Parents & cat slaves: would a diaper genie work for temporary cat poop storage?

In My Humble Opinion
1

Today the disaster I’d been dreading finally happened: I have three cats, and every day I dutifully flush their poop down the toilet, with as little cat litter as possible sticking to it (I use biodegradable paper or walnut pellets). The house has a cess pool, so I’m very wary of causing a problem with too much cat waste.

Anyway, the toilet clogged today - luckily it was just a run-of-the-mill clog and a few plunges later all was well. But I think it’s time to stop flushing the poop and to use it as compost instead.* Also, the internet doesn’t seem to think flushing any cat waste into a septic system is a good idea, so perhaps that goes double for a cess pool.

So, I’m going “take a dump,” as it were, in the woods from now on. But there are going to be days when a tromp outside to a far corner is unappealing. What if it’s raining hard, I’m in a rush, or I’m sick?

That’s why I’m wondering if I could use a diaper genie of some sort, so I could dump the poop into an odor-fighting, sealed container and just dump it in the woods every 2-3 days instead of daily.

Actual branded “Diaper Genie” products seem to require disposable plastic bags - I don’t want that for multiple reasons. A plastic lining that has to be replaced once a month or so is no problem, though it would be best if any old trash bag would use, as ongoing supply could be an issue if the pandemic continues and the shipping limitations to the Big Island get worse (there are already noticeable difficulties in acquiring some products in a timely, consistent fashion).

Any suggestions, parents/cat lovers? I had a baby over 20 years ago in Mozambique; I still can recall the stench of the diaper pail. I don’t want to live like that, but perhaps there is a better solution?

*Yes, I know cat poop doesn’t make good compost and isn’t safe for use with food plants, but I live on a wild three-acre property with ornamentals and trees and deep, deep areas of bamboo leaves, branches, and the naturally acidic soil of a volcanic island - not to mention frequent dissolving rains. It’s no problem to find remote corners where no one goes and dump catboxes full of used biodegradable litter (plus the odd bit of un-scooped poop). Within a couple of months the litter and poop is indistinguishable from the surrounding soil.

2

I’ve tried it, it’s not the worst and have to say it works, but they do make ones with larger opening for pets and I would go with that one.

3

Did the type you used require frequent changes of disposable plastic bags?

4

Actually, there’s a product called the Litter Genie (I assume it’s made by the same company that makes the Diaper Genie) that’s specifically meant for storing cat litter. I’m not sure exactly how it’s different from the diaper version – I’ve only used the Litter Genie. Unfortunately, it requires disposable plastic bags like the Diaper Genie, so I’m not sure if it meets your requirements.

Here in California, you’re not supposed to flush cat poop because it can contain a parasite that’s bad for sea otters when it eventually finds its way to the Pacific. So I use a Litter Genie to store it and dispose of it in the trash when garbage day comes around.

5

actually in la county (possible all of ca ) its illegal to flush any animal waste down the toilet … i just toss it in the trash …

6

We don’t have trash pickup here (boonies of Hawai’i!) so I probably won’t put it in the trash (we have several giant trash cans and load up the pick up truck every month or so for a trip to the transfer station) - but it’s something to consider. I just avoid organic trash as much as possible so there is no problem with bugs/odor around the trash cans.

7

Huh, interesting. One of our cats just had radiation treatment for hyperthyroidism, and they specifically told us we have to flush the waste (with scoopable, flushable litter) because if we dispose of it in the trash like we usually do, the radiation levels might set off detectors at the waste management facility. So I don’t think it’s illegal in all of California (we’re in the Bay Area, and I’ve never heard this.)

8

This doesn’t specifically say it’s illegal, but here’s a cite explaining why you shouldn’t flush cat poop. It sounds like you may be a special case, though.

9

Huh, interesting. I don’t think that applies to our cats, though. They’re all 100% indoor and have been all their lives. They’ve never killed a bird and I don’t think they’d know what to do with a rodent if they saw one. They’d probably make friends with it. :slight_smile:

10

We’ve used both. I haven’t noticed any significant differences.