Disposable Litter Boxes: An Alternative to Bulky Plastic Boxes

Despite what the stereotype suggests, cats aren’t homebodies. They love getting out into the world! And with the advent of comfy harnesses and carriers, it’s a cinch to bring your favorite feline on an adventure with you. Well, with one tiny exception. Cats aren’t content with “wild” bathroom options the way dogs are. That means figuring out a way to lug their litter box around. Or you can go for the alternative of disposable litter boxes. If you compare the two side-by-side, one’s MUCH easier to deal with.

Disposable Litter Boxes

Disposable litter boxes are exactly what they sound like: a box you can toss into the trash without a second thought. Instead of the plastic of a conventional box, they’re made from biodegradable materials. This means they’ll break down when they fit a landfill. That’s good news for the environment. But it also helps out cat owners.

Plastic holds onto odors from urine and feces. This is why it’s important to practice routine cleaning of a box – about once a month. However, you can’t use strong cleaners or bleach due to the risk they pose to your cat. And, over time, that leads to more elbow grease for fewer results. With a box you can throw away? You simply trade out the old box for a new one.

Common Materials for Disposable Litter Boxes

The average disposable litter box lasts around a month (convenient!). But that “lifespan” depends on the materials.

• Cardboard: You can find two versions of the cardboard box: wax-coated and ordinary. A wax-coated box provides water resistance. That means it’ll last longer.
• Paper: Specifically, you’re looking at paper mache. These tend to be the most durable disposable litter boxes out there. They’re water-resistant, and some add baking soda into their mixture to provide extra odor control. Even better, the structure’s sound enough that you can cut into it to make adjustments if your cat needs a lower entry point.
• Plastic: Yeah, it sounds strange, but you WILL see an occasional recycled plastic box. They hold up against fluids without developing leaks, which people like. But, in the end, you’re dumping plastic back into the landfill.

Problems With Disposable Litter Boxes

While the chance to go green with your cat’s bathroom habits is always a good thing, you’ll find a few hiccups with disposable litter boxes. And the biggest relates to their construction.

Conventional plastic boxes endure your cat’s digging explorations. If your feline’s anything like the ones in our house, they go into a litter box with the enthusiasm of a child at the beach. Plastic can hold up against eager, digging claws. But cardboard and paper mache? They don’t do that well. This can mean tears in the bottom – and that leads to LEAKS.

The basic design on most paper mache disposable litter boxes also means you’ll find ridges and grooves from the molding process. Your cat won’t mind the design, but all of those tiny pockets can make cleaning a challenge for YOU. And while you CAN toss the box and get a new one, you probably don’t want to spend the money to do so every other week.

Uses for Disposable Litter Boxes

Obviously, disposable litter boxes are friends for the environment. And with cat owners following the “plus one” rule (always have ONE MORE litter box than the number of cats in the house), a biodegradable box keeps PLENTY of plastic from going to a landfill. But there’s more to these handy boxes than that eco-friendliness.

Travel

As hinted at before, they’re the perfect choice when you travel. Even if you use a traditional box at home, you probably don’t want to pack it into the car. (And automatic boxes? They don’t work very well without an outlet!) If you’re planning a lengthy road trip, the disposable option is the way to go. Your cat gets their bathroom, and you don’t have to fuss with a mess in the car.

Cat-Sitting

Maybe your kitty needs to stay with a friend. They don’t share a home with felines and lack supplies. Rather than carting hefty boxes over to their house, disposable litter boxes are a more practical way to go. (And your friends and family are more likely to accept a “temporary” option)

Health Monitoring

Then there are times when cats develop medical problems related to litter box issues. You may need to obtain samples for your vet. That gets tricky in multi-cat households. But if you set out a disposable litter box for the healthy kitties, you can leave the conventional boxes to gather the samples you need.

Choosing a Disposable Litter Box

Disposable litter boxes are NOT all created equal. Even if you’re picking one up for a quick jaunt with the family, you want to make sure you’re choosing a box that will hold up. (Soggy litter boxes in the car? That’s not fun) So you want to keep these features in mind:

• Materials: How long do you need that box to last? And how many cats will end up using it? Remember, paper mache is the most durable and water-resistant material.
• Size: As you would with any litter box, you need to make sure your cat fits nicely inside. Even if you’re trying to get it to “Tetris” into the car with the luggage.
• Design: Some disposable litter boxes have raised sides to prevent litter from getting scattered everywhere. That’s ideal when your favorite feline’s staying outside of their usual home. But it WILL trap odors inside, which cats aren’t impressed by.
• Litter: Some disposable litter boxes come with litter. And as long as your cat doesn’t mind, that’s fine. Otherwise, you want to choose a clumping or crystal litter to get the longest use out of the box.

Disposable NOT Recyclable

Once you’re ready to toss an old box, it’s crucial to remember that you have a DISPOSABLE litter box. While the materials are biodegradable (except for those random plastic boxes), you can’t put them out with your recycling. They need to go in the trash.

Cats can potentially carry bacteria and parasites in their feces – even if they never venture outdoors. Some of the biggest offenders include:

• Campylobacter
• Salmonella
• Toxoplasma gondii

All of these microbes? They’re zoonotic – meaning humans can end up infected. If the boxes go to a recycling plant, people may end up exposed at a higher rate than they would in a landfill.

If you want to make the biggest environmental impact? Combine your disposable box with flushable cat litter. Just keep both of them away from your recycle bins.

Best Disposable Litter Boxes

Whether you’re looking for a green solution for your home, need a handy travel option, or want to offer your friend an easy feline bathroom while they cat-sit, disposable litter boxes provide the answer. You’ll breathe easier knowing you’re not adding plastic to a landfill somewhere. And you won’t have to break your back trying to scrub out old odors from a box. Who doesn’t love a disposable option that DOESN’T create excess waste?