Thread: A more environmentally friendly way to deal with cat waste?

I currently clean sylvester's litter tray into a double grocery bag and put it in the domestic waste but feel like I'm creating a lot of extra waste. Anyone got a better way?

I do the same really, we put it into poo bags and then they go into the outside bin. With the dogs we bury them out in the field which is much better and they degrade naturally, but it's easier with the dogs as you can go around out side with a shovel and plop it into a pre-dug hole. Because Simba's litter tray is indoors it is quite a walk out to the field to put it in.

Pretty much the same here - we've got a Litter bin and the icky stuff goes into poop bags, then into the Litter bin. Every few days the Litter bin is emptied into a black sack and taken straight out to the Dustbins. We used to through the poop bags into the kitchen bin but even the scented ones used to make the bin smell bad enough for your eyes to water, so the Litter bin traps the 'fragrance' inside (provided you remember to use it correctly - other wise you experience something akin to a mustard gas attack).

Trays are cleaned twice daily and his deposits are placed quickly and securely in a small plastic bag and put in the wheelie bin outside. We were contemplating putting his deposits down the toilet as were using biodegradable litter but that would mean traipsing through the kitchen with the spoils of war and tbh the bags are working better for us at the moment. Looking forward to seeing some other ideas here as our current situ isn't exactly "green".

Have been thinking about getting one of those filtered poo-bins so we wouldn't need to use bags everyday, but then you start factoring in unit cost, the filter costs, etc, and the costs start to spiral. May have a look for some biodegradable paper bags so my conscience is clear

Yip maybe I should use some smaller bags for a start. Double bagging is perhaps a bit excessive- just need some without holes!

Originally Posted by Catlover

Yip maybe I should use some smaller bags for a start. Double bagging is perhaps a bit excessive- just need some without holes!

Our poop is put in a bin... then when full put in the small bin.. the rest which is wood... is then put on the compost heap and used for the garden... it keeps all the weeds down, its like a mulch.. We can not put it in the bin they would not take it away.. we have a small bin for general waste.. a large bin for paper plastic bags for tins and plastic.. and they come 4 times a year for garden waste... so we really do not have an option not with the amount I use!!

I live in the country and have had serious rat problems; thankfully not in the house but one could watch rats climb up the bird feeders and run around outside. So since Maisie came I have been putting the used litter on the ditches where I know the rats have burrows. I assume it will be degraded so that a great pile of poo will not accumulate but the rats will know there is a naughty tortie in residence.

New idea, maybe??

I use wood litter for my indoor cats..

And for the huge Ikea litter boxes I use sawdust..

I now, put it in the garden makes fantastic Mulch etc.. however in 2011 we have huge run constructions going up with trees being implanted in the middle of the decking for natural climbing etc.. and so the spaces I have for garden Mulch making.. will be more limited..

I have just had an email from a friend who also uses what I use, because I am search of a Wood Burning stove, and I knew she had one in her cattery, we are converting the Double garage we have in to a huge cat area with a run off it.. she uses Briquettes made from her finished with cat shavings.. poop taken out and made in to a briquette while still wet...

Once made and dried out and put with logs, which I can get from the wood we own at the back of the house.. You do not smell it... apparently.. they are a bit pricey the machines about 2000 dollars but she knows of a person that makes them much cheaper so still waiting to hear, but either way to buy Briquettes they are about 35c each.. so making your own means cats use them, fire uses them, keeps the cats warm, and also ash can be used for your roses etc....

Totally environmentally friendly!!

You are very lucky to have a wood burner,something I would love,quite envious & it sounds a very good idea,recycled to the last. My cats are jealous of the planned new climbing area,could they book in for a week when its completed please,Shimba & Welly will be up for anything,Merl will give it a go but poor Bruce thinks he suffers from vertigo as he doesn't seem to cope with heights very well {hasn't even made it to the top of cat tree yet,the one time I put him up there thought I was going to have to call fire brigade to get him down,panic} but he would still like to come along & watch,the girls say they will stay here & have a quiet time with mum & dad,thanks from them in advance.....!
I do hope we are going to get updates on the progress of this project,sure we will.

[QUOTE=jckkerrison;8839]You are very lucky to have a wood burner,something I would love,quite envious & it sounds a very good idea,recycled to the last. My cats are jealous of the planned new climbing area,could they book in for a week when its completed please,


Lol, You very welcome...

I have just had the plans drawn up, and I am now using the mulch from the past few years to put a firm base under the decking. the run will go all around the garden and will be 9 feet wide and will make the shape of a double L.. I think to put the trees in would be fantastic for them especially for my Abyssinians and the Coonies who love to climb.. just need to keep on top of them every year to stop them growing to high..

I have found a home made remedy on the internet to make briquette's until I can find a machine for the right price.. Apparently if you pack the sawdust in to boxes poor a little oil over them, so old cooking oil, which I will now be saving, like need to collect old Shoe-boxes and cornflake boxes and let them dry out in a warm room.. they will go hard so long as its damp when you do it.. and then you can put the whole box with sawdust in to the fire.. It will cost very little to run and the cats will be wonderful and warm...