From a neighbor..."In my quest to not have to deal with my cat's box, I have been researching alternative methods of disposal. Apparently, the EPA recommends flushing it down the toilet (just the feces, NOT the litter); however, it has been found that the treatment process does NOT kill the eggs of some parasites. Many cats carry the parasite Toxoplasma gondii. My own cats, which are indoors only (to keep them from killing songbirds), have also tested positive (blood test), so it is rampant. I thought many would like to know the following info (from https://www.ggnrabig<wbr>year.org/<wbr>seaotter.<wbr>html (https://www.ggnrabigyear.org/seaotter.html) ):
Although the hunt for sea otters has ended, many threats still impede sea otter recovery. Oil spills are a major concern, because once a Sea Otter's fur is soiled it cannot retain heat and the animal will die. But most Sea Otter mortality today is caused by disease. One of the most disconcerting diseases has been the parasite Toxoplasma gondii. This microorganism isn’t naturally found in the ocean environment, but it is killing Sea Otters. Marine biologists have determined that the microorganism is getting into the ocean through cat feces (https://www.seaotterresearch.org/): the T. gondii life cycle can only reach a stage hearty enough to survive the marine environment in cats, and when the organism is shed in cat feces it can wash away into the marine environment. This is why all cat litter sold in California must have a label warning people not to flush it down the toilet.
Help encourage Sea Otter recovery by always landfilling-<wbr>-never flushing--kitty litter.
If you don't have a cat, ask a cat owner you know to do the same."
Jane
Sylph
03-30-2009, 06:22 PM
Who would've thought that cats would endanger otters in this way!?
Thanks, by the way, to your neighbor, for not letting the cats kill the birds!
From a neighbor..."In my quest to not have to deal with my cat's box, I have been researching alternative methods of disposal. Apparently, the EPA recommends flushing it down the toilet (just the feces, NOT the litter); however, it has been found that the treatment process does NOT kill the eggs of some parasites. Many cats carry the parasite Toxoplasma gondii. My own cats, which are indoors only (to keep them from killing songbirds), have also tested positive (blood test), so it is rampant. I thought many would like to know the following info (from https://www.ggnrabig<wbr>year.org/<wbr>seaotter.<wbr>html (https://www.ggnrabigyear.org/seaotter.html) ):
Although the hunt for sea otters has ended, many threats still impede sea otter recovery. Oil spills are a major concern, because once a Sea Otter's fur is soiled it cannot retain heat and the animal will die. But most Sea Otter mortality today is caused by disease. One of the most disconcerting diseases has been the parasite Toxoplasma gondii. This microorganism isn’t naturally found in the ocean environment, but it is killing Sea Otters. Marine biologists have determined that the microorganism is getting into the ocean through cat feces (https://www.seaotterresearch.org/): the T. gondii life cycle can only reach a stage hearty enough to survive the marine environment in cats, and when the organism is shed in cat feces it can wash away into the marine environment. This is why all cat litter sold in California must have a label warning people not to flush it down the toilet.
Help encourage Sea Otter recovery by always landfilling-<wbr>-never flushing--kitty litter.
If you don't have a cat, ask a cat owner you know to do the same."
Jane
Barrie
03-30-2009, 08:13 PM
From a neighbor..."In my quest to not have to deal with my cat's box, I have been researching alternative methods of disposal. Apparently, the EPA recommends flushing it down the toilet (just the feces, NOT the litter); however, it has been found that the treatment process does NOT kill the eggs of some parasites. Many cats carry the parasite Toxoplasma gondii. My own cats, which are indoors only (to keep them from killing songbirds), have also tested positive (blood test), so it is rampant. I thought many would like to know the following info (from https://www.ggnrabig<WBR>year.org/<WBR>seaotter.<WBR>html (https://www.ggnrabigyear.org/seaotter.html) ):
Although the hunt for sea otters has ended, many threats still impede sea otter recovery. Oil spills are a major concern, because once a Sea Otter's fur is soiled it cannot retain heat and the animal will die. But most Sea Otter mortality today is caused by disease. One of the most disconcerting diseases has been the parasite Toxoplasma gondii. This microorganism isn’t naturally found in the ocean environment, but it is killing Sea Otters. Marine biologists have determined that the microorganism is getting into the ocean through cat feces (https://www.seaotterresearch.org/): the T. gondii life cycle can only reach a stage hearty enough to survive the marine environment in cats, and when the organism is shed in cat feces it can wash away into the marine environment. This is why all cat litter sold in California must have a label warning people not to flush it down the toilet.
Help encourage Sea Otter recovery by always landfilling-<WBR>-never flushing--kitty litter.
If you don't have a cat, ask a cat owner you know to do the same."
Jane
Thank you very much for publicizing this information. I used to flush my cats' poop until I read about the Toxoplasmosis going down stream from the sewer treatment plants all the way out to see where it is infecting the sea otters and other marine mammals. Now I put it into plastic bags, tie a knot in the bag, and put it into the garbage going to landfill.
Barrie
nicofrog
04-06-2009, 09:55 AM
PLease Don't put your cat poop in landfill either !!!!!!!
Cat poop and clay cat litter carry high nitrogen materials deep into landfill causing Anaerobic decomposition adding to the second largest contributor to green house gasses,food and feces cause /METHANE FROM LANDFILLS.They also fill and mess up septic systems.
The first and largest source of greenhouse gasses is the thawing tundra,third is industrial and automotive smog.Volcanos, and Oil and tire fires also figure in.
the plastic bag saves the problem for your great grand children!!
USE WOOD CAT LITTER
compost the litter under 6" of mulch in a damp area where worms and soil bacteria will easily and correctly reduce the material to use-able
normal soil. do not use this soil in food garden plots.
If you live in an area where your cats have access to the great outdoors, wean them of cat litter.wean yourself of toilets and set up a composting privy.(contact me for directions how) yes and DANG the code.
Nico
From a neighbor..."In my quest to not have to deal with my cat's box, I have been researching alternative methods of disposal. Apparently, the EPA recommends flushing it down the toilet (just the feces, NOT the litter); however, it has been found that the treatment process does NOT kill the eggs of some parasites. Many cats carry the parasite Toxoplasma gondii. My own cats, which are indoors only (to keep them from killing songbirds), have also tested positive (blood test), so it is rampant. I thought many would like to know the following info (from https://www.ggnrabig<wbr>year.org/<wbr>seaotter.<wbr>html (https://www.ggnrabigyear.org/seaotter.html) ):
Although the hunt for sea otters has ended, many threats still impede sea otter recovery. Oil spills are a major concern, because once a Sea Otter's fur is soiled it cannot retain heat and the animal will die. But most Sea Otter mortality today is caused by disease. One of the most disconcerting diseases has been the parasite Toxoplasma gondii. This microorganism isn’t naturally found in the ocean environment, but it is killing Sea Otters. Marine biologists have determined that the microorganism is getting into the ocean through cat feces (https://www.seaotterresearch.org/): the T. gondii life cycle can only reach a stage hearty enough to survive the marine environment in cats, and when the organism is shed in cat feces it can wash away into the marine environment. This is why all cat litter sold in California must have a label warning people not to flush it down the toilet.
Help encourage Sea Otter recovery by always landfilling-<wbr>-never flushing--kitty litter.
If you don't have a cat, ask a cat owner you know to do the same."