Keeping your cat’s litter box clean can prove to be a hassle more times than not. Not to mention how much harm it can do the environment with all of the plastic bags that are used to dispose of used litter. The best flushable cat litter can prove to be an excellent solution to making the process of cleaning the litter box easier and more environmentally friendly.
If you learn how to use flushable litter properly, you will be able to reduce the amount of garbage you will contribute to the landfill. Doing so can also help to reduce or possibly eliminate the need for plastic bags to dispose of your cat’s litter.
Is Cat Litter Flushable? Yes, there is such a thing. Flushable cat litter will not be the be-all-end-all solution to cleaning cat litter, but it will certainly be more useful for the environment.
There are many types of flushable cat litter to choose from that have their own set of advantages that you and your cat will enjoy. Here are a few important details you can use, as well as some of the best flushable cat litter products on the market, to help you determine what all you would need out of your cat’s litter.
My Top Picks: Best Flushable Cat Litter 2023
- World’s Best Cat Litter, Scented Clumping Litter Formula for Multiple Cats
- Pretty Litter
- Garfield Cat Litter All Natural, Fast Clumping, Purrfect for Multi-cat Homes
- sWheat Scoop All-Natural Cat Litter
- Weruva It’s A Tea Potty! Hinoki Wood & Green Tea Natural Cat Litter
- Naturally Fresh Walnut-Based Alpine Meadow Scent Multi-Cat Quick-Clumping Cat Litter
Reviews of 5 Flushable Cat Litter
Next Gen Pet Products Green Tea Fresh Cat Litter
Next Gen Pet Products Green Tea Fresh Cat Litter is a wood based cat litter that is made out of all natural ingredients and forms light and tiny clumps. There are absolutely no harmful chemicals or artificial fragrances in this litter, and you will not have to worry about suffering from dust allergens. These clumps are made to be ⅓ smaller than regular clumps that are formed from clay litter.
This leaves the rest of the litter compostable and will give you a faster and easier time of scooping the clumps out. The natural astringent that is normally found in green tea, known as catechin, is what helps to contribute to the level of odor control this litter is capable of as well as its antibacterial properties.
Furthermore, this litter is capable of being flushed in both sewer and septic tanks. It is completely biodegradable and the green tea leaves that are included in the ingredients will help your cat be more comfortable in its own environment, while also keeping you from suffering with the strong waste smell. The green tea aroma is known to help mask the odor and contribute to the deodorizing and antibacterial boost from the astringent.
This litter is eco-friendly enough to be able to last much longer than regular litter, possibly up to 6 weeks. You will not have to worry too much about litter getting tracked inside of your house, and you will also not have to worry about suffering from dust allergens since it is low in dust. The moderately cohesive clumps that are formed from this litter are pretty easy to manage and are easy and quick to scoop out.
Pros
- Provides a decent control of odors
- Flushable and biodegradable; safe for septic and sewer tank systems
- No harsh ingredients that could harm your cat
Cons
- Large granules may not work with most scoops
sWheat Scoop All-Natural Cat Litter
The sWheat Scoop All-Natural Cat Litter is wheat based and is completely made from ground up farm grown ingredients. Its clumping ability is stronger than many other types of litter and it is free from harsh chemicals or dyes that could harm your cat or cause them to be uncomfortable. If you are concerned about whether or not this litter will harm the environment, you can rest easily knowing that this litter is entirely biodegradable and made of 100% renewable resources.
There may be a bit of wheat dust that will accumulate in light amounts when you are distributing it to your cat’s box. But it will not be as damaging as silica or clay litter would be. It will not get stuck to the bottom of your cat’s paws, so there will be minimal amount of litter tracking to be concerned about. As long as you clean the clumps and solid waste out on a daily basis, you will have barely any odor problem.
As for its flushing ability, the harder clumps are capable of breaking down into smaller clumps if you allow them to soak in the toilet for a few minutes so it will be much safer to flush.
According to the manufacturer’s instructions, you should scoop only a few clumps at a time and discard them inside of the toilet to just let them sit and dissolve apart for at least 20 minutes. After that, you will be able to flush it all down since it will have a much easier time moving with the water.
Additionally, this brand of flushable cat litter will work towards donating one pound of cat litter to the Best Friends Animals Society (BFAS) for every new member sign-up, along with a lot of the proceeds from customer purchases.
The BFAS works to help save kittens who are in need of support or who have been abandoned and need a loving home. They are partnered with BFAS in order to make a difference for the kittens who are in need of support the most.
Pros
- No harmful ingredients; all-natural ingredients only
- Completely flushable, biodegradable, and long-lasting
- Helps to neutralize strong odors
- Strong clumping capabilities
Cons
- Fine grains might be easily tracked on the floor
Pretty Litter
Pretty Litter is a litter that changes color when the pH balance of your cat’s urine changes in order to let you know if there are any health issues in your cat that you should address as soon as possible. Doing this alerts you to the possibility of urinary tract infection, bladder stones, and inflammation amongst many other types of concerning health issues. This can help you know when to take your cat to the vet for observation or to place them on proper medication.
Read this if you’re wondering: is Pretty Litter safe?
The amount of dust and mess you will deal with will be greatly reduced when you use Pretty Litter. Its affordable price and delivery service will help you get the right amount you need for your house, which will be a considerable relief if you have multiple cats in your home. The convenient delivery service that Pretty Litter provides will surely help you become a satisfied customer.
As for the litter itself, it is made of natural minerals and has super absorbent silica gel traps that help to contribute to its overall odor control capabilities. They quickly and easily get rid of the moisture that would be built up within the box and keeps the odor contained within its specific area. Thanks to those silica gels, you will not have to worry about suffering from dust allergens or harming the environment.
Pros
- Less dust and other messes to deal with
- Helps to alert you to medical issues your cat may have
- All-natural mineral ingredients
- Flushable
Cons
- Does not clump so you may have to deal with tracking
Garfield Ultimate Clump Multi-Cat Litter
The Garfield Ultimate Clump Cat Litter is made up of completely biodegradable materials such as corn and cassava and it is completely flushable. The Garfield cat litter is amazing for cats with sensitive paws and a sensitive sense of smell.
The Garfield cat litter itself clumps pretty quickly and can even work to alert you to possible changes in the coloration of your cat’s urine, which helps to signify any changes in their overall health. This is a feature widely approved by veterinarians in many litter brands and can help you figure out when you need to take your cat to the vet. This product will be able to last 30 days on a 10 pound bag for one cat, which can save you some money.
This flushable cat litter is completely flushable for septic system toilets, but you must make sure that the litter has the time to break apart and dissolve before flushing to avoid clogging. Allow small amounts of clumps to soak inside of the toilet for at least 20 minutes so it can dissolve and move easily with the water when you flush the toilet.
Avoid clumps that have been in the box for 12 hours or longer since they may end up causing complications with dissolving and flushing.
The Garfield flushable cat litter basically eradicates dust. This will help put your mind at ease when it comes to dealing with allergens, especially if you or your cat suffers from respiratory problems. You may still experience tracking every now and again since this litter consists of fine grains.
However, this can be easily solved by placing an easy-to-clean mat at the entrance of your cat’s litter box. Or get a box with high walls to prevent litter from escaping from the edges.
Pros
- Hard clumps form instantly
- Can be used for multi-cat homes
- 100% natural and biodegradable with natural odor control
- Veterinarian approved
- Flushable in septic system toilets
- No added scents that could make your cat uncomfortable
Cons
- You might have to deal with wheat dust
Naturally Fresh Walnut-Based Quick-Clumping Cat Litter
This quick-clumping type from Naturally Fresh is walnut-based, made with flushable 100% natural ingredients. It is also best for homes with multiple cats and is silica dust-free to protect you and your cat from harmful dust allergens. The amount of dust that this litter produces is small enough to not be too concerned about it, even with the fresh Alpine Meadow properties. This litter is available in 4 different sizes to help you choose the best size option for your cats.
This quick-clumping flushable cat litter will also help effectively neutralize and trap the odors surrounding your cat’s litter box and replace it with a fresh smelling scent of Alpine Meadow. The Alpine Meadow ingredients absorb and trap the odor inside much better than most clay based types of litter.
This can help your cat be more comfortable using the box, and it can help you be more comfortable being around it when you have to clean it. It is important that your cat is always comfortable with the litter you choose for them, otherwise they will not bother to cover up after themselves or they could start to avoid their box entirely.
However, it is important to keep in mind that the clumps that form inside of the litter can be a bit difficult to break down compared to some other types. They are hard, strong, and tight, so it will take a bit more time or effort to get them to break apart. You may have to place a sparingly small amount of clumps in the toilet at once in order to flush them effectively.
Pros
- Super absorbent
- Provides an excellent amount of odor control
- Fresh Alpine Meadow Smell
- Made with 100% natural ingredients
Cons
- Can be harder to flush than some other types
World’s Best Cat Litter
The World’s Best Cat Litter Scented Clumping Litter is made of corn kernels, and 100% all-natural-scented lavender oil for a relaxingly fresh smell and environmentally friendly option for litter. It is naturally free of silica dust and the litter bag itself will be easy to transport from one area to the other since its granules are exceptionally lightweight. The litter is also hypoallergenic and free from any perfume or chemical ingredients that could harm your cat.
It is an ideal flushable cat litter to use for households that have two or more cats living inside of them. It is considered to have one of the best clumping and odor control abilities available on the market. It is renowned for its ability to easily flush down any well-maintained septic system, which can help your task of cleaning your cat’s litter box much easier than it would have been previously.
It will also help you be more environmentally friendly in terms of saving plastic bags you would otherwise use for waste disposal. Simply add a clump in at a time to the toilet and flush them after a certain amount of time, and it should help you have an easier time of keeping your cat’s box clean without having to worry about the hassle of messed up plumbing.
You may experience a bit of tracking due to the lightweight granules inside, but it will not produce enough dust to be too concerned about. The dust will not be as harmful as clay or silica dust would since it is made entirely of all-natural ingredients.
You will also be impressed with this litter’s odor control abilities since its natural lavender scent will help to effectively mask the scent of your cat’s waste.
Pros
- Easily flushable for well-maintained septic systems
- Natural lavender scent helps with its amazing odor control abilities
- Biodegradable
- Clumps quickly
- Safe for you, your cat, and the environment
- Easy to scoop
Cons
- Might produce small amounts of dust
- You may have to deal with litter getting tracked on your floors
Garfield Cat Litter Tiny Grains Flushable Cat Litter
The Garfield Tiny Grains Flushable Cat Litter is a plant-based litter made from extra-fine cassava and corn, which forms durable litter clumps that are easy to clean. It is also 100% natural and biodegradable, which makes it an entirely environmentally friendly option to choose for your cat’s litter.
The white color of the litter will help you detect any unusual coloration in your cat’s litter that might signify health problems, and it also effectively controls the odors lingering inside of the back without the use of unnatural fragrances. You will also not have to concern yourself with dust allergens since it produces a very minimal amount of dust.
You will be able to flush it pretty easily in both sewer and septic systems, without having to worry about any problems it would cause to your plumbing. However, you will need to give the clump enough time to break apart before you flush it away completely.
Give them about 20 minutes after putting them into the toilet to let them dissolve away so it will go down without any complications.
It is also imperative that you maintain a regular cleaning schedule with your cat’s box as long as you are using this type. Since this is grain based, bugs may become attracted to it due to the smell and moisture. Aflatoxin mold, which forms on corn in a warm and moisture rich environment, can also end up forming inside of the litter since corn is one of the base ingredients.
Pros
- Flushable after a certain amount of time
- Produces a minimal amount of dust
- Forms solid, cohesive clumps as quickly as possible
- Can help you keep track of your cat’s urinary tract health through easily determinable urine coloration
Cons
- May become an easy target for aflatoxin mold and bugs if it is not cleaned on a regular basis
Weruva It’s A Tea Potty! Hinoki Wood & Green Tea Natural Cat Litter, Flushable
This specific type of Weruva Natural Cat Litter is clay-free, environmentally friendly, and made of the natural ingredients of Hinoki wood and green tea. Since it is also grain-free, it also contains no wheat, corn, or soy in the ingredients. The Hinoki wood and the catechins within the green tea component helps to naturally prevent the growth of mold and bacteria, and helps to contribute to its odor control capabilities.
This flushable cat litter is hypoallergenic and it is best for cats who have sensitive paws and a sensitive sense of smell. Weruva Cat Litter is also environmentally friendly in terms of guaranteeing that even the packages they use for their litter are entirely recyclable, BPA-free, and overall eco-friendly.
The pellet structure that this litter is made of ensures that it will produce only the smallest amounts of dust to keep you from worrying about suffering with allergens from the litter. You will also not have to be too worried about tracking; just the occasional amount of pellets escaping from the box and getting stuck on the bottom of your cats paws, and possibly their fur. It is still not as much of a problem in comparison to litter products with smaller granules in them.
As far as flushability goes, it should be safe to flush as long as you flush it down in small amounts at a time. Trying to dispose of it in larger batches, however, could pose a bigger problem to your toilet’s plumbing. If you want to dispose of it completely, you can simply discard it in the trash and be done with it. You may not even have to worry about disposing of the entire batch all too often since it is long-lasting.
An 11.7 pound bag can last anywhere from 17 to 50 days, likely depending on how many cats you have in your home.
Pros
- Hypoallergenic and all-natural
- Minimal dust and litter tracking to worry about
- Made from sustainable raw materials
- Minimal environmental footprint from its ingredients and packaging
- Fresh green tea fragrance helps provide odor control
- Easy to scoop
Cons
- Not a suitable option for self-cleaning litter boxes
Okocat Natural Wood Clumping Litter
The Okocat Natural Wood Clumping Litter is an environmentally friendly cat litter that is made from a blend of natural wood ingredients such as pine, fir, and spruce. Plant-based flushable cat litters are entirely safe to use in your household, and it is also one of the healthiest options that can help benefit your cat and anyone else that could live in your home.
It is also lightweight and typically easy to lift the bag and pour it into the litter box. There are no harmful chemicals, dyes, or fragrances that could harm your cat and make them uncomfortable, and it has an excellent level of odor control thanks to the natural wood scent.
The biodegradable wood that goes into the making of this litter is sustainably sourced and naturally traps the ammonia smell from cat urine before it can escape into the open air. The naturally capillary system of tree fiber helps the litter absorb instantly upon contact and forms hard lumps that are easy to scoop out of the litter box.
Even with all of the natural ingredients that go into the making of this product, your and your cat will still be shielded from any unfavorable odors.
The manufacturer even states that the wood pellets are capable of absorbing five times their weight in moisture and helps to keep odor trapped within the area of the litter box for at least a week. The Okocat clumping litter will offer you some of the best absorbent capabilities you could ever want.
This product is 99% dust-free, so you will not have to worry about you or your cat suffering from dust-allergens. Although, you may have to worry about the litter that gets tracked around your home since the wood particles of the litter can easily get stuck on a cat’s paws.
As for its flushable capabilities, you will be able to safely flush the lumps one at a time down a toilet with a sewer system, but you should avoid trying to flush it down a septic system toilet. You should allow the clump some time to dissolve in the water before you flush them down completely if they happen to be too big or solid.
Pros
- Amazing level of odor control
- Provides a natural wood smell
- Completely biodegradable
- Effectively forms clump upon contact
Cons
- Not recommended for flushing down a septic toilet system
Advantages of Flushable Cat Litter
Environmentally Friendly
As many cat owners are typically aware, tons of plastic bags are constantly used to dispose of conventional cat litter. This contributes to the amount of garbage that goes into landfills, where it can normally sit for many years without being properly disposed of.
This can cause overfilling of landfills and can also be the cause of strong odors permeating from landfill sites. Using flushable litter will help to reduce the amount of landfill waste. By using cat litter that is flushable, you can treat cat waste as human waste and reduce your heavy environmental footprint.
Easier to Clean
One of the biggest reasons that flushable litter was invented was to make it more convenient for cat owners to clean their cat’s litter box. Instead of having to dump your cat’s waste into a plastic bag and then into a garbage bin, you can simply place the clumps into the toilet and wait for it to properly break down so you can flush it.
This will become especially convenient for cat owners who live in an apartment since they usually have to go a long distance in order to dispose of cat waste. Flushing your cat’s waste can also eliminate the unpleasant odors that would usually occur as a result of throwing away your cat’s waste normally.
Also Read:
- Best Non Tracking Cat Litter
- Luuup Review
- Wood Pellet Cat Litter
- Corn cob cat litter
- Can Cat Litter Be Composted?
Disadvantages of Flushable Cat Litter
Possibility of Toxic Substances and Parasites
Unfortunately, you will have to take extra precaution when you are dealing with flushable cat litter since there is always the possibility that toxic molds can form due to the moisture within your cat’s box. This is especially true for litter that is made with corn since aflatoxin can form in warm and moisturized areas near corn. This type of mold can be lethal for your cat or any other pet you keep in the house. In this case, corn-based cat litters should be avoided entirely in order to prevent aflatoxin from harming your pets.
While flushable litter could seem like a convenient and environmentally friendly alternative, parasites are also an entirely discernable issue. Paper cat litter products
Parasites can unknowingly form within your cat’s feces, and can become a hazard when they are disposed of in the toilet and left in the water systems. Some feces can become a home to a parasite known as Toxoplasma gondii, which can bypass water treatment plants and end up alive in the sea to continue harming marine animals and can even potentially harm people.
Safety Regulations
You may not know if there are any safety regulations in place by your state or federal government, or just from the area that you live in, that will prevent you from using flushable cat litters. If there is, you will not want to wait until you have already unknowingly flushed the litter down your toilet illegally.
Start by asking your landlord if it is acceptable to use it or do some research to see if your state and government will allow you to use these cat litters before you use it.
Flushable Litter Brands
There are only a few brands that offer flushable ability across all its litter formulas. Here’s a quick list.
When to Avoid Flushing Cat Litter
State and Federal Government Regulations For Best Flushable Cat Litter
Some states and federal government regulations have banned the use of flushable cat litters in order to avoid the possibilities of health and safety hazards from occurring within your area.
It is best to follow these regulations in order to keep yourself, your cat, and other people safe from the disadvantages that flushable cat litter can pose. In this case, avoid flushable cat litter entirely.
Coastal Homes
The disadvantages of using flushable cat litters could be much worse if you happen to live in a coastal home, or anywhere near the coastline. The drainage systems of most coastal homes are connected to the sewer, which could cause flushable cat litters to end up in the sea.
Marine life and other people could be easily exposed to the parasites or toxins that are discarded directly into the sea, so it is best to play it safe and avoid using flushable litter if you live near the coastline.
Plumbing Issues
Even if neither of the conditions above apply to you or your living situation, you may still have to deal with the issue of problematic plumbing. Whether the flushable litter causes the plumbing problem or if you just have a faulty plumbing system to begin with, you could consider either switching back to conventional ones or finding an option that will allow you to compost your flushable litter.
In the meantime, make sure your plumbing gets any of the repairs that it could need to work properly.
Final Verdict
The best flushable cat litter will help your cat be more comfortable using their litter box. It will also help control the odors from the specific area. Save yourself a lot of work, but more importantly you will do an amazing job helping to make positive impacts for the environment.
