Proper Cat Litter Disposal for New Pet Owners

Cat litter disposal may not be a rocket science, but new pet owners may be surprised to discover that there is a number of proper ways to dispose of the litter that will make your apartment a healthier and better-smelling environment for you and your cat. Rather than just scooping waste into the nearest trash can, consider these methods instead:

Equip Yourself Properly

The first step to proper cat litter disposal, no matter the method you choose, is to properly equip yourself for the task. While cat waste isn’t entirely toxic, it can actually be damaging if handled improperly, particularly by pregnant women, who should relegate the task to someone else until after their pregnancy. There’s also the potential damage to your lungs that you could incur by breathing in the litter over time. Clumping litters and litter with fine grains are especially easy to inhale.

When you’re dealing with cat litter, then, even if you’re just scooping waste, wear protective gloves that are easily washable or disposable, such as rubber gloves, latex gloves or vinyl gloves. When changing the litter in particular, but also whenever handling the litter, you should protect your lungs by wearing a dust mask to filter out the litter from your nose and mouth. You may also want to wear protective goggles when completely changing the litter, as greater amounts of dust may be flying through the air.

Where to Dispose

If possible, when you completely clean the litter box, change the litter outside or near an open window to prevent the litter from accumulating throughout your apartment. (You do not have to move the litter box outside when just scooping; just be careful not to kick up too much litter dust.)

How to Dispose

Just dumping litter into your trash can will not keep your apartment clean and smelling fresh. The most basic of methods to cut back a bit on the odor and mess associated with cat litter disposal is to scoop waste into a small plastic bag and tie the bag before you place it into your trash can. However, this is not the most effective method.

Cat litter disposal systems are manufactured for making litter disposal more convenient, but they also lock in odors and keep harmful bacteria from spreading. These systems usually involve specially-made double-lined bags into which you scoop the waste. Then you turn a handle and the bag is sealed and the system is ready for the next waste disposal.

Another way to properly and easily dispose of cat litter is to flush it down the toilet–if the litter is septic system-safe. Check your litter’s bag to see if you can flush it down the toilet. Just be careful not to do too much at once and potentially clog the plumbing.

When you practice a proper method of cat litter disposal, you can keep your apartment smelling fresher and you can stop the spread of potentially harmful bacteria. You’ll also decrease your chances of inhaling the fine grains of the litter and minimize your contact with the bacteria present in cat waste.