Green Little Cat

Make Your Own Disinfecting Cleaning Spray That’s Safe for Cats and Granite Counters

Save money and reduce plastic with this natural organic cleaning spray cleaner recipe. It’s eco-friendly, has no vinegar, disinfects and is also safe for cats and granite countertops.

In my quest to reduce plastic in our household, it occurred to me that I could save money and cut down on plastic waste if I figured out how to make my own homemade all purpose cleaner. Even though spray bottles are recyclable, the spraying nozzle isn’t. So when I recently finished a bottle of Seventh Generation disinfecting spray, I thought to myself, “Why am I tossing out a perfectly good spray bottle? Why don’t I try to make my own natural cleaner?”

My husband had recently attended a Vipassana meditation course and he told me that the Vipassana center used vinegar solution to clean everything. He suggested we switch to vinegar, which reminded me of how when I worked in a fast food joint as a teenager (please forgive me), we used a vinegar and water solution to clean the windows, counters and food serving surfaces.

I did some research and discovered that vinegar is indeed a great disinfectant. It’s powerful enough to kill e-coli and other gram-negative bacteria. Plus, vinegar as a cleaning solution is safe for cats too.

While I don’t like the smell of vinegar, I wanted to give it a try since it’s safe for cats. Then I did some more research and discovered that vinegar isn’t appropriate for granite counters because the acidity level will damage natural stone.

Since we use cleaning spray on the kitchen counters, that ruled out the vinegar solution. What else could we use that would be safe on granite, disinfecting, and also safe for cats? I needed to come up with a DIY all purpose cleaner without vinegar in it.

I found a castile soap cleaning spray recipe where you could add essential oils like lavender and citrus for disinfecting purposes. The recipe seemed promising. The only drawback was that many disinfecting essential oils are toxic for cats. What were my options?

I did some more research, and I narrowed down the field of potential candidates to rosemary oil and tea tree oil. According to PetMD, small concentrations of tea tree oil are considered safe for pets. It’s bad for pets to ingest them at full concentration, but small diluted amounts in the 0.1% to 1% range are used in natural products that are applied directly to pets such as a solution to eliminate fleas.

On the other hand, rosemary oil was on a list of essential oils safe for pets. Since I prefer the smell of rosemary over tea tree, I decided to use rosemary oil for my first DIY batch of all purpose multi-surface spray cleaner.

Experiment #1 – DIY Rosemary Essential Oil

We have a giant rosemary bush so I thought, “Why not try making my own rosemary essential oil?” The internet delivered another recipe on how to make your own essential oils with a crock pot. All you needed was water. Check. A crock pot. Check. And rosemary. Check check check!

I started by gathering some branches from the rosemary bush. I did my best to strip off the needles and then filled a crock pot with about three cups of rosemary. I set the slow cooker for “high,” then turned it to “low” as directed, and let it do its thing for a few hours. The house was infused with the scent of rosemary, like a gallon of Pine Sol had spilled in my kitchen.

By the end of the cooking period, the rosemary scent was so intense, I was wishing I had chosen tea tree instead. However, since the smell was so strong, I was expecting a highly potent oil.

Once the temperature of the mixture cooled down, I peered inside the crock pot and saw brownish water. I followed the slow cooker recipe for essential oils and allowed the mixture to cool. Then I placed the pot in the fridge overnight.

I was looking forward to seeing a thin film of oil on top, but the next morning, I was disappointed to see that I still had a pot of brownish water. There wasn’t even a trace of an oily film. Perhaps I didn’t use enough rosemary or perhaps the plant I had wasn’t suitable for the crock pot method.

I let the solution sit in the fridge for another day, but when I checked on it again, it was still murky brown water. I had to conclude that the experiment didn’t work for me. I did have a really deep brown liquid that smelled like Pine Sol on steroids. I thought, “Well since I’m supposed to extract the oil and then add it back to water, maybe I could I just use this liquid instead?”

In the end, the deep brown color was what made me take a pass on this idea. I wasn’t sure if it would stain white surfaces. I also had no idea how high the concentration of rosemary was in the mixture. I used the brown water to soak the kitchen sponge and reusable cloth wipe, figuring I was giving both a deep disinfecting treatment.

Experiment #2 – Homemade Disinfecting Cleaning Spray Recipe

After the failed experiment to make my own rosemary essential oil, I couldn’t bring myself to buy it at the store because I had such a big rosemary bush. Why pay for it when it’s growing for free outside in such abundance? I figured I’d tackle this DIY brewing again in the future.

On the other hand, my husband already had a bottle of tea tree essential oil in the medicine cabinet. I reexamined the recipe for making your own disinfecting cleaner and realized I needed to do a few calculations in order to make sure that the concentration of tea tree oil was safe for my cat.

Since the recipe had a range for the number of drops to use, I wanted to make sure that the concentration of tea tree oil was safe for my cat. The spray would primarily be used on the counters where the cat is not allowed, but we might occasionally use it if something spilled on the floor.

I decided to make a test batch. First, I measured and poured 8 ounces of water into an empty spray bottle (Thanks Seventh Generation). Then I counted out drops of tea tree oil into a measuring spoon. According to Google’s online calculator, one drop is equal to 0.05mL. I wanted to confirm this to be sure that the concentration of essential oil was safe for my cat.

Our dropper was making BIG drops because when I measured 10 drops, it was close to one teaspoon of tea tree oil. If I had followed the recipe based on the online calculator, I would have far exceeded what was safe for pets. At this point, I realized trying to adapt a DIY cleaning spray recipe to be cat safe, while using imperial measurements was ridiculous and difficult. As a result, I converted everything to metric.

10 drops of tea tree oil from our NOW bottle was close to 1mL of liquid. 8 ounces of liquid is equivalent to 236.6mL. So 1mL divided by 236.6mL is 0.4%, which is well below the recommended cat safety range of 0.1 to 1%. But how much would be enough to disinfect and kill germs?

To help me answer this question, I looked at the ingredients list on the Seventh Generation bottle. It listed a concentration of thymol (thyme oil) at 0.05%.—so 1/20th of a percentage of thyme oil was sufficient to create a disinfecting spray that they claimed, “kills 99.99% of germs botanically.”

According to this study on ScienceDirect, “Thyme and tea tree oils reduce biofilms significantly.” I interpreted that as a “close enough” basis to use the Seventh Generation concentration as a guideline for how much tea tree oil to add to my eco-friendly cleaning spray concoction.

With this information in hand, I made a test batch with 236.6mL (eight ounces) of water, 10 drops of tea tree oil (1mL) and 15mL (one tablespoon) of castile soap.

This would give me a 0.4% concentration of tea tree oil, which was much higher than the 0.05% concentration of thymol in the Seventh Generation disinfecting spray, yet still in the safe range for applying directly to pets. Since the spray was only going to be used on the counter and floor instead of the cat, I considered this to be a safe amount to use for my cat.

Please note, that this amount may differ for your pet and how you use the cleaning spray, so please consult with a veterinarian before making your own spray. If you absolutely must disinfect a surface for safety, don’t blindly trust my calculations. Consult with a specialist to confirm that this concentration is actually disinfecting.

Making the cleaner was as simple as pouring each element in the spray bottle and giving the bottle a shake. I didn’t even use a funnel because I’m lazy. I should also mention that I didn’t use distilled water either. This was a test—a proof of concept.

After mixing everything together, it was time for the moment of truth.

I took the batch of homemade spray cleaner and sprayed it on the cooktop and on the cabinets below the cooktop where drops of sauce inevitably get splashed. Would this cleaning mixture smell okay and would it actually work? If it did, this would be a great cleaning spray without vinegar. Could this castile and essential oil spray smell nice AND clean?

The Results of the Make Your Own Cat Safe Cleaning Spray Experiment

There was definitely a noticeable difference. It was much easier to remove food spots with the cleaning spray than just water. It also gave the surface a “glide-y” feeling while I was wiping. The surface was slightly streaky after it dried. In addition, the wiping cloth felt a bit stiffer than usual when it dried off. I figured this was an indication that I should try reducing the amount of castile soap in the next batch to minimize this effect.

Smell-wise, it was not unpleasant—nothing like a vinegar and water solution. It was surprisingly mild. In terms of cleaning, I tried a side-by-side comparison where I used the spray on one side and only a damp cloth on the other.

In conclusion, would I make my own spray again? Was it worthy to replace the Seventh Generation natural spray?

To answer the first question, YES. I felt the cleaning action was sufficient and equivalent to using the Seventh Generation for cleaning. The only thing I’m not 100% sure about is whether the homemade spray actually kills bacteria and germs.

My husband wants to cultivate some bacteria in petri dishes to test it out, so stay tuned for experiment #3. Once we get the results from that, we’ll know whether we can trust that the DIY tea tree oil spray is doing its job.

In the meantime, we’ll use vinegar and water on non-granite surfaces to disinfect, and use the DIY spray for general cleaning when disinfecting is not mandatory. E.g. wiping up bread crumbs. And for times when we’re handling raw meat, we’ll stick to the commercial product.

Money Saved by Making Your Own Eco-Friendly Cat Safe Cleaning Spray

I haven’t yet tested the antibacterial properties of the spray, so for now, I won’t yet be using cat safe multipurpose spray to clean surfaces that have been contaminated by raw meat or other harmful bacteria. However, most of the time, I use cleaning spray for general cleaning. Switching to this DIY formula will save us money and significantly reduce plastic and eliminate the waste from throwing out a perfectly good spray nozzle.

If you’re into numbers, here are the calculations on how much money you’ll save.

Please note the following assumptions:

For future batches, the amount of castile soap will be reduced to 12.5mL per 273.3mL because the test solution was a little too filmy
When making the recipe, it’s not possible to fill a spray bottle to full capacity because you need extra room to shake the contents. However, for comparing similar volumes and costs, I’m going to base the calculations on producing a 768mL bottle of spray cleaner, which is the same amount in the Seventh Generation bottle.
I’m using tap water instead of distilled water because I’m not that fancy. The cost of water is not included in the calculations.

The Calculations:

The original recipe makes 249.6mL of solution (236.6mL water + 12mL castile soap + 1mL tea tree oil)
768mL/249.6mL = 3.08, which is the number of times you need to multiply the recipe to equal the amount in the Seventh Generation spray bottle
3.08 x 12.5mL of castile soap = 38.5mL of castile soap to make 1 bottle of spray cleaner
3.08 x 1mL of tea tree oil = 3.08mL of tea tree oil to make 1 bottle of spray cleaner

Cost of Castile Soap:

One bottle of castile soap makes 12.29 bottles of spray cleaner: 473mL bottle of castile soap / 38.5mL of castile per bottle of spray cleaner = 12.29 servings
You use $0.98 of castile soap for one bottle of spray cleaner: price of castile soap $11.99/12.29 = $0.98

Cost of Tea Tree Oil

One bottle of tea tree oil makes 19.2 bottles of spray cleaner: 59mL bottle of tea tree oil / 3.08mL = 19.2 servings
You use $0.58 of tea tree oil for one bottle of spray cleaner: price of tea tree oil $11.20/19.2 = $0.58

Total Cost of DIY Multipurpose Spray Cleaner

It costs $1.80 to make one bottle of multipurpose spray cleaner: Total cost = $0.98 + $0.58 = $1.56
Making your own cleaning spray is 61% cheaper than buying it: a bottle of Seventh Generation costs $3.99 at Target (Total Savings = $3.99 – $1.56 = $2.43 per bottle)

Recipe for Multipurpose Cleaning Spray That’s Safe for Cats and Granite Counters

Please note that this is a DIY concoction so I can’t vouch for how effective it will be for killing germs. And because I am not a veterinarian, I can not vouch for the pet safety. However, if you’ve read this entire article, you’ll see that the concentration of tea tree oil is within the 0.1% to 1% safe concentration listed in the PetMD article. Tea tree oil is commonly found in many pet shampoos.

I feel comfortable using this spray on my counters and floors, but you should consult with your veterinarian for your pet. For food safety, you should consult with an expert as I am only using this spray for surfaces where the risk of bacteria contamination is low (until I conduct an experiment with bacteria in petri dishes). However, the science says that tea tree oil is disinfecting.

After these obligatory disclaimers, if you’d like to save 61% on your cleaning supplies and eliminate 12.29 plastic spray bottles by using one bottle of castile soap and a small bottle of tea tree oil, here’s the final recipe for a bottle of multipurpose spray cleaner that can be used on granite and has tea tree oil for disinfecting. This is based on the recipe and guidelines in an article written by Karen Peltier for The Spruce.

Makes one almost-full bottle of spray cleaner (24oz in a 26oz bottle)

3 cups (710mL) of water
7.5 teaspoons (37.5mL) of castile soap – I used Dr. Bronner’s unscented castile soap made with organic oils
3.08mL of tea tree oil – This is tricky to measure using teaspoons, but a half teaspoon is equal to 2.5mL and one-eighth of a teaspoon is equal to 0.6mL, which is close enough to 3.08mL. I used the 2oz bottle of NOW tea tree oil. If you use a lot of tea tree, it’s about 15% cheaper to buy the 4oz bottle of tea tree oil.

Directions:

Use a funnel to add 2 cups of water to an empty spray bottle that can hold at least 26oz of liquid (I used a standard Seventh Generation spray cleaner bottle)
Add the castile soap
Add the tea tree oil
Shake well.
Add the remaining water and shake again. Allow the cleaning spray to sit for several minutes until the foam settles.

If you’re like me, once you make your first batch of DIY natural organic cleaner, you’ll be tempted to clean. Lol! Go ahead, try out your homemade spray and see if it’s the purrfect cat safe disinfecting cleaning spray for your home

Tiger Update: The Good, Bad, and How You Can Make a Difference

There’s good news and bad news since I first wrote about grreat news for tigers in 2017. Two years ago, there was cause to celebrate because the wild tiger population was on the rise for the first time in over a hundred years. A 2016 wildlife survey estimated that the wild tiger population had increased by almost 25% to 3,890 tigers.

Here’s the good news:

Back in 2010, at the St. Petersburg Tiger Summit, nations joined together to work towards a goal to double the tiger population. This was an ambitious goal, and the good news is that there’s already a country on course to meet this goal.

Nepal announced in September 2018, that they were on track to double their wild tiger population. In a 2017/2018 national survey, they counted 235 tigers in the wild, as compared to only 121 tigers in 2009.

The Nepalese government joined forces with non-profit organizations, World Wildlife Fund and the Leonardo Dicaprio Foundation, to strengthen anti-poaching patrols, protect core areas for tiger breeding, monitor tiger populations, and restore critical corridors to ensure tigers can travel easily throughout the country.

Unfortunately, here’s the bad news:

A month after Nepal announced their remarkable achievement, China legalized the medical use of tiger bones from captive bred animals. This effectively reversed a ban that had been in effect for 25 years.

But, there’s a silver lining:

There was a worldwide public outcry after China’s announcement to allow the use and trade of tiger bones again. As a result, only a few weeks after the announcement, China changed their stance, stating that they would postpone the legal use of tiger bones until after further study.

Currently, there haven’t been any major updates to the situation. However, you can make a difference by supporting organizations like World Wildlife Fund and the Leonardo Dicaprio Foundation in their work to save tigers.

You can also avoid visiting touristy “wildlife parks” that offer the opportunity to bottle-feed cubs or get your picture taken with a lion or tiger. Many of these “attractions” are actually farms for illegally supplying big cat bones to Asia, as reported by the New Zealand Herald.

Share this with friends who are traveling in South Africa or Asia, so that they can avoid big cat tourist traps and instead donate the money to tiger conversation.

Here’s where you can learn more:

BBC: China Postpones lifting ban on rhino and tiger parts after outcry
World Wildlife Fund: WWF’s statement on China’s legalization of domestic trade in tiger bone and rhino horn
Leonardo Dicaprio Foundation: Increase in wild tigers marks a significant milestone

How to Stop Your Cat from Vomiting Due to Stress

The only thing worse than a vomiting cat is the sleep you lose during the night. Cats seem particularly susceptible to upset tummies, especially when they’re stressed. At first, it may appear that there’s no reason for the vomiting and sensitive digestion.

Nothing’s changed. Kitty’s food is exactly the same as yesterday. But now your kitty has an upset tummy and is vomiting. What’s can you do to stop your cat or cats from vomiting?

If your cat is sick for more than one day, it’s a good idea to take her to the vet. But often the vet may not have any answers, and your kitty quickly recovers. Some cats will get the same digestive issues over and over again, and experience recurring bouts of vomiting.

If you’re looking for ways to stop your cat from vomiting due to stress, then the Jackson Galaxy Happy Tummy solution may ease your cat’s upset stomach. This tummy formula contains natural herbs that help reduce stress and clear toxins. )By the way, you can also use this herbal solution to help stop vomiting in dogs too.) The herbs in the formula are designed to soothe your pet’s digestive problems if the vomiting is related to stress.

The Jackson Galaxy Happy Tummy formula is a natural solution that helps calm your cat and also address chronic diseases of the digestive system including colitis, constipation, inflammatory bowel disease, and other stomach and bowel problems. It’s especially formulated to target diseases that have an emotional component and involve the accumulation of energetic toxins, which is a holistic approach to wellness.

Ingredients include Gentian, Oak, Olive, Canyon Dudleya, Cat’s Claw, Self-Heal, Sagebrush, Chiton, Diatoms, Pink Seaweed, Sea Lettuce, Staghorn Algae, Grecian Shoemaker, Rose of Sharon, Lotus, Noni, and other natural herbs.

If your cat has chronic digestive issues, you should seek proper veterinary care, adjust your cat’s diet as recommended by the vet, and be sure to provide plenty of fresh water. The main concern with vomiting cats is to keep them well-hydrated and eating, otherwise, they can get fatty liver disease which leads to liver failure.

The sooner you treat your pet, the faster they’ll get better, and then they’ll be more likely to start eating and drinking water again. Your vet can advise you if the Happy Tummy remedy is safe to be taken if your cat is prescribed other medications.

If you’ve given medicine to your cat before, you know how challenging it can be, especially tablets and pills. Fortunately, this herbal formula is easy to give your cat. It comes with an eyedropper that can be used to hygienically pick up drops from the bottle, and then easily dispense them into your cat’s mouth.

Some cat owners place a few drops of the formula into their cat’s water bowl on a daily basis to help prevent tummy problems. You can also use the formula as an aromatherapy treatment by rubbing onto your cat’s mouth or spraying it onto their bed.

In addition to helping to stop your cat from vomiting, relieving stress in cats, supporting your cat’s digestive health, Jackson Galaxy Happy Tummy Formula may also help with reducing poop accidents outside of the box, and also help cats who have diarrhea.

If you’re tired of cleaning up cat vomit and your vet says the vomiting is due to stress, then you may want to try this natural solution for your cat’s vomiting and digestive problems. The Jackson Galaxy Solutions Happy Tummy Formula can help your cat feel better faster, and soon you’ll be feeling better and less stressed too!

While the product’s not cheap (check Amazon for the latest prices), you won’t need a prescription to buy it, and it’s consistently priced with other medications and herbal formulas for cat digestive health and to stop cats from vomiting. Compared to a visit to the vet, which is super stressful for your cat, the Happy Tummy formula is very reasonably priced and worth trying for cats who regularly vomit due to stress and sensitive digestion.

9 Green Milestones to Be Grateful For

It can feel quite disheartening to see the state of environmental progress in the United States with respect to the federal government. However, it’s not all bad news for the environment. There are a lot of amazing initiatives and milestones happening all over the world. Here are 11 recent developments to be thankful for:

1. Spain Closing Most of Its Coal Mines by the End of This Year

The Spanish government has been working closely with the coal mining industry to close coal mines. They plan to close almost all of the coal mines in Spain by the end of this year. Yes, that’s 2018.

To ease the transition, plans are in place to help displaced workers. Early retirement is being offered to miners over 48, projects are planned to restore the environment in communities with coal pits, and workers will be retrained to work in green industries.

This gives a roadmap for other countries to follow, where coal mines can be shut down and workers aren’t left with a lump of coal, but instead, they have retirement or a bright future in green technologies to look forward to.

5 Halloween Treats for Your Cat

Ready for some purr-anormal fun? Then seek no further than these spookily spectacular Halloween themed eco-friendly cat toys and treats. The organic cat toys are made in the USA and filled with organic catnip, making them the perfect treat for your kitty!

1. Yeowww Halloween Pumpkin Catnip Toy

This cute jack-o’-lantern is almost too adorable to give to your kitty. It looks like a Halloween decoration, but it’s actually a 3″ pumpkin-shaped cat toy made by Yeoww, known for their fun organic catnip cat toys. This pumpkin cat toy will inspire the YEOWWW!-loween spirit in your kitty. They’re selling out fast on Amazon.

2. Imperial Cat Candy Corn Catnip Toy

Imperial cat is known for their Scratch ‘n Shape scratchers made from recycled cardboard and also their support of local animal shelters. But they have a Holloween hit with this Candy Corn catnip toy. Its flat and tapered shape makes for a perfect wrestling toy for your kitty. She’ll grab on to this candy corn and dig away with her hind legs. The toy is filled with organic cat nip and made from a combination of soft fleece and felt. It’s a Halloween treat that your kitty will love to lick and nibble on too. You’ll find this five-star rated toy on Amazon.com.

3. Handmade Candy Corn Catnip Toy

If your cat prefers smaller lighter and softer toys, then she might prefer a handmade candy corn catnip toy. These fun toys are made from recycled felt, recycled hypoallergenic fiberfill, and organic catnip. They’re made to order and you’ll find them in the Elli Baba Designs store on Etsy.

4. Organic Catnip Kicker Cat Toy

If you’ve got a larger cat, he might prefer these organic catnip kickers toys. Made in America from fun Halloween themed fabrics, these kickers are ideal for larger cats because they’re eight inches in length, and they’re stuffed with super potent organic catnip. Check out the kicker cat toys in Halloween fabrics and other fun designs.

5. Feline Greenies Dental Treats

After a fun session of playing with her new Halloween cat toys, your cat might want a Halloween treat that she can eat. Since it’s “no candy for kitty,” you can give her a dental treat instead. Feline Greenies clean teeth and freshen breath. They come in three flavors: salmon, catnip and chicken, so you’re bound to find one that your cat loves. And Feline Greenies are available in a jumbo pack, so you’ll have plenty of green treats to hand out to your kitties.

Happy Halloween!

Compostable Cat Litter Bags Can Reduce Your Kitty’s Impact on the Environment

When it comes to cat litter, there isn’t a one size fits all solution to reduce your cat’s environmental impact. However, eco-friendly compostable cat litter bags may be one way to help your kitty be more green. Here’s a guest post from Melody:

Your cat doesn’t actually care how much waste they produce. What they care about is that they get 2 to 3 meals per day, comfort, and attention. But when you consider that there are 86 million cats in the America, that adds up to a lot of cat litter. And that adds up to a lot of plastic bags ending up in our landfills, or worse, inside the stomachs of wildlife.

Using plastic cat litter bags to scoop and toss out used cat litter is essential. However, most plastic bags often take hundreds of years to decompose. But there is a solution if you’re concerned about the impact that your cat has on the environment and you’re looking for a bag that’s sturdy enough for cat litter, yet also compostable.

Regular biodegradable bags for kitchen scraps are quite flimsy—making them ideal for composting food waste. But when you’re cleaning the cat box, the last thing you want is to lift up a bag of litter and have it burst all over the floor. Not fun!

EcoLeo Cat Litter Waste Bags are a great solution if you need a sturdy and large bag that also will biodegrade. These extra large cat litter waste bags can be used for daily scooping of your cat’s litter box, or to empty the entire box of stale cat litter into the bag every two weeks. Your cat likes a reasonably clean box, but one that still has a bit of their scent in it. (Tip: Never use bleach or Lysol to clean your cat’s box. Dish soap and vinegar is purrfect.)

The pet waste bags are made from a corn-based plastic. They’re also BPA-free, and ASTM D6400 certified compostable to USA standards. They’re strong enough to hold heavy clumps of kitty litter, and they’re also leak and tear proof. However, these bags decompose in a natural environment. This is great news, as you’re lessening your cat’s impact on the environment by using compostable kitty litter bags.

If your cat is anything like mine, after they use the litter box they sit by it and howl until I get out of bed—where else would I be at this inconvenient time?—and go and scoop it out. These cat litter waste bags are extremely convenient to use. Not only are they strong and durable, once the compostable kitty litter bag is full, you can pull it out and tie a knot with the convenient handles, and dispose of it in your regular outdoor garbage can or bin.

You can also use them as pet waste bags if you have a dog. With the two handles on the top , you can easily hold onto the bag while you scoop, or place one in a small garbage can and fill it up. Most common types of cat litter scoops will fit easily into the bag.

After you fill the compostable kitty litter bag you should tie up the ends, then dispose of the bag in your outside bin. Otherwise, if your cat’s like mine, she’s going to complain!

I really enjoyed using the biodegradable cat litter bag because it made scooping cat litter an easier chore. And since most cities are now banning cat litter from being disposed of in toilets, the EcoLeo Cat Litter Waste Bags are an eco-friendly option for when you’re looking for a greener solution for your cat’s litter.

Fun Cat Coasters Made from Recycled Rubber

Several months ago, we wrote about the ORE Originals recycled rubber cat-shaped placemat. The placemat was a wonderful way to keep your cat’s food and water bowls in place. Guess what? Now the humans can jump in and join the fun.

Add a whimsical yet practical touch to your kitchen and coffee tables with the ORE Originals Cat Coasters. They’re like mini versions of the cat placemat because they’re also shaped like a fun cartoonish cat head.

And just like the placemat, these charming coasters are made in the USA from recycled rubber, which is great for durability, protecting the surface of your tables and counters, and holding your cat mug in place.

Ore Originals has been creating “Happy Products for Good People and Pets” since 1989. The company was started in a small garage in Southern California by founder Lisa Lowe. She followed her instincts to bring together her love of design and passion for color, print, pattern and creating useful things.

These cat coasters definitely have a California vibe. They’re casual, colorful, playful and modern but classic. Available in an alternating neutral palette of black and tan, these coasters harmonize with any home decor. You’ll dine and sip in style while being kind to the planet. And if your cat has the recycled rubber placemat, you get to do that matchy-matchy thing with your cat, too!

ORE Originals Cat Coasters are a purrfect gift for cat lovers who are looking to add a touch of playfulness to their home. Available in sets of four, you’ll find these cheeky eco-friendly cat coasters at Amazon for the very reasonable price of only $7.95.

Purrhaps a treat for you?

Speaking of treats…If you’ve got a dog, you may want to know that ORE also makes pawsome paw-shaped coasters. Pick up a set of these black and tan coasters to complement your black and tan pooch. At the time of writing this article, ORE’s paw print recycled rubber coasters were on sale at Amazon. Wag a tail by checking out the sale on these fun paw print coasters!

While we’re on the topic of pups, ORE also makes a dog-friendly placemat. Their recycled rubber Woof mat helps keep bowls in place, and spills and food off the floor. The whole family—humans and furry four-legged friends—can enjoy meals in eco-chic style. Bone appetit!

Make Sure You Provide for Your Pets with an Automatic Pet Feeder

Are you planning to leave home for several days? If you have pets that you will need to leave behind, you’ll have to make sure they are provided for. The usual solution would be to leave them in the care of a minder. At a pinch, you could even leave them with your parents or siblings for a few days. But if you can’t rely on these outside sources of aid, you’ll have to get hold of an automatic pet feeder.

Why is it Such a Good Idea to Buy an Automatic Pet Feeder?

These handy new automatic pet feeders are a real life saver. When you have to leave your pets at home for an extended period of time, you will naturally worry about them. You want to make sure that your pets will be able to feed themselves. After all, you won’t be there to grab the bag of dog food out of the cupboard on their behalf.

Using an automatic pet feeder is the best way to solve the problem. This device is designed to measure out an appropriate measure of food at the time that you choose. This way, your pets won’t wolf down all the available food in one gulp, thus leaving themselves open to hunger for the next few days. The food will be distributed by the device in an even manner that will keep your pets healthy and happy.

An Automatic Pet Feeder Lets Your Pets Know You Care for Them

Even when you are forced to remain away for home for an extended period, you can still show your beloved pets that you care for them. The best way to do so is to buy an automatic pet feeder. This will take care of their nutritional needs so that hunger will not be added to their list of worries. Since they are already bound to be missing you, this is the least you can do on their behalf while you are gone.

The Time to Buy Your Automatic Pet Feeder is Now

If you are planning to leave on an extended personal or business trip, you need to buy an automatic pet feeder right away. Thanks to the power of the free market, there are plenty of new models for you to choose from.

It’s easier than ever to log on to the world wide web in order to find the perfect type of automatic feeder for the needs of your pet. This is a process that takes a few seconds to complete. Once you’re done, you can rest assured that your pet will have plenty to eat while you’re away.

The Weirdest Cat Product for Dandruff in Older and Overweight Cats That Actually Works!

Burt's Bees Dander Reducing Wipes for Cats
Looking for a natural solution to your cat’s dandruff and dander problem? If your kitty is overweight or getting older, she may be finding it harder to groom herself properly—especially in those hard to reach areas on her backside. Less grooming can lead to a greasy matted coat, dull fur, flaky skin, and an overabundance of dander and dandruff. Fortunately, there’s a simple, joyous, and natural way to help keep your cat’s coat shiny, clean, and free from dandruff flakes.

This is most definitely one of the strangest ones that I’ve come across. It was brought to my attention by readers of my blog. When I first saw it, I thought it was totally weird. But upon reflection and researching more into the positive experiences and raving reviews from cat owners, I’ve changed my initial thoughts, and I’d have to say it actually makes a lot of sense.

So what is it?

It’s the Burt’s Bees Dander Reducing Wipes for Cats. When I first saw this product, I derisively thought, What are these? Wet wipes for cats? And that actually IS the best way to describe them.

These Dander Reducing Wipes are EXACTLY like baby wipes, but instead of using them to wipe your baby’s butt, you wipe your cat with them (you can also wipe her bum too if needed). They look like wet wipes and are packaged like wet wipes, but since they’re for your pet, they cost twice as much. The price alone was enough to elicit an eye roll from me, but when I saw how popular they were with readers, I had to take a closer look. And since wet wipes are fairly inexpensive anyway, an addition few dollars really isn’t all that much for helping to control dandruff in your cat.

I’m admittedly a fan of Burt’s Bees’ lip balms, so I wasn’t surprised to see that the cat wipes were made with natural ingredients including Aloe Vera, honey, and colloidal oat flour.

What did surprise me was how much people RAVED about them. They raved on Amazon. They raved on Chewy.com with a 96% “Recommend Rating.” One pet owner estimated a 90% reduction in dandruff for their kitty. Others commented about a significant reduction in dry skin, shedding, and matting. And the general consensus was the wipes resulted in “soft fluffy fur.” The added bonus is that the majority of cats either didn’t mind being wiped or they LOVED being cleaned with the wipes.

People raved not only about how well the wipes worked, but also about how easy and enjoyable the whole experience was. It reminded me of the video of guy who held the tongue-shaped “Licki Brush” in his mouth to “lick” his cat. Come on, haven’t you secretly wished you could lick your cat even just once? I won’t tell!

Anyhow, instead of biting onto a big ridiculous tongue-shaped cat brush (By the way, you HAVE to check this out if you haven’t seen the Licki Brush in action. It’s hilarious!), you can get the nice bonding experience of grooming your cat with a Burt’s Bees Dander Wipe. Even if your cat doesn’t have dandruff, these wipes will help make her coat soft and shiny—and they’re especially helpful for reducing dandruff in big-boned (aka overweight) and older cats.

5 Eco-Friendly Dog Carriers: Dependable Totes, Crates and Kennels for Your Dog

Editor’s Note: Welcome to our very first DOG article. Yes, Green Little Cat will now feature articles for green little dogs—and green big dogs too! Many of our readers have both cats and dogs, so we felt Planet Earth would benefit from a broader focus for our blog. We’ll be making a few other changes in the upcoming months to reflect our new direction of greener living for people, pets, and the planet.

For dog owners who love their pets and the environment, what are your best options for eco-friendly dog carriers? If you’re traveling with your dog or you need a dog crate, you may be wondering if there are any green options that are sturdy, dependable, lightweight and comfortable for your pet. Here are five eco-friendly options that cover the gamut from functional to first class travel.

1) Petmate Kennels Made from Recycled Plastic

Petmate is a U.S. based company that has been making pet carriers from pre-consumer recycled plastic for a number of years now. Over 50 percent of Petmate’s products are made in the USA from pre-consumer recycled plastic content—and you’ll find them widely available at PetSmart stores and online.

Petmate is dedicated to reducing their carbon footprint, creating green collar jobs through innovation, and contributing to their local community. The Petmate Sky Kennel is a heavy duty kennel designed for traveling with you pet. It comes in a variety of sizes ranging from 15 to 30” high, and the largest size can support a dog up to 125lbs in weight. Click here to find the right size for your pup.

2) New Age Pet ecoFLEX Crate and End Table

If you’re looking for an attractive and eco-friendly alternative to a metal crate, the New Age Pet ecoFLEX Crate and End Table combines function and form. It’s made from ecoFLEX, which is a blend of recycled polymers and wood byproducts. This blend of recycled materials resists staining and warping, and is easy to wipe clean. It comes in three colors to blend seamlessly with your home décor. And you can choose from four sizes from small to extra large.

3) Doggles Hemp Messenger Dog Carrier

For a sportier bag to carry your dog, look no further than the Doggles Hemp Messenger Dog Carrier. This highly functional bag is made from durable hemp canvas, and comes with a soft pillow, cuddly blanket and portable water bowl. And there’s more! The bag also has UV mesh panels to protect your pup from ultraviolet rays, and there’s an exterior water bottle pocket, and a pocket for your cell phone and keys, too. You’ll find all sorts of traveling gear at the Doggles website.

4) Organic Denim Outback Messenger

Here’s a stylish option from Bark N Bag, creators of eco-friendly pet travel bags and accessories. Their Outback Messenger is a trendy black denim made from organic cotton. Even though this bag looks like a standard messenger bag, Bark N Bag really considered dog lovers in its design, and this is evident with smart details such as a removable tether, magnetic snap closure, three fur friendly mesh panels for ventilation, and three zippered pockets to fill with doggy treats and travel essentials.

5) Barn N Bag Weekender Traveler Bag

If you need a mid-sized pet carrier, there’s the Bark N Bag’s Weekender Travel Bag. It comes in three sizes to accommodate dogs from 8 to 22lbs in size. It’s clever design lets you open the bag from the top, front, and side so that you can place your pet in the carrier in the way that is most comfortable for them. The Traveler Weekender also puts a new eco-friendly spin to old world charm. The bag is made from 100% certified recycled plastic PET bottles, has an organic cotton absorbent liner, and uses bamboo rafters to provide structure and support.