Composting Pet Waste: Safety and Commercial Viability

Composting dog and cat feces requires specialized high-temperature composters that maintain lethal temperatures throughout the process to destroy human pathogens and parasites. This is not achievable in typical home compost piles.

For animal shelter-scale operations: contact your local county extension office for approved methods and permitting requirements. Commercial composting of pet waste may require specific licenses and pathogen testing. Without proper high-temperature management, the resulting compost poses health risks and should not be used on edible crops or marketed as fertilizer.

Stick with herbivore manures (cow, horse, chicken) for safe, effective composting.