This post contains affiliate links.
Table of Contents
What Is Flushable Cat Litter?
Flushable cat litter is essentially cat litter that is both safe for your home and the same for the environment to flush down the toilet. In this article, we will discuss some of the best flushable litter brands on the market and why it’s so important to pick the right brand.
Don’t you ever wish you could flush away your cat’s litter?
Typical clumping clay cat litter is usually made from sodium bentonite. It is the same natural clay that is often used for plugging holes and sealing ponds and landfills. This highly absorbent clay expands 16-18 times its original size when dampened.
The cement-like material formed by sodium bentonite clay and water can block pipes with a clog or cause severe damage to your septic system. So, that’s not the items you want to flush. These high absorbent qualities make clumping clay litter a convenient and clean favourite among humans and cats alike.
If you want to flush your cat’s litter, you must need a septic-safe alternative that works for your home-plumbing and the environment.
[icon name=”info-circle” prefix=”fas fa-2x”] You may also be interested in our article on The BEST Non-Tracking Cat Litter
Why is flushable cat litter so good?
Especially for people who live in small apartment buildings or collect trash for weekly trips, bags of used litter can become a high frustration source. You often don’t recognize how dense cat waste and litter are? Until you have to pick a stretching, full dirty cat litter garbage bag up or down the stairs.
In terms of environmental impact, flushable litter does not require plastic bags, and you don’t need to send your cat litter to the landfill. Instead, the waste is cleanly and properly flushed away to the same septic tank or treatment facility that handles our waste.
But all flushable cat litters are not so good as it seems. (Except our Selection)
Flushable cat litters have three main problems:
- Toxoplasma Gondi
- Didn’t pass smoothly from plumbing
- Damage your toilet bowl
We discuss them later on in this article, but here we want to give you the Top six best flushable cat litters in the market that are free from all three problems mentioned above.
Here Are Our Best Flushable Cat Litters:
- World’s Best Cat Litter or Scoopable Multiple Cat Clumping Formula
- PetSafe ScoopFree Premium Crystal Non-Clumping Cat Litter
- Almo Nature Cat Litter
- ÖKOCAT Super Soft Natural Wood Clumping Litter
- Purina Yesterday’s News Non-Clumping Paper Cat Litter
- Fresh Step Advanced Clumping Cat Litter
What is Toxoplasma Gondii?
Toxoplasma Gondii is a parasitic microorganism that can infect any mammal, especially cats. Domesticated cats and other members of the feline family are common carriers of this parasite.
When infected with this, cats shed hundreds of thousands of eggs through their stools/faeces. While infected humans usually don’t have any apparent symptoms, it can cause serious illness in immune-compromised people. Pregnant women are mainly at risk because they may pass the infection to their fetus and lead to abortion.
That’s why it’s always suggested that pregnant women avoid cleaning the cat litter box. It is also the primary cause of abortion in underdeveloped countries.
By the process of flushing your cat’s waste down the toilet, you ultimately increase the chances of this parasite to waterways, which may eventually route it to the ocean.
Once there, Toxoplasma Gondii could cause the deaths of Hawaiian monk seals, endangered sea otters, and other marine mammals by causing toxoplasmosis.
It’s reasonable to theorize that the parasites will be killed when the waste passes through the municipal water treatment facility. But if you believe that, you’ve underestimated Toxoplasma Gondii because this parasite is incredibly hardy and usually passes through wastewater treatment unharmed.
California and New York require all litter manufacturer companies to label their packages with a warning sign against flushing litter or disposing of it openly in storm drain or gutters.
Even if you don’t ever introduce T. Gondii to waterways through flushing, they’ll most probably find their way to new hosts sooner or later. This lethal parasite can survive for many years in cold water and soil; even the parasites in faeces buried in the ground can subsequently make their way to sea mammals via rainwater drainage.
Why It’s Important To Use The Correct Flushable Cat Litter:
Any cheap flushable cat litter never give you the guarantee to pass through your plumbing smoothly. In fact, it could cause clogs everywhere. This is an alarming condition and happens most often if your pipes are older.
It’s an excellent idea to let the litter soak in the water for a little time before flushing it. Go slowly and never dump large amounts of litter into the toilet at once.
Any clumping litter might stick to grease present in plumbing or attach to any other buildup in your pipes with very unpleasant outcomes.
Another thing important to consider is that cheap flushable cat litter could damage your toilet bowl very quickly.
More abrasive chemicals present in cat litter could scratch the surface, and staining is another possible issue. If you choose a dark-coloured cat litter, e.g., walnut litter, it might stain your toilet bowl from inside.
Lastly, tossing a boxful of cat litter into the toilet isn’t as easy as pouring any other contents and forgetting them. It’s not a good idea to dump a complete litter box full of cat litter into the toilet.
There are an absolute convenience and easy unobtrusiveness about the act of flushing cat litter down the toilet, but it will never make the job easy.
Types of Flushable Cat Litter:
The most acceptable flushable cat litter has been tested multiple times and approved by FAO and municipal organizations for septic and sewer systems.
If you aren’t connected to a central city sewer system and use a septic system of your own, it’s essential to ensure that the litter is approved for your situation.
Flushable cat litter comes in various types, but one quality is the same in all of them: they’re not formed with sodium bentonite clay. Almost all litter marketed as a biodegradable and natural alternative to traditional clay is only flushable. That means you can choose from a diversity of non-clumping and clumping litter products.
Common flushable litter types include corn, wood, newspaper, and wheat. You’ll find that these are available in various formulas and textures. All of which offer changeable degrees of effectiveness in different areas.
Let’s move to our top 6 picks for the best flushable cat litters and see why they are different from the rest.
Besides all being safe to flush and free from T. Gondii, all of the products on our list score well in all most all types of performance areas.
Each flushable cat litter clumps well, low in dust, has a reputation for being cat-friendly, keeps odours down, and history of pet parent satisfaction.
Because cats always choose clumping litter over non-clumping litter, our list only includes the best clumping litters. They are straightforward to clean and provide superior freshness.
They are all comparatively fine-grained litters (the texture al cats prefer). These fine-grained flushable cat litters are softer on the cat’s paws and more comfortable to dig in than large pellets.
While individual experiences vary, all of the following litters have earned a healthy percentage of hundreds of positive reviews and earned a reputation for quality and cat’s preference.
Top 6 Best Flushable Cat Litters around the globe.
World’s Best Cat Litter Scoopable Multiple Cat Clumping Formula
Whole-kernel corn-based formula
This flushable formula for multiple cats contains all-natural plant derivative compounds that improve odour control, keeping your house smelling improved.
The litter creates cohesive and stable scoops for easier cleaning. This famous litter is one of the most reliable products in the alternative cat litter market. It always impressing customers with its ability to create excellent clumps and stop foul odours.
This litter doesn’t create a massive amount of dust, but the fine particles may get attached to your cat and may track around the house. That said, cats love the delicate texture. It’s easy to dig in and gentle on their paws.
Aflatoxin is a mycotoxin produced by Aspergillus. This Aflatoxin is a concern for those using this litter. As we all know, fungus/mould develops in warm and damp places. It is essential to keep the litter box clean as much as possible.
The flushable cat litter is safe to flush for both septic and sewer systems.
PetSafe ScoopFree is lightweight, unscented, and environmentally friendly, plus it is incredibly flushable. One of its best qualities of this cat litter is that it changes colour when its pH changes to indicate your cat’s possible health problems.
PetSafe ScoopFree detects health problems/issues such as bladder stones, urinary tract infections, kidney issues, inflammation, and much more. With a convenient delivery service every time, PetSafe ScoopFree costs way less than some other usually cat litters. And that amount is tailored to suit the multiple cats in your home.
The highly absorbent silica gel eliminates moisture and traps odours made from an organic and natural material. Which means fewer allergens and dust and less litter in the landfill.
Almo Nature Cat Litter
Try it, and you’ll never regret it! Almo Nature’s natural cat litter is a complete solution! Its genuinely innovative formula will convince you that it is now achievable to buy a super-efficient cat litter that brings total satisfaction to you and your cat! It doesn’t produce any dust but may leave tracks around the house.
This biodegradable wheat litter is comparatively safe for flushing, whether you’re using a septic system or connected to a sewer system.
ÖKOCAT Super Soft Natural Wood Clumping Litter
It is a natural and Earth-friendly solution to your cat litter needs and is used for multiple cats. The extremely absorbent formula of this clumping cat litter helps keep your cats feeling relaxed, and the lightweight clumps allow for effortless clean-up of your cat litter box.
This fantastic cat litter features a combination of super-soft natural shredded woods, so you can feel excellent about the products you use when loving your cats.
Formulated to remove even the toughest odours, this Tidy clumping litter keeps your house smelling clean and fresh, so you are always ready to welcome guests, both human and feline.
Natural, new scents make this an attractive option for your cats’ litter boxes, keeping them happy in their corners of your home. Created exclusively for multiple cat households, this kitty litter’s 99% natural formula is ideal for a large feline family.
Purina Yesterday’s News Non-Clumping Paper Cat Litter, Unscented Low Tracking Cat Litter
Made from non-clumping paper.
This is an all-natural paper-based cat litter that effectively controls odours and creates small, moderately cohesive clumps. Although the clusters aren’t the most challenging or most cohesive out there, according to Purina Yesterday’s, this product forms clumps that are 1/3 smaller and lighter than those produced by clay litter. That means more comfortable, faster scooping.
The litter gets an antibacterial, deodorizing boost from a potent astringent found in paper obtain from wood, i.e., catechin. Pet parents who use this say that the litter puts off an authentic green tea aroma. It’s made without any additives or artificial fragrances.
It’s low in dust and doesn’t have any tracking problem.
Fresh Step Advanced Clumping Cat Litter
Fresh Step Advanced Multi-Cat Extra Strength Formula clumping cat litter is effective in multi-cat homes. It destroys odours without the dust using a severe odour eliminating formula and the power of Febreze.
Fresh Step Advanced Multi-Cat Extra Strength Formula also uses Fresh Step Clumplock Technology. This litter locks in liquid and odour, creates tight clumps for easy scooping, and prevents stinky crumbles from being left behind. And, it is 99.9% dust-free for cleaner surfaces, cleaner air, and reduced tracking. Cleaning is fast and easy—add more litter to your cat’s litter box after you scoop.
The litter is entirely safe to flush with a sewer system. However, it’s not recommended for flushing on a septic system.
[icon name=”info-circle” prefix=”fas fa-2x”] You may also be interested in our article on The BEST Cat Window Hammocks
Benefits of Flushable Cat Litter:
Conventional cat litter is made of clay, which has to be removed from the litter weekly. This is because it forms a hard cement-like the constitution in water. This means that cat owners cannot dump conventional clay litter under the toilet because it clogs in pipes and plumbing systems. It needs to be disposed of in a landfill where it can stay for a very long time.
This means that although conventional cat litter is more economical than other types of cat litter, many pet parents are turning to solutions such as flushable cat litter that are more efficient and Eco-friendly.
You can easily flush down the cat litter.
High-quality flushable cat litter is not only more eco-friendly but also more comfortable to use because it means the litter can be pulled out of the tray and thrown into the toilet. It also helps reduce some of the odours associated with cat litter and has health benefits. Traditional or conventional Cat litters lack this ability.
Conclusion:
Flushable cat litters are convenient to use and take care of cat litter odour and cat health issues. If you take care of Toxoplasma Gondii, then you are best to go with Flushable Cat Litters.
