Carbon Cat-Paw Prints

With another Earth Day celebration just dying down, most people are more consciously aware of their energy use and practice recycling and reusing in an effort to reduce their own personal carbon foot prints on the Earth. Whilst this is certainly a good thing, cat owners should not forget their cat's carbon paw prints either.

Your Cat's Carbon Paw Print

In 2007, a survey was conducted by the American Veterinary Association, in which it was found that there were more than 80 million household cats in the USA.

On her blog about green living for cats, environmentalist Holly Tse, states: "Reducing one cat's carbon footprint is helpful, but 80 million cats collectively could make an enormous difference!"

By using energy efficient light bulbs and Energy Star rated appliances, you are certainly well on your way to reducing your carbon footprint; which is the amount of carbon dioxide emissions created by your activities. But how do you help your kitty reduce her carbon paw print? Here are a few Earth-friendly ideas:

Cat Beds

Choose a comfy bed for your kitty made from 100% organic cotton or hemp. Natural hemp is extremely durable and will outlast any cat bed made from synthetic fibers.

Cat Litter

Avoid using a clay based cat litter as this will only end up in a landfill somewhere; and therefore it has a negative impact on the environment. Instead opt for cat litter that is made with recycled newspapers and other materials.

Cat Carriers

Every cat needs to get out of the house at some point, such as going to the vet, and most prefer to do it in style. Pick a carrier that will allow your cat to move about freely inside but that is also good for the planet, like carriers that are made with recycled plastic, recycled water bottles or hemp.

Cat Toys

A fun way to help ease your cat's carbon paw print is by making cat toys yourself by reusing and recycling items that you find inside your home. Place a few pieces of rice inside a small piece of paper and fold it up into a ball - now your cat will have a fun, noisy ball to play with. You could also use an empty toilet paper roll and place your cat's favorite treats inside and then close the ends with paper – place a few a holes around it and toss it to your cat to play with.

Cat Treats

Cats love treats, but those store bought ones can be filled with preservatives and other ingredients that are not entirely healthy for your cat. Plus, by purchasing them you are encouraging companies to mass produce such products that are unhealthy - both for your cat and for the environment. Instead, try your hand at cooking up some delectable treats for your cat at home.

Household Cleaners

Throw out all of those chemically laden cleaning products as not only are they toxic to the environment, but they are also toxic to your cat as well. In fact, Tse states that:

"Over time, our pets develop a much higher concentration of toxic chemicals in their systems than humans do. Since your cat spends so much time grooming itself, it may ingest the chemicals."

Choose cleaners that contain enzymes as these are biomolecules that digest the organic odor-causing substances found in cat urine and waste.

Another easy cleaning agent is vinegar and baking soda.

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

Remember to keep these three R's in mind when helping to reduce your cat's carbon paw print (and yours). Try to avoid buying new supplies and toys etc, and instead reduce your waste by reusing and recycling as much as possible.

Also consider having your cat spayed or neutered. One female cat and her young can create more than 42,000 cats during a 7 year period - this will create extra carbon paw prints.

Photo Credit: flickr