cathole

{{short description|Pit for human feces}}

{{for-multi|the Connecticut mountain|Cathole Mountain|the cave in Wales|Cathole Cave}}

File:Cathole.png

A cathole or cat hole or sometimes pighole{{cite book | last=Meyer | first=Kathleen | title=How to Shit in the Woods: An Environmentally Sound Approach to a Lost Art | year=2011 | publisher=Ten Speed Press | edition=3rd | isbn = 978-1-58008-363-8| page=13 | quote=our small one-sit hole (also termed a cat hole) }} is a pit for human feces. Catholes are frequently used for the purpose of disposing of bowel movements or waste water (such as the water from cleaning the kitchen dishes) by hikers and others engaging in outdoor recreation.

They can also be used to dispose of menstruum from a menstrual cup.{{cite web |last1=Maiers |first1=Bobbi |last2=April 15 |first2=Alicia MacLeay |title=Human Waste Disposal in the Backcountry: How to pee and poop in the woods - Trailspace |url=https://www.trailspace.com/articles/backcountry-waste-disposal.html |website=www.trailspace.com |access-date=1 September 2024 |language=en}}

According to the Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics, catholes should be dug at least {{convert|200|ft|m|-1}} from water sources, walking trails or campsites. Additionally, the same cathole should not be used twice. Catholes should be between {{convert|6|and|8|in|cm}} deep and disguised after use to prevent access by animals, some of which are coprophagous.{{Cite web|date=2017-02-18|title=When Nature Calls: How to Dig a Cathole|url=https://lnt.org/when-nature-calls-how-to-dig-a-cathole/|access-date=2021-04-03|website=Leave No Trace|language=en-US}}{{Cite web|title=Catholes: Proper Disposal of Human Waste|url=https://www.scouting.org/programs/scouts-bsa/troop-resources/leave-no-trace/teaching-leave-no-trace/053c-dispose/|access-date=2021-04-03|website=Boy Scouts of America|language=en-US}} The digging of catholes is forbidden in some regions of high elevation where the climate can hinder the decomposition of waste.{{Cite web|title=How to Dig a Cathole - Trail to Summit|url=http://www.trailtosummit.com/how-to-dig-a-cathole/|access-date=2021-04-03|website=www.trailtosummit.com}}