How To Choose The Best Cat Litter Bag For Your Cat – CatTime
If you're a cat lover, then you'll have cleaned up your fair share of litter over the years. Depending on how often you clean the box, you may have to change the litter every two weeks. Having a user-friendly bag that makes the job quicker and easier is crucial. But using a plastic bag each time is detrimental to the environment. Luckily, there are many litter bag options on the market that are kinder to the environment. You also need a bag that is thick, strong, easy to tear off, and budget-friendly.
To help you find the best bags, we've compiled a list of our top five picks.
Best Choice
Best for Large Volumes
Pros:
We love the high-quality feel of these bags and the perforated edges are so easy to separate. Plus, you can open the bag with a quick pinch. We found the bags to be unusually thick and sturdy. Users also enjoy the easy-lift stickers, which don’t tear the bags on opening and closing. The inner core on the roll of bags is made from recycled materials and the bags themselves contain an EPI additive which helps the bags break down into carbon dioxide and water over a twenty-four-month period.
Cons:
Many customers were skeptical about the “biodegradable” authenticity of these bags. While they are claimed to slowly break down over time, unless certain environmental factors are met—such as hot, damp conditions—the bags will not biodegrade. Also, we found the lavender fragrance overpowering, and some users found the smell too synthetic.
Best Capacity
Best Compostable Bags
Pros:
The greatest feature of these trash bags is that they are made from plant starches and are compostable. Plus, they don’t contain polyethylene. We love that they start decomposing in a couple of days. Users enjoy the quality feel and affordable price of the bags. They come in a recyclable box, too, and they are easy to get out. They decompose so efficiently that you must store them in a cool, dry place.
Cons:
We found these bags a little on the small side and not ideal if you have a lot of litter to dispose of. We would also have preferred if the bags came with handles that you can tie them closed. Some users don’t like that you need to throw the bags in the bin immediately because they decompose rapidly when they’re wet.
Best Scent
Best for Affordability
Pros:
Users love the excellent odor control and lack of heavy perfumes that come with these bags. Once they’re sealed, you can’t smell anything. We found the bags to be good quality, a generous size, and thick enough to keep your hands clean. They are the ideal size for cleaning out cat litter; most litter scoops fit easily into the bag without causing you to drop any litter. The bags can hold a week’s worth of cat litter. We like that the bags are an affordable price, too.
Cons:
We were disappointed with the perforation of the seals. They are challenging to tear off the roll and not user-friendly to tie up. Some of the bags are not completely sealed at the bottom. Some users found these bags too thin and transparent.
Best Biodegradable Bags
Best Bags with Handles
Pros:
Users appreciate the easy-tie handles on these bags, which make litter scooping so much easier. They come with an extra-large opening, so it’s easy to quickly clean out cat litter, and the bags are strong enough to hold up to twenty pounds of litter. We love that these leak-proof bags are biodegradable and break down after three days. The packaging is also recyclable, which is a bonus. Overall, we found this to be a good all-around product.
Cons:
The packaging of this product is not ideal. Users find it challenging to get the bags out of the small box and to separate them; plus, the sides of the bags are slightly fused together. We found the bags not big enough if you have more than one cat. They are also more expensive than others in their class.
Best Value for Money
Best for Multiple Cats
Pros:
These sizable bags come at an excellent price and users enjoy the quality of the two millimeter-thick plastic. The bags are durable enough to withstand heavy use, and even when using it for several cats’ litter, we found that the bags didn’t tear. The drawstring feature is handy and makes disposing the cat litter a breeze. We like that the bags are leak-free, and we enjoyed that they don’t have any scent.
Cons:
Some users found these bags too heavy and awkward to handle. They are also very large, so they are not the best choice if you just have one cat and minimal litter to throw away. Also, if you’re using it as a liner in a regular-sized litter tray, we found that it tends to bunch up and doesn’t fit snugly.
What Really Matters?
Materials
If you’re concerned about your carbon footprint, then you’ve most likely considered purchasing biodegradable and compostable bags. However, it’s important to note that not all “biodegradable” bags are created equally. An item can only legally be called “biodegradable” if the entire product can be decomposed (broken down) within a short space of time, and at least within a year.
Some bags are biodegradable but need certain environmental conditions to actually biodegrade. It all depends on how you dispose of them. For example, some plastics won’t decompose when buried inside a landfill. The lack of oxygen and the compression inhibit the process. That’s why you shouldn’t throw litter bags into the regular trash.
Compostable bags, on the other hand, will decompose after a few days in the right environment. You can either purchase your own waste-composting bin or you can make use of a commercial service. It’s only worth spending the extra money on ethical bags if you dispose of them correctly or if they are compostable at home.
Also, ensure that the products are certified. Of course, if you’re buying compostable bags, you’ll also need to buy biodegradable litter. This type of litter is made from recycled paper or from plant-derived materials, including wheat, corn, soybean, and beet pulp.
Ease of Use
The design of the bag dispenser or box is critical. Nobody wants to fiddle around with containers that are difficult to open. Similarly, bags that aren’t well-perforated and challenging to tear off are off-putting. The best dispensers allow you to remove one bag at a time with ease.
Extra Features
The length of the bag makes a significant difference—if the bag is too small you won’t be able to fit enough litter in, and you’ll have to use more than one bag per change. Also, if the opening of the bag is too small, it will be awkward to get a litter scooper in and out. If you have a multi-cat household, ensure you purchase bags that can cope with volume. If you choose a bag that has odor-controlling properties, the whole litter-cleaning process will be decidedly more pleasant. Bags made out of extra-thick, heavy-duty materials are well worth the extra cash.
What’s in Right Now?
Cat litter already takes up a large chunk of the growth in the odor control and pet cleaning market. That growth is expected to continue. Considering that cat litter maintenance is a daily chore, it makes sense that businesses are coming up with products and gadgets to make the job quicker, easier, and more pleasant. Innovative products that make cleaning chores more appealing will become more prevalent. A focus on the health and wellness of pets, who are often considered members of the family, has also boomed. As a result, pet owners want products that are safe to use on and near their animals. People also want natural, eco-friendly products that have minimal impact on the environment.
Prices
When considering the quality of cat litter bags, you get what you pay for. The bags on the very low end of the price range tend to be much thinner, more transparent, and quick to tear. However, you don’t need to splash cash to get a quality product; mid-range items do a sufficient job, too.
Expensive
In the $20 and above price range, you’ll find the most expensive cat litter bags on the market. These bags will offer you several extra features, such as odor-blocking properties, easy-tie handles, and super-durable plastic. Bags in this range are usually large, compostable, and made from ethical materials.
Mid-Range
You can pick up a bulk pack of high quality litter bags in the $10-$20 price bracket that do a similarly excellent job as their more expensive counterparts. They will also be made from durable materials but might be smaller in size.
Cheap
For under $5, there are several litter bag options available. These types of bags are great as a quick fix or for smaller jobs but are not ideal for heavy-duty cat litter disposal.
FAQs
How often should I change my cat’s litter?
Feces needs to be removed daily, but how often you change cat litter depends on how many cats you have and the type of cat litter you use. There are several types of litter available, including clay, clumping, and crystal- and plant-based litter. Generally, clay litter needs to be replaced twice a week; clumping litter can last for two to three weeks; and crystal and biodegradable litter approximately every four weeks (if you have one cat). If the litter box has an unpleasant smell, you can sprinkle the base of the tray with baking soda, which absorbs some of the odor.
Can I get sick from cat litter?
There is an infection known as toxoplasmosis that comes from a parasite found in cat feces. This infection can have detrimental effects on a fetus; consequently, pregnant women are advised to stay away from cat litter. You can also have toxoplasmosis and have no symptoms. People could become contaminated with this parasite if they clean out cat litter trays and don’t wash their hands properly; however, it is very rare. People with compromised immune systems are more at risk of becoming contaminated.
Can cat litter go in the compost?
Only biodegradable cat litter can be put into the compost. Litter made from sawdust, pine, or cedar are all non-toxic and suitable for the compost heap. Clay-based, sand, and crystal litters cannot be added to compost because it could result in synthetic toxins being leached into the garden. They might also ruin the structure of your soil.
Why Trust Us
Since 2008, CatTime has provided millions of cat owners with all the information they need to keep their pets happy and healthy. Our experts know exactly what it takes to raise our furry friends and our goal is to help all owners, new or experienced, care for their cats with all the right food, toys, equipment, and accessories.