![\"Cat](\"https:\/\/scottsbathrooms.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/cat-litter.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\nThe most traditional (and most common) type of cat litter is the one made of clay. Typically, this kind of cat litter is made in a way so that it clumps whenever it absorbs moisture. In other words, it transforms into a scoopable clump every time it absorbs fluids, which is precisely what turns it into a great choice for managing cat urine.<\/p>\n
However, this type of cat litter should never be flushed down the toilet, no matter what type of toilet flush system<\/a> you have, one really doesn\u2019t have to be an expert to realize this. It can cause severe damage to the septic tank and clog the toilet pipes.<\/p>\n Oh, and if you are also asking: Can you flush dental floss in the toilet?<\/a> The answer is also no. But can you flush tampons down the toilet?<\/a> Still a hard no.<\/p>\n If you own a cat, you\u2019ve probably seen cat litter that is labeled as \u201cflushable\u201d during your visits to the pet store. Have you ever wondered whether it\u2019s really flushable or is that just a marketing trick used to make this product appealing to cat owners?<\/p>\n Technically speaking, yes, this type of cat litter is flushable. That doesn\u2019t, however, mean that you should dispose of it by flushing it down your toilet. Look at it in this way – you\u2019re totally capable of swallowing a small bar of soap, but does that mean that you actually should swallow it? There’s a chance that it won’t flush properly<\/a>.<\/p>\n This type of cat litter was made in a way so that it can easily slide down the waste pipe. But, just like in the case of soap and your throat, it still shouldn\u2019t be flushed down the toilet – ever.<\/p>\n While it\u2019s true that the people who make flushable cat litter do so with the clogging issues in mind, clogging is not the only problem cat litter can create. Flushing this loose, granular material down the toilet can cause one other, potentially very dangerous issue, which we\u2019ll discuss in the next paragraph.<\/p>\n It goes without saying, but used cat litter always contains some amount of cat excreta (feces). And, out of all warm-blooded animals in the world, our feline friends are the main carriers of a parasitic protozoan called Toxoplasma gondii, which can often be found in cat feces.<\/p>\n What makes this parasite notorious is the fact that it\u2019s the main causer of Toxoplasmosis, a disease that can be extremely dangerous for people with weak immune systems. Usually, a person isn\u2019t aware that he or she has this condition at all, as the healthy human body can fight it off quite easily.<\/p>\n However, in pregnant women and people with compromised immune systems, Toxoplasmosis can cause the death of the fetus, premature birth, loss of eyesight, and brain damage. What is more, this parasitic disease has been associated with a number of mental disorders, including schizophrenia and OCD (obsessive-compulsive disorder).<\/p>\n Toxoplasmosis doesn\u2019t affect only humans – it is just as dangerous to animals. For example, it can be life-threatening for marine mammals such as sea otters. So, whenever you throw the cat litter into the toilet and flush it down, there\u2019s a good chance you\u2019re infusing the water supply with Toxoplasma gondii and, in that way, increasing the chances of both humans and animals getting infected by it.<\/p>\n All septic systems are designed to break down toilet tissues and human waste – not the cat litter. Whether we\u2019re talking about non-flushable or flushable cat litter, this substance doesn\u2019t break down in the same way that human waste does.<\/p>\n Obviously, this can have a negative effect on the septic tank – it can damage it severely or cause it to overflow. So, avoid flushing cat litter down the toilet if you don\u2019t want to spend thousands upon thousands of dollars to have your septic tank repaired or rebuilt.<\/p>\nFlushable Cat Litter<\/h2>\n
Infusing Parasites into the Waterway<\/h2>\n
Damage to the Septic System & Clogging Issues<\/h2>\n
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