I know that in theory products marketed as safe for pets should be safe for pets - unfortunately I can't relax and just believe the manufacturers.

Fir and spruce trees contain aromatic oils that are toxic to cats after long term exposure, yet the Cat's Best website doesn't mention if their litter contains these oils or not.

The reason why I'm posting this thread is because the cats of the person who warned me against using this litter got sick, anemic, and their liver and pancreas markers were out of order after 2.5 years of using Cat's Best Oko Plus. However, no one can pinpoint the problem, was it the litter, Frontline Combo spot-on treatments or Royal Canin dry food. Or something else no one took notice of.

So if your cats are healthy and happy and you're using this product, please let us know - and if they're not, are they experiencing the same symptoms as the ones described above?

Hi there

All my lot use Nature Gold, a pelleted form of the Oko. They've shown no health problems at all, although perhaps they're getting less dust ingestion as it's pellets, and far less of it tends to stick to the fur. If you're planning to use one of the Oko products, I'd suggest this one.

Personally I have no concerns.

Phenols (the aromatic oils) do present a problem to small animals (especially rodents), but this is an issue when this type of wood is used as bedding - the animals are on it and breathing it in literally all day every day.

I have not heard anything about whether or not cats are adversely affected by phenols; and even if they were I doubt very much that their exposure would be high enough to prseent a problem - after all its not as if they are locked in their litter trays all day! A quick visit a couple of times a day is highly unlikely to cause any sort of reaction, let alone the sort of horror stories you've heard.

I've been using Cats Best for about 18 months now with no issues.

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I used Cat's Best Oko Plus for a 2-years period, now I have used Cat's Best Nature Gold for about half a year, which is exactly like oko, just less dust and no more remains all over the house, because it doesn't stick to the cats' paws like the first one. I haven't noticed any problem on my two cats while using any of it. It may seem more expensive at first, but I personnally need to buy a sack (10 L) every 50 days for both of my cats and believe me, I don't reuse it . It has many many other advantages and I would never turn to anything else used before (I actually tried many different types of litters in the past, this is indeed the "Cat's Best"). DON'T use Cat's Best Universal, it doesn't form clots and it's a mess, that one is used for rabbits, as far as I know.

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I find this very interesting after just spending £360+ at the vets on Scutter to have x-rays & a cam down his throat to find not alot not sure if it is the litter but Im changeing anyway to much of a coincedance, he has developed a sort of cough/choke as if he is perminantly trying to bring back a fur ball & thinking about it ties in with the amount of time we have been useing OKO, however we have 5 more cats that are fine

Catsbest - The Successful Ecological Cat Litter Program

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All my children have paws!

Other litters have different associated problems -it staggers me that fuller's earth is still used as it is carcinogenic (produces cancers!!!) yet readily available. If something like that that is harmful the humans AND animals is still on the market then . . .

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