Cat litter can be stored in the container / packaging you purchased it in, however, there are many benefits to investing in a container that’s designed to store unused litter.
THE BEST CAT LITTER STORAGE CONTAINER: PETFUSION PORTABLE LITTER STORAGE BIN
DIMENSIONS
16.5” long
8.8” wide
19” tall
CAPACITY
Holds up to 25 lbs of cat litter.
FEATURES
- Wheels (it ships with wheels off so you don’t have to add them)
- Luggage-like top handle to roll bin
- Teapot handle to make pouring easy
- Adjustable spout to increase or decrease pour speed and reduce dust
- Locking lid to keep moisture out and lid on when pouring
- Container is clear (lid is grey, wheels and handle are black)
MOST LOVED FEATURES
- Wheels – cat owners with multiple cats and litter boxes love how you can simply wheel the heavy cat litter from one box to the next. Even with one litter box in the household, this container allows you to roll the bin right up to the litter box and simply tilt it to pour the litter in. Less heavy lifting.
- Sturdy – the plastic container is nice and thick, as is the lid, which prevents the container from shifting and cracking during use.
- Good size – the shape of this litter container makes it easy to store in small spaces and is not so big that it becomes too difficult to pick up.
MOST DISLIKED FEATURES
- Price – some reviewers felt the price was a little high, but the majority felt it was worth the price.
CAN’T YOU JUST STORE LITTER IN ITS ORIGNAL PACKAGING?
You definitely can keep litter in its original packaging.
The benefits of using this cat litter storage container are:
- Upright container is easy to store in small spaces and apartments.
- The clear container allows you to see how much litter you have left.
- You don’t have to peel a stiff plastic lid off every time you need to top up or change the litter box.
- Handle and spout make it easier to lift and pour litter than when pouring from bags that allow litter to shift and more to pour out than intended.
- If you have more than one cat and/or litter box locations, you can split a bag and keep some litter in its original packaging and the rest in the litter storage container.
- Wheels allow you to wheel the bin between rooms, litter boxes, or in and out of a closet. It’s also handy when having to sweep or vacuum litter around the litter box; simply wheel the container out of the way instead of having to pick up a container of litter, move it, sweep, then move it back.
- Keeps moisture out of the container.
- Reduces dust when pouring litter.
- Esthetically, it keeps things looking tidy when having to store litter out in the open.
HOW TO STORE UNUSED CAT LITTER
Whether you use the PetFusion cat litter container or not, always keep unused cat litter in a sealed container so dust doesn’t escape, and moisture doesn’t get in.
You’ll need to scoop your cat’s litter box daily, at which point you may want to sprinkle a cup or two of fresh litter to top off the box to your cat’s preferred depth (here are tips on how deep litter should be to avoid waste or litter box problems).
The entire contents of the litter box will need to be changed frequently as well.
For these reasons, it’s best to keep unused cat litter close to the litter box. A litter storage bin with wheels (like this one) will make it easier to roll the container from a storage closet right up to the litter box.
CAN CAT LITTER BE STORED OUTSIDE?
Unused cat litter should not be stored outside. It needs to stay dry, especially if you’re using a clumping cat litter; if moisture gets in the container, it will turn into a giant clump.
You also don’t want other animals or insects to be able to get inside the container and potentially contaminate your cat’s litter.
DOES CAT LITTER EXPIRE?
Cat litter does not have an expiration date. However, it must be stored properly to keep moisture out. For this reason, you may prefer to buy your cat litter in bulk and stock up when you find a good price.
HOW TO STORE USED CAT LITTER
Not that you really want to “store” used cat litter, but when you’re scooping the litter box once per day (or more), having a way to store the waste until it’s garbage day, will save you trips to the outdoor garbage bin. Here’s how to properly dispose of cat litter (you shouldn’t be flushing it down the toilet, even if it’s flushable litter).
Using a cat litter disposal bin, such as the Litter Genie can be more efficient, and keep odors trapped inside the bin. This system comes with thick bags that trap odors and a plastic barrier that you slide out to let waste fall to the bottom of the bag, and then slide back in to pinch off the top of the bag until you’re ready to tie off the top and remove it.
The bag inserts and refills are stored in a ring that sits at the top of the bin. You pull down on a bag and tie a knot in the bottom. The top stays secure in the ring so you can drop waste into the bag without fussing with the opening. When one bag is full, you simply rip the top off, tie a knot in the top and then pull a new bag down and knot the bottom.
You can also get it in black (which looks quite sleek):
And you can also get an XL size for multiple cat homes:
WHERE TO STORE A CAT LITTER SCOOP
If you go with a unit like the Litter Genie, it has a pocket on the side of the container to hold a scoop.
Other options are to add a nail or small hook to the wall next to the litter box and hang your scoop. Almost every litter scoop on the market has a hole at the end of the handle or a loop to hang it.
This popular litter scoop comes with a hook that you can simply stick on the wall.
Or, you can purchase a scoop that comes with a “caddy”, like this one.
If you keep your litter box out in the open and want something a little more elegant looking that doesn’t look like a litter scoop holder, this cat shaped holder is a good option. It comes in black, as well as white.
CAT LITTER STORAGE IDEAS
If you have a hard time lifting heavy cat litter and the PetFusion cat litter storage container isn’t a fit for you, you may consider storing cat litter in a container with a large enough opening that you can use a big juice jug, like this one, (with the lid removed) to scoop litter from the bin and pour it into the litter box.
This will allow you to store litter in a sealed container and scoop enough litter at a time that it won’t take too long to fill up a litter box, but also won’t be too heavy.
Alternatively, you could pour, funnel, or scoop litter into a smaller container, like this one, with a handle and large spout. Although this type of container would need to be filled more frequently, the size makes it easier to pick up and pour.
I hope this article has helped you determine how you will store cat litter in your home 🙂