Carolyn J. Braden • 3 Minute Read
How To Use Pinto Beans For Cat Litter
After years of our Maine Coons tracking litter all over the house with their long-haired furry feet, we were fed up and needed a new solution. We tried so many varieties of litter, including Feline Pine pellets, which we kind of liked, but once the pellets got wet, it was messy. We tried automatic scooping litter boxes, but with two HUGE cats and no way to force them to use separate boxes, those clumped and got stuck daily. The way things were going, it seemed as if we would have cat litter problems forever, or as long as we had cats.
We’ve had our litter box for over 3 years
Cat litter problems can be a source of frustration for many cat owners. From scent issues to tracking problems, it can sometimes feel like a never-ending battle to keep the litter box clean and odor-free. One common problem is when the litter does not effectively control unpleasant odors. This can lead to an unpleasant smell permeating the entire home. Additionally, some cat litters can create a lot of dust, which can be bothersome to both cats and humans alike, affecting the air quality and potentially causing respiratory issues.
Some beans can end up on the pee pads
Another problem many pet owners face is litter tracking. It's not uncommon to find bits of litter scattered around the house (like what happened to us), creating a mess that needs constant cleaning. However, with careful consideration, choosing the right cat litter and implementing proactive solutions can help alleviate these issues, providing a more pleasant and hygienic environment for both cats and their owners. Read on to learn about our pinto bean and cat litter box solution.
Our cat’s pinto bean litter
I scoured the internet, desperate to find something better. We were tired of the messes and the smells and knew there had to be a better solution. Then, we came across the Tidy Cats Breeze XL litter box system and it seemed as if all our cat litter problems would vanish. But, like everything in life, there is always a little trial and error and even after you work through them, there are still some tiny issues.
After reading many reviews, we bought the XL sized litter box (there are currently two sizes) because each of our Maine Coon cats are very large. They are extremely lean, as we are careful what to feed them, especially with our eldest having a pancreatitis a while ago.
They simply just have very large frames and after lots of instances where they were actually not understanding they weren’t in the box all the way and the poo ended up on the floor, as they didn’t fit in a basic litter box, we knew we needed the biggest box possible.
See the pinto beans in action in our short YouTube video below or via our channel @carolynjbraden:
The Tidy Cats Breeze XL came with some urine pads and litter pellets. We set the box up and our eldest cat used the box, but started eating the litter pellets. While it may not hurt her immediately, I didn’t think digesting them would be great for her long term, especially with her pancreatitis and the pellets had silica in them, so I returned to the Amazon reviews to see if anyone else had any other solutions.
The Tidy Cats XL litter box has a drain
One person said they put dried pinto beans in their Tidy Cats Breeze XL litter box because their cat was eating the litter pellets too. We went to Walmart and bought a 20lb. bag of dried pinto beans, added them to the box, and waited to see what our cats would do. Our cats had used plastic litter successfully before (some from the vet when we had to get a urine sample for one of our cats), so we figured they wouldn’t know the difference, and we were correct.
Both our cats dig in the pinto beans, potty in them, and cover their business, just like regular litter. While it’s a cheaper and healthier solution to the silica pellets, it does have some downsides. We put a honeycomb rubber mat under the box to catch the beans, as they can go flying out the front entrance of the box if you have a cat that digs a lot. This mat does a good job of corralling flying beans, but some stray beans end up elsewhere, but they are easy to see and easy to pick up.
Ross likes his large litter box
The beans last about two weeks with our two large cats using the box daily. The beans never get mushy, as the litter box’s built in “drain” prevents them from soaking in the urine, but they do start to smell after a while. With the beans costing less than many litters, this is totally acceptable to us. I know some people only like to change litter monthly, but we’ve never been that lucky to go that long without a complete litter overhaul so long as we’ve owned two cats at a time.
We travel with our cats and take our litter box with us
The urine pads (they fit into a drawer that sits under the drain) could be an expense for some people, and too much of a hassle, but we do not mind them. The urine pads must be changed every other day with having 2 large cats using this litter system. We use the Multi Cat Breeze pads, as we have experimented and found they have worked best for our two cats, but there are other cat pads on the market that may work too. They do start to smell (oh, that yucky ammonia smell!), so if you forget to change the pad, you’ll remember fairly quickly. We also have to change the pads more frequently as our cats fill it up fast.
We think it’s best litter box system for Maine Coons
The space you keep the box in can make a difference in the smell. If it’s a small area, like the one we have the box in now (a closet), we have to stay on top of keeping it clean. In our last house, we had the box in a very large laundry room, and it didn’t smell quite as fast. I keep a jar of Fresh Wave odor removing gel close by the box, and it helps absorb any lingering odors, but honestly, the box rarely smells.
We have to scoop their poo every day, as we have dogs that apparently like to eat it (it’s so gross!), so we try to scoop it as soon as they go if the dogs are around. They eat the beans sometimes too if they get in the box, but they pass them easily, so the beans are healthier than silica-based litters getting into their digestive tracks.
We take our cats in our RV too
We did our best to prevent the dogs from getting into the “cat room” with our bi-fold pet gate and cat “mouse hole” project. See that by clicking here. You would not have to scoop the poo every day if you don’t have dogs like ours or a picky cat, but the beans don’t quite seal in smells as good as some other litters, so you’d have to experiment with this. If you want it to look nicer or to conceal it more, it fits in our RV inside this fancy dog crate, which we love!
Overall, I don’t see us changing our cat litter box system anytime soon, unless something mind-blowingly great hit the market. We care about our animals, and want the very best for their health. If you have a picky cat, this pinto bean litter solution may not work for you, but we do encourage you to find the healthiest option for them and for you.
We had a cat once that would not use the litter box if it wasn’t sparkling clean (she would poo in our bathtub if the litter box was dirty), and since we don’t like going potty in a dirty toilet ourselves, we get it. They want the same as us…a clean living environment. And that’s exactly what they deserve with all the unconditional love they give us. They are worth it!
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Carolyn J. (C.J.) Braden is a regular contributor and editor for Carolyn’s Blooming Creations. She has been featured in numerous media publications such as InStyle Magazine, on HGTV, on Bustle.com, and more. She is the author of the books Georgia McMasters in Amethyst Lake Cemetery, How To Be Yourself: 3 Ways To Help You Being You, and the illustrator for the children’s book Bridging Connections. She is a former classroom teacher that now dedicates her life to educating others on how to live their most healthy, creative and happy life. Learn more about her visiting our About Us page.