While your toilet might seem like a one-stop shop for all things gross and smelly, experts are warning pet owners to think twice before flushing anything other than the holy trinity of loo-approved waste: pee, poo, and paper.
So, why can’t we treat pet poop like people poop?
The Hidden Danger in Cat PooIt turns out, cat waste is a whole different beast. Dr Judge says it “often contains a highly resistant parasite called Toxoplasma that can infect people and animals.” And here’s the kicker — most municipal water systems aren’t set up to deal with it.
“Many municipal water treatments do not have equipment or processes to kill it (as they’re designed for humans who don’t poop this parasite) meaning it would pass into our waterways, posing a risk to humans and animals alike,” she explained. “It can even prove fatal for some wildlife.”
Flushable? Not So FastThink you’re safe because you bought “flushable” dog poo bags or biodegradable cat litter? Think again. Those products might be kind to your conscience, but they’re not exactly toilet-friendly.
“Many studies have shown that biodegradable and flushable products, including flushable poo bags, don’t disintegrate as claimed,” said Dr Judge. “This is primarily because they’re designed to biodegrade in specific waste composting facilities – not in cold water, like that in our toilets.”
Cat litter isn’t off the hook either. “Our old sewage systems are only designed for the 3 P’s – Pee, Poo and Paper and can easily get blocked if anything else is thrown in.”
Dog Poo? That’s a No, TooOkay, maybe your cat’s poop is banned, but your dog’s gotta be okay, right? Nope. Even flushing dog waste straight-up, no bags, still poses problems.
Dr Judge warned that “it contains twice the amount of harmful bacteria and also contains unique parasites.”
“One particular parasite, Toxocara, is highly resistant to high temperatures,” she said.
What Should You Do With It?So now that flushing’s off the table, what’s a responsible pet parent to do?
Dr Judge recommends using eco-friendly bags — but not just any ones. Ideally, pick options made from repurposed materials that help fight ocean plastic pollution at the same time.
“Experts advise that it’s better to re-use waste that was already destined for landfill or incineration rather than virgin materials to make poo bags,” she said. “This helps reduce new plastic production and pollution, cuts carbon emissions and minimises energy use.”
And, of course, chuck that dog and cat poop into bins to be removed with the household waste, instead of flushing it down the toilet.
