Nobody likes to take care of cat poop, however when you’re not able to shell out for an automated litter field, you possibly can nonetheless make the job simpler with a container designed for litter scooping—sometimes generally known as a litter disposal system—that can work with any litter field. We examined a number of litter disposal fashions to search out one of the best one to maintain subsequent to your litter field.
The Winners
After testing for months in a two-cat family, the Litter Genie Simple Roll is our favourite litter disposal system. It is bought an up to date design that makes it straightforward to interchange baggage, seal away smelly litter, and get rid of cat waste as merely as doable. We expect it is the most suitable choice on the market.
However whereas we suggest the Litter Genie Simple Roll for many cat house owners, there are a number of different fashions you are possible contemplating, and we’ve got ideas on these too.
The Litter Genie Plus was our favourite technique to handle cat litter for years, however the newer Litter Genie Simple Roll improves on it in virtually each approach. The open high of every bag matches over 4 notches on the within of the Litter Genie lid, so when it is full, you elevate it, tear the total bag off the perforated roll, which separates simply with no threat of ripping, and tie off the highest for disposal. The 24-bag Simple Roll refill cartridge is appropriate for six months of scooping, or a couple of bag per week, making it extra cost-efficient than the usual Litter Genie refills, that are enough for 2 months of scooping.
In comparison with its predecessor, Simple Roll baggage are usually barely smaller than the usual Litter Genie size-as-you-go waste baggage, making them more durable to overstuff—one thing our tester seen—they usually can typically pull unfastened from a number of of the tabs holding them open, which generally solely occurs when a bag is sort of full, although it by no means utterly loosen or fell again into the receptacle. Additionally, it is unlikely you will discover cheaper generic refill baggage that can work with the brand new system given the brisker proprietary design of the Simple Roll.
But regardless of these minor downsides, we predict the Litter Genie Simple Roll is one of the best disposal system we have encountered—with its glossy design and massive pleasant buttons, much less flimsy plastic, and improved lure door—the entire package deal is a bit more nice to make use of than the unique Litter Genie. Nevertheless, we would not thoughts some extra colour decisions!
Accessible with 24 baggage, or in a bundle with 48 baggage
How We Picked
We examined 4 litter disposal programs below real-world circumstances, sending them to skilled volunteer testers for an preliminary multi-week trial. Testers took detailed notes, following a strategy written by our analysis and testing crew. We have adopted up with testers ever since, and now have insights after years of use.
Our Most worthy knowledge got here from a testing family that has tried out dozens of litter scoops, litter packing containers, waste baggage, and different strategies of coping with cat litter. The 2 cats residing there certain do wish to pee and poop loads. This tester had a Litter Genie Plus they used for years however swapped it out for a Litter Genie Simple Roll and got here away impressed with its myriad enhancements.
What To Look For
Included Litter Scoop
Many disposal programs include their very own litter scoop and may match much less effectively along with your favourite litter scoop. For instance, we love the DurAnimals DuraScoop, however its large shovel might be too massive to work properly with the slim lure door on some litter disposal items and it additionally will not slot in a holder on the facet of the Litter Genie. This sometimes isn’t a dealbreaker—simply hold your most well-liked scoop hanging on a close-by wall hook—however some fashions, just like the Litter Champ, have a hook that the majority scoops can dangle from.
Poop Contact Factors
One of the best litter management programs are designed to attenuate alternatives for contact with cat waste. Regardless of having to elevate the lid manually, The Litter Genie Simple Roll, for instance, has a lid that’s unlikely to make direct contact with poop, although the rim across the interior portal requires occasional cleansing with a paper towel and ammonia-based cleaner. There’s additionally a lure door on most cat litter disposal items, which may both be opened from the skin or by urgent down on the door along with your litter scoop. We a lot most well-liked the lure door on the Litter Genie, which is all the time separated from cat poop by the liner bag.
Odor Preventing Options
Some litter disposal programs embrace a charcoal filter constructed into the lid to soak up odors, although our favourite does not (as an alternative, the Litter Genie advertises an antimicrobial, odor-eating additive constructed into its plastic pail). Whereas odor-fighting options are all the time welcome, we have been unable to guage their efficacy with any precision. As a substitute, the most important odor-minimizing elements have been constructed into the design, by stopping your nostril from confronting the first waste compartment. Surprisingly, we discovered that the receptacles with one of the best odor seals have been typically the smelliest as a result of odors have been trapped after which launched in an enormous burst upon opening.
Extra We Advocate
The Finest Different: The Litter Genie has a helpful capability, is superb at managing scents, and is straightforward to make use of—when you get used to its distinctive system. To make use of the Litter Genie, simply open the lid, dump waste within the funnel opening on high, after which pull the deal with on the entrance to open the gate into the bagged receptacle beneath. The gate is spring-loaded and can snap shut once more whenever you let go, pinching the bag closed in opposition to the again wall of the Litter Genie, which is sufficient to tamp down odors however doesn’t create an hermetic seal that retains moisture and smells.
Litter Genie baggage are constructed like an extended tube—making the bag-changing course of a bit extra concerned—so that you pull a couple of foot of the bag out of the refill (an ordinary refill comprises 14 toes), then use a easy overhand knot to tie it off on the backside, forming your waste bag. Push the refill into the highest, pull the waste bag down via the spring-loaded gate, and also you’re able to scoop. When the receptacle is full, you crack it open, pull somewhat extra bag down to make sure sufficient slack to tie it off on the high, then minimize the tube with somewhat guarded blade (just like a utility knife blade). Tie the highest and take all of it away.
Though we had reservations about each ends of a large bag stuffed with poop reliant on knots, utilizing the Litter Genie rapidly turned second nature, and we by no means as soon as had a knot slip, which attests to its reliability even after greater than a yr of use. The machine does require its personal set of luggage—usually costing $7 to $10 per refill (relying on whether or not you purchase them individually or in multi-packs), with every refill lasting about two months. However they’re broadly out there throughout retailers, so anybody prepared to buy round somewhat can discover some nice offers—plus there are a number of off-brand refills which can be even cheaper and work simply as properly in our expertise.
Do I would like a Litter Genie XL?
We don’t suppose so, no.
Too Massive For Most: The Litter Genie XL has a much bigger footprint—somewhat greater than 5 inches taller than the Litter Genie Plus—and makes use of the identical refill cartridges however enables you to spool out a bigger bagged receptacle which holds about 50 p.c extra waste. That’s 50 p.c longer earlier than it’s a must to empty it—appears like a no brainer, proper?
Right here’s why it’s not: A full bag of cat waste in a Litter Genie Plus is already an unwieldy burden—weighing as a lot as 10 kilos—and an honest most for the quantity we wish to deal with at anybody time. Additionally, the large baggage that come out of the Litter Genie Plus are already sufficient to place a severe pressure on normal kitchen rubbish baggage. For most individuals, the Litter Genie XL is just somewhat an excessive amount of, although it may be an excellent choose for a cat rescue or different unusually quite a few, multiple-cat state of affairs.
Finest With Foot Pedal: The Litter Champ is similar to the Litter Genie, however has one clear benefit: a foot pedal for lifting the highest lid. It additionally has a door on the entrance that swings open, permitting for simpler entry to the bag for altering (similar to the Litter Genie Plus, the Champ has somewhat blade inside you employ to chop the bag and knot off a brand new receptacle).
Moreover, it has a carry deal with on high, making this an excellent choose if it’s a must to transfer your litter operation round between a number of litter packing containers. Lastly, the Litter Champ is somewhat bigger with longer refills—21 toes versus 14 toes.
Nevertheless, we nonetheless want the Litter Genie for 2 main causes. The primary is the way you scoop litter into every machine. The Genie makes use of a spring-loaded lure door that you simply open manually from the skin, whereas the Litter Champ makes use of a weighted door that you simply press down on along with your litter scoop, which at first look appears extra handy.
Nevertheless, in our expertise, it takes extra effort, since it’s a must to press down the door with the inside track, then shake the cat poop off into the bag. Plus, because you’re urgent the door downward into the bag, it might probably get messy and troublesome as soon as that bag in all fairness full and also you’re pushing in opposition to an enormous pile of poop.
This technique additionally requires you to have the highest lid open to get your scooped poop into the bag, whereas with the Litter Genie, you possibly can drop your scooped poop on high of the sealed compartment, then shut the lid, then pull out the lure door, permitting the litter to fall into the bag with out you ever having to work together with the waste storage compartment. Plus, the Litter Genie’s lure door is shielded behind the bag liner, not like the Litter Champ, which has a lure door that touches scooped waste straight.
It’s a delicate distinction, and the Litter Champ is healthier on a number of design factors (we want how its waste compartment opens for bag adjustments, for instance), however we discovered the Litter Genie to be simpler to make use of total. Plus, whereas each the Champ and the Genie can be found from main retailers, the Litter Genie is extra ubiquitous, making it simpler to search out offers on bag refills.
Litter Champ vs. Litter Genie Plus
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Foot pedal for higher lid
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Opening into waste compartment accessed by urgent scoop on to door
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Lure door unprotected by bag, can get messy
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Carry deal with
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Longer refill baggage (21 vs. 14 toes)
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Entrance of waste compartment swings open for bag change
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Included scoop with hook
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Higher lid should be lifted by hand
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Opening into waste compartment accessed by pulling spring-loaded lure door
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Lure door protected by bag
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No carry deal with
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Extra broadly out there refill choices
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Complete machine opens from high for bag change
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Included scoop with holder
Use With Any Bag: The Petfusion Transportable Cat Litter Disposal enables you to use baggage of your selection, clipping every bag onto an interior basket that then nests inside a utilitarian receptacle with a handy carry deal with. Whereas not an entire “litter disposal system” like our favourite, the Litter Genie Plus, the Petfusion receptacle is a superb various to holding a small trash can subsequent to your litter field.
The primary draw back is that the receptacle is totally opened when scooping—exposing you to smelly cat litter. The lid’s silicone gasket creates a just about hermetic seal designed to lock the highest down, which is nice for tamping down smells when the Petfusion litter disposal isn’t in use however locks in smells and moisture, making the stink that a lot worse each time you open it. The charcoal deodorizer constructed into the lid is a pleasant contact, however not an ideal answer.
Nevertheless, the Petfusion might properly work higher for individuals who aren’t keen on futzing with proprietary baggage or tying off baggage of cat waste into neatly knotted packages. If you’re on the lookout for a container greatest fitted to emptying straight into an outside rubbish can or dumpster, this can be a handy choice. It additionally works properly if it’s a must to carry round a waste receptacle to a number of litter packing containers.
Accessible with or with out an connected bag dispenser
FAQ
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Litter disposal programs combine waste storage with all of the instruments it’s essential tie off and substitute an enormous load of litter, with out ever having contact with that litter—most together with a proprietary bagging system and litter scoop. One of the best designs will largely defend you from subsequent confrontations with the smelly supplies your cat leaves behind. As soon as the waste is scooped into the disposal system, subsequent steps will assist you seal the waste right into a bag that may be taken out along with your regular trash.
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Whereas scooping litter ought to be thought-about a every day job, full litter adjustments are usually not wanted practically as usually. Whereas full litter change timing can fluctuate from family to family, sometimes you need to be utterly refreshing your cat’s litter and cleansing the inside of their litter field about as soon as a month. This may make sure that smells gained’t accumulate and that litter will proceed to successfully clump and seal in odors.
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The most secure, most environmentally pleasant technique to get rid of cat litter is to tie it up in a small biodegradable trash or litter disposal bag and put it within the trash can. Whilst you may maybe compost some used biodegradable cat litter, it is not advisable given its potential as a pathogen.
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It is best to by no means dump cat litter outdoors as a result of cat feces can carry numerous micro organism and toxins that, as soon as launched into the surroundings, can infect different animals and other people. Additionally, it is best to by no means flush cat litter down the bathroom, even ones labeled “flushable,” for a similar motive. Pathogens can keep within the water provide even after being processed via a waste water therapy system.
Why Belief The Spruce Pets?
This text was written by Steven Asarch, a author for The Spruce Pets. He has firsthand expertise working with totally different feline merchandise and caring for two rambunctious felines. His cats are distinctive testers, who’ve tried out all the things from automated litter packing containers to litter field liners. Steven has additionally written for The Spruce Pets about calming aids for cats, hairball cures, robotic vacuums for pet hair, capsule pockets, and wand toys.
For a extra knowledgeable perspective on the best way to greatest deal with cat litter, he spoke to Co-Founders of Cat Conduct Alliance Rita Reimers and Linda Corridor for this text.