The Friends of the Sea Otter (FSO) say that cat feces kills California sea otters. Apparently, the cat poop contains a tiny parasite. It’s called toxoplasma gondii, which attacks the see otters’ brain and eventually kills them.
How does the cat poop get to the sea otters? When the owners flush the flushable cat litter down the toilet, the parasite is able to survive the sewage treatment process and enters the ocean in reclaimed water.
After the parasite enters the ocean water, it sinks to the bottom. Small creatures, like crabs, that eat off of the sea floor become contaminated. Sea otters eat crabs and other bottom-feeding sea creatures, which leads to their death when their brain is attacked by the toxoplasma gondii.
What’s being done to save the sea otters? In California, an Assembly Bill is being proposed. It would require kitty litter to carry a warning label about the danger to sea otters. Presumably, some manufacturers may suggest alternate means of disposal too.
Show your support for the preservation of the sea otters by not disposing of kitty litter via the sewage system, even if it is flushable. Also, visit the website for the Friends of the Sea Otters to learn more.
Tags: animal welfare, cat litter, cat poop, contamination, flushable cat litter, litter disposal, parasite in cat feces, sea otters, sewage systems, toxoplasma gondii, Wildlife
Hello Penny! Yes indeed this is an issue, but it is not the main issue killing sea otters. Water quality, agricultural run-off, storm drains, oil spills etc are higher on the list. The Otter Project is a monterey based non-profit that deals with the recovery of the southern sea otter. If you would like more informaiton visit our website http://www.otterproject.org, our facebook cause and page, find us on twitter, or check out our blog Sea Otter Scoop. Thanks for your passion for these cute critters!