Abstract: A scoop for use in removing waste material from cat litter comprises a shovel portion and a handle portion. The shovel portion includes a base panel, two side panels and a rear panel, with each of the panels including a multiplicity of elongated slots for straining the cat litter. The handle portion is connected to the rear panel of the shovel portion near the top and a protective shield extends downwardly from the upper surface of the rear panel at an acute angle. The protective shield extends a distance sufficient to minimize the likelihood of a person's hand from contacting cat litter as it is sifted through the slots in the rear panel.