Horticultural Grit - can I use cat litter?

emujuice

Hi all,

I've got a load of cat litter I don't need (they're finally going out doors and we've got a catflap - marvelous!) - can I use it as horticultural grit - at the bottom/top of pots - eg potting up bulbs??
Thanks muchly!

teapot2

Really not sure - some of the cat litter around has some kind of deoderising effect so not sure what that might do to plants. Also some will soak up liquid which is not really what you want as it might disintegrate over time. You could experiment by making up a 'dummy run' with some in soil at the top and bottom and water it over a week or so to see what happens????

Alternatively, hang on to some of the litter if you have the space as we got rid of ours then cat got injured and had to be kept indoors so we had to buy more.... If you can't keep it how about donating it to cat rescue or somewhere like that?

Farway

I have found that cat litter "clumps" when wet, presumably so the owner can oik out the wee'd on bit without throwing the whole tray away

So to answer your query, I would say no, it will not help drain your pots, the exact opposite in fact

frivolous_fay

Not all cat litter clumps... and I doubt the stuff we use even absorbs much!

~Chameleon~

If it's the clay variety then it will end up disintegrating when it gets wet and you'll end with a soggy grey mess which will do the exact opposite of what you want to achieve

Put some in a pot and add water then see what happens to it. That should tell you whether or not you can use it.

frivolous_fay

Ooh, excellent point, my garden is clay already, don't wish to add to it

torbrex

A good source of grit can be found where there have been roadworks, when the workmen are finished they gather up their temporary signs but usually leave behind the sacks of grit that are used to weigh them down.

emujuice

thanks all! will do some experimenting and see what happens, otherwise it'll be off to Sheffield cat shelter with it. it's only the cheap stuff anyway so not worth hanging on to just in case.
cheers all.

Pippilongstocking

hmm, would have thought that it would have chemicals in it that aint good for your plants (poor plants don't do it!!), (and for you if its for edible stuff) if its clay its probably going to alter your pH too - to be honest I would give it to the nice cats folk and grab some grit elsewhere or put all your old brokenclay/plates saucers etc pots in a study bag, get a hammer and bash the living daylights out of them, instant gravel, but be careful of sharp edges!! Good stress management therapy too!

have fun...........

Mustang

Yes you can, as long as it's the expanded/fired granule type of litter, not the clumping, paper, corn, clay-based or other degradable stuff. For instance, Tesco Premium light cat litter is the one I tend to use.

This type of litter looks like small, orangy-coloured granules. It's often used by Bonsai growers in particular. I use it in my compost mixes as well for my plants. It provides great drainage and weight. I wash it first before use, to get rid of the perfumed dust, then mix it in with the compost.

Saying that, the local cats protection people would probably make good use of it in it's intended purpose as well