LIFE HACK: Think outside the litter box with scoopable cat litter

This time last year, we were fostering a timid black cat named Salem. This was a win-win for our family as it gave us an opportunity to see if cat ownership was for us — and our 100lb rescue dog, and it helped out a friend who needed to re-home her cat temporarily. In fact, prior to getting our rescue dog Havoc from the SPCA, we volunteered to pet sit a variety of dogs to give the kids an opportunity to test drive pet ownership. I can not stress enough how important this experience was, and how I totally recommend all families do this prior to making a commitment to any four legged canine friend. I’ve been a dog owner my whole life, but not for many years, and while you always remember how great it is to have a best friend and furry companion, you’re quick to forget the cons of pet ownership. If you’re interested in fostering a pet consider checking out Home At Last Dog Rescue, MIRA, VOKRA, or any other agency in your area. If fostering or pet ownership is not in the cards for you, consider making a donation to one of these great causes.

We learned a lot from our little kitty trial, most importantly, not all pets are created equal! Despite the fact that our veterinarian always commented on how much our dog loved cats, evidently not all cats are fond of a 100lb dog!

Though Salem is now back with his furever home, remnants of his time with us remain — random cat toys mixed in with the kids play stuff, a near empty bag of treats, and a bucket of the best scoopable cat litter. Unable to return the litter to Salem’s owner, and not wanting to be wasteful, I decided to find alternative uses and came up with this list of 9 other uses for scoopable cat litter.

Odor Eater
Naturally, one of the goals of kitty litter is to eliminate odors. Simply pour a cup of kitty litter into an old nylon, tie off the end and cut to size and you’ve got a quick and convenient DIY odor eater. Make a pair to leave in shoes, work boots or athletic footwear to eliminate odors and absorb moisture.

Traction
It’s hard to believe, but Metro Vancouver is in the middle of a crisis right now — a salty crisis! Abnormally high snowfall, coupled with cold weather has left the vast majority of Lower Mainland retailers SOLD OUT of snow melt and sand, leaving residents in a slippery situation. Did you know that in a pinch scoopable cat litter is an excellent source of traction. Cat litter is made primarily out of clay, and while it wont melt ice, it’s friendlier on the environment and will help keep you, and your four legged friends on your feet this winter.Oil Spills
When your driveway isn’t covered in snow and ice, scoopable cat litter is a great solve for oil or other hazardous spills. Additionally, if you notice your driveway is discolored with old oil stains, simply cover the stain in a small amount paint thinner, then cover with kitty litter and let sit for at least 12 hours and the stain will have magically disappeared!

Drying Electronics
Have you ever dropped your iPhone into the toilet, a puddle, or have just taken too many rainy day selfies? Even if you’ve never unintentionally submerged your phone, you’ve likely heard that a bag of rice can restore your wet electronics. Well, scoopable cat litter can do the same! Just make sure to put your device in a nylon or light sock prior to it’s kitty litter bath to protect your screen from scratches.

Gardening
Adding scoopable cat litter to plant pots, especially ones with minimal drainage like mason jars or terrariums helps to keep roots evenly hydrated and plants happy. Adding a ring of kitty litter along the top of the soil on outdoor plans and gardens can also help to keep slugs, snails and other pests away.

And because what kind of person would I be if I didn’t close this out with a cat video?