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Why You Shouldn’t Flush Cat Litter Down the Toilet
Disposing of your cat’s litter is not exactly a pleasant task that cat-parents must endure but disposing of it in the right way makes a massive difference to our environment.
We often get asked whether Catmate litter is flushable, as many cat owners are under the impression that natural cat litters are more environmentally friendly than the traditional alternatives.
As an environmental company that cares about the planet we would reply, that whilst exceedingly small quantities can be flushed, should you?
Read on to find out why you shouldn’t flush cat waste and how you can dispose of cat litter more sustainably.
What is Flushable Litter?
Catmate is not advertised as a flushable litter, but flushable litters are made with biodegradable materials like corn, pine, wheat or other types of wood. Non-flushable litters are more clay or paper based, or are made from silica.
Litter and Your Pipes
Flushing any type of cat litter especially paper, clay or clumping litter is not a clever idea as it will play havoc with your toilet system and send harmful parasites into water treatment plants that are not equipped for pet waste. Some litters are not designed for septic systems, and some septic systems will not break down materials like cat faecal matter and litter. Cat waste quickly dehydrates and hardens in litter and is more likely to create a clog.
Introducing Parasites into Waterways
Pet waste is generally classified as a pollutant that can harm fish and wildlife, and can foul drinking waters. Cat waste may contain the parasite Toxoplasma gondii. This parasite is deadly, not only does it affect aquatic life but poses a health risk to humans, especially pregnant women. Most water treatment plants are designed to manage human waste and not animal faeces that carry parasites.
Learn more about Toxoplasma gondii and Toxoplasmosis at www.health.vic.gov.au/infectious-diseases/toxoplasmosis
The Answer? Go Green!
The greenest way to dispose of litter is by first bagging the cat faeces into a biodegradable bag and placing this in your general waste bin, then composting the biodegradable litter that hasn’t been soiled. If using regular clay or silicone-based litter, do not compost this waste because these substances do not breakdown. Do remember though that whilst Catmate can be added to your compost, it should be kept away from edible gardens.
Check out our composting article that will give you tips on how to compost Catmate Cat Litter. Click here to read article
Safety
To prevent the transmission of bacteria-based diseases, pet owners should wash their hands at once after handling cat waste, pregnant women should wear gloves or have a family member take over this task.
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