How to Be An Eco-Friendly Pet Owner

With pet ownership comes a lot of responsibilities. Since there are so many choices to pick from for food and pet items, why not go the eco-friendly route? It might be surprising how much waste a little pet can actually produce, but just take a monthly tally! Between poop bags, food, kitty litter and toys, many items come and go in a pet’s lifetime. If you can switch to more eco-friendly products, you’ll definitely be helping out the planet!

Photo by Erda Estremera via Unsplash

Food – Use sustainably sourced food products for your pet. Not only will you be helping the environment, but usually sustainably sourced means healthier food for your pet. There are a ton of brands out there. Do you research online or ask your local mom and pop pet store. They usually know better than nationwide pet stores who don’t always carry the healthiest items.

Waste – Use biodegradable poop bags for your dog and always pick up poop even if it seems to be hidden from the public. Dog waste can carry pathogens that can leak into water supplies after a good rain – something we definitely want to avoid if possible! Also, never flush cat waste down the toilet. It’s just another way bad bacteria and pathogens can get into our waterways.

Cat Litter – Cats can be super picky about their litter. You may find it incredibly difficult to switch cat litters with grown cats. However, if you get a kitten, consider getting a biodegradable cat litter made from plant sources like corn, wheat or pine. Additionally, choose to skip the kitty litter linings. Most kitties don’t like those anyway as their claws can get stuck in them.

Donate – Did you recently lose a pet to old age? Let the legacy of your pet live on by donating its items to shelters instead of throwing them away. Shelters depend on donations, plus it cuts down on waste!

Eco-Friendly Toys – Cut down on the plastic and find toys that are made from sustainable materials. There are a ton of them out there these days that you can easily find by Googling or Amazon.