Comments on: Cat Litter Composting – 01-05-09 http://www.redwormcomposting.com/worm-composting/cat-litter-composting-01-05-09/ Red Wiggler Worms, European Nightcrawlers and loads of helpful Worm Composting Information Tue, 16 Mar 2010 17:28:43 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Bentley http://www.redwormcomposting.com/worm-composting/cat-litter-composting-01-05-09/comment-page-1/#comment-22080 Bentley Fri, 07 Aug 2009 21:41:46 +0000 http://www.redwormcomposting.com/?p=283#comment-22080 Hi Jessica, Sorry for the delay responding - I just posted an update on the cat waste vermicomposting front. Thanks for the nudge. Here is the link: http://www.redwormcomposting.com/worm-composting/cat-litter-composting-08-07-09/ C:N balance isn't quite so important with vermicomposting as with regular composting - although, that being said, I don't mean to imply that it's OK to have a low C:N (since that may result in the release of ammonia which is not a good thing). What I mean is that it is totally fine to end up with a habitat (including food) that has a high C:N ratio, and in fact, it's not a bad idea to aim for this. What I've been doing apart from relying on the carbon-rich (corn cob based) litter material is adding other carbon-rich stuff like peat most, cardboard, straw etc. As I wrote in my update post, everything seems to be working even better than expected! You are absolutely right - there is NO reason that cat litter waste should end up in a landfill. Well OK, the nasty stuff you get when you use clay-based litter can only really go to the landfill. BUT - everyone should explore compostable alternatives! I love the stuff I've been using - so much nicer than the normal clumping cat litter! Being able to then feed it to a herd of worms is just like icing on the cake! 8) Hi Jessica,
Sorry for the delay responding – I just posted an update on the cat waste vermicomposting front. Thanks for the nudge.
Here is the link:
http://www.redwormcomposting.com/worm-composting/cat-litter-composting-08-07-09/

C:N balance isn’t quite so important with vermicomposting as with regular composting – although, that being said, I don’t mean to imply that it’s OK to have a low C:N (since that may result in the release of ammonia which is not a good thing). What I mean is that it is totally fine to end up with a habitat (including food) that has a high C:N ratio, and in fact, it’s not a bad idea to aim for this. What I’ve been doing apart from relying on the carbon-rich (corn cob based) litter material is adding other carbon-rich stuff like peat most, cardboard, straw etc.

As I wrote in my update post, everything seems to be working even better than expected!

You are absolutely right – there is NO reason that cat litter waste should end up in a landfill. Well OK, the nasty stuff you get when you use clay-based litter can only really go to the landfill. BUT – everyone should explore compostable alternatives! I love the stuff I’ve been using – so much nicer than the normal clumping cat litter! Being able to then feed it to a herd of worms is just like icing on the cake!
8)

]]> By: Jessica http://www.redwormcomposting.com/worm-composting/cat-litter-composting-01-05-09/comment-page-1/#comment-22018 Jessica Mon, 03 Aug 2009 10:14:18 +0000 http://www.redwormcomposting.com/?p=283#comment-22018 Any updates on vermicomposting the cat waste? What about the C:N balance? Do you think using newspaper-based litter - e.g. either shredded or straight up newspapers (http://www.instructables.com/id/The-Green-Pee-Cat-Litter-System/) or a commercial pellet product (http://www.yesterdaysnews.com/home.html) - might help to maintain such a balance? For those who are interested, here is a link to a very interesting student experiment on vermicomposting cat litter: http://www.amnh.org/nationalcenter/youngnaturalistawards/2005/Eric.html I find the idea of rotting cat litter in a landfill to be the worst aspect of cat ownership so I'm particularly interested in the status of your own experiment. Any updates on vermicomposting the cat waste?

What about the C:N balance? Do you think using newspaper-based litter – e.g. either shredded or straight up newspapers (http://www.instructables.com/id/The-Green-Pee-Cat-Litter-System/) or a commercial pellet product (http://www.yesterdaysnews.com/home.html) – might help to maintain such a balance?

For those who are interested, here is a link to a very interesting student experiment on vermicomposting cat litter:
http://www.amnh.org/nationalcenter/youngnaturalistawards/2005/Eric.html

I find the idea of rotting cat litter in a landfill to be the worst aspect of cat ownership so I’m particularly interested in the status of your own experiment.

]]> By: Angie Hill http://www.redwormcomposting.com/worm-composting/cat-litter-composting-01-05-09/comment-page-1/#comment-19315 Angie Hill Fri, 16 Jan 2009 20:49:26 +0000 http://www.redwormcomposting.com/?p=283#comment-19315 Meant to add that I (well, the cats!) tried the paper based cat litter in their litter trays with no success-all 4 cats went outside the litter tray!!! :-( The only other "green" alternative here is the pine sawdust based one. In the UK we don't have corn husk cat litter. I'm seriously thinking of trying chipped or shredded hedge prunings soon, so watch this space. If they are willing to use this, then it would mean fewer plastic bags of bought stuff, and of course, fewer trips to the petshop. Meant to add that I (well, the cats!) tried the paper based cat litter in their litter trays with no success-all 4 cats went outside the litter tray!!! :-( The only other “green” alternative here is the pine sawdust based one. In the UK we don’t have corn husk cat litter. I’m seriously thinking of trying chipped or shredded hedge prunings soon, so watch this space. If they are willing to use this, then it would mean fewer plastic bags of bought stuff, and of course, fewer trips to the petshop.

]]> By: Angie Hill http://www.redwormcomposting.com/worm-composting/cat-litter-composting-01-05-09/comment-page-1/#comment-19314 Angie Hill Fri, 16 Jan 2009 20:40:21 +0000 http://www.redwormcomposting.com/?p=283#comment-19314 I have four cats. They use pelleted pine sawdust cat litter. I have one designated cat-poo wormbin which is a large adapted plant pot. I separate the cat-poo from the litter, and add to the wormbin-The urine-soaked cat-litter gets used under thick cardboard mulch along paths in my garden. This suppresses weeds very well, and also eventually degrades, encouraging beneficial microbes, and of course,worms! I've not had any problems with the worm population. In fact, it seems to thrive on the cat-poo! I did one similar years ago with dog-poo. Same results. Great vermicompost after a year or so, which I used in flower beds and the lawn-not on vegetables just in case there were any pathogens lurking. Sad about your worms dying, Atlantis, but I think it might have something to do with the amount of cat litter added to the system. The sawdust will be carbon, which is good, but the pine may still have turpene residues. I would only add that in small quantities. Hope this helps. I have four cats. They use pelleted pine sawdust cat litter. I have one designated cat-poo wormbin which is a large adapted plant pot. I separate the cat-poo from the litter, and add to the wormbin-The urine-soaked cat-litter gets used under thick cardboard mulch along paths in my garden. This suppresses weeds very well, and also eventually degrades, encouraging beneficial microbes, and of course,worms! I’ve not had any problems with the worm population. In fact, it seems to thrive on the cat-poo! I did one similar years ago with dog-poo. Same results. Great vermicompost after a year or so, which I used in flower beds and the lawn-not on vegetables just in case there were any pathogens lurking. Sad about your worms dying, Atlantis, but I think it might have something to do with the amount of cat litter added to the system. The sawdust will be carbon, which is good, but the pine may still have turpene residues. I would only add that in small quantities. Hope this helps.

]]> By: Bentley http://www.redwormcomposting.com/worm-composting/cat-litter-composting-01-05-09/comment-page-1/#comment-18865 Bentley Thu, 08 Jan 2009 15:27:20 +0000 http://www.redwormcomposting.com/?p=283#comment-18865 Sorry to hear that, Atlantis. 8-10 lbs?? That's a terrible loss! Since you didn't add the urine, I suspect you must be right about the pine. I have heard that cedar can harm worms but never a specific mention of the dangers of using pine. Perhaps there is something else in the litter as well? Hopefully those survivors will produce a population of super worms for you (obviously pretty tough little guys if the only survivors). In a situation like that I would likely mix in a lot of shredded cardboard, fall leaves (if I had them) and mature compost (if I had it) to try and reistablish the balance. I would then simply let it sit for awhile. I wouldn't recommend adding any new worms to that system until you are 100% sure it is ok. If it looks like the worm population is making a comeback that will be a good sign. Don't give up though - it is amazing what can happen even when you let a completely dead bin (which yours isn't) just sit. Worms that are born into a certain environment are much better adapted to that environment than adults introduced into it. Sorry to hear that, Atlantis. 8-10 lbs?? That’s a terrible loss!
Since you didn’t add the urine, I suspect you must be right about the pine. I have heard that cedar can harm worms but never a specific mention of the dangers of using pine. Perhaps there is something else in the litter as well?
Hopefully those survivors will produce a population of super worms for you (obviously pretty tough little guys if the only survivors).

In a situation like that I would likely mix in a lot of shredded cardboard, fall leaves (if I had them) and mature compost (if I had it) to try and reistablish the balance. I would then simply let it sit for awhile. I wouldn’t recommend adding any new worms to that system until you are 100% sure it is ok. If it looks like the worm population is making a comeback that will be a good sign. Don’t give up though – it is amazing what can happen even when you let a completely dead bin (which yours isn’t) just sit. Worms that are born into a certain environment are much better adapted to that environment than adults introduced into it.

]]> By: Atlantis http://www.redwormcomposting.com/worm-composting/cat-litter-composting-01-05-09/comment-page-1/#comment-18799 Atlantis Tue, 06 Jan 2009 20:35:10 +0000 http://www.redwormcomposting.com/?p=283#comment-18799 I recently added used clumping all natural pine kitty litter to my thriving worm bin -- no urine clumps or waste. I added water to off set the dryness. All but a handful of my worms died (Had about 8 - 10 pounds). I added some pulled weeds and kitchen scraps to what was already there. Watered it again to be sure it is moist enough (about like a damp sponge) and am letting it sit. Any suggestions on how to get my farm back in order? I didn't find anything about pine being bad for worms when I researched. I recently added used clumping all natural pine kitty litter to my thriving worm bin — no urine clumps or waste. I added water to off set the dryness. All but a handful of my worms died (Had about 8 – 10 pounds). I added some pulled weeds and kitchen scraps to what was already there. Watered it again to be sure it is moist enough (about like a damp sponge) and am letting it sit. Any suggestions on how to get my farm back in order? I didn’t find anything about pine being bad for worms when I researched.

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