Where do you scoop it into?

You may have never really thought about it, but if you have a cat, you have a litter box and that includes scooping the litter box. But... where do you scoop it into? Have you really thought about it? Maybe you scoop it into the trash or the toilet? But have you really thought about why you do it that way?

When I first started with cats, it seemed logical to me to scoop the litter box into a sandwich bag and then throw the full sandwich bag in the trash. It made sense to me because I always had sandwich bags at home and I didn't have to go through the hassle of walking back and forth to the trash. I would grab a sandwich bag and my litter scoop and go to each box. Easy, right? But after years of using sandwich bags, I discovered that there are other, perhaps more convenient options. So let's take a closer look!

1. Sandwich bags

For me this is the most obvious method because who doesn't have sandwich bags in the house? Well, I do and I always scoop the dirty grit into them.

Pros

• Usually in the house
• Handy size
• Flexible and easy to use

Cons

• Sometimes too small in terms of content (especially with multiple cats)
• Not always sturdy

2. Dog poop bags

Maybe not something you immediately think of with cats, but dog poop bags can also be used. I didn't think of it at first either. It wasn't until I got free dog poop bags at Animal Event that I thought I could also scoop the grit in them. These bags were really ideal because they were a bit bigger than the normal sandwich bags and my scoop could also fit in them a bit easier, but what turned out? Every brand has its own large bags and some bags were so small that my scoop didn't even fit in them, which meant that I often scooped next to the bag...not ideal. If you have the right size bags, they are ideal, so pay close attention to which ones you buy.

Pros

• Handy size
• Flexible and easy to use

Cons

• Differs per brand
• Not every bag is equally sturdy

3. Biodegradable Bags

In addition, you have Biodegradable Bags. I have to emphasize that I have never used these myself, but I wanted to mention them.

Pros

• Environmentally friendly
• Sustainable

Cons

• More expensive than standard bags
• Not always easy to find

4. Garbage can

You can of course also scoop directly into the garbage can, but personally I don't like that very much. With four cats, I have 5 litter boxes and I have to walk through my entire house to empty my scoop. Not very practical. Of course, I can put down multiple garbage bags, but then you also have multiple places in the house that stink. Not ideal for me.

Pros:

• No extra bags needed
• Throw away immediately

Cons:

• Can stink
• Trash can fill up quickly

6. Toilet

Another option is to flush the grit down the toilet, but I would like to emphasize that this is not possible with every grit. Some grit is made of clay, which can cause a blockage. If you have grit that can do this, it might be a solution so that it doesn't start to stink, but I would never flush it down the toilet.

Pros

• No stench
• Gone immediately

Cons

• Can cause a blockage in the sewer
• You will also have to walk back and forth more often

7. Litterlocker

You can also use a Litterlocker (or something similar). A litterlocker is a specially designed waste bin for cat litter, which keeps odors inside thanks to a special seal. You can choose to place a Litterlocker next to each litter box or you can even take the bucket with you using the handle on it. Very handy.

Pros

• Odors stay inside
• Easy to use
• Saves time

Cons

• Purchase costs
• Specific refill bags required

And What Do I Use Now?

After years of trying out different methods, I finally ended up with multiple LitterLockers (and LittyKitty's - also something like LitterLocker). I have a LitterLocker or LittyKitty at each bin so that I can easily scoop out my bins. For me, it is sufficient to replace the bags once a week and then I can go for another week. I like this method the best.