PLUMBING

CAN YOU FLUSH CAT POOP DOWN THE TOILET?

02/14/2023

PLUMBING

CAN YOU FLUSH CAT POOP DOWN THE TOILET?

02/14/2023

In recent weeks, there have been many folks expressing their uncertainty about animal waste and plumbing systems. We’re here today to give you the nitty gritty to address your question: Can you flush cat poop down the toilet? The short answer is – No, you should not flush cat or dog feces down the toilet for several reasons which you’ll explore below.

Here’s the breakdown of today’s blog post:

Cat Feces 101
What’s Toxoplasmosis?
Why you shouldn’t flush cat poop down the toilet
City sewage system
Best way to dispose of cat poop

Wildlife in BC

Many of the communities in British Columbia are surrounded by or near wildlife territories. Among human beings, there are several animals that cohabitate with us: various species of birds, skunks, raccoons, deer, coyotes, cougars, and bears. Proper waste disposal is necessary in order to keep you, your neighbours, and wildlife safe. Naturally, there are many precautions to take as a cat parent.

“The most reported attractant that brings black bears to urban areas is curbside waste, accounting for 46% of calls received by the Conservation Officer Service for the Fraser Valley in 2019” (1).

Cat Feces 101

Firstly, let’s talk poop. Cat feces is the byproduct of digested food that turns into solid waste. There’s usually a strong odour that emanates from the digested and undigested food, fur, bacteria, and parasites. Clearly, it’s a biohazard that must be disposed of properly in order to protect your household and neighbours from contracting nasty organisms such as bacteria, parasites, and viruses. Not only can it get humans seriously ill but it’s also a health hazard for other pets and wildlife.

What’s Toxoplasmosis?

Toxoplasma gondii is an infamous parasite that cats have been known to carry at some point in their lifetime. When cats are infected with Toxoplasmosis, the parasite can be spread to humans, dogs, and other wildlife through their feces. This is why the hygiene of the owner and proper disposal of their feces is extremely important to reduce the chance of spreading the parasite.

But how do cats get infected with T. gondii in the first place?

Most commonly through contaminated raw meat, mice, and birds (Sidenote: Humans can get it from contaminated meats too. Yikes!)
Outdoor cats have a higher chance since they encounter various animals, wildlife, and unknown neighbours who feed them.
Coming into contact with contaminated cat feces in the garden

When humans are infected with toxoplasmosis, it can induce flu-like symptoms.
For pregnant women, toxoplasmosis can cause serious health hazards to yourself and the unborn baby. Definitely take precautions if you are pregnant and a cat parent.

To find out more about toxoplasmosis, here’s an article by HealthLink BC.

And if you’re a dog owner, here’s a comprehensive article on “Toxoplasmosis in Dogs”.

Why Cat Poop Should Not Be Flushed Down the Toilet

It seems logical to eliminate the chance of spreading toxoplasmosis by flushing it down the toilet rather than throwing it into the garbage. In fact, flushing cat feces down the toilet is just as harmful to your community and the environment, if not more! You’re probably thinking, “uh oh… I’ve been flushing my cat’s poop down the toilet for years!” Make lifestyle changes from today, cat parents! All is well.

Flushing cat poop down the toilet is NOT recommended because:

Can cause clogging: Cat poop doesn’t break down as easily compared to toilet paper and human waste.
Health hazard: As you know, cat feces can carry parasites, bacteria, and viruses. It can contaminate the city's water supply and spread the disease!
Hazard to the environment and wildlife: Out of sight out of mind doesn’t apply here. Contaminated cat poop can end up in the waterways and hard wildlife! From there, who knows where the parasites can spread?
“Flushable” cat litter: Sorry to break it to you but it’s terrible for your plumbing and the environment. Do not flush it down your toilet!

Visit this article to learn more about why not to flush cat litter down the toilet.

Cat Poop in the Sewage System

Sadly, your cat poop can negatively impact the city’s sewage system, including the sewage treatment plant. As we mentioned earlier, cat feces doesn’t break down easily like human waste, so the likelihood of it clogging your pipes is very high. Without a doubt, harmful parasites, bacteria, and viruses can contaminate the city’s water supply and waterways. Again, do not flush cat poop down the toilet, always bag the feces as recommended through your city’s waste disposal website. Take care of your plumbing system, waterways, and sewage treatment plant.

Best Way to Dispose of Your Cat’s Poop

Lastly, let’s uncover the best ways to dispose of your beloved fur baby’s feces:

Clean your cat litter regularly and handle it with care.
If you have children under 5, always make sure they cannot get their little hands on the cat poop and litter.
Scoop feces and soiled litter in a plastic bag (number of bags as per instructed by your city)
Seal it tight to ensure no unpleasant odour leaks out: The odour will attract wildlife and disturb your neighbours.
Unsoiled litter scooped into the compost.
Never put soiled litter into the compost: It will end up mixed with the city’s compost that gets used as fertilizer.
Put the extra secure bag in the garbage bin: Remember to secure the bin to ensure no wildlife will get their paws on the bag of feces.
Thoroughly wash your hands to make sure no parasite, bacteria, or virus has ended up on you.

Recommended Disposal by City:

Abbotsford: double-bagged in the garbage bin.

Chilliwack: double-bagged in the garbage bin.

Coquitlam: triple-bagged in the garbage bin.

Richmond: in a bag or newspaper in the garbage bin.

Vancouver: double-bagged in the garbage bin.

This is not a comprehensive list of all of our service areas.
Look up your city’s animal waste disposal rules online.

Call High Mark's plumbing experts to schedule your plumbing repairs and maintenance to be done today at 604-945-6060.

Conclusion

In brief, putting in extra care to clean up after your beloved pet is important for everyone’s safety. Additionally, remember that humans and animals can get ill from toxoplasmosis through contaminated or undercooked meat. We hope that you’re well-informed after reading this blog post! Now that you know that you should avoid flushing cat poop down the toilet, you’re making a huge difference in you and your community’s livelihood.

Thank you for taking the time to read this blog post!
If you found this blog post useful, spread the word to the other cat parents in your community!

And again, you can always find us on social media: Instagram and Facebook to connect with us.

Let us know what you found interesting!

Sources Cited:

(1) Abbotsford.ca: Wildlife and Waste.

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Scott Bissett

Scott is an amazing plumber.. He started his career in the plumbing industry in 2001. He specializes in all areas of plumbing including commercial, residential, and service. In his free time Scott enjoys traveling and spending time with his family and wife.