Composting is a wonderful way to turn garbage and waste into fertilizer for your plants and soil. Plenty of items can go into the compost, but many people wonder if you can compost cat hair and fur.
Compost is an organic material that has been broken down, which nourishes the soil and your plants. Fortunately, cat hair and fur are excellent sources of nutrients and perfect for composting. Find out how you can add your cat’s fur to your compost to recycle and reuse waste.
What Is Composting?
Composting is a natural process of recycling organic matter, such as food and leaves, into fertilizer for plants and soil. Anything organic decomposes over time and nourishes the soil, so the goal of composting is to speed up the process.
Once all the organic matter is mixed, it creates the ideal environment for fungi, bacteria, worms, and nematodes to do their work.
Composting has many benefits, including:
- Reducing waste in landfills
- Lowering methane emissions
- Improving soil health
- Preventing soil erosion
- Conserving water
- Repurposing personal food waste
Composting is used in everything from industrial-scale facilities and agriculture to small community gardens, but you can do your part by composting at home and reducing your waste output.
Composting Cat Hair and Fur
Compost is created by layering green or moist ingredients, such as food waste and fresh grass, with brown or dry ingredients, such as dead leaves. The chemicals all come together to decompose, leading to a brown mass packed with nutrients.
Green components typically include old food, pulled weeds, and freshly cut grass, while brown components include dried leaves, shredded newspaper, and twigs. Cat hair and fur, as well as hair or fur from humans or other animals, are part of the green component and add nitrogen to the compost. Brown components add carbon to the compost.
How to Compost Cat Hair and Fur
All you have to do to recycle cat hair and fur in your compost is add to the rest of the green ingredients when you layer. Hair breaks down more easily if it’s thinned and spread out, however, so avoid putting hair in big clumps throughout your other ingredients.
If you want to speed up the decomposition process, put a tarp over your compost pile to hold in heat and moisture. Stir up the compost a few times a week to aerate and accelerate decomposition. Typically, hair will be decomposed enough to add to garden soil after about a month.
If you want to recycle even more and improve your compost, don’t stop at your own cat’s fur. You can add hair from the drain or your hairbrush to the pile, as well as fur from your dog. If you have a groomer or salon nearby, ask them for the extra hair clippings to add to your compost heap. You’ll not only help them get rid of waste, but you’ll add a lot of nitrogen to your compost.
Conclusion
If you like to compost, cat hair and fur are a great addition to your compost for vital nutrients. You can add your cat’s hair and fur from grooming for a little variety or go all-out and visit neighborhood groomers and salons for spare hair clippings and a good boost of nitrogen for your soil and plants.
Featured Image Credit: lev.studio, Shutterstock
What Is Composting?
