Rodney

I have cats. I buy cat little for them, usually made from clay. I had to look twice the other day at the pet store, though, when I saw cat litter made from corn kernels -- actual, edible corn. Here's the URL:

http://www.worldsbestcatlitter.com/safety.htm

This is what slays me. We pay farmers a subsidy to grow corn, so much per bushel, no matter how much they grow. So the oversupply in the U.S. market is so great that we now make the excess into cat litter.

I've just gotta shake my head at a world where some countries grow so much food -- too much food -- that they let their cats pee on the excess. Whereas some people in other countries go to bed hungry,and would probably be glad to take that "cat litter" and make some kind of meal out of it.

Destrox

Not to be crude or anything, but thats the story of life.

There will always be those on top that abuse thier abilities, and those who have nothing to abuse even if they wanted.

I think using organic anything is a great way to make use of the excess supply of whatever organic item it may be.

Keep the economy flowing no matterwhat.

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Rodney

Thing is, it's artificial. The U.S. gov. spends $18-20 bill a year in subsidies that make corn that cheap. Used to be that, in order to regulate food supplies and farm prices (not too high, not too low), the feds would subsidize corn crops and other crops -- but only for a set number of acres. You could grow more, but you were on your own. Now the feds kick over a little for every bushel you grow, no matter how many. That brings the price down, so people grow even _more_ corn to make a profit by volume. If we went back to the old system, prices would still be low enough and we wouldn't be overproducing.

So yeah, those on top abuse -- but not because they've got great abilities, but because they've bought, and are continuing to buy, the right congressmen.

moonstrucksoul

when your cats are done you can throw into your microwave and have popcorn suprise, mmm mmm mmmmmmmmm.pop!

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niccoli

I grew up on a farm and I'll tell you its not the small farmer who's abusing this it's the corporate farms that are! I've known way too many small farmers that went under even with subsidies. People who haven't farmed don't realize just how much it costs to farm. A simple farm tractor these days can easily run above the $100,000. The funny thing about our government is that instead of promoting the exporting of US corn we import corn from other countries. I've taken jobs over the summer where I was paid by the US government to go over corn fields with a mower because the goverment paid us more to mow it than what we would have made if we had grown the corn, harvested it and attempted to sell it. I've seen corn prices so low that we prayed the field would burn to the ground because it wasn't worth it. I've also seen corn prices in the $5.00 + per bushel. Farmings a very rewarding profession, however it's been given a bad name because people think subsidies are just to make farmers more money. While almost all other food in the US has kept pace with inflation, however corn prices have not for the most part. Just my 2 cents.

And while that corn would be edible it wouldn't taste good, it's called field corn, grown to feed cattle, hogs, and chickens not humans. Wouldn't make good popcorn either.

Fremen

Don't they also pay some farmers to not grow a crop?

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Bloodslick

I can understand your not wanting the less fortunate to go hungry, but this is not food-grade corn we're talking about, as niccoli pointed out. It's not as if World's Best Cat Litter is raiding the same corn supply as Green Giant in an effort to make a better, kinder cat litter.

A different thought: why is it so bad that someone has looked at the properties of an item, seen it to be a better product than what we currently have, and tried to market it? I don't care if it's corn as cat litter, pumice stones as pencil filling, silicone as breast tissue ( ). If a dog is better at being a chicken than a chicken is, why not give it a shot?

Cynthetiq

damn... and I just got them used to those crystals...

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Holo

How much is this stuff? I have 3 cats and I have a feeling buying this stuff would break my bank compared to good ol' Wal-mart brand @1.97 a 20lb bag.

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raeanna74

I can see this being good for the cats. When I got my cat declawed the Vet gave me oatmeal for her litter instead of the clay. The oatmeal didn't get stuck to her paws which were a little raw and which she licked a lot so they were often wet. Clay would have gotten packed in there. I have a feeling the corn would be much like the oatmeal. The oatmeal didn't seem to leave as much oder as my clay (clumping kind no less). I have a feeling the corn might help too. If it helps my farmers and I could afford it I'd definately use it.

It's true - like niccoli said. Farmers need the help that the government gives them. Unless they're a corporate farm with all this economy of space they don't make that much money. I grew up knowing a number of farmers. My best friends families farmed. NOW they're all moved because they couldn't make the money, got loans from the bank, couldn't pay the bank back, and got forclosed on. Several of them had farms that had been in the family for years. No reason we can't help them out sometimes. All we want is cheap food so why can't the government help fill the gap?

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