Can You Flush Cat Litter In Your Toilet?
If you have a cat in your home, you may be familiar with how time consuming it can be to scoop your cat’s litter every day. You may be tempted to take a shortcut by scooping the clumps of litter directly into your toilet. Since cat litter will clump and expand when exposed to moisture, this can lead to a plumbing disaster such as a clog, backup, or sewer troubles.
Is Flushable Cat Litter Safe?
There are cat litters that are made with non-clumping materials, such as silica crystals or recycled newspaper. They may even advertise that they are safe for flushing down a toilet. While they may not cause a problem with the plumbing in your home, they can cause other problems you may not have thought of.
Cats carry a parasite called Toxoplasma gondii, which has the potential to live for years and can travel far away when in water. Once cat excrement is exposed to a water supply, the Toxoplasma gondii has the potential to infect sea life such as dolphins and seals, or even humans. This is especially dangerous to women who are pregnant and those with compromised immune systems.
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How Do You Fix A Toilet Clogged With Litter?
You should first attempt to unclog your toilet with a plunger. It helps to fill the toilet bowl up with water so that the plunger has a good seal, and forcefully push down on the plunger several times. If that does not do the trick, you can try a more advanced method.
A simple home remedy is to fill the toilet bowl with 1 gallon of cold water followed by ½ cup of dish soap. Avoid using boiling water, because it can cause damage to your toilet bowl. Allow the mixture to work into the clog for 10-15 minutes, then use the plunger