1 post tagged “omaog”

Think outside the (recyclable) box: What's an Act of Green someone might be surprised to learn about?
Sponsored by One Million Acts of Green brought to you by Cisco.

I usually don't get to answer the "Questions of the Day" because they're usually geared for individuals and wouldn't fit in with this blog very well, but I'm so excited that today's question applies!

Most people are blissfully unaware that cat litter is very bad for the environment!  The mining of the clay is bad, the dust is bad and there are reports that the dust is actually a carcinogen!  Add to that the fact that clay doesn't break down in our landfills - we should just leave it where it started in the first place!

There are green alternatives - but you'll have to work that one out with your cat.  I like Feline Pine (scoopable).  There are other litters made from wheat hulls, recycled paper and other renewable resources.  I'm not sure of the environmental impact of the crystal litters, but my cats like those as well.

As far as working it out with your cat - remember that kitty math says the formula for happy cats is number of litterboxes = # of cats in a home + 1.  So leave one box with whatever they're using now.  Then try alternative litters in the other boxes.  If the cats use those boxes, you know you have a winner.  If they don't, then you'll know that it's a good thing you didn't go "cold turkey" with a new litter! 

Remember every little bit helps, so if you can add some greener alternatives to compliment what you're doing it will make a difference.  One of my cats loves Cat Attract which is clay based, so I buy it for him.  But that's one of the 4 boxes.  Max, my old man cat, love Cat Attract Senior, which is a crystal type litter.  They also have Feline Pine and The World's Best Cat Litter.  The World's Best is awesome stuff if your cat will use it.  Mine only use it once in awhile, but I've had other foster cats that loved it!  It's lightweight and does a great job absorbing and very dust-friendly.

Also, a quick reminder that cats like clean boxes, so the biggest factor in successful litter box use is you!  If your cat avoids the box, a vet check is in order, then make sure the boxes are clean, that there are enough, that they're in a good location, that it's litter they like.  Cats are clean animals - they'd rather go in the box, we just need to do some detective work to figure out why they stray.

So this is the only time I'll advise cats and their owners to think outside the box!