Litter Locker Refill Alternatives

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If you’re like me, you hate the smell of cat litter. Maybe you’ve tried a LitterLocker waste disposal system (here’s my review of it) to help with that and have discovered how expensive the refills are.

 

There are a few different options out there for refilling your LitterLocker, and I’ll cover them in this article. 

 

You’ll also find answers to common LitterLocker refill questions.

 

 

LitterLocker refill alternative #1

LitterLocker sells LitterLocker brand refills. But you can buy refill alternatives made by Lionpapa. 

 

I did find another brand called Cat Wish, but a four-pack cost the same amount as the LitterLocker brand of refills.

 

These alternatives work the same way as the LitterLocker refills but are cheaper. 

 

Wella refills

Wella 8 pack = $32.99 (check amazon for current price)

 

These can only be purchased on Amazon.com (and aren’t available on .ca)

 

With shipping to Canada, they’re approximately $6.20/pack

 

If you’re in the USA, they’re approximately $4.12/pack

 

However, these refills are 20 feet long, so instead of 8 bags (with LitterLocker refills), you’ll get 11 or 12 bags.

 

For Canadians, that would be around $0.56/bag (but in USD, so depending on the exchange rate, these may be a bit cheaper than the LitterLocker refills).

 

For Americans, they’re approximately $0.37/bag

 

They do NOT come with a cartridge so you’ll have to hang onto your empty cartridge. You must press these refills into the empty cartridge.

 



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Lionpapa

If you have a LitterLocker Design, do not purchase these refills.

 

Although the LitterLocker and Litter Genie both use a square refill, and the Litter Genie brand of refills will fit in the LitterLocker Design, the square Lionpapa refill cartridges DO NOT fit the LitterLocker.

 

The round Lionpapa refills do fit the LitterLocker ii (older model), as shown below.

 

 

LitterLocker

Here’s the pricing of the LitterLocker brand of refills if you’re having trouble finding the generic brands.

 

LitterLocker Refill 4 pack = $6.99/pack (check amazon for current price)

 

1 pack $8.97

 

LitterLocker refills have 14 feet of plastic liner and should last 8 weeks

 

Approximately $0.87/bag


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LitterLocker ii refill alternative

Lionpapa offers refills for the LitterLocker 2 only (the older model that uses round cartridges).

 

What I like about the Lionpapa refills is that they have a handy “Pull Here” sticker that makes it easy to find the start of the plastic.

 

LitterLocker ii refill


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LitterLocker refill alternative #2

This LitterLocker refill alternative hack is the cheapest and easiest. 

 

The only thing you need is the right size of bag. 

 

You need a bag that is long enough it will reach the bottom of the canister and fold over the top of the LitterLocker.

 

If it’s too short, you won’t be able to use the lid to keep it in place. And as the bag fills with dirty litter, it will slip out of place.

 

The bag must also have a wide enough opening that it will fold over the top of the LitterLocker. 

 

You don’t want a bag that’s too big though. It will create too much bulk, and the lid and lever won’t be able to create a tight seal when closed. 

 

A bag that’s too big will also result in waste; unless you fill the bag with other waste before throwing it in the trash.

 

Most 15 liter (approx 4 gallon) bags will work.

 

For Canadians, Glad’s X-Small Garbage bags are the right size and are approximately $0.11/bag (you save $0.76/bag compared to LitterLocker refills).


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For Americans, this 4 gallon bag is approximate $0.13/bag (you save $0.74/bag compared to LitterLocker refills).


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Whichever bag you choose, it should be approximately 20″ tall and 12″ in diameter.

 

It’s better to go with a longer bag than shorter one. It’s about 14.5″ from the bottom of the canister to the lid, however, you need to fold the bag over the top of the canister. Also, when the lever is closed, it pinches the bag and lifts it up. So you need a few more inches of length to account for that.

 

Choose a bag that won’t rip easily either.

 

If you use biodegradable cat litter, biodegradable bags will improve its chances of breaking down in a landfill, but you have to be careful because many compostable bags are flimsy. Cat litter can become quite heavy, and you don’t want a full bag ripping and spilling cat waste.

*Cat litter should NOT go in the compost (biodegradable bags will simply help the bag break down in the landfill).

 

If you’ve purchased a bag that’s too thin, try doubling it for extra strength.

 

 

Steps

  1. Lift the lid off the LitterLocker by pulling up on the tab at the back. 
  2. Remove the empty refill cartridge (hang onto it in case you want to try hack #3).
  3. Open the bag, pull back on the lever and push the bottom of the bag towards the bottom of the canister.
  4. Fold the top of the bag over the top of the LitterLocker.
  5. Press the lid back into place. 
  6. The lid will hold the top of the bag in place so it doesn’t slide around when the lever opens and closes, or as the bag fills. 
  7. Pull the lever back to unlock the top part of the LitterLocker and tilt the top half back.
  8. With the lever pulled back, pull on the bottom of the plastic bag so it will sit on the bottom of the LitterLocker.
  9. Tilt the top half back into place, pull back on the lever while pressing the top down, and release the lever to lock it in place.

 

 

LitterLocker refill alternative #3

Another cheap and easy refill hack requires you to keep an empty LitterLocker cartridge. If you don’t have an empty one, you can purchase one refill cartridge and hang onto it once it’s empty. 

 

Purchase a package of small garbage bags (see my tips under alternative #2).

 

 

Steps

  1. Feed the plastic bag through the center of the empty refill and fold the top of the bag over the cartridge. 
  2. Use a rubber band to old the bag in place. Alternatively, you can push the top of the bag into the empty cartridge through the opening the plastic film would come out of. 
  3. Follow the steps to place the cartridge into the LitterLocker and feed the bag to the bottom.

 

 

Pros of LitterLocker refill alternative hack

If you use this LitterLocker refill hack, you:

 

Save money

LitterLocker refills and refill alternatives are pricey. They’re approximately $6.99 each and work out to be around $0.87/bag. 

If you follow the hack with small garbage bags, you can pay closer to $0.10/bag, depending on the type of bag you buy.

 

Are more Environmentally friendly

LitterLocker bags are not biodegradable. If you use the hack, you can choose any type of bag. A compostable or biodegradable bag will cut down on waste. 

Reduce waste even more by using biodegradable litter, like Sustainably Yours. (You can read my review of it here, and buy some here.)

 

Save time

It’s not a huge hassle, but cutting each full bag and then tying a knot to start a new bag does require time. If the built-in cutter has become dull, cutting each bag may also be a frustrating task. The hack allows you to bypass this step.

Tying tight knots may also be difficult if you have arthritis. When you use regular bags, you can skip this step, saving time.

 

Save frustration

The refills can be a bit of a pain when trying to find the end of the plastic. Sometimes you grab a fold instead of the end, and you pull out more plastic than you need to.

One perk of using the Lionpapa refills is that it comes with a “Pull Here” sticker. So you know you’re pulling on the right part of the plastic tube.

 

LitterLocker refill instructions

To change a LitterLocker with a LitterLocker refill cartridge or something similar, follow these steps:

  • Lift the top lid off by pulling up on the tab at the back of the container.
  • Remove the empty cartridge. 
  • Start a new cartridge by finding the start of the plastic liner and pulling out about one foot of plastic. 
  • Feed the plastic through the center of the cartridge, then tie a knot in the bottom of the plastic. 
  • Place the cartridge in the top of the LitterLocker and press the lid back on.
  • Pull the lever back, and push the plastic into the bottom of the canister. 
  • Open the top half of the canister by pulling the lever back with one hand, lifting the top of the canister, and tilting it back.  
  • Pull the lever back and pull on the plastic so the knot will sit on the bottom of the LitterLocker when the top is closed.
  • Close the top half, pull back on the lever, press down on the lid and release the lever to lock the top in place.

 

 

Are LitterLocker refills biodegradable?

No, the litter locker refills are not biodegradable. The cartridges are made using 50% recycled plastic and can be recycled. However, they will not biodegrade. The plastic inside of the cartridges is not biodegradable either. 

 

LitterLocker has received interest in biodegradable bags. However, the current plastic film helps to seal odors inside the bag. The company hasn’t yet discovered how to keep the “Air Seal technology” and make it biodegradable. 

 

The alternative is to use small biodegradable bags and use the hacks explained above. 

 

 

How many bags are in a LitterLocker refill?

The LitterLocker refill has one continuous bag. The bag is a long tube of plastic that you can cut anywhere you like, and tie a knot in the bottom to start a new bag. 

 

LitterLocker doesn’t disclose how many feet of plastic are in each refill, but it’s most likely the same as a Litter Genie refill, which is 14 feet and 8 “bags”.

 

A LitterLocker requires approximately 1.5 – 1.75 feet of plastic for each bag, and refills last approximately 8 weeks. I find you must change the bag once a week. 

 

A LitterLocker brand refill costs approximately $6.99, which works out to around $0.87/bag.

 

 

How many feet are in a LitterLocker refill?

LitterLocker refills have approximately 14 feet of plastic bag. I say approximately because LitterLocker doesn’t share the amount on their website. However, LitterLocker refills last the same amount of time as a Litter Genie refill; 8 weeks. 

 

 

Can you use regular bags in a LitterLocker?

You can use regular bags in a LitterLocker if you use the right size and have a way to hold the bag in place. 

 

LitterLocker bags are more of a plastic tube that dispenses from a cartridge. You tie a knot at the bottom of the tube to start a new bag and cut the tube above the waste when it’s full; also tying a knot to close the bag. 

 

A regular bag will fit in a LitterLocker, but there isn’t a way to hold the top of the bag in place, so it doesn’t slip to the bottom of the canister.

 

If you use a bag that’s too big, there will be too much plastic bulk and the lever and/or lid may not close fully. Then you lose the seal that keeps odors in the bag and container. 

 

If you use a bag that’s too small, it will get pulled out of place each time the lever closes. And, as litter piles up, it will weigh the bag down and pull it out of place. 

 

 

How often should you empty a LitterLocker?

A LitterLocker only needs to be emptied once the bag is full and there’s no longer room for waste to drop to the bottom part of the canister. 

 

You’ll know the bag is full because the lever won’t fully close, and waste will be left in the top part of the container.

 

If this happens, pull the lever back and gently shake the LitterLocker. This will help the waste in the bag redistribute and settle a bit more. It should make enough room at the top of the bag for the last bit of waste to drop. 

 

How quickly the bag fills will depend on how many cats you have, how often you scoop, and how many disposal systems you use. 

 

We have two cats, scoop twice a day, and when we’re only using one disposal system, we typically change the bag once a week. 

 

 

How do you empty a LitterLocker?

To empty a LitterLocker, follow these steps.

If the bag cartridge is empty

  1. Pull the lever back and tilt the top half of the LitterLocker back.
  2. Pull the plastic out of the cartridge until you reach the end of the plastic. Tie a knot to close the bag full of waste and remove it from the canister.
  3. Tilt the top half of the LitterLocker back into place and take the lid off by pulling up on the tab at the back of the LitterLocker.
  4. Open a new refill cartridge, pull out about a foot of plastic, feed it through the center of the cartridge, and tie a knot in the bottom. 
  5. Place the cartridge in the LitterLocker and press the lid back on. 
  6. Pull the lever back, and push the bag down into the bottom part of the canister.
  7. Pull the lever and tilt the top half of the LitterLocker back.
  8. With the lever pulled back, pull on the plastic so you have enough length that the knot can sit on the bottom of the LitterLocker. 
  9. Tilt the top half of the LitterLocker back into place.
  10. Pull the lever back, press down on the top, and release the lever to lock the top half in place. 

 

If the bag cartridge isn’t empty

  1. Pull the lever back and tilt the top half of the LitterLocker back.
  2. Pull the plastic and use the built-in cutter to cut the plastic off several inches above the waste; so you have enough plastic to tie a knot in the bag.
  3. Remove the bag.
  4. Tie a knot at the end of the plastic, pull the lever back and pull the plastic down so the knot will sit on the bottom of the LitterLocker.
  5. Tilt the top half of the LitterLocker back into place.
  6. Pull the lever back, press the top down, and release the lever to lock the top half in place. 

 

 

How do you refill a LitterLocker?

  1. Pull the lid off by lifting up on the tab at the back of the LitterLocker. 
  2. Remove the old cartridge.
  3. Open a new refill cartridge, pull out about a foot of plastic, feed it through the center of the cartridge and tie a knot in the bottom. 
  4. Place the cartridge in the LitterLocker and press the lid back on.
  5. Pull the lever back, and push the bag down into the bottom part of the canister.
  6. Pull the lever and tilt the top half of the LitterLocker back.
  7. With the lever pulled back, pull on the plastic so you have enough length that the knot can sit on the bottom of the LitterLocker. 
  8. Tilt the top half of the LitterLocker back into place.
  9. Pull the lever back, press the top down, and release the lever to lock the top half in place. 

 

 

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