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story identification - Do Heinlein's novels mention a plausible zero-gravity cat litter box?


I have read a lot of science fiction works with cats being the optimal space pet. I know Heinlein was a cat person, and I am thinking he had a solution for cats doing their business in space, but I can't recall what or where it was.


I posted a couple of questions here and here about the reality of cats and litter boxes in zero/micro gravity. The comments on those questions are leaning towards it being impossible, but I feel sure that of all the cat in space stories there must have been practical solutions. I have searched for Pixel (The Cat Who Walks Through Walls) and litter box without finding anything. I have not read about Pixel for a while so I don't recall how much time he spent in zero G, but I do recall his needs being a priority.


Did Heinlein ever identify how his cats were able to pee/poop in space, in this or any other of his novels?



Answer



I am not aware of an instance in which Heinlein explains how cats would relieve themselves in space. However, Jack McDevitt includes a zero-gravity litter box in the short story "The Cat's Pajamas". The litter box




used magnetic gravel and gentle suction to overcome the problems of a zero-gee environment.



The story is available in the short story collection Armored. A description of the story by the author can be found here (H/T @Richard).


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