tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6455085749044780417.post1811022011410113301..comments2020-03-13T00:13:59.118-04:00Comments on The Green Frugalista: Review: Arm & Hammer Essentials Natural Clumping LitterSolitairehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14484347015033286135noreply@blogger.comBlogger34125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6455085749044780417.post-28111070394503403302010-05-19T14:54:41.553-04:002010-05-19T14:54:41.553-04:00I am a new cat owner and I used this litter on the...I am a new cat owner and I used this litter on the advice of a friend. I love it. It could clump a little better but for the most part works well. And it seems to keep the smell down.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6455085749044780417.post-47726450447217919662010-04-25T16:31:10.850-04:002010-04-25T16:31:10.850-04:00We are facing the same health issues with both our...We are facing the same health issues with both our cat and dog.<br />One of the things they have in common is litter (Both like to sample it when they can sneak it) So we switched To A&H Essentials. The smell of the litter is very strong. You can smell it THROUGH the bag. As someone already mentioned, it's origin is not mentioned on the bag. I wrote the company and was told 100% corn and baking soda. Something is off with that! As far as people choosing not to use it because of that scent... Way to go! If you find it strong, can you imagine what poor kitty's nose is going through? Especially in an enclosed box?! We found a 100% corn product at Zellers that doesn't seem to have an odor. Just as soft and Bri seems to like it.NikBri's Momnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6455085749044780417.post-62808442745072519062010-03-22T14:43:49.306-04:002010-03-22T14:43:49.306-04:00I refuse to use clay litter for a number of reason...I refuse to use clay litter for a number of reasons, including its environmental impact and the dust! Ugh! This is the best natural cat litter I've used. It clumps better than The World's Best or other "sand" types, and it smells better. And my cats like it much better than the "pellet" kinds like Yesterday's News and Feline Pine. Once in awhile, I'll forget and the boxes won't get scooped for 2-3 days (shame) and my house doesn't smell like ammonia at all! The deodorant smell can be a bit overwhelming, but it's pleasant to my nose, so I don't mind it that much. I wonder if they've changed their formula, or if the deodorant smell is interpreted by some noses as bad?Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14682563711266316896noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6455085749044780417.post-46837456559218855932010-02-27T23:24:23.924-05:002010-02-27T23:24:23.924-05:00My Cats just love this litter even my older cat wh...My Cats just love this litter even my older cat who is a very picky litter cat loves this stuff and I have no order probelms what so ever. it clumps just has well has the clay litters and the smell is heavy at first but you get used to it.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6455085749044780417.post-7887905484939583042010-02-05T11:46:53.590-05:002010-02-05T11:46:53.590-05:00I am using my first bag of Essentials and LOVE it ...I am using my first bag of Essentials and LOVE it - I've tried everything in my cat's long life and this is by far the best. It clumps beautifully, there is no odor in my house (although it never smells in the winter), the bag is lasting a very long time, and I love the fact that it's made from corn by-products. I am surprised at all of the negative comments, to be honest.suenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6455085749044780417.post-46551320678597225062010-02-03T23:33:27.001-05:002010-02-03T23:33:27.001-05:00Having 13 cats (all indoors), my Mother and I have...Having 13 cats (all indoors), my Mother and I have tried several clumping litters and Arm & Hammer by far is the best, according to Mom. All other litters are dusty, and when it clumps at the bottom, it is very difficult to scoop away, and we go through tons of it in a month--not literally, but you all know what I mean. I find that Arm & Hammer Essentials absorbs 2-3 time more liquid; thus, a 10 pound bag will last almost 3-4 weeks per litter box, therefore we buy less. Also, its easier to scoop and not dusty at all. Our cats like this litter as well and the granular size is much smaller granule size and gentler on the kitties paws. Good job Arm & Hammer!!Theresa Marqueznoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6455085749044780417.post-50695526341412195052009-12-23T00:07:27.421-05:002009-12-23T00:07:27.421-05:00I love this cat litter so far used to get grossed ...I love this cat litter so far used to get grossed out at the smell of cleaning out the clay litters don't have the problem whith this one. Before I discovered A&H Essentials I was about to make my 2cats outdoor cats. Now they can stay inside.AnnaLeezhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06510646879216575773noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6455085749044780417.post-85390066155382263472009-12-06T17:34:59.030-05:002009-12-06T17:34:59.030-05:00HATE the smell.. LOVE the litter. I wish they coul...HATE the smell.. LOVE the litter. I wish they could have let the natural smell come through instead.. and for the life of me, I can't find anywhere on the bag that says what it is scented with. I have fears that it may not be good for the cats when they lick their paws. Other than that... I don't have a problem with urine smell or bad clumping. It is working well for me, other than the strong smell.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6455085749044780417.post-75240605232711681282009-11-11T01:43:55.509-05:002009-11-11T01:43:55.509-05:00Too much perfume in this litter. I will go back t...Too much perfume in this litter. I will go back to World's Best Cat litter. I have two cats and one has asthma, I don't think this one would be good for him with all the perfume. <br /><br />Also, like someone mentioned above, the litter box should be cleaned (scooped out clumps) at least once or twice a day. Poor cats that have to use a dirty box!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6455085749044780417.post-76858208872132201352009-10-29T08:44:01.678-04:002009-10-29T08:44:01.678-04:00Changing products means changing techniques. just ...Changing products means changing techniques. just use a non slotted scooper, then scrape off the good corn fibers. You have to keep up on it daily. All clay has crystalline silicone in it (which is a carcinogen). I'd rather use corn than clay. We can go through all the political issues of using food for municipal purposes- but in the end... I'd rather not give me or my kitties cancer.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6455085749044780417.post-10656404281030024972009-10-05T12:24:20.831-04:002009-10-05T12:24:20.831-04:00I really like this litter. It does have a lemony? ...I really like this litter. It does have a lemony? smell. My cats definitely prefer this litter.<br /><br />I have a suggestion on the litter tracking. I bought a package of underpads (for placing under sheets for kids or whoever. One of my cats was peeing in a corner and I put them down until I got the problem solved.) I put one of them in front of one of the litter boxes in my bathroom as I hated the litter being tracked around. These underpad seems to catch about 99% of the litter from their feet. It worked for the clay clumping as well as this litter.puddytatsmomnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6455085749044780417.post-16018797225537637362009-09-20T22:46:01.836-04:002009-09-20T22:46:01.836-04:00I wish I had read reviews before buying this litte...I wish I had read reviews before buying this litter. I tried it because it was on sale and my favorite litter (Nature's Miracle) just went up in price. First, the A&H stuff stank so bad straight out of the bag, like noxious car deodorizer, that I figured regardless of performance I'd have to get rid of it. Second, my cats, who have dutifully tested every litter I ever brought home, won't touch it. Waste of $8.Rachelnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6455085749044780417.post-55310993046438603502009-09-08T08:03:38.822-04:002009-09-08T08:03:38.822-04:00I haven't found this litter to be that bad. I...I haven't found this litter to be that bad. I did find it to have an unusual smell on its own, but probably b/c it doesn't have the artificial and harmful perfumes that traditional litter does. The clumps do fall apart a little, but if I have to make some trade-offs to have a more healthy product for my cat then I can deal with that. I just bought my 2nd bag of this litter and I plan to continue buying it!tienkittyhttp://www.doggyspace.com/triviacatnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6455085749044780417.post-46464998642019784032009-08-02T22:58:33.635-04:002009-08-02T22:58:33.635-04:00Thanks for the review! I am hoping to have a bette...Thanks for the review! I am hoping to have a better experience with this product, just bought it today. Thought I'd point out that the manufacturer has a guarantee on the box, not completely satisfied, get a refund. That is what convinced my husband to try it out!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6455085749044780417.post-36346741628939493162009-07-26T17:27:22.127-04:002009-07-26T17:27:22.127-04:00I wonder if A&H has changed the formulation si...I wonder if A&H has changed the formulation since they first released it. I like this one, and most of my cats do, too. It does not clump as well as fresh clumping clay, but it does clump and I think there is much less ammonia smell. I'm especially fond of the weight - so much easier to carry into the house and out with the trash. I keep a variety of litters for my finicky cats, but the boxes with this litter get used a lot. I do clean them all at least every other day. My only problem is that I can only find it at my local Target, and they don't always have it.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6455085749044780417.post-70019657331613657852009-07-26T10:50:20.289-04:002009-07-26T10:50:20.289-04:00poor cats after reading some reviews where owners ...poor cats after reading some reviews where owners don't clean litter boxes often. We clean ours daily or every other day at most. Do you flush your toilets daily? I have used Worlds Best(multiple cat formula is better) corn based & feline pine for 10 yrs due to my dust allergy & my cat is very sensitive to dust. I was curious about this A&H Essentials corn litter. I'm hesitant after reviews but will try. But, any box will smell if not cleaned often too. Be careful with Yesterdays News litter. Yesterday's news = yesterdays crap. We found & showed our vet a few wires& colored melted plastic in our YN litter years ago after our vet recommended post surgery for my cat's accident & emergency paw surgery w/ stitches. they admitted they dont' have a good Quality Management inspection so anything left in Recycled newspapers could get mixed in like wires, plastic & crayons. Sounds toxic to meAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6455085749044780417.post-2835607362828194132009-07-25T21:43:47.873-04:002009-07-25T21:43:47.873-04:00My cat has an allergy problem and I had to stop us...My cat has an allergy problem and I had to stop using clay. I tried "yesterdays news" - what a waste of money - the urine smell was overpowering. I then tried Essentials and just love it. I do think that if you don't put at LEAST 3 inches in - you will have problems with clumping - I put five inches in each box and after 1 week - no smell, it clumps and stays together and tracks less than clay - what's not to love?<br /><br />I agree with a previous post - directions are there for a reason.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6455085749044780417.post-53393617197288919302009-07-18T21:00:01.109-04:002009-07-18T21:00:01.109-04:00I've been using this product for about 6 month...I've been using this product for about 6 months for our one cat -- we were using clumping clay before so I can't compare to any other types of litter. <br /><br />We use a covered litter tray, and leave about 2" max (I would think 3" would mean too much tracking.) We only remove clumps & feces (at least once daily, very rarely skipping a day) and haven't done a complete dump & clean of the tray in ages.<br /><br />My pros & cons are:<br />PROS:<br />- truly dust-free. 99% dust-free clay is just a lie.<br />- very pleasant smelling<br /><br />CONS:<br />- tracks more than clumping clay<br />- wet litter takes a little while to clump hard (I guess I don't mind the wait).<br /><br />I don't know how much of the variety of reviews just depends on the cat: how much ammonia is in their urine, whether they clean themselves to remove excess before exiting the tray, whether they tend to track over spots they've used ...<br /><br />But I personally am a fan and I think it works great for our cat. Just noticed I'm starting to have more trouble finding it in stores so that's a shame.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6455085749044780417.post-50435421586598878002009-07-07T20:44:13.445-04:002009-07-07T20:44:13.445-04:00i also LOVE this litter's clumping and odor-de...i also LOVE this litter's clumping and odor-defeating abilities! it works like a charm, using much less litter during scooping than any other brand i've tried. the one downside to this litter, however, is the fact that it gets EVERYWHERE. there are tiny, lightweight sawdust pieces all over my house. i may have to stop using it for that alone.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14955555559267339891noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6455085749044780417.post-85130019036773536592009-06-27T02:25:18.608-04:002009-06-27T02:25:18.608-04:00Tried it today for the first time, my cat seems to...Tried it today for the first time, my cat seems to love the stuff. He used box with the new stuff when there is still a box with clay litter available, ran around and purred. I like that it's no-dust, light weight. Seemed to clump well enough, but it's only day one. No bad smell, in fact quite pleasant smelling I thought. So, for now at least, I am very pleased.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04587173007328664400noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6455085749044780417.post-5680430937732798392009-06-12T07:52:33.977-04:002009-06-12T07:52:33.977-04:00really? i'm amazed at all of the bad reviews....really? i'm amazed at all of the bad reviews. i have tried lots of different litters for my previous cat (with renal failure, so he had to pee.... a lot) and for my new kitten. i LOVE this stuff. it's perfect for long haired cats as it doesn't get caught in their fur as easily as the other clumping litters. it eliminates odor pretty well, and it's dust free as far as i can tell. <br /><br />i have noticed that if you go to scoop the litter immediately after the cat pees, it doesn't clump that well, but after a couple of hours, the clumps are pretty solid (sorry for the graphic description).Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6455085749044780417.post-2113559717980222382009-05-24T23:22:15.178-04:002009-05-24T23:22:15.178-04:00maybe to those who didn't like this litter just ha...maybe to those who didn't like this litter just have very stinky cats! This stuff is great! not only is natural but it works splendidly. Will definitely purchase again.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6455085749044780417.post-84459600451644488932009-05-12T10:02:00.000-04:002009-05-12T10:02:00.000-04:00Wow -- I'm stunned by all the complaints about...Wow -- I'm stunned by all the complaints about this cat litter! I have asthma and had to find an alernative to clay litters. I tried them all, and for one reason or another, there always seemed to be a problem. Either I didn't like them or my cat didn't. I found Arm & Hammer Essentials Natural Clumping Litter almost two years ago, and I love it. No odor in my home, no problems with the clumping ... I'm really not sure why everyone hates it so much. I clean the litter box once or twice a day, completely change the litter every three weeks. I wouldn't use anything else. If there was an excess of ammonia in my house, having asthma believe me I'd know it. I guess different stroke ...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6455085749044780417.post-25999473103692453872009-04-22T11:59:00.000-04:002009-04-22T11:59:00.000-04:00I would like to apologize to Arm & Hammer for ...I would like to apologize to Arm & Hammer for insinuating there litter would have anything to do with my cockroach/pest problem. I would like to go on the record and say my pest control professional laughed at me and said there was no way the litter played any part in that. So, I am very happy with litter, especially the fact there is no dust!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6455085749044780417.post-8898938654459984202009-04-14T14:50:00.000-04:002009-04-14T14:50:00.000-04:00I have been very happy with this litter all in all...I have been very happy with this litter all in all. At first, the fragrance was a little overwhelming, and I do agree that the scent of urine will come through sooner than with traditional clumping litter. I clean my litter boxes out completely once a week and that seems to do the trick. My issue might not relate to the litter, but within a very short period of changing to this Natural litter,I now seem to have what I could only describe as a disgusting cockroach infestation. I have changed nothing else in my house, so I feel like this is the culprit. I live in Florida and wonder if anyone else has experienced anything like this.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com