Pets are part of the family, so they should be part of your sustainability as well. Here are some ways to be more green when pampering your fluffy pals.
Don’t Overfeed
Over 50% of cats seen by vets are overweight or obese. This is bad for the environment and your cat’s health. By overfeeding, you require more resources than are necessary.
Opt for organic and sustainable food, ideally locally sourced. Check out your local Mud Bay or Pet Pros to see what locally sourced and natural products they may carry.
Keep Them Inside
Outdoor cats pose a threat to wildlife – it’s believed that free-ranging domestic cats alone kill 1.3-4 billion birds and 6.3-22.3 billion mammals every year. While the majority of these impacts are due to feral cats, one pet cat allowed to roam can kill 1-34 birds a year. In order to protect our environment from climate change, we must protect wildlife. Birds are critical to the environment – they pollinate plants, spread seeds, and control insects.
Buy Sustainable Toys
Make cat toys yourself with toilet paper tubes, cardboard boxes, excess yarn, and old socks.
Depending on your cat’s play style, opt for more sturdy toys that will last longer so that you aren’t forced to keep buying new. Etsy often has great sustainable options.
Don’t Litter
Littering is bad for the environment and cat litter isn’t much better. Most cat litter uses bentonite clay because it clumps easily so it’s easy to clean up, but in order to get bentonite we use environmentally destructive practices.
Avoid bentonite and switch to natural, biodegradable cat litter. You can even make your own litter at home with sawdust, recycled paper, pieces of wood, or other items you otherwise might just throw out!
Additionally, ditch the plastic that goes along with it! Switch to a non-plastic litter box and non-plastic scoop. If you use litter bags, check into compostable litter bags to dispose of the soiled litter.
Spay/Neuter
There are so many cats left without homes every year, many of which will become feral. This is especially important for outdoor cats, which are more free to procreate. Do your part to protect cats by spaying/neutering your pet.
