Why Flushing Cat Poop Down Your Toilet Can Cause Problems - Recommendations for Proper Disposal
Why Flushing Cat Poop Down Your Toilet Can Cause Problems - Recommendations for Proper Disposal
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Introduction
As cat owners, it's essential to be mindful of how we dispose of our feline friends' waste. While it might appear practical to flush cat poop down the commode, this method can have harmful consequences for both the setting and human wellness.
Alternatives to Flushing
Luckily, there are safer and more accountable ways to dispose of feline poop. Consider the adhering to options:
1. Scoop and Dispose in Trash
One of the most typical approach of getting rid of cat poop is to scoop it into an eco-friendly bag and throw it in the garbage. Be sure to utilize a committed litter scoop and take care of the waste quickly.
2. Usage Biodegradable Litter
Go with biodegradable feline trash made from products such as corn or wheat. These litters are environmentally friendly and can be safely thrown away in the garbage.
3. Hide in the Yard
If you have a backyard, consider burying cat waste in a designated area away from vegetable gardens and water sources. Be sure to dig deep enough to prevent contamination of groundwater.
4. Install a Pet Waste Disposal System
Invest in a pet garbage disposal system especially made for feline waste. These systems utilize enzymes to break down the waste, decreasing odor and ecological influence.
Health and wellness Risks
In addition to ecological worries, flushing cat waste can additionally present health threats to people. Cat feces might include Toxoplasma gondii, a parasite that can cause toxoplasmosis-- a possibly serious ailment, especially for pregnant ladies and people with weakened body immune systems.
Environmental Impact
Purging cat poop presents harmful microorganisms and parasites into the water supply, positioning a substantial risk to water ecosystems. These contaminants can negatively influence aquatic life and compromise water high quality.
Verdict
Responsible family pet possession expands beyond offering food and shelter-- it likewise involves proper waste administration. By refraining from purging feline poop down the bathroom and selecting alternative disposal methods, we can minimize our environmental footprint and protect human health.
Why Can’t I Flush Cat Poop?
It Spreads a Parasite
Cats are frequently infected with a parasite called toxoplasma gondii. The parasite causes an infection called toxoplasmosis. It is usually harmless to cats. The parasite only uses cat poop as a host for its eggs. Otherwise, the cat’s immune system usually keeps the infection at low enough levels to maintain its own health. But it does not stop the develop of eggs. These eggs are tiny and surprisingly tough. They may survive for a year before they begin to grow. But that’s the problem.
Our wastewater system is not designed to deal with toxoplasmosis eggs. Instead, most eggs will flush from your toilet into sewers and wastewater management plants. After the sewage is treated for many other harmful things in it, it is typically released into local rivers, lakes, or oceans. Here, the toxoplasmosis eggs can find new hosts, including starfish, crabs, otters, and many other wildlife. For many, this is a significant risk to their health. Toxoplasmosis can also end up infecting water sources that are important for agriculture, which means our deer, pigs, and sheep can get infected too.
Is There Risk to Humans?
There can be a risk to human life from flushing cat poop down the toilet. If you do so, the parasites from your cat’s poop can end up in shellfish, game animals, or livestock. If this meat is then served raw or undercooked, the people who eat it can get sick.
In fact, according to the CDC, 40 million people in the United States are infected with toxoplasma gondii. They get it from exposure to infected seafood, or from some kind of cat poop contamination, like drinking from a stream that is contaminated or touching anything that has come into contact with cat poop. That includes just cleaning a cat litter box.
Most people who get infected with these parasites will not develop any symptoms. However, for pregnant women or for those with compromised immune systems, the parasite can cause severe health problems.
How to Handle Cat Poop
The best way to handle cat poop is actually to clean the box more often. The eggs that the parasite sheds will not become active until one to five days after the cat poops. That means that if you clean daily, you’re much less likely to come into direct contact with infectious eggs.
That said, always dispose of cat poop in the garbage and not down the toilet. Wash your hands before and after you clean the litter box, and bring the bag of poop right outside to your garbage bins.
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