Removing used cat litter could be a nightmare if not handled properly. This article will guide you to maintain a healthy relationship with your cat litter. Let’s get to the basics of hassle-free cat waste management.
What To Do With Used Cat Litter?
So if you have a used cat litter, the best option is to dispose of it.
But,
Should We Regularly Dispose Of Cat Litter?
The answer is YES if you want a tidy household. Cat litter, like every other form of excreta, is a potent contaminant.
Medical studies have found the presence of a protozoan parasite called Toxoplasma Gondii[1] inside cat feces.
It could be traced to the raw meat of animals and birds consumed by cats. It does not affect healthy people, but pregnant women and children are vulnerable to protozoan infections. Especially if the cat has reared outdoors, the chances of getting this disease are high. Also, it lessens carbon footprints.
Types Of Cat Litter
Depending on the variety of cat litter substrates, cat litter can be divided into two types. They are,
- Clumping litter
- Non – clumping litter
You can read more about their differences here in this article.
For both these types, biodegradable variants are available. We need to adopt specific methods of disposal for both these types. Let’s take a closer look.
Disposing Of Clumping Litter
Clumping litter is easy to remove because of the clumps formed by sodium bentonite or natural fibers present in it. Use a scoop or dustpan shovel to scoop out the soiled litter. Add some fresh litter in the place of removed litter.
If the clumping litter is biodegradable, you can compost it, which we will discuss later in this article. Do not shake the scoop because shaking causes the pieces to break away from clumping litter fall into the remaining litter.
Disposing Of Non-clumping Litter
Non- clumping litter comes in the form of pellets. They are non-scoop-able. It absorbs urine, swells, and disintegrates into sawdust, which is collected and removed later.
Place a sieve litter tray above a regular litter tray. Shake the oiled pan until it is sifted to the bottom pan. The crumbled pellets will fall into the bottom tray, and the dry pellets will remain in the upper tray. You can collect the sawdust from the lower tray and dispose of it later. If there are clumps on the bottom pan, clean it with a paper towel. Again, fill the top pan with a new litter.
You can also use a sifting litter box that will contain 2,3 trays, one with a built-in screen that allows you to sift your cat’s litter up and out of litter box in one go.
Another way is screening your cat’s poop. Place a screen over the bucket and empty litter box over it. The screen will catch the clumps, leaving clean litter in the bucket.
Note:
For both clumping and non-clumping litter, you have alternate Eco-friendly options. Choose litters made from pine shavings, wheat, wood, corn, grass seed, paper, etc. An added benefit is that you can compost it without degrading our environment.
Always wear a mask because to protect your lungs from litter dust that can irritate lungs. It prevents harmful bacteria from entering your system and controls odor. By using gloves while cleaning the litter will reduce the risk of germ transmission.
How To Dispose Of Used Cat Litter After Collecting It From Litter Box?
1. Toss It In A Trash Can
This is one of the conventional and time-saving options available. After scooping the litter or collecting the crumbles litter, seal it into a biodegradable bag. Don’t forget to wear a mask and a set of gloves. Tie it tightly on top.
Put it in another bag to make it spill-proof. Take it to your trash can and dump it there. Make sure it is airtight with a covering lid to prevent odor and airborne diseases. Your municipality will take this for landfilling.
If you don’t have a trash can with a lid, invest in a cat litter disposal system, which is an airtight trash bin. It ensures that there is no transmission of fecal particles into the air from the bag.
2) Recycle Eco-friendly By Composting
If your cat litter is made up of biodegradable ingredients, composting is the most efficient way to handle it.
Used cat litter can be used as compost in your flower gardens or use as mulch. Bury it in your tree plots and gardens.
Cat scent will prevent animals from harming the plants and also acts as good manure. But do not use it as compost for vegetable or fruit gardens or edible plants. The reason is that the toxins in the cat feces will contaminate the plants, thereby its consumers.
3) Use Self-cleaning Or Automatic Cat Litter Box
This method offers a high tech solution since they detect when the cat has used them and do the cleaning itself. It is a bit pricey but worth investing because it requires less maintenance.
Unethical And Unsafe Disposal Methods
1) Flushing
Do you want cat litter clogging your toilets? No, right. So, do not flush it down your toilet. Even the package says it is flush-able. Municipal wastewater treatment plants may not be equipped to kill the parasites in it. It would contaminate the water bodies affecting sea animals.
2) Burning
It is a common practice in rural households. The used litter would not burn well, and the unburned particles pollute soil and air. This method also makes toxins airborne and viable. Please do refrain from this.
Some Green Solutions To Reduce Carbon Footprints
- Before buying the litter, check for Eco-friendly tags on the package. Make sure that it is biodegradable; be an environment-friendly citizen. You can pick litters made from kiln-dried pine, grass seed, wheat, corn, walnut shell, etc.
- Go for Eco-friendly cat litter boxes. Swap your plastic litter box with a bamboo version & do not use plastic liners in it.
- Do not use disposable scoops. Use a good steel or wood scoop that lasts longer.
- Use biodegradable bags to collect the litter instead of plastic bags. Brown bags are also good alternatives since it degrades easier.
- Avoid using clay-based litters because its produced by strip mining. It will deplete natural resources. Generally, stay away from all non-biodegradable litters like silica or crystal-based litters.
- Use a reusable face mask, which is a green alternative to a disposable cover.
- Buy cat litters that come in recyclable packages. You can also use it to throw away the trash.
Conclusion
I hope you are well-informed about dealing with used cat litter now. Adopt these measures for a safe and healthy environment for you and your cats. You can also read our guides on their willingness of sharing a litter box here.
If you have any suggestions or doubts, leave a comment below.
Hi There, AJ Oren here. I am the founder of this amazing pet blog & a passionate writer who loves helping pet owners to learn more about their pets through my articles. I am also the content manager of this blog. I have experience in pet training and behavior, sheltering, and currently working for a veterinary clinic.