Can You Flush Wood Pellet Cat Litter? (Find Out Now!)
If you have a cat, litter boxes are a part of the deal. Many cat owners use natural pellet litter over other options since it is biodegradable, sustainable, absorbent, and more. It’s no secret that you’re going to have to clean and refill that litter box on a regular basis, which begs the question: what should I do with my used litter?
More specifically, you may be wondering if you can flush it. Well, here’s your answer.
No, you should not flush wood pellet litter down the toilet because it can cause severe clogs, sewage backups, septic system issues, illnesses in people and animals, and other problems with the environment. Instead, you should either throw the litter in the garbage, so it ends up in the landfill or compost it for future use.
Here’s all you need to know about wood pellet litter and how best to dispose of it.
What Are Wood Pellets?
Wood pellets are made from compressed wood fibers that are placed under high pressure and temperatures to make them highly absorbent. They are completely natural and made from a variety of biodegradable materials. Instead of clumping together, wood pellets will disintegrate into sawdust when wet. Some top advantages of wood pellet cat litter include their…
- Sustainability
- Absorbency
- Odor-Sealing Capabilities
- Chemical-Free Makeup
- Dust-Free Nature
…and more!
Why You Should Not Flush Wood Pellet Cat Littler
Don’t let the word “flushable” fool you when it comes to wood pellet litter. Any type should never go down your toilet for multiple reasons. On top of directly affecting your home’s plumbing system, the presence of wood pellet litter in your sewer system can lead to severe environmental problems, too.
Clogged Pipes
Even when wood pellet litter has dissolved into sawdust, it is not made to fully break down like toilet paper. Eventually, this can lead to clogs and other plumbing issues, which can leave you with an out-of-commission bathroom and expensive plumbing projects.
Sewage Backups
Once your system is clogged, trying to flush runs the risk of causing sewage backups. Not only can this further destroy your drain system, but it can leave you with a disgusting mess to clean. Not to mention that dirty sewage can cause a terrible odor, destroy your bathroom floor, and cause water damage within your home.
Damaged Septic Tank
If you have a septic tank in your home, flushing wood pellet litter will cause you to have to pump the tank more often. This can be annoying for you and can reduce the lifespan of the septic system itself.
Environmental Issues
Cat waste itself can often contain a harmful parasite called Toxoplasma gondii, which is extremely harmful for people and animals alike. While not all cats carry T-gondii, it’s not worth the risk due to the damage it can cause. Since your litter will be in direct contact with these materials, it’s safe to say it should not be flushed.
How You Should Dispose of Wood Pellets Instead
There are two ways you should get rid of wood pellet litter. Any other method is either harmful to the environment, detrimental to your plumbing system, and sometimes even illegal depending on where you live. Here’s how you should dispose of the litter instead.
Throw Them Away
Throwing your wood pellet litter in the trash is not a perfect solution, but it is a far better one than flushing it. While it is biodegradable, it requires a lot of oxygen, light, and water to break down properly. Since landfills are usually packed with debris, the wood pellets will rarely see these conditions.
That said, the litter may maintain its form for hundreds of years, which can negatively impact the environment over time. That said, this is still preferred to flushing the litter down the toilet where it can mess up your plumbing system right away.
Composting
If you’re looking for an eco-friendlier disposal method, composting is the way to go. Wood pellet litter is completely biodegradable, which means you can compost them. However, make sure to check your local composting regulations as different regions often have different guidelines when it comes to what you can and cannot compost.
The easiest composting method to use is cold composting, which means you don’t need high levels of heat. Here’s what you’ll need:
- Two composting bins to store the materials.
- Green materials like vegetable and fruit scraps, coffee grounds, and plant clippings for nitrogen.
- Brown materials like cardboard, sawdust, or shredded paper for carbon.
- Garden soil to shield odors and speed up the composting process.
What to Do if You Decided to Flush Wood Pellet Litter Anyway
So, you’ve already made the mistake of flushing wood pellet litter, and now you’re experiencing plumbing issues. We can help with that, too. Much like dealing with any other clog, there are some simple fixes you can try to resolve the issue. You may be tempted to wait, but the odds are your toilet will not unclog itself since wood pellets are not made to be flushed.
Plunge the Toilet
The good news I a plunger can typically clear almost 90% of clogs. However, it’s important to use a toilet plunger, not a sink plunger. The shape of a toilet plunger will allow you to fully seal off the hole at the bottom of the toilet bowl, so you can exert enough pressure to dislodge the clog. Be sure to proceed with caution to avoid damaging your toilet along the way.
Snake the Drain
The next method you should try is to snake the drain. If the clog is in the trap, you may be able to reach it by inserting the snake down the toilet bowl. However, the better option is to look for the cleanout waste line and snake the drain from there. This line may be near the toilet, in the basement, or just outside the house.
Pour Drain Cleaner Down the Drain
It’s extremely important to note that you should not use chemicals to try to dissolve cat litter clogs. Instead, stick to enzymatic ones. Chemical drain cleaners will not dissolve cat litter, which means the solution will stay in the pipes.
There, it will continue to generate heat as it reacts with other materials and potentially damage the pipes. This can also be harmful to you or a plumber if they decide to disassemble the pipes and remove the clog.
Call a Plumber
If none of this works, your best bet is to call a local plumber. Plumbers will have the skills and resources to complete the project thoroughly and without damaging your pipes, too.
Most have experience removing everything from hair to gum to condoms to everything in between from drains. That said, be sure to do your research before picking the right contractor for the job.
Related Questions
Are there different types of wood pellet litter?
Yes, there are two main categories of wood pellet litter. Softwood varieties are made from pine or cedar and are usually the more popular option. Hardwood pellets are made from oak and applewood.
Can you flush cat waste down the toilet?
While you can flush your cats feces down the toilet, you definitely should not. Cat waste can spread parasites and harm other ecosystems even once passed through wastewater treatment plants. These parasites can negatively affect people, wildlife, and sea life, too.
Final Thoughts
Wood pellet cat litter is another check on a long list of items that you should never flush down the toilet drain. In addition to wreaking havoc on your plumbing system, wood pellet cat litter can cause illnesses and harm ecosystems due to the risk T-gondii spreading to wildlife, sea life, and other people.
Throwing your wood pellet litter in the trash is the easiest solution to dispose of it, but it is far from the most environmentally friendly option. If you’re able, you should try to compost your wood pellet litter instead.
I am a copywriter and editor based in the Las Vegas area with nearly a decade of experience under my belt writing landing pages, cost guides, blog posts, newsletters, case studies, and social media content. I have a degree in Strategic Communication and experience working in both the account and creative spheres. My goal is to always be discovering new interests and bettering myself as a writer and editor along the way.
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