For your cat’s health and happiness, please go as green as you can. I recently came across this article about a government study that found a “significant association” between hyperthyroidism in cats and certain flame retardants.

Basically, the flame retardant that’s sprayed on your furniture, carpet and CHILDREN’S CLOTHING is linked to the death of cats from thyroid issues.

To learn more, read the article on Komonews.com, Scientists: Ubiquitous Household Chemical Could Be Killing Cats.

I know it’s tricky and sometimes even overwhelming to be green and find what’s best for you and your pet. Let’s face it. No matter what chemical cesspool may be lurking in our homes, it’s simply not realistic or feasible to toss out the sofa or rip out all the carpet.

So instead of feeling overwhelmed and doing nothing, what I recommend is to start making small changes so that you can find a balance that works for both you and your cat. For some great greening ideas, check out my 30-Day Green Cat Challenge.

Here’s a guest post from Allison.  It’s a tangent from our usual green content, but I thought it would be fun to share something on the light side.

There’s a new cat in town and its name is “Lil Bub”. This is the Justin Bieber of cats as it’s the latest internet sensation to hit our computer screens. Yes this little cute feline has won hearts all over the world and even an award. Lil Bub has starred in her own short movie and has her own website with dedicated fans.

Her looks are not surgically enhanced or photoshopped but come from being born with a rare condition that leaves her with some kitten features in adult life. Her paws are slightly bent inwards and she has large cute eyes that reach into cat lovers‘ hearts.

Her movie is called Lil Bub and Friendz and is basically a documentary that follows her life, including behind the scenes view of a pet’s world. You get to see her live a normal life from washing, playing with friends and eating her favourite cat food.

Just recently she was invited to the Tribeca film festival where she scooped the award for best online film. Rubbing paws with actors like Robert De Niro — this cat has surely got her claws into Hollywood royalty.

What the film shows is that caring for special animals like Lil Bub does not have to be hard and neither is it expensive. You can give her regular food and of course a few extra cat supplements to help her joints and keep her fur looking good. But that’s about it, as long as you make sure your cat has a healthy diet and stays away from low grade foods you have nothing to worry about. Caring for disabled cats is pretty easy and it’s great to see a film highlight this.

In fact, a lot of people are purchasing their cat food from online pet stores as they can get high quality, but at almost wholesale prices. Plus these foods are not just for pets with special needs as they are designed for everyday animals too. You can find everything online these days, from veterinary diets to cat wormers, so it makes sense to browse the internet next time you need pet supplies. We are sure Lil Bub has her own Paypal account!

If you’ve been thinking of switching your cat to raw cat food, but are looking for a more convenient option, here’s my honest review of The Honest Kitchen’s Prowl cat food.

My cat, Furball, had been on the same diet for about two years. Because he had a history of struvite crystals, I had him on the prescription cat food from the vet’s and supplemented his diet with organic turkey baby food.

I know, I know. The natural solution would have been to put him on a high protein diet, and I did explore this in great depth in my Natural Cat Food Throwdown. However, Furball also had a sensitive digestive system where he would vomit if he was stressed and the high protein cat food was particularly difficult for him to keep down. I don’t remember exactly what triggered it, but at some point, he experienced another struvite crystal scare and when the vet told me to get Furball on a prescription diet or else, fearing the worst, I followed the vet’s instructions.

So, for two years, my little cat ate the prescription diet. I noticed right away that his fur wasn’t as nice on the diet and that’s when I added the organic turkey baby food (easy to digest). I always felt slightly uneasy about feeding him the factory food, but I let myself listen to the “expert” and thought it was best to keep Furball on the anti-struvite diet.

A few months ago, I looked into Furball’s eyes and noticed that they were starting to show flecks of gold and brown in the irises. In iridology, it is believed that the eyes reveal one’s health and that muddy splotches are signs of disease. My cat’s eyes had always been a pure minty green and now, they were starting to turn brown and splotchy.

I could have chalked it up to age as he is heading into “middle age cat years”, but I suspected it was his diet. If you eat processed crap, it affects your health. It seemed to me that the same would hold true for cats.

That’s when I began searching for a raw meat cat food for Furball. However, I also had to factor in my curious son who was old enough to know not to touch the cat food, but that didn’t mean he always listened. I wanted something that was convenient and safe and that’s where the Honest Kitchen’s Prowl cat food came into the picture.

The Honest Kitchen originally began making raw dog food, but they’ve since branched into producing both cat and dog foods from human-grade ingredients. Because their pet foods are made from human-grade ingredients, the meats are steamed and dehydrated so they’re technically not raw. Only their fruits and vegetables are technically ‘raw’, so this makes their foods safe to have in the home even with small children who might be a little too curious.

The Honest Kitchen is also very eco-friendly. Based out of San Diego, many of the Honest Kitchen’s employees commute to work by bicycle. The packaging for their pet food is made from recycled materials and is also recyclable, even the plastic bag inside. As well, because the food is dehydrated, it’s very light (for cat food) and this helps to reduce the amount of resources needed to ship the food to stores or your home.

The Honest Kitchen also has supported hundreds of organizations over the years such as Heifer International through their Pawlanthropy program.

The Honest Kitchen was kind enough to send me a sample of Prowl dehydrated cat food. Prowl is an all natural cat food made with free range chicken, eggs and produce like sweet potatoes, spinach and cranberries. And, it’s made up of almost 70% meat.

When I first received the sample, I was surprised to see that Prowl in its dehydrated form, is actually a powder. I was expecting chunky pieces or dry slivers. Because it’s a powder, it was incredibly easy to measure and mix up a batch of Prowl for my cat. All you need to do is measure food out in a 1:1 ratio of food to water. Pour it in a bowl, stir and allow it to hydrate for 5 minutes. Then, voila! Dinner is ready. Prowl cat food expands to 4 times its original weight when hydrated.

The true test was whether Furball would eat it. I started out only adding a teaspoon to his food. Furball left it for last, but then gobbled it up. I then gradually increased the proportion of Prowl until after about 2 weeks, he had completed the switch to Prowl cat food.

It has been almost 2 months since I switched Furball to Prowl dehydrated cat food and I’m happy to report that I do notice a difference. When I look into his eyes, I see the brown muddy splotches are clearing up and his bright green eyes are shining brightly once again.

Prowl Cat Food is available online and at specialty pet stores.

Received a great guest post from Becky and wanted to share! Enjoy!

If you are a cat owner, you can go green to help protect the environment and do your part at making a difference. Going green can help to reduce pollution, improve air quality, and even help you to save money on your bills. You can go green for yourself and for that lovable little cat of yours.

Recycle Products for Cat Toys

You can recycle products around the home and turn them into cat toys. For example, you may have recently received a large package in a cardboard box from FedEx or UPS. Instead of throwing it out, you can create your own little sanctuary for your cat. It may not last forever since it is only cardboard, but for the time being, it will still be fun for your cat. You can do the same with many other things that you have around the home, including old yarn.

Buy Vita-Greens for Your Cat

Vita-Greens offer you the opportunity to grow organic greens for your cat. These greens are good for your cat because the help cats digest their food properly while also helping to reduce the number of hairballs your cat suffers from. The Vita-Greens products are completely organic and are easy to find in local pet stores.

Create Your Own Kitty Litter

Why spend tons of money each month on store-bought kitty litter when you can make your own with recycled newspaper. Not only are you saving money, you are using items that you already had and recycling them for another purpose. If you regularly read the newspaper and receive magazines, this is a great opportunity for you to take the pages of the paper and magazines, shred them up, and turn them into comfortable kitty little for your four-legged furry friend.

Knit a Blanket for Your Cat

It may sound ridiculous, but you can buy or knit a blanket for your cat to help keep him or her warm during the winter month. The fur that your cat has likely already keeps it warm, but a warm blanket can provide additional warmth, especially so that you can keep your thermostat a little lower during the winter month. You can cut the cost of your energy bill without compromising the comfort of your cat. You can also check for other energy saving tips that can benefit both you and your cat at websites like www.Albertaenergyproviders.com.

Give Your Cat Filtered Water

No matter where you live, whether you are in the United States, Canada, or another country across the globe, you can easily save a lot of money by using a faucet water filter instead of buying bottled water. When you buy bottled water, you are wasting money on something you could basically get in your home and there is a lot of plastic being wasted as well. You can give your cat filtered water from the faucet and eliminate all of those water bottles that you used to use. Your cat will still graciously enjoy the water you provide to it.

As a cat owner, even the littlest of things can make a difference with the process of going green. Recycling is a major component of going green, especially when you are a cat owner and need kitty litter. Following just a few green tips can make all the difference for you and your cat.

It seems fitting that I’m writing this post while sitting in a coffee shop. Of course, I’ve got my reusable travel mug beside me. And it’s the reason why I originally declined an offer from Joe Jacket to review their reusable beverage sleeve. However, when they asked again, I suggested I would give it to a friend to try out and they sent me one of their adorable Pet Couture sleeves with a darling kitty print.

The Joe Jacket is a reusable beverage sleeve that comes in a cat or paw-print design. It’s made out of neoprene, which helps to insulate hot cups, ceramic and steel tumblers, and cold drinks, including plastic tumblers and sports drinks. Using a reusable sleeve can help save our landfills from billions of pounds of trash from traditional throw away paper cup sleeves.

I have something to confess. I kept the sleeve and I’ll tell you why. Right after I said I didn’t need one, I found myself at the coffee shop twice in a month, needing a tea, but I had forgotten my travel mug. Let’s face it, that big steel tumbler is not the most convenient thing to tote around. Luckily, I had my Joe Jacket reusable sleeve handy. It’s small and stores flat, so it fits easily into a glove box, a purse or the pouch of a backpack.

When I used the sleeve for the first time, the barrista exclaimed, “Oh it has cats on it!” Yes, the sleeve is THAT cute — and now you have a chance to win one!

How to Enter the Giveaway

1. Like our Facebook page
   
2. Leave a comment under the Joe Jacket picture at the top. Tell us which design you prefer (the cat print or the paw print) and why.

When you leave a comment, Facebook lets me get in touch via the the thread and that’s how I’ll be able to get in touch with the winner. One person will be chosen by random as the winner by March 15, 2013. Please note that you do need to live in the U.S. or Canada to be eligible to win.

CLICK HERE TO LIKE OUR PAGE

Green Little Cat recently had the opportunity to review Catty Stacks, stackable, eco-friendly cat furniture. We were lucky to get the inside scoop from Catty Stacks’ creator, Frank Callari.

Furball loves cardboard boxes as much as any cat–and so does my preschooler. Boxes are cozy, great for hide-and-seek and basically, you can imagine them to be whatever you want. So what’s not to love?

Well, they’re butt ugly for one thing. When we were in full-on box mode, my living room looked like the packing department for Amazon. I once had someone ask me when I was moving, that’s how bad it was.

When guests came over, I’d frantically grab all the boxes and stack them in a corner. I couldn’t throw them out because my kid would notice if even one out of the ten boxes went missing.

Frank Callari, creator of Catty Stacks eco-friendly cat furniture, experienced some of the same frustrations when he got the idea for making Catty Stacks. In his words:

“The idea for Catty Stacks was born out of necessity. I am very particular with aesthetics, so I wanted to find something that would not be an eye-sore in my living room. I set out to find the most beautiful cat furniture on the market and was very disappointed in just about all of my options. Not only are most cat trees ugly, but they are also bulky, heavy, and expensive.”

It was during the holiday season that Frank noticed that his cats, Tito and Stains, loved all of the big boxes that arrived when he was buying gifts. As a result, he got crafty, cut doors, started stacking and built a kitty castle. But, he still had a few problems.

Frank said, “My cats were thrilled, but there remained several fundamental problems with what I was doing. First, regular boxes and duct tape remained ugly and was nothing that I cared to display in my living room. Next, the whole process of cutting, stacking, and securing was very time consuming. Lastly, most of the regular boxes that I was using would not last very long, as they would eventually collapse from the big boy jumping up and down while chasing his smaller sister.”

Over a couple of years, Frank created many prototypes until the final Catty Stacks eco-friendly furniture was born. He created sturdy, modular, easy-to-assemble boxes that could be stacked in a multitude of ways and rearranged whenever your cat (or you) got bored.

Most importantly, Catty Stacks are damn fine looking. They blend attractively with your decor, without making your living room look like the loading dock at UPS. Catty Stacks are also eco-friendly. They’re made with post-consumer recycled fiber, printed with vegetable-based inks and they’re 100% recyclable.

Frank was kind enough to offer to send us a couple of Catty Stacks to review. When I told him my kid would probably fight with the cat to play with them, Frank generously sent an additional two boxes for my son.

When the Catty Stacks arrived, both Furball and my son were so excited. Assembly was a breeze, even with a “helpful” preschooler. As I predicted, my son hogged the box for a few hours before Furball finally got a turn to play. In terms of the fuzzy review of Catty Stacks, let’s just say Furball loved his Catty Stacks. The box was a safe little cocoon for him to hide in and when I poked a wand toy inside, he was in kitty heaven.

Most importantly, I can proudly display the eco-friendly Catty Stacks in full view without upsetting my sense of design aesthetics. Now, if only there was something that could make the children’s toys scattered all over the living room look good…

Catty Stacks are available in five fashionable and eco-friendly colours including Sky Blue, Chocolate Brown, Snow White, Pistachio Green, and Tickled Pink. And, you can buy them individually so that you can create the purrfect cat home in your home. You can find Catty Stack on Amazon for under $15.

Disclosure: The link to Amazon is an affiliate link. If you choose to make a purchase, I will receive a teeny tiny commission of about 60 cents. I’m sharing this link not because of the commission, but because Catty Stacks are an awesome eco-friendly alternative to ugly boxes and overpriced “Made in China” cat furniture. Your support also helps me to continue growing this site and sharing eco-friendly news and ideas with the world. Thank you.

I just saw this book and had to post it. Is this taking “reuse” a little too far or is it so kitschy that it’s simply brilliant? When you factor in that the book was originally written in Japanese, it all starts to make a lot of sense!

Crafting with Cat Hair: Cute Handicrafts to Make with Your Cat

Transform an old Christmas card into a holiday scene of a cat or dog eagerly awaiting the treats inside their stocking. Here’s how to make your own homemade greeting card.

What You’ll Need:

• A blank greeting card made from recycled paper OR old cardstock OR an old file folder or something similar
• An old Christmas card
• Scissors
• A tiny square of corrugated cardboard
• Non-toxic glue or tape
• Scissors
• Marker or pen

1. Create Your Canvas
Use a blank greeting card made from recycled paper as your creative canvas. I’ve found them at Michael’s. For the card featured here, I used some old cardstock that my mother-in-law was saving for my nieces for arts and crafts projects. You can also make your own card blank by cutting an old file folder into a the shape of a card.

2. Make a Colourful Rug
Measure the width of your blank card and use this measurement to cut out a trapezoid from an old Christmas card. You can also cut one out of old wrapping paper. Why a trapezoid and not a rectangle? The angle will help to create more movement and interest in your final design.

3. Make a Stocking
A simple sock-shape can be turned into a stocking. Feel free to cut one out freehand or if you’d prefer, draw an outline on the back of the old Christmas card for you to cut out. Just remember that the finished stocking will be a reverse image from what you draw.

4. Make a Pet Silhouette in Duplicate
To create your cat, do an online search for “cat sitting silhouette.” Alternately, if you want to feature fido, search for “dog sitting silhouette.” Trace or print the silhouette onto a sheet of paper and then use this as a pattern to cut out TWO shapes.

I held up the paper to my computer screen and traced the outline using a washable marker. DON’T DO THIS AT HOME unless you are sure that you won’t dent your screen by pressing too hard with the marker AND you’re also sure that the marker will not bleed through the paper onto your screen. If you’re not sure, just print it out.

Use your tracing to draw and cut out TWO identical cat shapes (or dog shapes if you’re making a dog card).

5. Arrange Your Holiday Scene

Before pasting anything down, arrange your shapes on your card so that your cat (or dog) is sitting on the rug and looking at the stocking. Paste down the rug, the stocking and ONE cat (or dog). You should still have one pet outline remaining.

6. Make it Pop Out in 3D

To create a 3D effect of your cat (or dog) ready to jump off the card, cut out a tiny square of corrugated cardboard. This you can definitely find by raiding your recycling bin. My mother-in-law’s happened to be empty, so I cut a sliver off the inside of the box she used for storing old Christmas cards and you can’t even notice it’s gone. That’s how small this piece should be. You will affix this to the back of the remaining pet silhouette.

Now paste the second cat (or dog) on top of the previous. Place it just a smidge offside of the original to create the 3D effect.

7. Add a Holiday Greeting
Use the marker or pen to add a holiday greeting to the front of card. Lay it out in your mind’s eye first so that there’s enough room to write your entire greeting. Note: Some markers may smudge or not write well on the cardstock. If you think that might be the case, simply skip the greeting on the front of the card and start writing your words of love inside your homemade greeting card.

If you’re looking for gifts for cat lovers who are also tree-huggers, check out our list of green gifts featuring everything from organic cat toys to natural cat treats and more. With 15 gift ideas under $15, you’re sure to find the perfect gift for cat lovers in your life.

Gifts for Cat Lovers: Cat Toys

1. Make Your Own Cat Toys

Here’s the purrfect gift for finicky cats.  If you’ve ever spent a lot of money on a fancy cat toy only to have your cat prefer the bag it came in, this book is for you. Make Your Own Cat Toys shows you how to create new toys from old stuff in minutes.

For less than the price of a premium cat toy, your kitty can enjoy over 50 toys that can be made in minutes from items that would have been thrown out or tossed in the recycling bin. As the author of this book, I’ve heard from so many friends who have delighted in how much their friends enjoyed receiving this book as a gift. Make Your Own Cat Toys >>

2. Cheery Deer Cat Toy

Here’s a friendly little reindeer cat toy that is sure to delight and inspire cats to prance with joy. Made by West Paw Design, this adorable kitty toy is filled with USDA certified premium organic catnip.

And if that’s not enough to get your cat in a festive mood, there’s also a bell inside to ring in the holiday cheer. Note: West Paw creates limited runs of holiday products so they’re only available while supplies last. Cheery Deer Cat Toy >>

3. Ho Ho Hairball

If your cat’s been good this year, maybe Santa will bring a Ho Ho Hair Ball. This cat toy is a purrfect stocking stuffer that will entertain the most finicky of felines for hours.

Filled with USDA certified premium organic catnip and a cheery bell, this merry holiday cat toy will prove to be the best gift ever. Ho Ho Hairball >>

4. Amazing Treat Machine Rollers

Amazing Treat Machine Rollers are interactive toys which stimulate your cat’s primal hunting instincts. It’s made from cardboard that contains 30% post-consumer recycled content and once your cat has completely destroyed the roller, you can simply toss it in the recycling bin.

The treat rollers are quite fun to assemble, making them an ideal present for cats and also a great gift for cat lovers. Once you put a small treat or catnip satchel inside, you’ll have even more fun watching your cat try to get it out. Amazing Treat Machine Rollers >>

5. YEOWWW! Catnip Banana Toy

This bigger than life banana is a tropical haven for cats.  It’s filled with fragrant organic catnip that cats go simply bananas for.  At our home, I tied the banana to a sturdy rope to play tug-of-war with my cat.  Furball loves wrestling with this. YEOWWW! Catnip Banana Toy >>

 Organic Catnip Cigars

YEOWWW! also makes catnip cigar toys.  Each cigar is 7 inches long and it’s stuffed full of organic catnip. No fillers, no cotton fibers – just 100% YEOWWW! brand super-potent organic catnip.

Pick up a trio in blue, pink and brown. It won’t matter if it’s a boy, a girl or even a kitten because these cigars are smokin’ hot. Organic Catnip Cigars >>

6. Happy Baby Carrots

Purrfect Play’s organic cat toys will inspire cats everywhere to be asking for veggies. Each Happy Baby Carrot is just over 3 inches long, and stuffed full of a 1/4 cup of certified organic catnip.  How do they get so much catnip in there?!!!

Available in a bunch of three carrots, these cat toys are lovingly handcrafted in the USA from dye free organic fleece and topped with organic cotton “leaves.” Happy Baby Carrots >>

Gifts for Cat Lovers: Natural Cat Treats

7. TunaTreats Gourmet Dried Bonito Flakes

If you’re looking for a natural treat for fish-loving felines, here’s a savory treat that will be a favorite not just for the holidays, but all year long.  These premium grade bonito flakes contain no additives, preservative or by-products. They’re a high-protein cat treat made from 100% skipjack tuna. TunaTreats Gourmet Bonito Flakes>>

8. Zuke’s Natural Purrz Cat Treats

Even the most discerning cats won’t be able to resist the delectable taste of Natural Purrz cat treats. These moist and meaty morsels of premium salmon and chicken are free of artificial flavors and harsh preservatives and packed with essential vitamins and minerals to help cats stay healthy and happy.

Zukes is so sure that your cat will love their treats that each bag comes with a money-back guarantee. Zuke’s Natural Purrz Cat Treats >>

9. Whole Life Organics Chicken Breast

Here’s a delectable gift for cats who love chicken. Whole Life gently steams USDA certified organic chicken breasts, then slices them up and freeze-dries them to perfection.

This process removes moisture while concentrating flavor, aroma and nutrition to create a soft, but crisp treat that can be broken into bite size pieces or crumbled over your cat’s food bowl for an extra special holiday dinner. Whole Life Organics Chicken Breast >>

10. Sojos Organic Catnip

Rather than simply handing over a bag of organic catnip, here’s a stylish way to give premium certified organic catnip as a gift to cat lovers.  Sojo’s beautiful tin makes a great gift and contains hand-harvested catnip grown in the Cascade Mountains of Washington State.  Think of it as the caviar of catnips. Sojos Organic Catnip >>

11. Pet Greens Garden Wheat Grass Self-Grow Kit

Here’s an all-in-one green gift that’s literally green. The Pet Greens Garden Wheat Grass Self-Grow Kit is a self-contained pouch of easy to grow wheat grass.  Just open up the package, add water and 100% certified organic wheat seed will be sprouting up tender green grass for your kitty to nibble on. Wheat Grass Kit >>

Gifts for Cat Lovers: Home

12. Catty Stacks

Here’s a stylish alternative to stacking your living room with ugly cardboard boxes. Catty Stacks are modular building blocks that you can join together to create your own custom kitty climbing gym.

Made in America from industrial-strength cardboard, Catty Stacks are recycled, recyclable, and durable, able to support cats up to 20 pounds in weight. Start with one and add as many as you’d like. Catty Stacks >>

13. Cat Silhouette Bamboo Cutting Board

Here’s a fun and fanciful cutting board made out of eco-friendly bamboo.  Shaped like a cat silhouette, this thin and lightweight board is a perfect gift for cat lovers for holiday entertaining.  It’s one of eight pet-shaped cutting boards from APetProject, so if you’re shopping for gifts for cat lovers and dog lovers, this will make the cut too. Cat Silhouette Bamboo Cutting Board >>

14. Joe Jacket Pet Couture Coffee Cup Sleeve

Looking for a gift for cat lovers on the go?  Look no further than the Joe Jacket Pet Couture collection of beverage insulators.  Featuring cute and whimsical feline and
paw print designs, these neoprene insulators keep hot drinks hot and cold drinks cold. Because Joe Jackets are reusable, they help save our landfills from billions of pounds of trash from traditional throwaway paper cup sleeves. Joe Jacket Coffee Cup Sleeve >>

15. Rechargeable Black Cat Flashlight

Watch someone’s eyes light up when you give them this adorable black cat rechargeable LED flashlight.  With this gift, you won’t have to run out and buy extra batteries because it all you need to do is squeeze the hand crank to generate light. The cat’s eyes consist of two LED lights, which are the perfect combination of energy efficiency and ultra bright light. Rechargeable Black Cat Flashlight >>

After checking out our top 15 green gifts for cat lovers, we hope you’ll find some pawsome inspiration to delight the cats and cat lovers in your life. Now, what’s on your wishlist?