Cat litter ... in wine?

[LeChat]

Ok, let me lay it out for you.

I was emptying my cat's litter box today and I happened to glance at the box of the stuff. It only contains clay.

Now... Hypothetical question; can you use unscented clay only cat litter (CLEAN ) as makeshift bentonite?

If for no other reason, the 22 pound box is about the same price as a single pound of bentonite... ::

As anyone tried this before? Would it even work?

 

[Runningwolf]

I wouldn't even give it a second thought, no! Now don't ask me for an explanation because I can't give you a good one, but I wouldn't do it. Sanitation is the first thing that come to mind.

 

[Julie]

I'm with Dan on this, seriously, I feel you are grasping and I apologize cuz I am not trying to hurt your feelings

 

[Wiz]

I just can't bring myself to be as polite as Dan and Julie. Personally, I could just barf at that idea.

 

[LeChat]

Gee Dan, of course you wash your hands before and after handling it. Sanitation shouldn't be a concern!!!! ;-)

Seriously-er, as a thought experiment, can you not even consider using cat litter in your wine?

 

[Jericurl]

I would use clay that I had dug out of the ground myself before I would use anything that had been labeled as cat litter.

 

[LeChat]

I just can't bring myself to be as polite as Dan and Julie. Personally, I could just barf at that idea.

Maybe a picture of my cats will help....



See they are clean!!

 

[Runningwolf]

You need to post them in the pet threads if you haven't already. Those cats are adorable!

Maybe the part we didn't understand was the fact you wanted to use the litter for Skeeter Pee.

 

[cimbaliw]

Wow... it seems that the main ingredient of kitty litter may, in fact, be bentonite clay. I found this on the internet therefore it has to be true.

Those cats are darn cute!

 

[jwilliamson1001]

Good link. If you test this id be happy to see the results.

 

[WVMountaineerJack]

Its not just that its bentonite but HOW its processed and the quality of the clay. You dont need high quality bentonite for your cats to crap in but you do need it to put in your wine to clear it. Also really the cost of a pound of bentonite is nothing compared to the cost of just a single 5 gal batch of wine even if the fruit is free its still the time it takes to do everything. The processing of the raw bentonite is important. If you want cheap fining agents use egg white or even milk. I always hope we help people in this group strive for quality winemaking, after all why go thru the trouble of making it yourself if its not better than what you can buy at a store? WVMJ

 

[LeChat]

Jack, by quality, do you mean chemical composition?

While it is possible that a different chemical composition would affect the outcome, if it is bentonite, it is bentonite. Once it is in solution (as it should), it won't matter much that the granules were bigger or finer.

You will probably have to stir it a bit more in order to get it to break it up/suspend it.

 

[JohnT]

Finally,

Someone has discovered the perfect way to clarify Welch's!!!!!!



Seriously, Why use kitty litter? Why not just go out and get the bentonite that has been refined for use in wine? If you are not saving any money, then what is the purpose of using kitty litter?

 

[DoctorCAD]

If 2 of my cats ever got that close, there'd be fur and blood and teeth all over the room!

 

[grapeman]

Consider the size of the particles also. Finely ground bentonite is used in wine and it is those fine granules that act with the wine to fine it. Cat litter is mostly larger particles and they will not form a suspension in the wine. A one pound bag of bentonite will probably last you for years. This is one place you don't want to be cheap.

 

[Elmer]

I spend all day trying to keep my puppy out of the cat liter.
Now I have to keep my puppy out of my wine aswell?
I dont have enough hours in the day!!!!!!

But seriously, if you are that desperate for bentonite, skip it and use good, old fashioned time.......

 

[WVMountaineerJack]

Good luck with that. Chemical and physical and even the electrical charge are all important in fining, its an art and science that many people have worked constantly to improve and balance. If you put in too much you can take out to much from the wine, if you dont put in enough it wont work and might even become a problem in itself. I cant possibly see the incentive to find another source of something that is already very cheap and predictable. You might try it, it might work, but while its listed as just bentonite clay you have absolutely no idea what other contaminates are in there, after all its not bee processed for food grade, and it clumps up when you poop on it, doesnt sound like a good idea to use to me, but if you do at least remove the clumps first.

WVMJ

Jack, by quality, do you mean chemical composition?

While it is possible that a different chemical composition would affect the outcome, if it is bentonite, it is bentonite. Once it is in solution (as it should), it won't matter much that the granules were bigger or finer.

You will probably have to stir it a bit more in order to get it to break it up/suspend it.

 

[LeChat]

Thanks for the replies everyone!

I am curious by nature and I was merely having a thought experiment. I have no intentions (at least not yet!) to use cat litter to clarify the wine.

I agree with Jack's point that it has not been processed for human consumption and could potentially contain contaminants that could make people sick. Because of that alone, I will likely not try it. But I don't make any promises!!!!

If I do try anything, I will name the wine something obvious. Maybe don't try any wine called "Felis Mauris" or something of that nature

 

[GaDawg]

Are you going to use it before or after the cat

 

[Winenoob66]

lol I am just wondering if anyone is gonna get brave enough to try it in their wine.