# Can I flush cat waste? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 31, 2007, 2:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-flush-cat-waste/390211 "2007-01-31T02:07:32Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Do\_Not\_Taunt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/do_not_taunt/32/2968_2.png) [@Do\_Not\_Taunt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Do_Not_Taunt)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2007, 2:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-flush-cat-waste/390211/1 "2007-01-31T02:07:32Z")
My bag of cat litter says it’s made entirely from corn and is safe to flush, but I have this recollection (no cite, just floating around the back of my head) that cat waste is bad for sewer systems. Am I remembering something correctly, or is it safe for me to flush this stuff? ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2007, 2:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-flush-cat-waste/390211/2 "2007-01-31T02:13:46Z")
Are you talking about dumping the entire litter box into the toilet, or just a scooper of kitty poop from time to time? I scoop the poop out my cat’s box and flush it, but when I change the litter, I bag it up and put it in the trash. I wouldn’t recommend flushing an entire boxful of litter. ---
**Author:** ![SnakesCatLady](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4af34b/32.png) [@SnakesCatLady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SnakesCatLady)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2007, 2:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-flush-cat-waste/390211/3 "2007-01-31T02:15:12Z")
As far as I know, poo is poo. If you scoop the litter box and want to flush the scoopings (“panning for nuggets”, as Mr. SCL says) I don’t see a problem. I wouldn’t recommend dumping an entire bag of litter down the john. ---
**Author:** ![Do\_Not\_Taunt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/do_not_taunt/32/2968_2.png) [@Do\_Not\_Taunt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Do_Not_Taunt)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2007, 2:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-flush-cat-waste/390211/4 "2007-01-31T02:21:35Z")
I’m just talking about the daily “panning for nuggets.” I’m mainly trying to avoid the trash-smelling-like-shit problem that arises from putting cat waste in it and not taking it out for several days. ---
**Author:** ![Gfactor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/9de053/32.png) [@Gfactor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gfactor)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2007, 2:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-flush-cat-waste/390211/5 "2007-01-31T02:23:09Z")
> [@](#): > > Flushing Pet Wastes > The best way to dispose of dog and cat feces is to flush them down the toilet. However, do not flush feces if your household is on a septic system because the waste may clog up your septic tank and drainfield. With cat waste, make sure only feces (not cat litter) go down the toilet because the clays in litter can clog up the toilet. [http://www.co.snohomish.wa.us/documents/Departments/Public\_Works/SolidWaste/programs/pets201.pdf](http://www.co.snohomish.wa.us/documents/Departments/Public_Works/SolidWaste/programs/pets201.pdf) > [@](#): > > Remove and flush cat feces down your toilet or bury it in your yard. Double-bag litter using plastic bags. [http://www.ci.madison.wi.us/streets/collectionRefuse.cfm](http://www.ci.madison.wi.us/streets/collectionRefuse.cfm) ---
**Author:** ![Gfactor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/9de053/32.png) [@Gfactor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gfactor)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2007, 2:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-flush-cat-waste/390211/6 "2007-01-31T02:27:32Z")
But see, > [@](#): > > Bag dog and cat feces and dispose of them in the trash. Don’t flush cat litter down the toilet. Sewage treatment doesn’t remove parasites that can harm sea otters and dolphins. From your home town: [The Seattle Times | Local news, sports, business, politics, entertainment, travel, restaurants and opinion for Seattle and the Pacific Northwest.](http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2003510329_oceans05.html) ---
**Author:** ![Muffin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muffin/32/4341_2.png) [@Muffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muffin)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2007, 2:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-flush-cat-waste/390211/7 "2007-01-31T02:30:12Z")
Don’t flush clay, but what about corn litter? Anyone know if corn litter decomposes well enough for septic systems? ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2007, 2:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-flush-cat-waste/390211/8 "2007-01-31T02:31:19Z")
The simple way to avoid trash stink from cat scat is to scoop the poop into a ziplock bag before disposing of it. We keep a pile of used bags on the counter for just such purposes. Neat, quick and odorless. ---
**Author:** ![Jake4](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/bc8723/32.png) [@Jake4](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jake4)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2007, 2:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-flush-cat-waste/390211/9 "2007-01-31T02:43:52Z")
[QUOTE=silenus] The simple way to avoid trash stink from cat scat is to scoop the poop into a ziplock bag before disposing of it. We keep a pile of used bags on the counter for just such purposes. Neat, quick and odorless. [/QUOTE] You’re starting to sound like the Anal-Retentive Carpenter. (Not that you’ve got a bad idea, but down that path lies madness.) ---
**Author:** ![freckafree](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/freckafree/32/3050_2.png) [@freckafree](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/freckafree)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2007, 3:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-flush-cat-waste/390211/10 "2007-01-31T03:33:28Z")
I use Arm & Hammer’s [Easy Flush](http://www.armhammerpets.com/flush.aspx) litter. The directions say you can flush both “clumps and solids.” And I do. (I don’t have a septic system, and the directions also say not to use flushable litter if you do.) ---
**Author:** ![Twoflower](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/twoflower/32/22_2.png) [@Twoflower](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Twoflower)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2007, 5:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-flush-cat-waste/390211/11 "2007-01-31T05:21:33Z")
You probably heard about how flushing cat litter may be a source of [toxoplasmosis in sea otters](http://cats.about.com/cs/parasiticdisease/a/seaotters.htm). ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2007, 7:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-flush-cat-waste/390211/12 "2007-01-31T07:01:35Z")
Right, and since the OP’s stuff flows into the Pacific, cat scat should not be flushed. ---
**Author:** ![Sapo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ec9cab/32.png) [@Sapo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sapo)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2007, 1:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-flush-cat-waste/390211/13 "2007-01-31T13:03:46Z")
Just bag it and freeze it until garbage day _gags_ ---
**Author:** ![Muffin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muffin/32/4341_2.png) [@Muffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muffin)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2007, 1:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-flush-cat-waste/390211/14 "2007-01-31T13:53:14Z")
[QUOTE=silenus] The simple way to avoid trash stink from cat scat is to scoop the poop into a ziplock bag before disposing of it. We keep a pile of used bags on the counter for just such purposes. Neat, quick and odorless. [/QUOTE] Your kids must be real popular when trading lunches at school. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2007, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-flush-cat-waste/390211/15 "2007-01-31T14:53:22Z")
Others only ask to trade _once_. 😃 Seriously, that’s why I said “used” bags. If I take that bagged half-onion out to use in a recipe, I can either throw the ziplock bag away, or use it for something else. Since I don’t want to put other food in it, used cat food becomes the contents of choice. Just my way of being a tiny bit green. ---
**Author:** ![KlondikeGeoff](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3e96dc/32.png) [@KlondikeGeoff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KlondikeGeoff)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2007, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-flush-cat-waste/390211/16 "2007-01-31T15:48:41Z")
> [@](#): > > Sewage treatment doesn’t remove parasites that can harm sea otters and dolphins. That’s interesting, and good to know. In my case, however, don’t think there are too many of them in Arizona. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Muffin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muffin/32/4341_2.png) [@Muffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muffin)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2007, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-flush-cat-waste/390211/17 "2007-01-31T16:01:09Z")
[QUOTE=silenus] Just my way of being a tiny bit green. [/QUOTE] For that, I salute you. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Wee\_Bairn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/90db22/32.png) [@Wee\_Bairn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wee_Bairn)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2007, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-flush-cat-waste/390211/18 "2007-01-31T16:09:18Z")
I take anything smelly directly to the outside rubbish bin, that way you don’t smell it every time you open the lid to the indoor garbage can. **Jake4** - great obscure reference. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![MovingTarget](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/edb3f5/32.png) [@MovingTarget](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MovingTarget)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2007, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-flush-cat-waste/390211/19 "2007-01-31T16:26:13Z")
I have a friend who bought a diaper genie for his “nuggets” as some have put it. It sits beside his cat box and when he scoops, he just puts it in the genie, gives it a twist, and no more smell. Don’t know if you want this kind of investment, seems used zip lock bags would be a helluva lot cheaper. Just MHO. Oh, and silenus, your “used cat food” comment almost had me in tears. Very good. ---
**Author:** ![SnakesCatLady](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4af34b/32.png) [@SnakesCatLady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SnakesCatLady)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2007, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-flush-cat-waste/390211/20 "2007-01-31T16:40:39Z")
[QUOTE=Twoflower] You probably heard about how flushing cat litter may be a source of [toxoplasmosis in sea otters](http://cats.about.com/cs/parasiticdisease/a/seaotters.htm). [/QUOTE] Thank you for this information - I didn’t know this and will make sure none of my friends flush cat waste anymore. We live off the Chattahoochee River so we would be a potential threat. I LOVE this site! [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-flush-cat-waste/390211.md?page=2)