Can I use garden soil in my cats litter tray?
Image by clattermonger
The garden final takes some sort of shape – the compost heap goes to the back wall where it’s going to stay, the concrete slap is broken up and shifted out, the flower beds down the south fence starts to fill with soil, and the earth montain is nicely coming down in size. Both fences are treated and the base of the south fence is whitewashed.
Question by Joe King: Can I use garden soil in my cats litter tray?
I plan to let her out in the garden after a few weeks. If I use soil in the tray now I hope she will use the garden when she goes out
Can you help? Leave your own answer in the comments!
17 Responses to Can I use garden soil in my cats litter tray?
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NO! get proper litter. the cat may not comprehend the difference but it’s better health wise.
Elaine F
December 26, 2011 at 9:15 am
Yes, you can use garden soil in her litter tray but be aware that when she does a pee it will make the soil wet and therefore muddy, and you don’t want muddy pee footprints all round your house do you?!!
H.Potter-fan
December 26, 2011 at 9:51 am
you can but the soil won’t absorb the odor nearly as well as commercial cat litter would
heri623
December 26, 2011 at 9:59 am
Most certainly. I done the same for my cats. But be warned its smelly as it has no absorbency for odours. Cats will teach themselves to go outside or you could try the cat litter tray outside trick.
lotsofsmoggies
December 26, 2011 at 10:28 am
She’s not going to need any kind of training when she goes out. They dig instinctively.
catstandish
December 26, 2011 at 11:17 am
I’d use litter, it does the job better indoors. I’d bet she’ll use the soil anyway if she’s caught short outside. Cats soon work this out.
As it happens, the neighbour’s just had a load of topsoil delivered and all the cats in the neighbourhood have come around to make use of it. Bet he’ll have fun when he gets around to spreading it . . .
Colin M
December 26, 2011 at 11:21 am
I wouldn’t let her out, but if you do, she will go outside if she wants and it is in their instincts to bury their waste.
I would use regular litter inside. You don’t want mud all over your house. You also don’t want to have her doing inappropriate peeing/pooping once you try to take her back to regualr litter.
Crystal
December 26, 2011 at 12:17 pm
Not really.
There can be bacteria in there which will not help to absorb the cat mess.
Try to use litter stones from TESCO
kollydogg
December 26, 2011 at 12:21 pm
it will be really messy for inside your house! but i would just use normally littter
hel_louise
December 26, 2011 at 12:45 pm
well you could, but there are many reason why you wouldnt want to, ie muddy cat pee prints all over, the odd worm and various other beasties that live in soil, the fact that the soil would have to be completely dry before you used it, and thats not an easy task in itself, its the same with earth toilets that eco-folk want people to have, drying soil is the tricky part, and you cant use wet because mould will grow, releasing spores you dont want in your house..
you will have to go the old fashioned route, use ordinary litter, but move the tray closer to the back door every few days or so, then put it outside in a sheltered spot, somwehwere near the catflap, [you will have to have a catflap or kitty wont go outside to use it] then hopefully kitty will get the idea!
magpyre
December 26, 2011 at 1:39 pm
i would suggest that you mainly use regular cat litter – however, you can add a bit of soil from the garden to encourage her to go outside once she is let out into the garden.
WitchyPants
December 26, 2011 at 1:44 pm
i wouldnt i would use litter it the soil will be mud i would think …
starglowshady
December 26, 2011 at 2:39 pm
Well, with the amount of rubbish cats leave in my garden, I think that soil would suit them perfectly.
oldgrumpy
December 26, 2011 at 3:38 pm
I have used peat when the litter ran out. It gets a bit soggy. Recently on http://www.felinediabetes.com I saw a litter tray with a grid in the bottom. The litter was non absorbant, so that the urine goes through and collects in a tray in the bottom. The litter can be washed and reused over and over. It comes from America though. When she does go out; cats seem to like soil that is loose, so you may have to loosen up a little patch for her. It depends on the cat. Lancs Lad
Lancslad
December 26, 2011 at 3:55 pm
Yes, you can use soil in her kitty litter tray. There are even certain brands of kitty litter that you can buy at your local supermarket, that are mainly soil based.
I personally, use a soil & timber shaving kitty litter that is (obviously) biodegradable – it not only smells nice, but is better for the environment! She loves it!
Watch out for those dirty paw prints around the house, though! 🙂
Good luck!
♥ Ingrid! ♥
December 26, 2011 at 4:04 pm
I have done, but you need to change it more often
Diamond
December 26, 2011 at 4:08 pm
no, use the litter – it’s cleaner, and there are diseases the kitty can get from the soil – does she have all her shots?
tamar
December 26, 2011 at 4:29 pm