Ways to Reduce Your Cat’s Pawprint

by Curious Cat People April 20, 2023 5 min read

Ways to Reduce Your Cat’s Pawprint

Ways to Reduce Your Cat’s Pawprint

As pet owners, we often do everything we can to keep our furry friends happy and healthy. However, it's important to remember that our pets can have a significant impact on the environment. Our cats can have a "pawprint" that contributes to climate change and other environmental issues.

Ways to Reduce Your Cat’s Pawprint

There are many ways to reduce your cat's pawprint and make a positive impact on the environment. Here are some of the most effective ways to do so:

Choose eco-friendly cat litter

Traditional clay litter is not biodegradable and can have negative environmental impacts. Instead, look for litter made from recycled paper, wood, or other natural materials. These natural litter are biodegradable and can be composted or recycled after use. Biodegradable cat litter can often be flushed down the toilet too making it easier to dispose of and reducing the amount of waste that needs to be taken out with the trash. Here’s a natural cat litter made from food-grade soy pulp that is biodegradable and eco-friendly – The Honey Care Tofu Cat Litter. As with most eco-friendly cat litter, this product can be easily disposed of in the toilet too.

When choosing litter, consider the environmental impact of the packaging as well. Whenever possible, look for litter packaged in recycled materials. Similarly, with your kitty’s litter box, try using litter boxes made from recycled materials, such as plastic or bamboo.

If you are using a litter mat to help capture litter particles and prevent them from spreading throughout your home, choose a mat made from recycled materials or one that can be washed and reused like this Stefanplast Cleaner Litter Carpet. This can reduce the amount of litter that ends up in landfills and prevent litter from being tracked throughout your home.  

Ways to Reduce Your Cat’s Pawprint

Buy sustainable cat food

Buying sustainable cat food is important for several reasons:

Environmental impact

The production of cat food, especially traditional animal-based cat foods, can have a significant environmental impact due to factors such as land use, greenhouse gas emissions, and water consumption. More cat food manufacturers are looking into sustainable ingredients and moving towards eco-friendlier production methods. Choosing to buy your cat food from environmentally conscious brands will help reduce your kitty’s carbon pawprint. So, look for cat food made with sustainably sourced ingredients and if possible, choose products with recyclable packaging too like Stella & Chewy’s Grain Free Marvellous Morsels (Cage Free Turkey) Wet Cat Food. As more pet food consumers are choosing eco-friendlier products, cat food manufacturers will continue to research and upgrade their products to meet the customers’ expectations.

Animal welfare

Sustainable cat food companies often prioritize animal welfare, using humanely-raised and ethically-sourced ingredients. Many premium cat food producers are already using ethically sourced ingredients. One such dry cat food manufacturer is ZIWI Peak and here’s their beef flavour air-dried cat food made with sustainable and humanely raised meats from local farms. Local produce typically has a lower carbon footprint than produce that has been transported long distances because it requires less energy to transport and refrigerate.  

Ways to Reduce Your Cat’s Pawprint

Reduce your cat’s waste

Avoid buying single-use cat toys and instead opt for durable, long-lasting toys that can be reused. Instead of buying cheap, disposable toys that will quickly end up in landfill, invest in durable, long-lasting toys that can be reused. Look for toys made from materials such as recycled plastics, natural fibers, or biodegradable materials like this Kong Straw Cone With Feathers Cat Toy. You can also make your own cat toys using materials you already have at home, such as cardboard boxes or paper bags.

The production and disposal of pet products can have a significant environmental impact. Unsustainable production practices can lead to pollution, deforestation, and habitat destruction. By choosing sustainable, eco-friendly cat products, you can reduce your cat's impact on the environment and support companies that prioritise environmental sustainability. If more pet parents were to opt for eco-friendlier products, this can encourage more companies to adopt sustainable practices and make a positive impact on the environment and society as a whole.  

Ways to Reduce Your Cat’s Pawprint

Reduce your cat's impact on wildlife

Cats are natural hunters and can have a significant impact on local wildlife populations. To reduce your cat's impact, keep them indoors or install a cat enclosure or "catio" to provide them with outdoor access while keeping them contained. This can prevent your cat from hunting birds and other wildlife and can reduce the impact on local ecosystems.

If you do allow your cat to roam outdoors, consider using a cat collar with a bell like this FuzzYard LIFE Cat Collar (Soft Blush). This can help alert wildlife to your cat's presence and give them time to escape before being caught. It's also important to remember that outdoor cats can be at risk of being hit by cars, fighting with other animals, and contracting diseases. Keeping your cat indoors or in a contained outdoor area can reduce these risks and keep your cat safe.  

Ways to Reduce Your Cat’s Pawprint

Spay or neuter your cat

Spaying and neutering can help to reduce the number of cats in the population. Unwanted litters of kittens often end up in animal shelters, which can be overcrowded and have limited resources. By spaying or neutering your cat, you can help to prevent unwanted litters and reduce the number of cats in shelters. This can help to reduce the carbon footprint of animal shelters, which consume resources such as food, water, and energy.

Spaying and neutering can help to reduce the environmental impact of feral and stray cat populations too. Strays and feral cats can have a significant impact on the environment, preying on native wildlife and contributing to the spread of disease. Spaying or neutering these cats can help to reduce the number of cats in your community and reduce their impact on the environment.

By reducing the number of cats in shelters, and reducing the impact of stray and feral cat populations, spaying and neutering can have a positive impact on the environment and society as a whole.  

Ways to Reduce Your Cat’s Pawprint

Just like humans, cats have a carbon footprint. This includes the energy used to manufacture cat food and litter, the resources used to produce toys and bedding, and the emissions from transporting these items to your home. Consider ways to reduce your cat's carbon footprint by choosing sustainable products, and minimizing waste.

Overall, reducing your cat's pawprint requires making small changes in your daily habits and choices. By choosing eco-friendly litter, sustainable cat food, and reducing waste, you can reduce your cat's impact on the environment. Considering your cat's carbon footprint and impact on wildlife can also make a positive impact. Remember, every small step counts and can help create a more sustainable future for both our pets and the environment.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


Katherine Khoo
KATHERINE KHOO
Katherine is a Pet Nutrition Specialist and GDP’s Pet Wellness Advisor. She is committed to helping pet owners make informed dietary and lifestyle choices in nurturing healthy pets. Katherine is also a practicing Nutritional Therapist (human nutrition) and has been helping hundreds of clients to heal naturally with nutrients.

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