Keep Your Cat Green and Happy

Spring is on the horizon and we are all thinking about eco-friendly ways to refresh our homes, especially as Earth Day approaches.

If you are one of the more than 38 million cat-owning households in the U.S., you may want to rethink how you care for Fluffy, both to be more environmentally friendly and to protect your cat’s health.

“We love our pets, and just as we work to make our lives environmentally sensible, we can adopt ‘greener’ pet care habits to better care for our pets’ health and environment,” says Jill Cordes, host of America’s first broadband pet channel www.Petstyle.com.

In addition to everyday eco-sensible habits you might be adopting for yourself, like buying organic food and shopping with reusable bags, Cordes suggests following some simple pet care practices this spring, just in time for Earth Day on April 22:

• Cats love to clean themselves, and it’s a good idea to keep your pet’s environment clean and gentle. Replace traditional pet care and cleaning products that may contain harsh chemicals with gentle, all-natural products.
• Keep your kitty’s tummy happy as well. Added hormones or pesticides aren’t good for you to eat, so why do you think they’d be good for your cat? When shopping, look for pet food that is natural and organic.
• Eliminate odors in your spring-fresh house and choose eco-sensible kitty litter, like Arm & Hammer Essentials Clumping Cat Litter. It’s made with natural biodegradable corn fibers, which are a renewable resource and sensible for the environment. Plus, it’s formulated with Arm & Hammer Baking Soda, which naturally prevents litter box odors. Visit www.armandhammeressentials.com/litter.aspx to learn more.
• Avoid creating a home for fungus and other nasty organisms. Make sure your cat has fresh water and food daily to eliminate potential disease, insect or other pest infestations. Also, filtered tap water is better for both you and your cat because you aren’t throwing a plastic bottle away or potentially giving your pet contaminents from the bottle.
• Recycle household items by turning them into play toys. Take the rope out of your drawstring pants, and you can have kitty jumping, leaping and pouncing for hours. Roll up a pair of gloves into a tight ball, and she’ll be trying to dig it out from under the couch every time you turn your back. If you decide to replace carpet somewhere in your house, keep a couple of scraps and attach them to boards for her to roll on, scratch and climb. Just remember, snuggle time on your lap is probably her favorite — and most eco-friendly — time spent during the day.