What is the best non-clumping-clay cat litter (or any litter that won't cause TSA to hand-inspect your checked luggage when you put a bag of litter in it)?
October 3, 2011 10:51 PM Subscribe
What is the best non-clumping-clay cat litter (or any litter that won't cause TSA to hand-inspect your checked luggage when you put a bag of litter in it)?
We have cats. We recently had to fly somewhere in a hurry with them. I packed cat litter in checked luggage. At the destination, there was a note that said the TSA inspected the luggage. We suspect that it's either because of the density of our clumping-clay cat litter, or (if it's true) the fact that it's supposedly mildly radioactive.
Whatever the cause, I'd like to find a kind of cat litter that won't trigger TSA searches, but that our cats will still use. What have you used that has worked for your cats? Is there something that doesn't require training the cats first? In other words, can you show up in a hotel room after a flight with them, lock them in the bathroom with a tray of the stuff, and expect them to figure out it's their cat litter?
We have cats. We recently had to fly somewhere in a hurry with them. I packed cat litter in checked luggage. At the destination, there was a note that said the TSA inspected the luggage. We suspect that it's either because of the density of our clumping-clay cat litter, or (if it's true) the fact that it's supposedly mildly radioactive.
Whatever the cause, I'd like to find a kind of cat litter that won't trigger TSA searches, but that our cats will still use. What have you used that has worked for your cats? Is there something that doesn't require training the cats first? In other words, can you show up in a hotel room after a flight with them, lock them in the bathroom with a tray of the stuff, and expect them to figure out it's their cat litter?
I have a sneaking suspicion the TSA may end up checking your luggage no matter what because cat litter isn't something people generally travel with, so even if it's perfectly benign in every way, they'll see a big bag of "something", think it could be drugs, and end up opening your stuff up, but I don't work for the TSA nor do I regularly travel with a cat.
posted by Diagonalize at 10:59 PM on October 3, 2011 [4 favorites]
posted by Diagonalize at 10:59 PM on October 3, 2011 [4 favorites]
I use the Trader Joe's pine litter. This might work for you.
I got hassled by the TSA for having used hand cream and touching my luggage, hand cream has glycerin, so y'know.
YMMV.
TSA. No consistency, they pick on weird stuff sometimes. Travel say!
posted by jbenben at 11:03 PM on October 3, 2011
I got hassled by the TSA for having used hand cream and touching my luggage, hand cream has glycerin, so y'know.
YMMV.
TSA. No consistency, they pick on weird stuff sometimes. Travel say!
posted by jbenben at 11:03 PM on October 3, 2011
I highly doubt the density of kitty litter caused the check, it was much more likely that there was a bag of unknown substance in your luggage. I imagine that kitty litter looks awfully similar to drugs or plastic explosives or whatever contraband might be smuggled onto an airplane when viewed through an x-ray.
The radioactivity of kitty litter is negligible, that is, it's going to be roughly the same as concrete and measured in fractions of microsieverts/hour. Bananas will have as much radioactivity as your average concrete or kitty litter. Hell, the concrete from the airport itself will cause more background radiation than a bag of kitty litter.
Also: the TSA does indeed do random inspections. Anecdotally: once when I had two pieces of luggage go through the one with clothes only was inspected while the one with Christmas presents and my personal hygiene items did not.
posted by Mister Fabulous at 11:10 PM on October 3, 2011
The radioactivity of kitty litter is negligible, that is, it's going to be roughly the same as concrete and measured in fractions of microsieverts/hour. Bananas will have as much radioactivity as your average concrete or kitty litter. Hell, the concrete from the airport itself will cause more background radiation than a bag of kitty litter.
Also: the TSA does indeed do random inspections. Anecdotally: once when I had two pieces of luggage go through the one with clothes only was inspected while the one with Christmas presents and my personal hygiene items did not.
posted by Mister Fabulous at 11:10 PM on October 3, 2011
Call me crazy, but is there a reason why you wouldn't just stop at a market and pick up litter on your way to the hotel? That would lick the problem, no?
posted by FlamingBore at 11:12 PM on October 3, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by FlamingBore at 11:12 PM on October 3, 2011 [1 favorite]
Response by poster: @ FlamingBore: The situation that happened to us last time was a mandatory evacuation order due to Hurricane Irene. We flew out and stayed at a random airport hotel out of the storm's path, but once at the destination, didn't have a car and weren't near enough to a store to get litter easily (and after having the cats cooped up in their carriers for several hours, I wanted to be ready with litter for the cats as soon as we got to the hotel room). Your idea is good, but one may not be able to get to a suitable store quickly/easily at the destination.
@ Mister Fabulous: You're right, it may well have been the "bag of stuff". Still, I would bet that a bag of less-dense material (like wood pellets) would be less likely to arouse suspicion than a bag of something that looks like fertilizer or explosives. And on reflection, I agree about the level of radiation.
@ jbenden: thanks for the tip. (The glycerin issue has nailed me on another flight in the past., though I didn't suspect hand cream—that's a useful bit of info for future reference! I fly a lot, though not usually with cats ....)
posted by StrawberryPie at 11:30 PM on October 3, 2011
@ Mister Fabulous: You're right, it may well have been the "bag of stuff". Still, I would bet that a bag of less-dense material (like wood pellets) would be less likely to arouse suspicion than a bag of something that looks like fertilizer or explosives. And on reflection, I agree about the level of radiation.
@ jbenden: thanks for the tip. (The glycerin issue has nailed me on another flight in the past., though I didn't suspect hand cream—that's a useful bit of info for future reference! I fly a lot, though not usually with cats ....)
posted by StrawberryPie at 11:30 PM on October 3, 2011
Response by poster: I guess I should explain why I'm trying to avoid TSA inspections: on three separate flights in the last few years, I or my family members have had things stolen out of our luggage in-between the departure airport and the destination airport. Airlines explicitly disavow any responsibility in the case of theft, and obviously the TSA won't accept responsibility, so you're screwed. This is purely supposition, but I think my chances of something being taken increase significantly if someone opens up the luggage for inspection. (Not that I care if cat litter were stolen, you understand, but other things that we might pack in an emergency kit are more expensive.)
posted by StrawberryPie at 11:39 PM on October 3, 2011
posted by StrawberryPie at 11:39 PM on October 3, 2011
Maybe I'm just special but the TSA often leaves notes in my checked luggage. I think there is some element of odd looking package and some element of randomly chosen bags which are selected for TSA screening.
That being said, I'm also a dense packer and if I check a bag, it's *full* (or free).
If you want the TSA search to be less invasive, I'd suggest packing cubes. When my bag is screened *in* the airport and I've packed in cubes, it's easier for them to isolate what it is that requires further screening and only that portion of my carry on is disrupted.
Somewhat off topic but just saying -- it might not be the kitty litter.
posted by countrymod at 5:36 AM on October 4, 2011
That being said, I'm also a dense packer and if I check a bag, it's *full* (or free).
If you want the TSA search to be less invasive, I'd suggest packing cubes. When my bag is screened *in* the airport and I've packed in cubes, it's easier for them to isolate what it is that requires further screening and only that portion of my carry on is disrupted.
Somewhat off topic but just saying -- it might not be the kitty litter.
posted by countrymod at 5:36 AM on October 4, 2011
I can't imagine any way you can prevent TSA from checking your luggage. And if they steal something, they probably won't leave a note. Don't put valuables in your checked baggage that you would be despondent to lose. There just is no rhyme or reason to what the TSA does.
posted by amanda at 9:23 AM on October 4, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by amanda at 9:23 AM on October 4, 2011 [1 favorite]
In a pinch, I've used shredded newspaper for the cat box. It's not so great at odor control, but it's easy enough to change it when it gets soiled, and papers are readily available at airports and hotels. My cats have had no problem recognizing that it's where they need to do their business.
posted by Fuego at 6:05 PM on October 4, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by Fuego at 6:05 PM on October 4, 2011 [1 favorite]
This thread is closed to new comments.
As for training them, most cats will just figure it out. Their digging/burying instinct is quite strong. That said, mine peed on the floor next to the box until I switched back to clay, so you might want to try it before you go!
posted by vorfeed at 10:58 PM on October 3, 2011