am involved in TNR/rescue within south Jersey and we have multiple orgs who would be interested in the sack option.

Thank you,

Joanna 

Original Message:
Sent: 07-21-2022 11:35 PM
From: Chris de Zorzi
Subject: Where to purchase non-clumping cat litter in bulk

See if there's a pet food supply store in the area that sells their store brand of litter in bulk.  (The type of situation where they sell you a first bucket, and then you bring back the empty bucket to be refilled for a set price.)  If they offer non-clumping litter, ask them about doing a bulk purchase of their litter in the super sack it is delivered in.  

We did this for our Kitten Foster Program, although we get the clumping litter.  It comes in a 3,000 lb sack and they're nice enough to deliver it to us on a pallet (it helps to have a relationship with the store so they're willing to help you) when we need more.   You'll need a place to store it, and there's a bit of work involved breaking it down, but the savings are well worth it.   We get ~135 filled jugs out of each super sack.

We put out a call for empty tidy cat jugs, and we fill them with a grain scoop and funnel to give to our fosters.  When fosters need a refill, they only get a new jug of litter when they bring back the empty one.  

Suggestion number 2: Pine Pellets.  Find a horse feed/tack store and see if they sell pine pellet bedding.  Same thing as the pine pellets marketed for cats, but a fraction of the price.  I think we were paying $7 for a 40# bag, but that was a few years ago.  Regardless, it was a fraction the cost of Feline Pine or an equivalent.  And like the super sack, if you buy a pallet at a time, they might be willing to deliver.

Suggestion number 3: If there's a big box store in your area, like Target or Walmart, talk to them and ask what they do with their breakage and damaged pet products like litter and cat food.  An open or damaged box/bag of litter can't be sold, but it can be donated to a rescue/shelter instead of thrown out.  Same for opened/damaged boxes of food.   Again, there will be some work (you'll have to send someone on a very regular basis to pick this stuff up) but it can turn into a *lot* of free food and litter.

Oh, and if you do wind up buying multiple (normal) bags of litter or pellets in large quantities, ask if they can give a discount, especially if you're planning to continue purchases going forward.  When you buy stuff a pallet at a time, they're usually willing to give you a break.  (The worst they can say is no, so ask!)

Hope that helps.  Please let me know if you have questions.

-Chris

​​​

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chris zorzi
------------------------------

We have used pellet stove pellets for 20 years, no problems. A 40 lb. bag here in Mn is $4.58 at big box construction stores and our local farm store.. We change litter daily at our shelter. About 8 cups in each floor pan lasts the day. We have 4 boxes in each adoption room.(about two cups in each cage pan). I did a cost study eons ago and found the pellets at this rate of usage was less expensive than the cheapest off brand clay litter. No tracking of litter on feet or in fur. Pellets biodegradable. I think when you add the "equine bedding " to the label the price goes up.

Hi Rochelle, you should look into Worlds Best Cat Litter (yes, that's the name).  They donate their litter to us (Palm Springs Animal Shelter in CA)  which is saving us almost $20,000/yr.