Disposing of cat litter does have its environmental questions and concerns, but there are steps that you can take to make the best eco friendly choice.

Choose a green cat litter litter How a litter breaks down and where it comes from has a direct effect on the disposal of it.

Flush It

Flushable cat litter? There are many opinions about this.  The largest concern comes from Toxoplasmosis, a parasite that infects cats that can be dangerous to water life when it gets into the water stream.  Outdoor cats, particularly, can get infected with this parasite from infected rodents, birds or other small animals.  There have been some cases of sea otters dying from toxoplasmosis.  It has not been linked back to cats at this point, but flushing away your cat’s poop may not be worth if it is harming wildlife.  Check with your vet if you would like to get your cat tested.

Don’t flush clumped litter if you have a septic tank; it will clog it.  There is also the issue of water waste from all of the flushing.

Compost It

Yes you can, but you cannot if you use clay, crystalline or sand litter.  You can create a cat litter compost as long as you use a hot compost to kill any pathogens in your cat’s poop.  It is also a composting process and will take at least 18 months to break down properly.

Most people think it is not safe to use on edible plants, but some feel it is safe if you follow the proper composting process and allow enough time to pass.  You should, however, not compost with your food scraps, etc.  You will need a separate composter for your cat litters if you are including your cat’s poop in it.  If you use liners for your litter box, make the process a biodegrable cat litter by select biodegrable liners, so they can be composted.

The Green Cone food waste digester is an excellent green choice to biodegrade pet waste.  It also biodegrades your cooked and uncooked food waste including meat, fish, bones, dairy products, fruits and vegetables.

Trash It

Cat litter disposal might mean the dump.  Although this option sounds unheard, especially since it is definitely not “green”, it may be the safest solution if you feel composting does not safely remove parasites. When disposing of your cat’s waste, think of the everyday things you buy or use that may make good reusable vessels for your cat litter, things like:

- Bread Bags

- Pasta Bags

- Pasta Boxes

- Cereal Boxes

- Cereal Bags

- Chip/Snack Bags

- Paper/Plastic Grocery Bags

- Biodegradable Pet Waste Bags

- Newspaper (wrap it well)

These are not perfect disposal options, but there is the benefit of reusing items.

Bury It

Again, a possible solution with some controversy.  It is risky because it could contaminate groundwater or the surrounding burial space.  Parasites will not perish for a year if you bury your cat waste.

Spread It

You can spread the biodegradable used litter (no poop) in an area of your garden where you want to control weeds, for instance.  Avoid placing the used litter near your edible plants. 

Remember to always wash your hands after cleaning the litter box and handling cat litter.

Whatever option you decide is best for you and your cat, make the decision equipped with knowledge.  As guardians of our beloved companion animals, we want to make conscientious eco friendly living decisions!

Marisa

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