A pet company’s campaign to highlight the dangers of flushing cat litter down the toilet has now won the backing of three major water companies, with Welsh Water being the latest to warn against the practice.

Yorkshire Water and Anglian Water had both warned of a serious health risk and possible blockages within the infrastructure.

The problem was brought to their attention by Tailor-Grace, supplier of sustainable cat litter brand Huskaloo.

Welsh Water said: "By-product waste from pet animals such as cats must not be disposed into the sewerage network and we would discourage the disposal into septic tanks also. We would recommend that you consult the DEFRA guidance document called ‘Control on Animal by-Products - Guidance on Regulation (EC). It states that waste from pet-animal is classified as the highest risk (category 1 material) due to transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs) that affect humans and animals. Veterinary wastes and toxoplasma parasites and derived oocysts may not be adequately broken down or inactivated through wastewater treatment process and thus causing a high risk of transmission of deceases to humans and animals. Welsh Water is unable to accept any type of animal derived by-product due to the risk to public and animal health."

Kate Layfield, of Yorkshire Water, had earlier stated: “We ask our customers to only flush the 3Ps down the toilet – that’s pee, poo and paper (toilet). Cat poo should not be flushed down the loo as it isn’t domestic waste and our treatment works are not designed to effectively treat toxocara which can be found in it.”

And Anglian Water’s Collette Parker explained: “This kind of animal waste should never be flushed down the loo. Although rare, dog and cat poo can carry toxocara, which is one of the very few bacteria that we are unable to eliminate in our water treatment processes. Flushing cat litter down the loo can also lead to blockages in our sewer network, putting the region’s much-loved environment at risk.”

Yorkshire Water has even produced a short video to help explain why it shouldn’t be flushed. Click on the following link to view https://ow.ly/hy5O50R3UTN

Huskaloo’s mission to ‘Save the planet one cat at a time’ encompasses all aspects of the environmental impact of cat litter, from carbon footprint to safe disposal.

Huskaloo is made from coconut fibres and can be put on a compost heap or in the garden where it will break down in a few weeks.

A number of cat litter products on the market claim to be flushable. Some state you should check with your local water company first. But according to Yorkshire Water Anglian Water, they would never condone the flushing of cat litter down the loo.

Terry Barber, head of specialist pet sales, wrote to the water companies to clarify their position after customers asked if cat litter could be flush down the toilet.

“Their response was a definite NO,” said Terry. “The first reason is that it will block the system. And the second is the fact that cat poo may contain the bacteria toxocara that causes toxoplasmosis, which is one of the few bacteria that cannot be treated at water treatment plants.

“So our answer to the question is, there isn’t a cat litter than can be flushed down the toilet and that you should not flush cat poo either.”