Ask RiotACT: ACT-wide shortage of plastic cat tray liner bags

rommeldog56 said :

Pandy said :

Are you living in a flat? Otherwise, is not biodegradable cat litter still available? That’s what I used to use; either one made from lucerne or another from waste paper. Then I would spread it in the garden as mulch. It was never difficult to then rinse out the plastic tray before putting in fresh cat litter. No plastic liner needed.

I have read that cat faeces are toxic to humans and should be kept out of the garden. Is that not correct ?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toxoplasmosis
From what I have read, generally it won’t be a problem with inside cats as long as they don’t have it, because they won’t get much opportunity to acquire it. So it should be no problem to bury their cat litter in the garden. Perhaps not in the vegetable garden. If you are worried, have your cat tested. Pregnant women or those with immune problems should not handle cat litter, but it is usually not a major problem for the general population. Of course, the more we ‘protect’ ourselves the more we can suffer. This goes for allergies too.
I don’t have a cat now, but many years ago when I did, they were always inside/outside cats and the only time a litter tray was used was when they were kittens; once they were old enough they went outside. This was the same with most people’s cats. Most people then would have been exposed to Toxoplasmosis and so it was not a problem. With less cats allowed outside now perhaps the population has become more exposed. A comment here; there are now very few cats I see outside, but I haven’t noticed an increase in wildlife to coincide with few cats being allowed outside.

Pandy said :

Are you living in a flat? Otherwise, is not biodegradable cat litter still available? That’s what I used to use; either one made from lucerne or another from waste paper. Then I would spread it in the garden as mulch. It was never difficult to then rinse out the plastic tray before putting in fresh cat litter. No plastic liner needed.

I have read that cat faeces are toxic to humans and should be kept out of the garden. Is that not correct ?

Forgot the photos:
http://imgur.com/gA19ZWu.jpg
http://imgur.com/GstcvSI.jpg
http://imgur.com/hp0HB9F.jpg

So Rufus & Coco have not replied to my email about this, nor have any stores I have checked gotten more stock in yet.

However, tonight at Woolies Mawson I found a packet of Bird Cage Elastisiced Liners (same price), which as I surmised are the identical product just with different stuff on the packaging (the box itself is identical though) and aimed at a different part of the market. So for the moment I am using those.

wildturkeycanoe said :

Mess said :

Also the packaging says it is a “scented bio degradable plastic” and is designed to prevent slippage of the liner into the cats mess (and yes it actually works really well at preventing that) compared to other liners. I am not sure how environmentally friendly that is, but im sure others can help me out with that.

I have read articles that claim that “‘Biodegradable’ plastic bags may not be as eco-friendly as thought”. Here is one.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/earth/earthnews/7422006/Biodegradable-plastic-bags-may-not-be-as-eco-friendly-as-thought.html

Compostable bags, etc would be the better way to go. They are often made with corn starch.

Ok worth keeping in mind. I haven’t heard back from the manufacturer yet about the shortage of supply, but when they do get back to me i’ll ask them if they have any info they can share about exactly what the bags are made of and report back here with what answer they give me.

Mess said :

Also the packaging says it is a “scented bio degradable plastic” and is designed to prevent slippage of the liner into the cats mess (and yes it actually works really well at preventing that) compared to other liners. I am not sure how environmentally friendly that is, but im sure others can help me out with that.

I have read articles that claim that “‘Biodegradable’ plastic bags may not be as eco-friendly as thought”. Here is one.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/earth/earthnews/7422006/Biodegradable-plastic-bags-may-not-be-as-eco-friendly-as-thought.html

Compostable bags, etc would be the better way to go. They are often made with corn starch.

Also the packaging says it is a “scented bio degradable plastic” and is designed to prevent slippage of the liner into the cats mess (and yes it actually works really well at preventing that) compared to other liners. I am not sure how environmentally friendly that is, but im sure others can help me out with that.

Yes I live in a flat, but your comment is making me wonder if I could contribute to the neighbours blocks garden with my cat litter maybe, there are some green spaces around me but no ideal garden beds as such really. I can take a look around and see if I can find a suitable place that could take regular deposits of the cat litter but I am not too sure if it would be on land I am allowed access to technically or not.

I was able to find an old packet actually (ive only used it once so far – 5 bags/1 packet – friend put me onto it) and the manufacturer is RufusandCoco.com.au so im going to send them an email asking about it now.

In other news…you can get litter tray liners? Is there no end to the ways we can use plastic and boost landfill? That’s right up there with those special nappy bins, which package a stinky nappy into a little plastic sausage to preserve its inner goodness for all time.

Pandy said :

Are you living in a flat? Otherwise, is not biodegradable cat litter still available? That’s what I used to use; either one made from lucerne or another from waste paper. Then I would spread it in the garden as mulch. It was never difficult to then rinse out the plastic tray before putting in fresh cat litter. No plastic liner needed.

I think Mordd does live in a flat, but otherwise I’m with you Maya. I use Max’s (rice husks), compost, and hose out the tray or soak it in the laundry tub if it needs it. Same applied back when I lived in a little dogbox that the agents hilariously advertised as a “townhouse” when I moved out.

That’s random hey. Try discount stores like the Reject Shop etc – they usually stock bits and pieces like that.