When scooping your kitty’s litter box, you may think that the easiest thing to do is to simply flush the poop down your toilet. However, septic systems aren’t primarily designed to break down feline poop. Having said that, flushing anything down your toilet other than toilet paper, human waste, and water can eventually lead to serious septic tank problems. Continue reading below to learn more about the effects of flushing down cat litter and cat poop on your septic system.
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Your septic system and cat poop: Things you should know
Cats are very loving and sweet creatures and the pet lovers among us willingly open our houses to them. But while you might be willing to share anything with your cats, your septic system shouldn’t be one of them.
When the poop of your cat sits in his litter box, it eventually dries out and becomes petrified poop. When the cat poop dries out, it could lead to clogs in your plumbing system. Septic systems often operate on a very delicate microbe balance that’s made to process human waste. Thus, cat poop will only add different microbes in which your septic system isn’t designed to handle.
Usually, cat poop contains Toxoplasma, which is a bad parasite that can cause serious human health problems. Since wastewater treatment systems and septic tank systems aren’t designed to handle this kind of parasite, they won’t be able to remove it from the septic water. Afterward, the polluted water will be released into the environment again, potentially harming local wildlife and humans.
What you need to know about your septic system and cat litter
Most cat litters for litter boxes are made of bentonite clay that hardens when it gets wet. The moment cat litter gets wet, it could create a hard consistency (just like a cement) that can solidify inside your plumbing pipes if you opt to flush down this type of litter down your toilet. When the litter hardens, it can lead to blockages and clogs. Also, any substance aside from toilet paper, human waste, or water really shouldn’t go down your septic tank.
Cat litter can’t be broken down just like these substances, which means it will only sit in your septic tank. It can also affect the bacterial balance in your septic tank and it will be difficult for the septic system to break down waste.
Things you should know about flushable cat litters
Flushable cat litters claim to be more ecofriendly compared to conventional cat litters since these are usually made of wheat, pine, wood, or corn. Since these materials are biodegradable, it can be processed by large scale sewer systems. But it doesn’t always work with residential septic systems. This is because septic tanks are only designed to process human waste. Thus, they can’t break down flushable cat litters as well, and flushing down these types of litters can only lead to serious septic system issues. Aside from the fact that it can affect the bacterial balance of your septic tank, these substances can also clog and clump up your pipes.
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Common questions about flushing cat poop and litter down the toilet
How do you dispose of cat poop?
Disposing of cat poop is as easy as disposing of trash. You can use a scoop to sift out the stool and urine clamps and place it in a small garbage bag. Once you have scooped all the litter boxes in your house, tie off the trash bag in a tight knot. To prevent bacterial and odor leakage, put the trash bag in another bag. Simply place it in a trash can outside your house and make sure you use a tight-fitting lid.
Where can I dump cat litter?
Make sure to use a trash bag that’s properly sealed to keep cat poop and litter. Once the bag is sealed properly, you can then dispose of it together with your trash in a regular garbage bin. It is best to take the trash bag with the cat poop straight to your outdoor trash bin instead of the one inside your home so that it will not create any odor.
What is the most eco-friendly way to dispose of cat litter?
One of the most environmentally friendly ways to dispose of your cat’s litter is to use it as compost. The second eco-friendliest option is to utilize biodegradable cat litter and put it in the trash in order for it to naturally biodegrade in the landfill. If this is the case, you wouldn’t have to use plastic bags anymore.
Conclusion
Even though flushing cat poop and litter down your toilet sound like a good idea, the truth is that you shouldn’t be flushing your cat’s feces or litter down the toilet. This habit can only cause issues on your plumbing pipes and could eventually damage your septic system. Nowadays, septic tanks operate on a very delicate microbe balance and are specifically designed to break down biodegradable tissue and human waste only.
Flushing down cat litter will only add more load into your septic tank’s biological mix and this won’t only affect the microbial balance of your septic system but it can also be harmful to the environment.
