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Using soil used for cat toilet

RosemaryBRosemaryB Posts: 4
in Problem solving
We have just moved into a new house and want to start doing up the garden.  There is a small trough of soil (see picture) which was used by the previous tenant for Cat Grass for their cat and I think the cat also used as a toilet.  I was thinking of taking it apart and decanting the soil into big pots to start growing plants in but a friend said the soil could be toxic because of the cat faeces.
Would anyone know if the soil is usable?

Posts

  • BenCottoBenCotto Posts: 4,718
    I remember well the advice of my geography teacher c.1964 “Don’t eat lettuce in Belgium, boys, they fertilise it with night soil.”

    I would not bother reusing the soil in pots. The disease risk I would deem to be very slight but cats’ urine might have made it quite acidic. Then there will be weed seeds and possibly limited fertility. I would use compost specific for the purpose in your pots. The retaining boards on that raised bed are terribly thin. It would not surprise me if they disintegrate on dismantling due to the seepage of damp into the wood.
    Rutland, England
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    My only addition to the information above is that if you are likely to become pregnant you should be aware of the dangers of toxoplasmosis to a foetus, and take appropriate precautions. 

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • AnniDAnniD Posts: 12,585
    I agree, l would use fresh compost for the pots. However if you have other flower beds in the garden it's okay to transfer it there and dig it in (imo). It does look like it will disintegrate the minute you start dismantling it !  
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