Flushable Cat Litter

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What is flushable cat litter?

Most cat litter is made of clay minerals that can absorb their weight in water. Cat litter manufacturers also use a number of additives, including baking soda to absorb smells, fragrances to mask unpleasant scents. Antibacterial agents are added to kill odor-causing bacteria.

Some manufacturers have started to make flushable cat litter using various water soluble and biodegradable materials that can safely go down the toilet. Commonly used materials for flushable cat litter include wheat starch, whole-kernel corn, processed corncobs, wood pulp, peanut shells, orange peels, and recycled paper.

Unlike conventional kitty litters, flushable cat litter will not turn into a sludge that can clog up sewage pipes. While absorbent clay materials are non-biodegradable or takes years to degrade, natural occurring bacteria in the septic tank or sewer systems decomposes flushable cat litter naturally and rapidly.

Why buy flushable cat litter?

Traditional litters require scooping the used litter and waste into a plastic trash bag, and then throwing it out to the trash. This method of disposal can be a major problem for cat owners who live in apartments several floors up from the garbage bin or dumpster, the elderly and people with limited mobility and when it is snowing or raining heavily. Flushable cat litter ensures quick and convenient waste removal. Used litter can be flushed immediately and help to provide a sanitary environment.

Silica dust from clay cat litters can cause coughing, wheezing and other respiratory problems when it gets into your cat’s lungs. Organic flushable cat litters do not pose this health problem.

Flushable cat litter, unlike clay, will not stick to your cat’s fur and spread around the house. Additionally, cats may ingest superabsorbent clay litters if they lick their paws after doing their business in the box.

Approximately 160,000 tons of non-biodegradable clay cat litter ends up in municipal solid-waste landfills every year. Biodegradable flushable cat litter will not add to the already overloaded landfills. In fact, other than flushing it, they are ideal compost material and organic fertilizer.

Additional Information

Although they are designed to go through pipes, it is not advisable to discard large amounts of flushable litter down the toilet. Flush them down in small quantities.

Cats are the primary hosts of the parasite Toxoplasma gondii. The organism is transmitted to other animals through their feces. Because water treatment facilities are not designed to kill T. gonddi, the parasites may spread to rivers, lakes and seas. Scientists suspect the parasite is responsible for the premature deaths of sea otters. Throw your flushable litter in the garbage if your cat has not been tested and cleared of this parasite.