Greening your Pets

Posted on June 28, 2008 at 8:28 a.m. by Stephenie.

Several visitors have asked about greening pets, more specifically about, inside pets or out, green litters, and organic foods?

First, it's best to keep the alley cats inside. The American Bird Conservancy has launched a national campaign to educate and help cat owners keep their feline friends inside. Outdoor cats typically have a life expectancy of fewer than 5 years; indoor cats can live for up to 17 years.

Clay kitty litter is made from Bentonite clay, which is strip-mined. And on potty training, it is entirely possible and some people have had great success. If you dare try, there is a world of resources on the Internet to help you get started or you could check your local library for a book called, How to Toilet-Train Your Cat: 21 Days to a Litter-Free Home by Paul Kunkel.

Some people have great success with the wheat and corn based litters, like Swheat Scoop. Although, Swheat Scoop says it’s flushable, the rule of thumb is still do not flush. Waste water treatment is incredibly expensive, nor was it developed to handle this sort of waste. And it’s really not reasonable to flush 1.6 or 6 gallons of water for such a small amount of poo. Your best green bet might be if you can find a product that uses a post-consumer recycled product that’s biodegradable, like newspaper, and compost it.

Kitty litter can be composted, but it is a delicate process. Again, there are great resources online, like this detailed debate here that exemplifies the trial and error of composting pet waste. If you’re not going to compost it, choosing a biodegradable product is still better in the landfill as it will still eventually decompose.

Or try these resources:
Info about composting cat poop
Dog Poop Composter

Natural and organic pet foods are made using animals raised humanely and without added drugs or hormones. This means that there’s less potential for hormone-injected animal waste reaching the aquifer. Here’s a quick overview of natural and organic pet foods. Preservatives and wheat or corn meal found in regular dog foods can cause hair loss, itching, and other allergy symptoms in sensitive dogs.

If you choose to make your own you should find a good resource that explains the nutrient needs of your animal(s). Balancing their diet is essential to their health as is portion control; both of which are already established with premade foods. The benefit of making your own pet food is that you know exactly what is in it and you have the choice to buy local, organic, or both!

Here are some links to recipes and more information about alternative pet food choices. Remember it’s important to consult your veterinarian and fully research alternatives before implementing them.

Homemade Dog Food Recipes

Owners Making Own Pet Food, Switching to Organic/Natural

Home Made Raw food Diet for Animals

How to Green Your Pet