As a veterinarian who advises pet owners on behavior problems, I have the dubious distinction of being an expert on the fascinating subjects of urine, feces and kitty litter.

Here's a news flash for unknowing cat lovers: "flushable kitty litter" may be one reason some cats stop using their litter box — strike one! This is because the clump produced by flushable litter tends to fall apart, leaving small remnants, the stinky stuff, to mix in with the fresh litter. In time, this results in a residual smell that repels some fastidious felines from using the litter box.

Recent research has shown that flushable litter reaching the ocean is one factor threatening wildlife, especially sea otters — strike two! To be fair, the problem isn't the litter itself. It is the cat feces mixed with the litter that releases the protozoan Toxoplasma gondii that kill many otters.

If that still wasn't enough, plumbers tell me that flushing even "flushable" litter eventually clogs pipes — strike three!

Near the beaches in California, sea otters once numbered more than 15,000 until early hunters took them to near extinction. They are on their way back, however naturalists have traced their slow population growth to the death of many breeding age otters because of the parasite mentioned above.

A new bill has been introduced in the California legislature by Assemblyman Dave Jones. One component requires a "label statement" advising consumers not to flush any litter.

One solution is the Petmate "LitterLocker" disposable system that can be kept next to the cat toilet. Instead of a flush, there's a twist — similar to the Diaper Genie — that locks in odor. For one cat, the disposable bag typically lasts two months before meeting your outdoor trash. Now, that's pleasant for the cat, easy for you, and the sea otters say thanks!