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PLUMBING
02/14/2023
PLUMBING
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:
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).
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.
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.
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”.
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.
Visit this article to learn more about why not to flush cat litter down the toilet.
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:
Abbotsford: double-bagged in the garbage bin.
Chilliwack: double-bagged in the garbage bin.
Coquitlam: triple-bagged in the garbage bin.
Port Coquitlam: double-bagged 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.
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.
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:
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).
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.
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.
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”.
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.
Visit this article to learn more about why not to flush cat litter down the toilet.
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:
Abbotsford: double-bagged in the garbage bin.
Chilliwack: double-bagged in the garbage bin.
Coquitlam: triple-bagged in the garbage bin.
Port Coquitlam: double-bagged in the garbage bin.
Vancouver: double-bagged in the garbage bin.
This is not a comprehensive list of all of our service areas. Please look up your city’s animal waste disposal rules online.
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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