How do you handle your used cat litter?

[Louise]

I don’t mean the stuff that I clean twice daily, I mean the litter that you dump when you clean your litter box completely. I have it down to a system where I only have to totally dump and clean once a month. No smell, no going outside the box, but I am a fanatic about the twice daily cleaning and keeping the litter deep enough so that the pee doesn’t hit bottom. Seems to work.

But, I just don’t know if I can do anything better with the huge amounts of used litter from that once a month cleaning. Currently, I dump the litter in a garbage bag and put it in the trash. Three boxes, three bags because otherwise it’s too heavy to lift (I’m 70, with a bad shoulder). Every single month I get guilt feelings about those three big plastic garbage bags.

So, just out of curiosity, how do you handle this? Maybe someone can clue me in to a better way…

[Pep_n_Ann]

When I had a litter box, I never tossed the old litter from a complete clean. I put it aside in an empty bucket, scrubbed the box, re-filled, then topped off with the old litter. I also cleaned 2X a day.

[Sandysmom]

I dump it in the potholes in my road. When the stuff dries its brick hard. I dump the poop and per balls at the end of my road. Its degradable.

[hoopoe]

in the garbage dumpster

[Raincityrider]

I put mine (corn based) down gopher holes. I never seem to run out of them.

You could try try a wheat or corn based litter…they are so much lighter than clay litters and they still clump.

[Louise]

@Raincityrider

I put mine (corn based) down gopher holes. I never seem to run out of them.

You could try try a wheat or corn based litter…they are so much lighter than clay litters and they still clump.

I wish I could use them. I tried one once. It’s the only time his royal majesty, he of the gigantic pee, Leon the Magnificent, decided that the floor was a better place to go. Back to clay litter, he went back to the box.

[rubygirl1968]

@Louise

I wish I could use them. I tried one once. It’s the only time his royal majesty, he of the gigantic pee, Leon the Magnificent, decided that the floor was a better place to go. Back to clay litter, he went back to the box.

Mine too!! I tried that walnut based litter one time and when I got home they had decided that a cardboard box was more acceptable than that.

The wheat smelled so bad in the summer from humidity, I guess, that I couldn’t take it. The pine one I tried made me and the cats sneeze like crazy.

So I stick with Dr. Elseys and dump and scrub twice a month. I put it in the garbage too.

[Sannois]

@Sandysmom

I dump it in the potholes in my road. When the stuff dries its brick hard. I dump the poop and per balls at the end of my road. Its degradable.

What a great idea! LOL

[Kyrabee]

I use grass litter (Smart Cat or Frisco Grass litter from Chewy). When I get ready to totally re-bed a box, I put the leftovers in my compost cart. All solids and clumps are cleaned on a twice daily basis. It is grass so why not compost it? I only do that maybe once every 4-6 months/box. The grass stuff maintains really well.

Finally a litter I like. My only down side with it is the tracking but honestly, it is no worse than anything else I have had.

Susan

[Louise]

@Kyrabee

I use grass litter (Smart Cat or Frisco Grass litter from Chewy). When I get ready to totally re-bed a box, I put the leftovers in my compost cart. All solids and clumps are cleaned on a twice daily basis. It is grass so why not compost it? I only do that maybe once every 4-6 months/box. The grass stuff maintains really well.

Finally a litter I like. My only down side with it is the tracking but honestly, it is no worse than anything else I have had.

Susan

Interesting. I never heard of that. I’ll have to give it a look. Thanks!

[SonnysMom]

I pick the boxes regularly. I use the litter from CostCo. I think it is Scoop Away. I have two large boxes next to each other in one area and 3 medium sized boxes in another area. I have 5 indoor outdoor cats, I was at 8 last year. Periodically I will let one of the boxes in the each group get low from picking the wet clumps and then I will dump it in the trash. I only dump each box every 6 or 8 months. I have never needed to dump the box monthly.

[Magicboy]

I clean 1x per day, add new litter but never dump it all out. Two cats, one box. Both go outside but come in to use the box…

[CanadianTrotter]

I have three large tub litter boxes that I clean 1x daily. The litter is deep so none of the mess ever reaches the bottom of the litter box so I never throw out the bottom litter. After washing the box I return the old litter and top with fresh and the kitties mix it up. I live in the city so the waste goes in a separate bag onto the curb for pick up.

[LauraKY]

@Kyrabee

I use grass litter (Smart Cat or Frisco Grass litter from Chewy). When I get ready to totally re-bed a box, I put the leftovers in my compost cart. All solids and clumps are cleaned on a twice daily basis. It is grass so why not compost it? I only do that maybe once every 4-6 months/box. The grass stuff maintains really well.

Finally a litter I like. My only down side with it is the tracking but honestly, it is no worse than anything else I have had.

Susan

As long as you’re using the compost for non food gardening that’s fine. It’s extremely dangerous to use it in a vegetatble garden.

[MR_MAC]

@Raincityrider

I put mine (corn based) down gopher holes. I never seem to run out of them.

You could try try a wheat or corn based litter…they are so much lighter than clay litters and they still clump.

Same here, but it goes down the mole holes that pop everywhere.

[Kyrabee]

No… no edible plants. I use my compost only for ornamentals.

Louise, the price is a bit steep but it really lasts a long time. Chewy came out with the generic so that has helped a bit. I detest clay. I have never found a clay that isn’t slimy, dusty and smelly or full of perfume.

Susan

[Sannois]

@MR MAC

Same here, but it goes down the mole holes that pop everywhere.

Oooh I wonder if that is an effective deterrent for moles?? I have tried everything else!

[CanadianTrotter]

@Kyrabee

No… no edible plants. I use my compost only for ornamentals.

Louise, the price is a bit steep but it really lasts a long time. Chewy came out with the generic so that has helped a bit. I detest clay. I have never found a clay that isn’t slimy, dusty and smelly or full of perfume.

Susan

Too bad you can’t get Canadian clay litters. I used to buy the A&P store brand, very low dust, non scented, never had any of it turn slimy and doesn’t smell. I switched to the Canadian Tire name brand because it was a large 18kg box with none of the afore mentioned problems except that it’s a little dusty when pouring the new stuff in. I just drape an old towel over the top of the box when I pour it in and that takes care of the initial dust.

The boxes are heavy but I have people to lift them for me.

I tried other types of litter before turning to clay but there was a lot more mess, smell and the cats did not like them.

[macmtn]

@Sannois

Oooh I wonder if that is an effective deterrent for moles?? I have tried everything else!

yes! Moles mice chipmunks, gophers…predator urine will make them all move on to safer pastures like a get out of town sign.

Alternately feed hubby a nice bloody steak with a couple of beers and send him out to ‘mark his territory’ in the holes.

[Sannois]

@macmtn

yes! Moles mice chipmunks, gophers…predator urine will make them all move on to safer pastures like a get out of town sign.

Alternately feed hubby a nice bloody steak with a couple of beers and send him out to ‘mark his territory’ in the holes.

No hubby thank goodness anymore. LOL but Heck I will try the used litter, I have tried everything else!