Fact is, that some individuals are allergic to pine so for them it poses a serious problem. Cedar, on the other hand, is a very real problem for all. Here's where you can by-pass rumors/disagreements-clouding-the-issue/say-so for some real facts on the topic: http://www.trifl.org/cedar.html "Respiratory toxicity of cedar and pine wood: A review of the biomedical literature from 1986 through 1995" Written by Jeff Johnston We also have personally encountered marked rudeness from the Feline Pine gent, so when we can we buy a competing product. We were asking about a large (a few hundred pounds) direct purchase that was below a ton in size. If you aren't talking a ton... Steve and i wish we could use the stove pellets but in our experiences those had a an unfortunate tendency to have mold spores in them and we both were nailed big time that way. We have noticed that if we have only a few ferrets using a litter pot then Yesterday's News seems to give better odor control (and it's what we use after surgeries to prevent infections as do our vets), but pine litters work better otherwise. Sometimes we put one of the multi-cat clay ones on the bottom and then put some pine on top and get a combo that seems to work very well all around, but we can't do that if anyone has health situation that can cause a prolapse problem for obvious reasons in case clay gets stuck to tender tissue. Fortunately, periodically we find other pine litters around (usually cheaper and with less sawdust in bags, too). When we can't, we buy the FP since it does work and we haven't had any with any problems from it. Would be interested in seeing the industry refs that were mentioned but were not given. >There is a consortium of litter manufacturers that are trying to get some >sort of truth in advertising on the labels of litter. Feline Pine is one >of their primary targets LINKS or ADDIES to that consortium and their efforts, please? An assertion does not make a fact so, like many others, I prefer to verify such claims... Unless verified they have to remain rumors. [Posted in FML issue 3579]