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The idea of being able to flush dirty cat litter down the toilet may sound appealing, but it was probably initiated by someone with a Roto-Rooter franchise! Stop for a moment and consider pounds and pounds of heavy sand-like material dumped all at once into your plumbing system – when we all know that a few too many handfuls of toilet paper can stop up your system.
Flushing litter into a septic tank can cause problems, so even those litters which claim to be flushable probably should not be – and clumping litter can definitely not be flushed. Regardless of claims made by the litter companies, there is something illogical about disposing of pounds heavy clay in a system not designed for this use. If you still want to try flushable litter, first call your builder or the manufacturer of your toilet to see whether the plumbing or the septic system can handle cat litter. You might also want to contact your local building department to find out what the local rules are in your area before you flush that handle! Radio show host and pet expert Tracie Hotchner is the author of The Dog Bible and The Cat Bible. Click here to follow her on Twitter. |
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You are viewing entries tagged 'poop'.
October 23rd, 2009
November 12th, 2008
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Choose the most dust-free litter to avoid problems for both you and your cat. Clay litter is not only bad for the environment, but it can be highly irritating to both felines and humans. Some of the newer litter materials have no dust element at all, and all of them are at least some sort of an improvement over clay litter. When pouring any litter into the litter box, do it slowly and have the open end of the bag already resting in the box so that whatever dusty particles are in the mixture do not get propelled airborne as you pour. |
October 7th, 2008
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There are special considerations that need to be taken when providing a litter box for an older cat. The box should be large with low sides because as cats age they may get stiff or achy from arthritis, which can make it difficult or painful to step over the side of a litter box that has high sides. A box that is longer gives the cat more room to do his business and then move around without being cramped. |
October 2nd, 2008
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The answer to which litter you choose will depend on your own cat’s personality, habits and preferences. By observing your cat’s actions, you will be able to tell whether or not the litter you bring home is the right one. Obviously, the biggest clue is if your cat is not using the box: if you have given her a good sized litter box in a desirable location – and you are keeping it clean – then the cat is most likely avoiding the box because of the texture of the litter in it. This is what is technically called “the sensation of the substrate” – with some cats it takes a bit of experimentation to find a likable litter. |
September 30th, 2008
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Most people tend to think that being generous with litter is good, that cats prefer having plenty of litter to dig around in. This is, however, not the case. It is sufficient to coat the bottom of the box with no more than 2 in/5 cm of litter. If you’re like most people, you have two or three times that much litter piled up in your cat’s box. If you reduce to a more manageable level of litter, you will find that it is easier for you to scoop and remove the soiled litter. This means the odor will be less offensive and the more frequent cleaning will make the box more appealing to the cat. |
September 25th, 2008
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Any cat expert will say you should never line the litter box before putting in the litter. The plastic sheets sold as litter box liners are a disaster because the cat invariably tears a hole in that liner when scratching, allowing urine to flow underneath the liner where it will stay in a smelly puddle, unable to be absorbed by the litter. Either that or the liner will wrinkle up just enough to trap wet litter, which will prevent you from scooping it, and therefore breed germs and a foul smell. |