How Did Cowboys Wipe Their Bottoms In The Old West?

If you grew up watching old western movies, you may have wondered: how exactly did cowboys wipe their bottoms when out on the range? Riding horses and herding cattle across wide open plains, cowboys didn’t exactly have easy bathroom access. So what did they use when nature called?

If you’re short on time, here’s a quick answer to your question: Cowboys relied on natural materials like leaves, grass, snow, rocks, corn cobs, and catalog pages to wipe their bottoms when out on the range.

They dug holes as makeshift outhouses and lacked modern toilet paper and sanitation methods common today.

In this comprehensive article, we’ll explore the privy practices of cattle drivers during the late 1800s. From the tools they used to the creative techniques they developed, we’ll uncover the wild and often unsanitary ways cowboys managed their most private business out on the range.

Outhouses and Latrines Were Rare on the Range

Life on the open range in the Old West was often a lonely and challenging existence for cowboys. Permanent structures and facilities were few and far between as cowboys drove cattle over vast distances. This posed a particular problem when nature called and cowboys needed to relieve themselves.

Outhouses and latrines were a rare luxury in the untamed wilderness of the frontier.

Cowboys lacked permanent facilities

Unlike townsfolk who lived in established communities, cowboys did not have the convenience of outhouses or latrines while working cattle drives. The very nature of their work meant they were constantly on the move across open country. Carrying around wooden privies was simply not practical.

As a result, cowboys had to learn to adapt and get creative when they needed to “go”.

According to historical accounts, cowboys would often plan their schedule around when and where they could stop to relieve themselves. Herd stops were coordinated to allow cowboys time to dig a hole or find a private spot behind bushes. But opportunities were still limited.

Cowboy campsites were temporary and did not include designated privy areas. Even when the herd bedded down near a creek for the night, cowboys lacked permanent latrines. This made personal hygiene and sanitation a challenge on months-long journeys across the plains.

They dug holes called “cat holes” as needed

When cowboys had to take care of business away from camp, they would dig a hole using a shovel or boot heel. These improvised toilets were dubbed “cat holes” and provided cowboys their only private portable facility.

To dig a cat hole, cowboys would scout around for a site that offered privacy from the herd and fellow cowboys. Sandy riverbanks, prairie washes, and areas behind rock outcroppings were preferred locations. A hole about one foot deep would be dug using a shovel or boot heel.

After finishing their business, the cowboy would fill in the cat hole with dirt to prevent livestock from being attracted to the human scent.

Some accounts mention cowboys carrying a biscuit tin for waste after digging a cat hole. But in general, toilet paper was rare. Leaves, grass, corn cobs, rocks, and catalogs or almanacs were frequently used instead. Cowboys also made use of every water source they encountered to keep clean.

Creeks allowed them to bathe and wash clothes when possible.

Cat holes remained the go-to portable toilet solution for cowboys spending months at a time on cattle drives across the frontier. They adapted to the challenging and unsanitary conditions as a necessity of life on the open range. Carrying a privy simply was not realistic given the distances covered.

But cat holes allowed cowboys to take care of business with at least some dignity and privacy out in the wilderness.

Natural Materials Were Used in Place of Toilet Paper

Leaves, grass, snow and water were options

In the Old West, toilet paper as we know it today simply did not exist. Cowboys and settlers had to improvise and use what nature provided instead. Some common natural materials they relied on included:

• Leaves – All types of leaves could work, including softer ones like mullein or broadleaf plantain leaves.
• Grass – Bunches of grass or hay were another handy option if leaves weren’t available.
• Snow – In winter, clean snow often served as a refreshing cleaning agent.
• Water – When near a creek or lake, cowboys might rinse off with the water.

Using leaves, grass, snow, or water got the job done on the range. However, most agree it was a rough and unsanitary solution compared to modern toilet paper. Rashes and infections were common if natural materials were not properly cleaned or changed out.

Rocks, corncobs and catalogs worked too

When no vegetation was available, cowboys and settlers got creative with other makeshift toilet paper alternatives:

• Rocks – Finding a smooth rock was less abrasive than rough leaves.
• Corncobs – Dried corncobs could be used and even reused (though not ideal).
• Catalogs and newspapers – Paper catalogs, magazines, or newspapers offered a softer option.

Corncobs were perhaps the most popular stand-in for toilet paper. In fact, using dried corncobs became common enough throughout the frontier that it earned the nickname “Missouri corn cob pipe. “ Still, with no real toilet paper available, personal hygiene suffered greatly compared to today’s standards.

Rates of dysentery and other sanitation related diseases were unfortunately high in 19th century America. Life on the frontier meant making do with what nature provided for personal care and hygiene. Toilet paper as we now know it was a luxury not invented and mass produced until the late 1800s.

Even then, it took awhile before toilet paper became affordable and widely used in rural areas and by those in the working class.

Poor Hygiene and Sanitation Had Health Risks

Disease spread from lack of handwashing

In the Old West, personal hygiene was quite poor compared to modern standards. People did not understand how diseases spread or the importance of washing hands and maintaining cleanliness. This led to many outbreaks of infectious diseases like cholera, typhoid fever, and dysentery.

These diseases spread rapidly in crowded frontier towns that had contaminated water sources and inadequate waste disposal. According to the National Institutes of Health, cholera alone killed over 15,000 people in the US in the 1800s.

Cowboys in particular had limited access to bathing and handwashing on the trail. Their hands frequently became contaminated with dirt, animal waste, and bacteria when working with livestock. Yet they still ate with their hands and did not always wash them before meals.

One academic article notes that cowboys only bathed weekly or monthly, allowing “layers of sweat, grime, and dead skin” to build up. Such poor hand hygiene certainly contributed to disease transmission in the Old West.

Contaminated water sources caused illness

Drinking water in the Old West was often taken directly from rivers, streams, or shallow wells without any treatment. However, these sources were frequently contaminated by upstream communities discharging waste and sewage directly into the water.

Cholera, typhoid, and other diseases could spread rapidly when people drank the contaminated water. One history article estimates 200 people died in one cholera outbreak in San Francisco likely caused by contaminated water from the city’s rapid growth and lack of sanitation infrastructure.

Even wells and rainwater cisterns intended for clean water were at risk of contamination from runoff or waste seeping into groundwater supplies. A 2015 journal article analyzed skeletons from a 1850s cemetery in California and found many showed signs of severe diarrhea and dysentery, likely due to contaminated water.

Providing clean drinking water was a significant challenge in Old West towns and out on the trails, contributing to poor health.

Outhouses Became More Common in Towns and Camps

Permanent Outhouses Offered Some Relief

As frontier towns grew into more established communities, residents desired increased sanitation and amenities (True West Magazine). Permanent outhouses began appearing behind hotels, saloons, homes and public buildings, offering folks a bit more refined place to take care of business than just finding a discreet tree or bush out back.

Outhouses were typically located 50-75 feet from any building or water supply to try to avoid contaminating drinking water. They were often rudimentary small wooden sheds situated over a pit in the ground. But they did offer some privacy and relief from the elements.

Some frontier towns even employed “nightmen” to service the outhouses – cleaning them out and replacing the waste buckets. Though the job was unpleasant, being a nightman did provide a regular income.

Outhouse Designs and Features Evolved Over Time

Early outhouse pits were open holes in the ground, which could breed flies and spread disease. Over time, wooden crates or barrels would be placed underground to contain the waste and reduce smells.

As sawmills proliferated, outhouses began being constructed from wood, sometimes with a front door for entry and ventilation. More elaborate outhouses had multiple seats with privacy walls, providing accommodation for more patrons.

Outhouses evolved handy features like corn cobs or catalogs for wiping, lanterns for nighttime visits, and even amusing half-moon cutouts on the doors.

So while outhouses remained rustic and pungent, moving from bushes to dedicated outdoor privies did make taking care of business a cleaner and more civilized endeavor as the frontier was tamed.

Toilet Paper Slowly Caught On Later in the 1800s

Early toilet paper was rough and expensive

In the early to mid 1800s, toilet paper as we know it today was just being introduced in America. Before then, people relied on things like corn cobs, leaves, rags, or old newspapers. The first commercial toilet paper wasn’t available until 1857. It was very rough and stiff, similar to cardboard.

This early toilet paper was also quite expensive, as it was made from higher quality paper or even silk. The average person could not afford it, especially in the still largely rural and sprawling frontier lands of the Old West.

Mass production made it more widespread

By the 1880s and 1890s, the mass production of toilet paper on rollers had begun. Machinery innovations allowed factories to produce softer, thinner, and more affordable toilet paper. Major brands like Scott and Charmin got their start during this period.

The proliferation of catalogs, magazines, and other inexpensive paper goods also provided alternate “toilet paper” options for less affluent people out West around this time. Still, even into the early 20th century, some people would use pages from catalogs, almanacs, newspapers, or corn cobs instead of store-bought toilet paper.

Conclusion

With scarce resources and primitive conditions, cowboys had to get creative with their bathroom habits while out on the range. Their unsanitary practices posed many health hazards during long days of driving cattle.

While outhouses, toilet paper and modern plumbing took time to reach the frontier, they no doubt brought the cowboys of the Old West some well-needed relief.