Can I put cat litter on the compost?
Whether or not you can put cat litter on the compost depends on which cat litter you use. If the litter is scented, you should not compost it.
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You can of course dispose of compostable cat litter in the compost, but you should keep a few things in mind.
Cats, like dogs, are carnivores. Their feces often contain worms and other pests, especially if the cat is outdoors. The parasites are not eliminated in the compost because it does not reach the necessary temperatures. If you bring the humus into the garden later for fertilization, the eggs of the pests will spread further.
Compostable types of cat litter
Types of litter that mainly consist of cellulose are well suited for composting. But bentonite, perlite (€ 32.90 at Amazon *) and sand can also be disposed of on the compost.
Always mix the cat litter well
- Collect cat droppings
- Remove lumps with urine
- mix with other materials
- Scatter cat litter over the compost
- sprinkle other materials on top
If cat litter is added to the compost in a large pile, there is a risk that the material will clump together. These lumps are then very firm and do not decompose.
You must therefore scatter the cat litter as thinly as possible. It's best to mix them with other materials like lawn clippings, ash, or green waste. Then the rotting process runs very quickly.
Remove feces and lumps of urine as these may contain parasites. This is especially important if the cat has been treated with drugs such as antibiotics.
Loosen up compacted soils with cat litter
Humus from cat litter and other compost materials is ideal for loosening compacted soils, especially loam and clay soils.
You should never use humus made from cat litter on vegetable patches. With flower beds, it is not a problem if you have carefully collected the cat's leftovers from the litter before composting.
Tips
You can dispose of compostable cat litter in the bio bin provided by the garbage disposal. However, this is not allowed in every community. Inquire beforehand whether organic bins containing cat litter are being used.
