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Flushable Cat Litter: Should You Use It?

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The Real Scoop on Flushable Cat Litter

Flushable cat litter sounds like a good idea on the surface. After all, it would be convenient to just scoop out all those stinky clumps and flush them down the toilet. If only it were that simple!

Unfortunately, flushable cat litter is not a good choice. It could discourage your cat from using the litter box, it will eventually help clog up your pipes anyway. Darn it!

The Problem with Flushable Cat Litter

Cat Litter You can Flush sounds Good, but...

Although Premium Choice and others might want you to believe that their cat litter is flushable, that's really not true. Septic systems aren't designed to handle stuff like cat litter, and eventually it will help clog up your toilet.

Some people who used flushable cat litter found that they needed to flush the toilet several times just to get the clumps down the pipes.

You may also want to avoid this kind of cat litter because of how it may affect your cat. It doesn't clump as well as other litter brands. As it crumbles, it could permeate the rest of the litter with an odor that repels your cat from the litter box. Not all cats are fastidious about this, but some definitely are.

Did You Know?

Scientists discovered that the dropping sea otter population is linked to Toxoplasma gondii. As it happens, cats are the only creatures who shed this parasite in their feces.

Although there are different causes at work here, cat feces flushed down the toilet can contribute to the problem.

What Should You Do with Cat Litter?

Quite simply, drop those "kitty clumps" in a plastic bag, seal the bag, and throw it away.

You can always use those plastic bags from the grocery store, more economical than buying plastic baggies. Be sure to double-bag, since they often have holes.

Supporting Links

Could cat waste be killing sea otters?: 2003 article about the link between dying sea otters and cat waste.
The Pros and Cons of Flushable Cat Litter: Weighing the advantages and disadvantages of flushable cat litter.
Question about flushing kitty litter: A discussion thread on TheCatSite.com forums.

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debissima Oct 10, 2011 @ 2:24 pm | delete

OK - so I prefer flushable to prevent garbage waste. I've been using Worlds Best, as it's oat-based. Now they say that it's PREFERRABLE to bag and toss - forget about all those plastic bags of litter and waste rotting away, not breaking down in our landfills, due to the plastic bags. WHAT'S A PERSON TO DO?

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Showpup Sep 9, 2011 @ 5:12 pm | delete

Years ago, I tried this type of litter when I only had one cat. It ended with us replacing the toilet completely! Awful stuff!

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pacamacatzee Sep 13, 2011 @ 11:40 am | delete

try veggiepets for some choices... i use the silica gel crystals for a good all round result!
Toilet, white cat and all that live in MAINS drainss....btw no CLAY BASED LITTER can be FLUSHED!!!! successfully
errrr..... you wouldn't flush soil down the loo, let alone clumping clay!! serious bloat!
use mini amount and change daily, no big prob; cheaper in long run...even tho mfg. reckons can leave for 28 days??? no need, easy to flush morning/even or both!
dont like idea of scooping/mixing!!!! rather just dispose down loo :-)) no worries about corona virus in multi-cat household :-)) (FIP is always fatal).
Litter trays in the porch...not house...cats do not roam, small containd side garden for them :-)) Birds tweet at them :-)) he! He!