As clay cat litter is not biodegradable, much of the waste ends up in landfill where it will likely stay forever. Even without the plastic bags and liners which are often used to dispose of litter, the clay does not naturally decompose, but will stick around for thousands of years (much like Roman clay pottery).
It takes up to a year for cat litter to biodegrade, but only if the litter base is made of natural or organic matter. On the other hand, substances like silica and bentonite clay don't biodegrade; they will degrade, which means they are breaking down without the help of bacteria and yeast.
Most of the cat litter sold in the United States is clay-based. It should not be put in compost piles as both clumping and non-clumping types of clay litter won't break down.
Cat litter does not melt. Instead, the biodegradable litter will start to break down after a few months in the compost pile or landfill. However, conventional clay cat litters are not biodegradable or recyclable.
As Bond noted, wood-based cat litter is ideal for composting, which is perhaps the eco-friendliest way to dispose of cat litter and waste. But you must be very careful about reaching the correct temperature to destroy pathogens.
Pet waste such as cat litter must be bagged and put in the rubbish bin.
From its invention in the mid 20th Century, cat litter has been produced using methods that can be damaging to the environment, and the resulting clay litter is non-biodegradable, so will get thrown away, including sitting on landfill for thousands of years.
If you flush kitty litter down your toilet, it can swell up and block sewer pipes, even in the pipes in your home — yuk! Don't risk it! Blocked sewer pipes are a horrible, messy and smelly problem. Sinks can block and toilets can stop flushing.
As soon as this material gets wet, its physical characteristics change and the particles melt into a slimy clay mess. It is made this way to make it easier to clean a cat litter box. The wet areas “melt” and form a lump, after drying, that is easier to find and remove from the litter box.
Baking Soda
If you're still having odor problems, try sprinkling a little baking soda on the bottom of the box before you add fresh litter each week, or place an open box of baking soda in the same area as the box.
All this waste is good, holy fertilizer. Dog and cat waste is particularly valuable because, compared to most manures, it is higher in phosphorus, the plant nutrient most difficult for organic farmers and gardeners to come by naturally.
The advice from the Environment Agency is to scoop the waste out of your cat's litter tray and place it into a biodegradable poo bag before putting it into your normal household waste bin.
Is cat urine harmful to plants? Cat urine, in large amounts, can kill house plants. This is because cat urine contains ammonia.
The clay used in cat litter is a natural soil component made of minerals—either calcium montmorillonite or the clumping sodium bentonite. Neither type breaks down further in a landfill or your compost pile. So although both are naturally occurring, they are not technically biodegradable.
Many newer bags are designed to decompose when exposed to sunlight, though the majority are made from high-density polyethylene. This is made with refined petroleum and it is not easily decomposed — the natural micro-organisms in soil don't recognise the chemicals as food, so don't break them down.
Crystal cat litter isn't any better either. It's not a sustainable or alternative option and it doesn't break down. The answer to the main question is that only litters clearly marketed as biodegradable are safe for the environment.
A box that isn't kept clean enough, is in a spot that doesn't feel safe to the kitty, or that contains litter that is objectionable to the cat are all stressful situations for a finicky feline, and they're all reasons to urinate elsewhere.
Dr. Justine A. Lee, a long-time veterinarian, believes the box should be scooped daily but admits it's OK if you do it every other day.
Most litters include something called 'bentonite,' causing it to solidify into a mass as it absorbs liquid. Since it's easier to spot the pet mess, you often only have to scoop out the clumps and refresh the litter box with an equal amount of fresh clumping cat litter.
You may have heard that cat feces can carry the infection toxoplasmosis. This infection is only found in cats who go outdoors and hunt prey, such as mice and other rodents.
Put it in the Trash
Litter boxes should be scooped at least once a day. Use a litter scoop to sift out urine clumps and stool and place in a small trash bag. Once all the boxes in your house are scooped, tie off the garbage bag in a knot. To prevent odor and bacterial leakage, double bag your scooped litter.
Kitty litter and cat feces can wreak havoc on your plumbing system and can even contaminate the municipal water supply. Instead, be sure you're disposing of kitty litter the right way – not putting it down your toilet or your drains.
Silica crystal cat litter is not dangerous for cats or humans. Clumping clay litter has its own specific health concerns beyond silica dust. Sodium bentonite is the clumping agent used is clumping clay litter and it can be very dangerous if ingested.
A variety of studies have found that cats prefer their litter to be soft and fine-grained. A recent study compared three types of unscented litter—wood pellets, silica microgranules, and nonclumping clay granules. Overwhelmingly, the cats chose silica and clay over the pellets.
Do I have to give up my cat if I'm pregnant or planning on becoming pregnant? No. You should follow these helpful tips to reduce your risk of environmental exposure to Toxoplasma: Avoid changing cat litter if possible.