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Proper Cat and Kitty Litter Disposal

also see Litter Training Kittens

also see Pet Litter 

also see Automatic Litter Boxes 

also see Cat Litter Crystals 

also see Automatic Cat Litter 

also see Litter Training 

Kitty litter contains bacteria and other infectious agents, such as Toxoplasma gondi, the parasite that causes toxoplasmosis. Here's how you can dispose of cat litter properly to prevent health concerns associated with infectious agents in cat feces:

Equip Yourself Properly

Have some of the following on hand before cleaning your cat litter pan:

Remove Lumps Daily

You should remove solid waste and lumps from your cat litter daily, to reduce to risk of infection to your cat and yourself. Automatic litter pans can help you keep your cat's litter at its cleanest.

Change Litter Regularly

If you're using a clumping litter, you only need to change the whole litter pan once a month. With a non-clumping litter, change once a week.

Dispose of Litter Properly

Never put cat litter on a vegetable garden. Safe cat litter can be flushed down the toilet or used as mulch. If you're using cat litter as mulch, remember the risk of infection when you're working on your flowers--wear gloves and wash your hands after gardening.

If you're using clay cat litter, dispose of it in the trash right away.

Rinse and Repeat

After disposing of dirty litter in the trash or toilet as appropriate, wash your cat's litter pan thoroughly with soap and hot water. Refill with fresh litter. A litter liner can help keep lumps from sticking to the bottom of the pan, and make the whole process easier.

also see Important Considerations for Scoopable Cat Litter

also see Is Clay Litter Bad for Cat Health?

also see Fungal and Parasitic Infections in Cats

also see Symptoms - Increased Drinking and Urinating