Best Flushable Cat Litter – 2023 Guide to Septic-Safe & Biodegradable Litters

As the owner of an indoor cat, one of the biggest problems you will ever face is keeping the litter box clean. Outdoor cat owners have it easier; they just let the cat out in the backyard to do the deed. But indoor cats need a proper litter box, and it needs to be clean all the time.

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Even though this is a big chore for any cat owner, it is more important than most of us realize. This task is something that all cat owners face on a daily basis. If the cat litter is not cleaned on time, it gives rise to several unwanted consequences, including the terrible odor that permeates the whole house. If you are a cat owner residing in an apartment or a high-rise building, the problem becomes even worse.

Marketers and product manufacturers are always cashing in on common issues faced by cat owners, and to address the issue of cat litter, they came up with the flushable cat litter.

What is the Best Flushable Cat Litter?

What Is Flushable Cat Litter?

There are several types of cat litter available on the market. The traditional clay or sand litter have been widely used by cat owners since the beginning, and are also more suited to the cat’s natural habits. These are disposed of by dumping in the trash.

However, as more and more people in apartments and high-rise buildings bring cats home (without access to outdoor garbage units) the problem to keep the litter clean is real. Letting cat litter sit in the household trash for days can lead to unbearable odor throughout the house. To make things easier for these cat owners, the flushable cat litter was invented.

Simply put, these litters are made of “flushable” or biodegradable materials. The most common materials used to make flushable cat litter include shredded newspaper, cedar and pin sawdust, pine pellets, whole kernel corn, and wheat by-products. Flushable cat litter is known as natural or organic because the components are eco-friendly and do not contain synthetic materials.

Although the traditional types of cat litter are still the most popular, flushable cat litter is quickly gaining popularity and recognition because of their obvious benefits. However, flushable cat litter has both advantages and drawbacks. Some of them are explained below.

Advantages of Flushable Cat Litter

Convenience

The primary reason why flushable cat litter was invented in the first place is convenience. Owning a cat does not have to be a problem, whether you live in a house or an apartment. With a flushable cat litter, you do not have to worry about disposing of your pet’s excrements. Instead of having to dump the smelly litter in garbage bins, you can easily flush it down the toilet. This creates no smell or mess, and makes cleaning cat litter highly convenient.

Environmental Benefits

There are significant environmental benefits of flushable cat litter, particularly when it comes to reducing landfill waste. The majority of conventional cat litter is sent to landfills, where it is left to sit for years. This leads to the waste swelling up, taking up more space, and producing foul smells that cannot be subdued easily.

Cat litter has a major contribution in adding to landfill waste. With the push for reducing landfill waste, flushable cat litter is a great alternative. This type of litter is flushed down the toilet and treated like human waste, thus reducing the environmental footprint.

Disadvantages of Flushable Cat Litter

Cat’s opinion: Your cat may or may not like the flushable litter. When changing the litter from conventional material to flushable material, your cat’s opinion is the final word. Most cats are used to the traditional texture of clay litter and may not be comfortable using the flushable litter. This can be a huge disadvantage because the cat will not use the box if it doesn’t like the litter used. This will lead to urinating and defecating on the floor or against furniture.

Toxic Substances

Caution must be exercised when using flushable cat litter, because in many cases, the materials may lead to the growth of toxic molds when exposed to moisture. This is especially true for corn-based litter. Corn ingredients are harmful for pets and most owners avoid the substance in pet food. However, the same issue can arise when using corn-based cat litter. Corn, when exposed to moisture, leads to the growth of the poisonous mold called aflatoxin. This mold can be lethal for animals. It results in heart and kidney disease in pets, often leading to their death. Even when using flushable litter, corn-based litter must be avoided.

Best Flushable, Biodegradable and Eco-Friendly Cat Litters

The best flushable cat litter is the one that your pet likes to use and is also safe. This will vary from one cat to another. Depending upon your requirements, there are several flushable cat litter brands available in the market today. With the growing popularity of flushable litter, they are now widely available at pet shops and online stores.

When purchasing flushable cat litter, keep in mind that not all “flushable” types can be actually flushed down the toilet. Most flushable cat litters are good at clumping, and it could lead to the wreckage of your plumbing. It is advisable to dispose the dry stools in the garbage before flushing the rest.

The following are the best flushable cat litter brands available today.

World’s Best Cat Litter Scoopable Multiple Cat Clumping Formula

Instead of the tiny clay pellets you might be used to, World’s Best Cat Litter clumps on contact, trapping all the odors left behind by your cats. Not only will you spare your home from the strong ammonia smell of traditional litters, but clean-up will be much easier and more convenient.

This is a completely flushable, septic-safe cat litter and it’s free of harsh chemicals and silica dust so you can breathe easier both literally and figuratively. When using World’s Best Cat Litter, a little bit goes a long way, making it environmentally friendly, too!

Pros:

  • Lasts long because of the smaller clumps around waste
  • No ammonia smell or silica dust
  • Truly flushable and safe for septic tanks
  • Traps odors on contact

Cons:

  • High tracking because of the light weight material

Bottom line: One of the best flushable cat litter products today, World’s Best Cat Litter is safe for your pet, your home, and also for the environment.

PrettyLitter

Key Benefits:

  • 20% off with code BESTLITTER
  • Changes color when pH changes
  • Silica gel traps odors and eliminates moisture
  • Reduced dust and mess

PrettyLitter is unscented and lightweight, and its most amazing benefit is that it changes color when it detects a pH change to alert you to your cat’s possible health issues. PrettyLitter can detect health issues such as urinary tract infections, bladder stones, inflammation, kidney issues, and more. PrettyLitter has a convenient delivery service, and it costs less than some other typical cat litters. The amount is tailored to suit the number of cats in your home, and the super absorbent silica gel traps odors and eliminates moisture and is made from natural minerals, which means less dust and allergens and less litter in the landfill.

Pros:

  • Made from natural minerals
  • Detects pH change that may indicate medical issues
  • Less dust and mess
  • Convenient delivery service

Cons:

  • Non-clumping can cause tracking
  • Subscription service

sWheat Scoop Multi-Cat Natural Wheat Cat Litter

The most important things cat owners look for in litter is that it clumps conveniently and reduces odors. Look no further than sWheat Scoop Multi-Cat Natural Wheat Cat Litter to accomplish both of those things. sWheat Scoop absorbs and clumps quickly, keeping the rest of the litter clean and fresh.

Environmental friendliness is really important to many pet owners, too. You can rest assured knowing that sWheat Scoop contains no silica dust, sodium bentonite or chemicals of any kind. It is so safe that vets recommend it for kittens and even post-surgical pets.

Pros:

  • Highly efficient in odor control
  • Minimal tracking
  • Environmentally friendly
  • Gentle on the paws and skin
  • Efficient clumping

Cons:

  • Some users report disliking the scent

Bottom line: If there ever was a safe and eco friendly flushable cat litter, then this is it. Chemical-free, efficient clumping, and odor control are key features of this cat litter.

Okocat Super Soft Clumping Wood Cat Litter

Okocat Super Soft Clumping Wood Cat Litter is the “au natural” version of cat litter. It is made from 100% reclaimed fibers that are free from chemicals, dyes, and other synthetics for a naturally healthier environment. The soft wood is lightweight and easy on your cats’ paws, so it is great for kittens, seniors, and other cats who might have sensitive paws.

Okocat boasts that this litter has been lab-tested and is able to absorb five times more than the average cat litter.

Pros:

  • Highly efficient in absorption
  • Naturally lightweight and easy on cat’s paws
  • 100% natural
  • Bio-degradable

Cons:

  • Best for short-haired cat

Bottom line: Okocat Super Soft Clumping Wood Cat Litter is 100% all-natural, lightweight, and soft on your cat’s paws. It is the perfect environmentally friendly litter for your feline friends.

Next Gen Cypress Fresh Natural Odor Control w/ Green Tea Clumping Cat Litter

If you are looking for an all-natural cat litter, it doesn’t get any more environmentally-friendly than Next Gen Pet Products Cypress Fresh Natural Odor Control with Green Tea Clumping Cat Litter. The product is made from recycled wood, so there’s little to no chance of your kitty contracting allergies or getting irritations from the litter. Besides being eco friendly, this cat litter is also safe for your pet (there is no risk even in case of ingestion) and your family.

This is a completely flushable, septic-safe cat litter, which can also be used for composting. Yes, instead of flushing it down the toilet, you can use it as compost for your plants. The Next Gen Pet Products Cypress Fresh Natural Odor Control with Green Tea Clumping Cat Litter is lightweight and easy to use. The great thing is that it’s an unscented cat litter, and can be used for all kinds of cats. If you have an outdoor or rescue cat you are trying to train, this is an ideal litter because it does not smell and is easy for cats to adjust to using it.

Pros:

  • Lasts long because of the smaller clumps around waste
  • Despite being unscented, the odor control is good
  • Truly flushable and also compostable – break the clumps to smaller pieces to either flush down the toilet or use as garden compost
  • Less dusty than other litter

Cons:

  • High tracking because of the light weight material

Bottom line: One of the best flushable cat litter products today, the Next Gen Pet Products Cypress Fresh Natural Odor Control with Green Tea Clumping Cat Litter is safe for your pet, your home, and also for the environment. You can flush it down or use it as compost.

Garfield Cat Litter Super Clump Multi-Cat Flushable Cat Litter

Garfield Cat Litter is known for being made from 100% natural ingredients that immediately begin absorbing on contact. Scooping is easy and efficient, and since the odors aren’t masked with artificial fragrances and chemicals, you don’t have to worry about what you or your pet are breathing in. Made from plant-based grains, this litter is environmentally friendly and totally flushable, so you’re not only taking good care of your cat, you’re taking good care of the environment, too.

Pros:

  • Clumps quickly and absorbs moisture
  • No chemicals or fragrances
  • Dust free and environmentally friendly
  • White color makes changes in your cat’s urine easy to identify

Cons:

  • Some users report less odor control than other litters

Bottom line: One of the best flushable cat litter products today, it was difficult to find a less than stellar review for Garfield’s Cat Litter. Made from 100% natural ingredients, you can be sure that you’re not only caring for your pet but for the environment, too!

Cat’s Pride Premium Lightweight Fresh Scent Scoopable Cat Litter

Cat’s Pride is best known for its odor-control prowess. Using chemical-free fragrances, Cat’s Pride Premium Lightweight Fresh Scent is sure to keep your cat’s litter box smelling fresh and clean. Another perk is that this exclusive, scoopable litter does not use sodium bentonite, which means it’s safe to flush and won’t clog your pipes.

A highly porous clay without any lightweight fillers makes this litter quick to clump and easy to scoop. They also boast that just 12 pounds of Cat’s Pride will give you as much absorption as 20 pounds of other litters, so this one is cost-efficient, too!

Pros:

  • Cost efficient
  • Fragrant without added chemicals
  • Scoopable and quick-clumping
  • Made from porous clay without lightweight fillers

Cons:

  • Sometimes sticks to the litter box

Bottom line: Both flushable and fragrant, Cat’s Pride is a great option for an environmentally friendly, cost-efficient litter.

Conclusion

Flushable cat litter is getting increasingly popular, but getting one that is safe for both your pet and your plumbing could be a tough choice. While flushable litter is highly convenient and non-messy, not all litter products are created equally, and cats might be allergic or unfriendly towards certain types. Getting a corn-free litter is also necessary to ensure your pet’s safety.

The best way to decide on a flushable cat litter is to try out a few first. It can be difficult to persuade your cat to try a new litter frequently, but it is the only way to ensure you’re giving your cat a litter that’s safe and healthy.

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