Green Options » kitty litter

Case Western Clay Aerogel Yields High Tech “Green” Kitty Litter and Much More

Tina Casey — Sat, 25 Jul 2009 16:04:05 +0000

David Schiraldi has seen the future and it is clay. The Case Western Reserve University professor and his research team are developing a clay aerogel that transforms common clay into a super lightweight material that could be used as insulating or packing foams, magnets, conductors, and yes, even high tech kitty litter that weighs only 1/10 as much as conventional clay litter.

Pet Waste: Dog Poop and Kitty Litter, Too

Tina Casey — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 02:58:42 +0000

If you noodle around the gossip sites these days, you’re likely to come across the case of Ugo the dog, who is being kicked out of his home for the crime of…gassiness. In fact, the entire family is being given the old-heave on account of Ugo’s posterior exhalations. Oh, the humanity! Leave it up to those New York City co-op boards to find something to pick on.

Seriously. Gassiness? In the great green scheme of things, the gassiness of domestic animals is an issue only when it comes to cow farts. As for the emissions from our dogs, cats, and other non-human family members, the occasional spurt of methane is small potatoes. We’ve got bigger fish to fry: their poop.

Walk with me below the fold to see what it’s all about (but first a little disclosure: I’ve known Ugo the dog since he was a pup. What a cutie!).

Daily Tip: Biodegradable Kitty Litter

Amy Stodghill — Mon, 27 Aug 2007 16:03:41 +0000

Conventional clay and silica-based kitty litters are not only burdens on landfills, but they come from strip mines (a very non-ecofriendly practice). Switch your cat over to some natural alternatives. These natural based litters are biodegradable, reduce odor and have less dust, which means less irritation for your cat’s lungs (and your lungs too.)

In her article on greening pets, GO’s Kelli Best-Oliver suggests a wheat based litter Swheat Scoop.

Tip mavens over at Ideal Bite suggest the following natural litters: Corn-based One Earth Cat Litter, and World’s Best Cat Litter; Yesterday’s News, pellets made of recycled newspaper; and Feline Pine made from reclaimed sawdust pellets.

If your cat is having problems getting used to the new stuff, try working in a little bit each week with until you’ve completely switched over. And if you’re not composting, throw out the litter in paper bags instead of plastic bags.

Amy says: I don’t have cats but I do a lot of cat sitting and cleaning the litter box is part of the duty. With each scoop into the clay based litter, I try not to breathe in. Next time I might try leaving a bag of the natural variety for the cat owner to try out.

For more on natural kitty litter:

Ideal Bite - What sort of legacy is your kitty leaving behind?

Care 2 Green Living - Eco-Friendly Kitty Litter

Care 2 Green Living - The Dangers of Clumping Cat Litter

Related articles from GO:

Green Pets: A Quick Overview

GNMParents: Greenish Pets

Green Pet Care: Toxic Medications?

Lighter Footstep: Why You Shouldn’t Use Dryer Sheets to Control Pet Hair

Daily: The Doggie Bag