Most Time-Efficient Way to Discard Kitty Litter?
August 25, 2011 4:47 AM   Subscribe

Most Time-Efficient Way to Discard Kitty Litter?

I understand that there are environmental and health considerations in choice of kitty litter routines (which matter to me), but I wanted to focus in on what takes less time overall.

My cats prefer the "Sweat Scoop" wheat litter, which is biodegradable. Originally, I thought just scooping this stuff into a bucket and dumping it on a compost pile would be easiest, but the cats are indoor/outdoor, so I'm concerned the pile would attract predators.

Just wondering about other options: scoop it into a large garbage bin and dump it periodically at town transfer station? (Is this allowed?) Use biodegradable baggies and collect in a super-strong plastic bag?

Any clever suggestions appreciated...
posted by Jon44 to Pets & Animals (16 answers total) 2 users marked this as a favorite
 
I don't have a cat, but the way every cat person I've known well enough to know their poop-scooping habits has done it the same way: scoop into plastic grocery bag, double knot plastic grocery bag, toss into regular garbage can, take out with regular garbage. Alternatively, take plastic grocery bag directly to dumpster. Same as you'd do with dog poo after a walk.
posted by phunniemee at 5:08 AM on August 25, 2011 [3 favorites]


a friend has a self-cleaning litterbox. that's definitely the fastest and least gross way - she basically plugs it in and it's done. you can check out this link (top google hit) but the Cat Community will surely be helpful with suggestions here.
posted by andreapandrea at 5:22 AM on August 25, 2011


Flushable cat litter makes for short work.
posted by Jairus at 5:49 AM on August 25, 2011


if going the automatic route, I strongly recommend the litter robot. It is big and expensive, but it really is plug and forget. Our two cats need it cleaned once a week, and that is as simple as pull the drawer, pull the full bag, add a new bag and add more litter.

The design is far superior to any scooping design as the gravity based design doesn't break the clumps to shreds like my old littermaid did.
posted by ydant at 5:51 AM on August 25, 2011 [4 favorites]


I keep the litter tray near the toilet, and scoop poo directly into the loo.

The litter itself gets tipped into a plastic bag (outside), knotted and put directly in the bin.
posted by emilyw at 6:02 AM on August 25, 2011


Flushable cat litter makes for short work.
I have yet to meet a plumber who didn't advise to stay far-far-away from flushable cat litter. Unless you enjoy having them out to snake your drains a couple times a year. YMMV, of course.

We bag the daily scoopings and, when full, put said bag in the trash. When the entire box needs a change, we simply dump it in the trash can.
posted by Thorzdad at 6:13 AM on August 25, 2011


I used the pine-based wood pellet litter* and scooped the poop straight into the toilet. While it might not be great for the sewer line I have a hard time imagining the minimal quantity that went with a poop scoop made any difference.

The whole litterbox, minus poop, I would scatter on the lawn. It's just sawdust, after all, though it's got cat urine in it. I pretended, absent anything resembling facts or knowledge to support the position, that it operated to discourage strays from coming into my yard.

* I have recently seen it suggested that the pellets used in wood pellet stoves are pretty equivalent and hella cheaper, at least if you have space to store the much larger containers it's sold in
posted by phearlez at 6:47 AM on August 25, 2011




taz: "Although there are different causes at work here,
cat feces flushed down the toilet can contribute to the problem.
"

I had a feeling that CityKitty thing was too good to be true. So much for that good idea.
posted by lampshade at 7:17 AM on August 25, 2011


I have actually heard that toxoplasma gondii in water is due to groundwater run-off (so, litter in garbage dumps and the poop of strays or indoor/outdoor kitties on yards) rather than flushing. I don't have time to search for a link.

I use clumping world's best, which I flush.
posted by PhoBWanKenobi at 9:19 AM on August 25, 2011


I use Swheat Scoop for the kitty, but I don't flush. One barely-averted plumbing disaster in my sole toilet fixed that habit. I scoop into biodegradable poop bags that I use for the dog. Said bags then go into the trash.
posted by southpaw at 10:14 AM on August 25, 2011


I use the compressed pine-sawdust pellets cat litter for my pet rabbits. Used litter gets tipped straight in the compost bin. I know that's not useful for you (in fact it would be dangerous), I'm just mentioning it for completeness.
posted by Leon at 1:15 PM on August 25, 2011


Just a note that while I can't recommend the Litter Robot enough, it doesn't work with lighter litters like Swheet Scoop. All I got was a dusty mess on my floor. But being able to not have to scoop (literally, this thing means I haven't scooped litter in three years) and only have to check the drawer once a week or so means less garbage bags and fewer trips to the garbage bin.
posted by gilsonal at 1:52 PM on August 25, 2011


Also, if you want to fill a large bin to later take to the dump but are worried about the odor being gross and/or attracting predators, buy some activated carbon like the kind they sell for aquariums. It absorbs odors way better than baking soda. I put some in the drawer that collects the soiled litter and it really makes a difference.
posted by gilsonal at 1:54 PM on August 25, 2011


Compost. Any predators are aware of the cat pee in the yard, and other scent traces. Compost is good stuff, just don't put animal waste compost on food cops. Dog poop was great for the flower garden in my old house.
posted by theora55 at 7:03 PM on August 25, 2011


I also use Swheat Scoop (the multi-cat variety), for my 4 cats (who are all indoor-only unless leashed or supervised in the yard). Initially tried flushing it but discovered what a terrible idea that was when the pipes became unhappy. In general, sea otter health aside, I just don't think most human plumbing systems were meant to deal with continuous clumps of kitty litter.

What I've been doing for a while now is using small *paper* bags to scoop the litter into. I have 3 large litterboxes that are scooped 2 - 3 times a day and each time I just take the bag out and toss it in the outside trash. Easy routine once you get into it, and no stinking up the house.
posted by aecorwin at 10:06 PM on August 25, 2011


« Older Shoes that don't pinch my toesies   |   Give me a followup to Rome Newer »
This thread is closed to new comments.