Can Cat Litter Be Flushed Down The Toilet?

If you own a cat or more than one, you probably know that cleaning those litter boxes is just about the worst thing about owning a cat. And you may think that it would just be easier if you could flush that cat litter down the toilet – instead of bagging it and disposing of it.

Well – we are here to tell you that as professional plumbers, we advise you NOT to do that!

The reason is that the majority of cat litters are made with bentonite clay and non-clumping litters are normally made up of zeolite, diatomite and sepiolite. But, whater “ite” these litters consist of, the point here is that these ingredients are NOT biodegradable and can cause serious damage to your home’s sewer pipes.

These materials can clump together and basically create a large “rock” which can not only block your pipes but depending on what the pipes are made of – could also crack and puncture them as well.

So, you may now be wondering if there is such a thing as a kitty litter product that you can flush down your toilet?

What Kind Of Cat Litter IS Flushable?

There are kitty litters available that claim to be flushable – these are usually made with ingredients such as corn or wheat or some type of shredded wood. So, it seems that they would be biodegradable (which they can be) and it would be fine to flush them.

• Not all flushable cat litter products work with all septic systems – so you may end up with problems there


 
• It’s advised to break up any large clumps before you flush it – so that means that larger clumps can clog the pipes


 
• If you have a water saving type of toilet – the flushing power on that toilet is usually not strong enough to push those kinds of clumps further down the sewer system


 
• Most of us clean out a litter box once or twice a day so by the time you get to clean it – your cat’s poop has hardened – essentially making it a hard rock that you are flushing down your toilet


 
• Besides all the issues to your pipes – flushing down your cat’s urine and feces into the water system introduces parasites that really should not be there


 

Can Cat Poop Be Flushed Down The Toilet?

If you are thinking that maybe you can just flush your cat’s poop down the toilet without the litter (if you can separate the two) the answer to that is NO – do not do that.

As I said earlier – by the time you get to your litter box to clean it – your cat’s fecal matter has been sitting there for a while (usually) and that means that it has hardened. It’s basically like a rock at this point and you would then be flushing down a very hard substance down your toilet and into your sewer pipes.

Never mind the biological factor that the fecal matter that a cat excretes contains the parasite Toxoplasma gondii which is dangerous to humans that are immuno compromised.

How Long Does It Take For Cat Litter To Clog A Toilet?

The answer to this is it depends on the condition of your sewer pipes. If they are already compromised – then it won’t take long at all – it could even be immediately after you flush it.

• Gurgling sounds from your drains or toilets


 
• Water backing up out of drains or toilets


 
• Water pooling around drains or toilets


 
• Smell of raw sewage coming from your drains


 

How Do You Properly Dispose Of Kitty Litter?

Most everyone has their own method of disposing kitty litter – but basically the main idea is to dispose of it into your regular garbage. Here are some methods most commonly used.

• Scoop out the kitty litter clumps into a plastic bag (biodegradable bag if possible) and dispose of it with your regular garbage


 
• You can use old food bags such as the inner lining of cereal boxes and cracker boxes, old potato chip bags, etc.

 

https://www.atlantisplumbing.com/articles/can-cat-litter-be-flushed-down-the-toilet/

Why Can’t I Flush Cat Poop?

It Spreads a Parasite

Cats are frequently infected with a parasite called toxoplasma gondii. The parasite causes an infection called toxoplasmosis. It is usually harmless to cats. The parasite only uses cat poop as a host for its eggs. Otherwise, the cat’s immune system usually keeps the infection at low enough levels to maintain its own health. But it does not stop the develop of eggs. These eggs are tiny and surprisingly tough. They may survive for a year before they begin to grow. But that’s the problem.

Our wastewater system is not designed to deal with toxoplasmosis eggs. Instead, most eggs will flush from your toilet into sewers and wastewater management plants. After the sewage is treated for many other harmful things in it, it is typically released into local rivers, lakes, or oceans. Here, the toxoplasmosis eggs can find new hosts, including starfish, crabs, otters, and many other wildlife. For many, this is a significant risk to their health. Toxoplasmosis can also end up infecting water sources that are important for agriculture, which means our deer, pigs, and sheep can get infected too.

Is There Risk to Humans?

There can be a risk to human life from flushing cat poop down the toilet. If you do so, the parasites from your cat’s poop can end up in shellfish, game animals, or livestock. If this meat is then served raw or undercooked, the people who eat it can get sick.

In fact, according to the CDC, 40 million people in the United States are infected with toxoplasma gondii. They get it from exposure to infected seafood, or from some kind of cat poop contamination, like drinking from a stream that is contaminated or touching anything that has come into contact with cat poop. That includes just cleaning a cat litter box.

Most people who get infected with these parasites will not develop any symptoms. However, for pregnant women or for those with compromised immune systems, the parasite can cause severe health problems.

How to Handle Cat Poop

The best way to handle cat poop is actually to clean the box more often. The eggs that the parasite sheds will not become active until one to five days after the cat poops. That means that if you clean daily, you’re much less likely to come into direct contact with infectious eggs.

That said, always dispose of cat poop in the garbage and not down the toilet. Wash your hands before and after you clean the litter box, and bring the bag of poop right outside to your garbage bins.

https://trenchlesssolutionsusa.com/why-cant-i-flush-cat-poop/

Why You Should NEVER Flush Cat Poop (and/or Litter) Down Your Toilet

The Problem with Litter

The main function of litter is to solidify and adhere to your cat’s waste. While this makes litter excellent for collecting cat poop and urine, it’s also the exact property that makes it a nightmare when flushed down the toilet.

Cat litter can and will clog pipes. There is non-clumping litter, but it’s still quite heavy and can build up in pipes. This is true even of supposed “flushable litter.”

The problems only compound when the litter is already clumped into cat waste. Toilet paper is among the more flushable things, and even too much of that will clog a toilet.

The Problem with Cat Poop

Sewers and septic systems are designed with human waste in mind. The microbes that help break down human waste don’t work on cat waste. Additionally, cat poop plays host to the parasite Toxoplasma gondii.

When flushed, this parasite can enter the environment in places it was never meant to, posing a risk to pregnant women, their unborn children, and other people with compromised immune systems. While it might not seem possible, flushing cat poop can indeed introduce this parasite to the public water supply.

These reasons are why, even if you’ve trained your cat to go on the toilet and flush, which is possible, it’s still not a good idea. Also, pregnant women and the immunocompromised shouldn’t change litter, either.

How to Handle Litter

The best way to handle litter is to simply put it in a plastic bag and place it in the trash. Avoiding environmental risks and possible plumbing damage is worth the extra effort.

You can also invest in devices that seal away your cat’s waste in a separate compartment, so you don’t have to change the litter nearly as often. They’re also safer for pet owners because they limit the possibility of Toxoplasma gondii exposure.

Disposing of litter the old-fashioned way will ensure you won’t have to worry about any issues that flushing the waste can potentially cause.

Take Care of Clogged Pipes with Stephens Plumbing, Heating & Air Conditioning

The reasons you should never flush cat poop down your toilet are numerous, but sometimes the inevitable happens despite your best efforts.

Stephens Plumbing, Heating & Air Conditioning is ready to help if you’re experiencing litter-blocked plumbing. Whether you need us in an emergency or want to schedule regular maintenance, we’re here for you.

https://www.stephensplumbing.net/bathroom-plumbing/never-flush-cat-poop-down-your-toilet/