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| Hi.
I recently received an email from a fellow composter that went into great detail about how her cat prefers compost as cat litter. I think she really caught on to something with this. It's cheaper than cat litter, it tracks less, doesn't smell, absorbs urine and can go right in an isolated backyard compost pile/trench. Do any of you try this method as well? There's tons of stray cats on my block, I'm tempted to take one in for the experiment alone. I have a feeling her results are based on an outdoor/stray cat and probably not the average cat. Anyway, I thought this was pretty awesome and wanted to share. |
Follow-Up Postings:
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- Posted by sandhill_farms 10 NV (My Page) on Tue, Dec 7, 10 at 23:42
| Well it certainly wouldn't hurt to give it a shot and see how it works. Will be interested to learn of the results. Greg |
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| If you keep the cat-used compost quarantined from anything else and give it at least a year after you dump the last load of urine/ poop into that pile then maybe, just maybe, I would consider throwing it out immediately. ie no way! Some of the microbes that go for cat/ dog urine/ poop are qute dangerous and some can also produce spores which can literally "hibernate" for years until they get back to a nice environment and start again, after you put this into your vege garden...... |
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| The fact that you're tempted to take stray cat in just for the experiment sake sounds great as far as your adventurous spirit go. |
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| Thats what my cat uses he prefers the big compost piles outside but has a rubber maid tote inside with compost wood chips and shredded newspaper I put in some compost worms to try to make it a self emptying box but I'm sure they passed long ago as I paid no attention to the project and it got pretty dry in there maybe now is time to try again |
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- Posted by thecompostnerd (My Page) on Thu, Dec 9, 10 at 2:05
| kikifoow: I wouldn't consider putting a catpost pile near a regular pile...not worth the risk, and my little pile doesn't get to crazy thermophilic kill temps for days on end to meet a minimum requirement. However, having a "nasty section" in my backyard is totally fine by me...I wouldn't try growing anything with my dirt no matter where it is, due to the often passerby throwing trash and crack baggies into my yard...hooray! |
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| Hmmm....I should dry some compost out and try it. I'll ponder this. Lloyd |
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- Posted by thecompostnerd (My Page) on Thu, Dec 9, 10 at 14:14
| Lloyd- The original email I received had actually mentioned that she thought moist compost worked better than if it was really dry. She tried two types, one from Home Depot that was apparently cheaper and dry, and another from a nursery that was a bit more moist and what the cat ended up using. I copied her emails for more info and description of her experience at http://www.crazyaboutcompost.com . As I said, I hope that others will try it out and see what happens, I think this could be a really great waste reduction trick to catch on. |
Here is a link that might be useful: crazy about compost - cat litter post
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| I imagine some experimentation would be required. DW has three cats and we use four trays in the basement. I could use one for compost and see if they will even use it. I imagine that completely dry would be nigh onto impossible anyways but you need some 'moisture take-up capability' so 25% ish?? I would then just dump the stuff out onto the grain fields and work it in anyways. Could be a significant savings and maybe a source of income selling compost for just that purpose. I could also have a drop off just for people that use my compost for this purpose. Hmmm....more pondering methinks. Good topic, thx Lloyd |
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