Just to be pedantic, its toxoplasmosis, not taxa...
Scott O'Keeffe
JAKozup wrote in message ... > >I read the "Humanure Book" on-line and did a search about Taxoplasmosis. >I have six cats, but only about 5000 sq ft of yard. The facts about cat >fesces are: >1. Hot composting(at least 160 degrees F for 5-7 days)will kill taxo cysts. > 1-2 days of below 0 degrees F will also kill the Taxo cysts. >2. The procedure for safely composting cat or dog fesces is > a) Hot composting to achieve 160 degree temperatures. > Be sure! Use a compost thermometer. It must be maintained > for at least 5 days, then the pile turned and 160 degrees for > another 5 days, I usually get another turn and another 5 days > of high heat--but I have access to a supply of goat manure. > b) Long settling period, over at least one cold season. > The Humanure guy suggests at least 2 years after which time the > compost can be used even for food crops! >3. Burying the cat fesces at least 12 inches deep, as suggested by the
first > post, will work because even if the cysts survive the freezing >temperatures > (or if you don't have freezing temperatures)they will be too far below > the surface for any likelihood of another creature ingesting them, with > the exception of earthworms--who probably won't transport them close > enough to the surface for worry. The cysts will die after 5-6 years >without > a host. Obviously the deeper you go, the less likely it is to cause
any > problems to anyone in the future--2 to 2.5 feet is the deepest I'd go >because > then even potatoes wouldn't be within 1 foot of the cat fesces residue. > I think potatoes are the deepest growing food crop. Especially if you > are growing food crops, bury about a foot below the furthest down that > the deepest tubers will be!! >4. Encourage your cats to "use" a certain area of your yard by making it > more inviting to them--(and make sure your children do not play there) > a) loosen the soil to make it attractive for them to bury their poop. > I use an EZ-Tiller($5)which is like a garden weasel cultivator- > a device with 3 spoked wheels to loosen the soil(easier than >digging) > and is used by rolling it along the ground. > b) add builders(coarse)sand to make it drain well > >I compost my six cat's manure using the hot composting and then a yearlong >seasoning(over at least one sub-zero winter). I then use that compost in >my flower beds(I don't grow food crops on my wooded and shaded yard). > >I hope this was helpful >John A. Kozup >Northeastern Ohio > wrote in message >news:MOD$001223.13091@rec.gardens.ecosystems... >> >> I was wondering about the possibility of recycling cat feces. I have two >> cats. I don't like to just flush it down the toilet, as it increases the >> chances that my toilet will stop up, and I don't like to put it in the >> garbage, either, as that seems unsanitary and smelly for the garbage >> people to have to deal with. We have a really big yard (about 1.6 acres) >> and I'd like to be able to just bury it and have nature take care of it. >> >> Does anyone have any suggestions or know of any way to decompose the cat >> feces once it's buried so it is not liable to spread disease to other >> animals? Or do you know of any literature that deals with the subject? >> Any tips would be greatly appreciated. >> >> >> Sent via Deja.com >> http://www.deja.com/ >> >> > >