Former Petco employee here! The refill system is filled with the same plastic bags of sophresh thats on the shelf. It is not as zero waste as you think. Better off buying the one in plastic or even better, in a cardboard box.
I work at a pet store too and generally the clay littler comes in bags bigger than the average refill bucket. Not great but not as bad as it could be. However, the wood chip litter comes in paper bags here, so refills of that is probably the best option
like most influencers, she probably doesn’t even care that much because she isn’t the one wasting plastic. most people on social media only care how they appear online and how they are affecting the world, so if they aren’t the ones physically throwing away the plastic then they can feel better about themselves
@@fishgirl341you sound mean, this girl shows for long Time better solutions to waste less and Teaches people other solutions. No one can be zero waste, its not possible in this world. No matter what others do and if she is trulry Trying to be zero waste its good, she shows things i woud not even think of, if way more people woud take their Time to do half the things she show the world could be a better place
@@noahsebastian9791 my intent wasn’t to sound mean, sorry i came off that way. i’m just tired of seeing all these other zero waste influencers who have been exposed for not actual being zero waste and assumed she was one too, sorry
Fun Fact: not only does the clay litter itself not breakdown it actually fosilizes the cat waste so IT also doesnt break down. We switched to a plant-based, corn and pine litter because of that and reuse the empty bag to put our recyclables in. The litter smells way better and theres no dust like with the clay as well.
I changed all my cats' litter to pine-based as well as bought double-bottomed litterboxes (the upper bottom is with holes). The litter breaks down in contact with moisture so it sifts down through the first, upper bottom. It also doesn't stick to poop as much as clay litter, so it's much easier to clean up, there's no smell (only a slight foresty pine smell) and it's much more eco friendly.
Clay litter also requires strip mining. I have an auto scooping litter box due to my health and it needs at least partially clay litter, but I do the other half with walnut shell litter.
We use raw pine saw dust, which is the waste product from a local mini sawmill. The cats love it, their no dust at all. It smells amazing, and there is no cat poo smell ever. It also can last for up to two weeks without changing if you use a deep litter tray.
@thecraftycyborg9024 oh! wow! Seriously, I don't do scooping either. All I do is tip it into my compost bin down in my garden that I put together just for dog and cat waste. I also have a special worm farm within that as well.
Zero waster here from Scandinavia. I use wood pellets and they come in paper bags. You can find them in any type of shop with building supplies as it's often used for wood burning (at least here). It's also a great product that always just smells like forest. Scoop the poop, the pellets turn to sawdust when the cat urinates, so I have two boxes and drilled holes in the top one so the saw dust will just fall to the bottom. It's a fully natural product 😊
I used the same one (also Scandi) ! For me, it's mostly the smell, I can't stand other types of cat litter. Wood pellets are also not as heavy to carry home from the store. ✌️Love it.
You can find the same type of pellets at feed stores, like Tractor Supply. Look for the pellets used to line horse stalls. Bagged in paper most times and occasionally on sale 2 for 1.
@@szd4897 regardless of what litter you use, scooping up the poop at least once a day should be part of the routine. If the toilet is clean, your cat will be a happier cat (also noone enjoys using a dirty toilet, animals included) there's a great setup that works for pellet use, this is a great video explaining that: ua-cam.com/video/fRvRxHGDcm4/v-deo.htmlsi=y4gJ514Ylgf8oIWH Good luck and I hope it's helpful information regardless if you choose pellets or not.
PLEASE i beg of you move your cats food away from their litter box. it’s dirty and can give them worms. Please be mindful that no one would want to eat next to a place they poop, even a cat ❤
Hard agree! Litterbox should be in a different room from the food dish, and the water bowl should be in a different area from the food dish as well. Cats don’t like to drink water where they eat, sounds weird, but it’s true. I noticed my cat’s pee was really….pungent, vet said she was dehydrated, they gave her some fluids and when I got home I switched her to wet food, and moved her water dish in my room, and and added a water dish in the office, and outside, and unlike the water dish that I had next to her food bowl for so long I noticed she was actually drinking out of the other dishes. Draining them actually. Cats are so funny.
Please get your cat a water fountain cats drink more if the water is moving and also use filtered water it keeps them from getting health problems like urinary infections and bad breath as well..
Hear me out, cause I love this content and I don’t want to upset people or creator, but the clay litter doesn’t break down either and it’s really bad for the health of the cat and us as well. I hate that the other more sustainable litters, the one shown is the one I use actually, is not packaged sustainably but the impact of the litter becomes more important than the packaging in this case. I haven’t found one that does both the good litter and good packaging yet, still searching. I hope that knowing this, plus seeing this video gives someone with the funds the idea of maybe creating that refillable litter system but with the more sustainable material that was in that plastic packaged bag. So it’s like you take the best of both. Heck, if I had the funds I would do this. I feel like there’s a long way to go in regard to sustainability efforts in fields like the pet industry… also, I’ve found that my cat likes it better with no liner, so I use a stainless steel litter box. When I do dump it, because I use the litter that I do, I can actually compost their waste. It can be tricky if you live in a small space or apartment though because their waste can throw off the pH fast… Again though, it comes in plastic packaging so you still have to deal with that. I hope people see what I’m trying to get at here; there’s not a perfect solution yet, but we want one, and if someone is reading this that has the funds this would be a great idea that would help all of us. The other thing is that don’t feel bad if you do the other option and that there’s more to sustainability than just packaging. I hope I don’t upset people, I want to help. Sending good vibes and energy your way 💚💛
Clay or bentonite is not good for cats because of the dust from it harming their lungs …: Cats best has a great plantbased litter which lasts months , is flushable &!affilordable
Remember it can be dangerous for pregnant woman to handle cat feces! My gynaecologist strongly recommended me to stay away from the litter box Although I admit you do this hygienically!
I care more about my cats health than the plastic packaging for this necessary item. Clay litter is so unhealthy for cats and the environment. Tofu, corn, and walnut are among some of the best options all around in every category.
@@prostitutepeppapig5849Smell isn’t really that much of a problem if you’re cleaning it regularly. I’d take my pet’s health over smelling something bad.
I've had cats for years and I never knew this. I'm switching to non-clay ASAP. Luckily my local pet store had a ton of options and they all come in paper bags. Thanks for letting people know!
I really want to live with zero waste when I’m older! I can’t right now because my parents think it’s bs but I’m doing what I can right now! :) Your videos are so inspiring and aesthetic!
You don't have to be absolutely zero waste, you can still aim to produce less waste! Avoid disposable dish ware, encourage your family to recycle, repair what you can rather than replacing it, shop secondhand, repurpose items instead of buying more, and advocate for reducing waste! When I lived with family I always thought it would be impossible to get them to change. However, with enough persistence and leading by example, they are all at the very lease conscious of the waste they produce! I did things like set the table with non-disposables, do the dishes, sort the recycling, and find our old party supplies so we didn't need to buy more. All little things, but they made an impression on my family. Stand up for what you believe in, but don't expect perfection. The goal is really to consider the environment when throwing something out and be encouraged to avoid it, not to never have trash.
Zero waste is actually not an attainable goal. I like to refer to low waste more because it's realistic. Its just about asking yourself the hard questions and reducing waste by making conscious choices, when you buy and dispose of things. If your trying your succeeding.
We use wood shavings for cat litter. They do coke packaged in plastic, but I feel that’s better than Clay, which will not decompose with time. We use the plastic from the bags repurposed by crocheting to make things like baskets.
I just switched and my cat didn't miss a beat. It doesn't track as much as clay and is way cheaper but it doesn't trap any of the smell (which is actually healthier than the fragrances added) and has to be changed way mkre frequently like every 7-10 days. That's my observations :) I actually buy the pelleted horse bedding for like $7 for 40lbs so cheap!
Yes! (I buy pellet litter for my ferret) in bulk so I’m buying less often. The plastic bag it comes in makes me frown however. I’m not super crafty so I’m not sure what to do with it!
We use a litter made from corn and it comes in paper bags. It doesn't have the dust that clay does, so you and your cat aren't having to breathe that in. It clumps beautifully, dries out solid waste really quickly, reducing smell if we aren't able to scoop it straightaway (which we do whenever we can as our cat likes her litter box pristine.) It's compostable and even septic safe. Maybe something like that isn't available where you are, though.
My dad and I are by no means a zero waste family. However, one of my cats is EXTREMELY fussy about what litter he will use. It got to the point we just started using a dirt/mulch mix. Best decision we ever made. We live on 40 acres and get the litter mix from in our (usually) dry creek bed. We have a spot where we dump the litter after a few days of uses and we leave it for a few months and then reuse it in the very bottom of our raised garden beds to help fill them up. However, I realise very few people have to opportunity we do with being completely self sufficient for litter.
I'm a zero waste bunny owner! I love supporting Small Pet Select because their hay comes in cardboard boxes (and is the best quality I've ever seen). I also use hand-me-down blankets for their enclosures, recycled paper litter for their litter boxes (also from Small Pet Select) and paper bags I get from the grocery store when I do litter box changes. I buy their bunny food in a huge 35lb bag (plastic, but I either send it in to Terra Cycle or clean it and use it for storage) and seal them in jars, so that the freshness can last as long as possible. It's not perfect but it's what's worked best for me over the years.
The clay dust is really unhealthy for cats to breathe in. The health of your cat might be worth the plastic! I like walnut shell litter. It clumps really well. :)
I Like a lot of your content but it’s odd that you criticize the greenwashing of the litter bags and then buy liners (compostable or not, it takes energy to manufacture them, transport them, etc.) for a plastic automatic litter box that also uses power. Frustrating mixed messages here. That said, I know we’re all just doing our best, so these are just my thoughts. I’m not totally zero waste.
Most of what she says is factually inaccurate. Like this video - clay litter has to be mined, it doesn't break down in land fills, it's hazardous to your health and your cats health and the compostable liners are still made of plastics.
Unfortunately, in a landfill, devoid of air, compostable liners won't break down either. They are designed to break down in a compost pile where they receive oxygen.
My gyno was VERY stern in asking if I had cats at my first check up & immediately gave me information on toxoplasmosis & pregnancy. My 3 cats were indoor/outdoor with a cat door to our enclosed area. So technically “outside”. He changed the litter both pregnancies the entire time & I’m grateful he cared.❤
I make my own cat litter out of paper- mostly junk mail and newspaper plus receipts and any other paper based stuff I get a hold of. You let it steep in double the water to paper ratio until you can tear it into gloop, then bring it to a rolling boil for 15 minutes with the lid on. This is to disinfect the paper and it'll break down the ink. After 15 minutes add in baking soda until the texture begins to look clumpy/ separating from the water. Then, use a tub or go outside with your boiled mush in a reusable bag after its cooled off of course, and stand on top of it to get the liquid out. Once it's fairly dry, lay it on cotton fabric and start rubbing it. It'll start to come apart into small bits. You want them to loom like eraser shavings. Leave them to dry, and you're done! Usually It only takes me 1 afternoon and then overnight to dry. It also does clump! You can also use it for bedding for small animals like rats. I hope this helps!
We use wood stove pellets, yes they come in a plastic bag and that bag is recycled in our soft packaging recycle bin, but I buy the damaged bags that can't be sold for stove fuel. They usually come at a discount bc of the damage. Usually they would toss em into the dumpster. I'm actually saving the businesses 😉 they can make a profit from what they call waste/shrink 😉
This video helped so much, thank you!!! I recently started realizing how much waste the way I dispose litter likely causes, so I'll definitely try to incorporate these methods instead 💗
don’t go out of your way to buy compostable things if you plan to trash them. They’ll end up in a landfill, where there’s most likely no oxygen for them to decompose. Archaeologists have found perfectly preserved food in century-old landfills. Even if they do decompose, it won’t matter because they’ll still be stuck in a landfill and take up the same amount of space. In this case plastic would be a better option because at least it’s produced with less carbon emissions and natural resources by volume than plant-based material.
I am really surprised you don't use equine pellets or paper litter. And where I'm from the city says to compost it. Using a regular litter box is better to know your cat's health and less energy waste.
We use pine wich is economical friendly and natural. It is super cheap and reduces risks for disease that Normal littler can cause it comes in compostable 10lb bags
This refill was previously in plastic bags that they opened so you could take it and refill. There is plenty of options for litter in cardboard Remember, anything that works for you! Im really impresed on what you do to be as much zero waste as possible
Yeah um.... the bags they use to refill the litter station are fabric covered in plastic....... its not as sustainable as you think. Also clay littler like that doesnt really break down. I would look into some of the pine or crushed walnut litter. The bags are about the same and i think some are recycleable but props to you for being sustainable that shit is hard work!!
I stick to the pine litter, but buy the giant bags from a farm supply store so the plastic to product ratio is lower. Having the product itself be a renewable resource that will decompose is more important to me personally than the packaging in this case. Plus I enjoy both the savings and lack of smell/tracking more with wood pellets
I use pine bedding from tractor supply. It’s the same as Feline Pine but half the price. While the bag is still plastic, one bag lasts me 5-6mos, which is way longer than any other litter. Trade offs. Where do you get the compostable liners?
I just wanted to clarify that the risk of a litter box is NOT CLAY dust. (Albeit, it’s not great, but still. Not the worst thing you’ll be around). The risk is Toxoplasmosis, which is a parasitic infection that can harm baby. It is transported via touching feces, then touching your mouth, face, or eyes. Mainly your mouth, but still. While it is typically non-fatal to non-pregnant women, it can hurt baby while in utero. So: If you are forced to change the litter box, use gloves, and practice food hand washing. And do NOT TOUCH YOUR FACE, until your hands are clean :)) Happy Pregnancy to all the moms out there! ♥️
I’ve seen them refill the big container thingy with smaller bags that they throw away… Go to your version of a horse/ feed store and ask for what they use in horse stalls! It should be wood pellets! Much better for the cat and much much better for the environment!
Is this satire? Saying "green options" of cat litter are green washing because they come in plastic bags, but then you go straight for the clay litter. I think a few grams of plastic going to landfill is better than many litres of clay litter.
Breathing in cat litter dust can cause toxoplasmosis for a pregnant woman. Please be carful- better yet, have your hubby do it whilst you’re prego, mine did. It’s very important. It’s “very rare”, but as safe as you are with everything else, I just feel like it’s necessary for you to mask up during that task, if he can’t help.
I just wish we had a sorted waste system nationwide. One bin for recycling, one bin for composting, and one bin for incineration for emf energy production for things like medical waste, diapers, bathroom waste contaminated cardboard, and pet waste. Then we could get reverse vending machines to encourage more efficient specific recycling. It just makes sense. Love your content
I don’t understand people in the comments, I get that maybe you don’t think it’s zero waste or maybe you think she’s wasting her time but she’s doing her part and trying her best. I love seeing things like this because I dream to be zero waste and while it’s hard to convince my family since I am still living with them I try my best to do my part as well. Let her do her best because no matter what you say it probably unlikely your doing any better
I do use pine pellets but that’s because they’re dirt cheap 😅 and they work way better at keeping the smell down than clay does (plus my dogs no longer try to eat the poop since switching to pine)
I made the switch to pine pellets a year ago and haven't looked back . Costs way less, doesn't hurt the cats, and does a lot better soaking up fluids and scent. I'd recommend getting it from farm supply or hardware stores tho. The stuff you get in regular pet stores tends to be overpriced. At least in my region.
The bags my cat litter comes in are truly recyclable in my area as long as you cut and rinse them and the litter is flushable (municipal waste treatment not septic) so no plastic bags. I also stay on top of scooping so I only have to top up and give the box a good scrub every other month, I just transfer the (freshly scooped) litter to a bucket and then put it back, this means I use less litter over all. I buy the largest size I can store to cut down on individual plastic bags. When I started doing it this way actually my girl’s territorial anxiety went way down, because as it turns out, cats don’t actually prefer a perfectly clean box because the sent is an important way they identify their territory. That’s not to say it should reek, but it shouldn’t smell like perfumes and masking sent (many of which cats can be sensitive to making them more likely to go outside the box) but the smell should be at a level where they can smell it but you can’t. Finding a system that works for you and your family is always going to be an individual process, in our case my girl is a rescued adult with a lot of past trauma and respiratory damage on top of allergies so clay based litter was never an option for us, (not to mention that clay based litter itself also smells putrid) it took a lot of trial and error but we have found something that works for us an our situation.
I switched to a almond shell litter and love it. Highly recommend. Using that scent boosting powder you did at the end is jot good for cats. I used that for a couple years until figuring that out, and the almond shell litter keeps in all of the smell somehow!
heyy may i ask what you feed your cat? and what do you think about the concept of “owning” a pet, especially when someone is vegan. i personally struggle with this a lot and how i wanna handle this in the future so i would love to hear your opinion :))
Not sure where you are, BUT if you got out of the city, in rural towns feed mills they often have the “greener” cat litters in reusable bags you can bring back and refill:) they’ll take your plastic bins as refillable often too:) they normally also have local eggs that are from free range low( separate coops for nightly safety) or no cage family farms:) Hope this helps:)
Oh! We got wood pallets that come in a recycled sturdy paper bag, the wood palets are done from the waste from wood works at wood shops. Its cheeper, smells better, lasts longer (15 kg can last up to 3 months, we got 5 cats) only down side is that you gotta put more effort into cleaning it (it requires a different litter box woth 2 steps) but overall it was a game changer from the regular litter, which is really the only other option we have
We just let our cats go outside lol I currently live out in the country side but when I lived in the suburbs is San Jose California we let our cats outside and it was fine so no need for a litter box and slowed the rat population
My parents tried out a cat litter once that is little pellets of either wood or sand that breaks down when your cat uses the bathroom, it didnt work for us due to our cat litter system, but it might work for you!
Have you tried wood pellets? You can probably pick some up in a bucket if there’s a wood mill near you or you can buy a massive bag of it from tractor supply that will last you months (less plastic than regular sized litter bags)! It decomposes better and is greener and safer bc you’re not inhaling clay dust which can cause lung issues in the long run
If you go to your local lumber mill, you can get all the fresh sawdust you can use, usually for free. It smells wonderful, doesn't track any more than other litter, and is fully zero waste. Plus, it doesn't fossilize the cat poop.
Hey, Cat owner here. I have an indoor/outdoor cat, so I never have to clean out a litter box. I got my cat a little over a year ago and have only cleaned the litter box a handful of times. Just like a dog, my cat goes outside to go to the bathroom. I love this because my house never smells and I don't have to buy cat litter. He still has a litter box for an emergencies, but never uses it unless I'm out of the house all day. He comes inside overnight when it gets dark and if the weather is too cold or too hot he stays in. I got him an apple air tag so I can track his location. When he was a baby he use to tear everything up and seemed very unhappy. I started introducing him to the outdoors and he doesn't rip anything up anymore in the house and is a lot more cuddly and friendly with people now. I recommend just observing your cat to see what they like. My other cat was a completely indoor cat. I tried to introduce him to the outdoors and he hated it. He wouldn't leave the terrace at all, so he stayed indoors. My cat now though runs into the woods, climbs trees, and hangs out with the other neighborhood cats. He is so much happier. If your cat seems to be very energetic and likes being outside, try it out. He has free range to go where ever he wants, but anytime I call him he comes running to my backdoor. If you live in a safe area with lots of grass or woods- id recommend to try an indoor/outdoor situation. The only thing I would suggest is to go to the vet and get the proper vaccinations for outdoor cats because it's different than indoor cats. Also make sure you get proper medication for ticks if your cat goes outside.
sustainability yours is part of the rainforest trust program and their litter is compostable, not really green washing. Also the best litter I have used for smell 🥰
I use okocat which is wood pellets that come in a cardboard box. The boxes are pretty study and since there is no dust (perks of pellets) I sometimes repurpose the boxes for future art projects or turn the cardboard into litter itself.
I use the sustainably yours brand and repurpose the bags for garbage and unrecyclable waste instead of buying garbage bags! The white color allows me to monitor my cats’ urine in case there’s a problem and it keeps the smell waaaaay down.
You could try pine bedding. Some farm supply stores sell it in bulk, meaning it’s trucked in, in huge piles. No plastic. The pine absorbs liquors well and is a natural deodorant without overpowering your home. It can be bought by the pound or by the cubic foot. I’m sure it would cost next to nothing to fill your containers. And if you can find the pellet version, it’s so convenient. My cat never seemed to notice the switch and there is less litter on my floor which is a plus.
Do you test the claims? Like have you ever put one of those liners in a fishtank with whatever normal trash they'd be in to see if they actually breakdown in 60 days?
Most of the things she says are incorrect. The liners are super flimsy and do break down but they are still plastic which we don't want breaking down in the earth. Plus clay litter is one of the worst environmental choices and it's bad for cats and people
My cat is an outdoor/indoor cat, she was my aunt and uncles barn cat and she does all her business in the wilds of the outdoors. No mess for me inside and no worries about wether the litter is toxic or bad for the environment because I don’t need to buy it. Win win honestly.
If you can find it, there is a green option in paper packaging instead of plastic! It's made by Purina and called "Yesterday's News", and it's made entirely from recycled newspaper. It's what I use for my cats and I love it
My work gives use scratching posts they make. I work in the graphics department at a large print shop. We have large rolls of Material with cardboard ends. They collect these on a cardboard tube and when someone wants a scratcher for their cats they just cut a bit of it off.
Years ago I switched to pine pellets. I buy a huge bag at tractor supply for about $7 ea. Made a custom litterbox that has an insert with holes on top for the pellets to dissolve underneath. I feel like this option is more sustainable and healthy. In theory you would think it would be commercially compostable at the city level because it’s hotter than at home composts. But they unfortunately do not want it.
Here in Brazil we have two very sustainable options: "areia de mandioca", wich is made from burnt cassava peel, and cereal litter (it's called KatBom). Both of them can be disposed on the toilet, 'cause they're biodegradable and allowed in the sewage system
Wood pellets or wood chips would be a good alternative to the litter. I believe there are some companies that sell them in paper bags but you can also talk to local companies and normal get some delivered. They also make great compost for gardens.
From what i understand, landfill folks say to not put compostable anything into the trash because it creates pockets of gas in the trash which can make it unstable for them to work with/on
We used what we called zeolit sand. It can be reusedable as long as you want. All you have to do is throw away the cat pup, wash the sand when it's already to wet, dry them in the sand. And you have the "new" and cleand sand for your cat
We have an auto litter box that washes and reuses the litter! It doesn’t use too much water and has lots of settings to it - so we set it to only clean when she’s been in it.
We use like a wood pellet cat litter at the clinic I work it. It’s horse bedding or smth (I’ve never had to buy it or seen the bag I wish I had more info) but it works great. It shreds apart on moisture contact and the poop just sits on top you if you have a self sifting litter box you only have to dispose of the solids by hand and everything else falls into a pan.
The clay is really harmful to the environment to mine.. there are much more green options that don’t all come in plastic. Some online come in cardboard
Hi I just wanted to say that there is a better version of her sponges they’re called Lufa‘s and they’re actually plants that you can compost every time you use or once a week or once a month and they’re gray I would totally recommend to see loofahs, which is a plant search it up loofah loofah so sorry which is a plant that I just totally recommend
I recommend Okocat as it comes in cardboard box with no bag! If it is at your local pet shops I would give it a try, otherwise stick to your current method. I’ve ordered it online once and received it with a plastic lining around the litter. 🙄
I use the plastic bags that Worlds best comes in as trash bags, and for gardening stuff! (Dirt, collecting fire materials, diy mulch). I feel that corn so far has been best for me and my cats health bc its lightweight, VERY minimal odor, NO DUST and Im using the plastic there instead of buying bags for those other purposes
i like walnut or corncob litter because its just a byproduct of plants that are already grown so its not using up extra resources and it works really good tbh
We use pine pellets bought in bulk from the farm store. Like 6 or 7 bucks for a 40 pound bag and we are able to throw it in the manure pile, easy to clean and doesn't hurt the cats, smells good
I live in europe, and if I recall correctly it is common for cat litter here to be packaged in paper bags. Of course with paper which is sturdy enough to hold the weight. But I live in an area, where it is possible to just let your cat outside; so my cat is an indoor and outdoor cat.. and at some point he just started doing his buisness outside. So in regards of cat litter my cat chose the no-waste option, without it ever being intended.
Owns 10 cats here. Clay ones are nonbiodegradable and very bad for the environment. I use woodshaving pellets i bought by 15 to 25 kgs from local wood-workshop place, its so cheap, comes in huge bag you can recycle or reuse, smells much nicer, the pee bit can be recycled as plant medium or compost. Its WAY more green than clay.
I use recycled newspaper pellets. Way more environmentally friendly and no dust my cats have to breathe in! The dust has proven to be very unhealthy for cats to breathe in/get on their fur/paws. ❤❤
Hi, I'm just wondering what razor specifically you use. Is it on Amazon or somewhere else you buy it? Because I have seen many similar safety razors but want to know which is the best one.
I have cats and while im not a zero waste person i find it easier to have my cats trained to use the bathroom outside and not in a litter box like you would with a dog that way you don't have to deal with litter and can just be sure the poop is picked up later
I use wood pellets that come in a paper bag and I don’t use liners. The added benefit of the wood pellets it’s that it’s also good for cats because it doesn’t produce dust and it respects their scent
We go to the lumber yard or any like hardware store and get Saw dust pallets. They're all biodegradable they don't smell and they're easy to clean up. 🐱
My cat litter comes in paper bags. Small amounts are in plastic, but since I have 2 huge cats I buy huge bags (25L)and they are paper. And before I had to switch to clay (no idea how this is the only litter my cat tolerates) I used to use corn litter that is way better for environment and also comes in paper bags. If it's something in your reach you can also try wood litter (but you need a diffrent box for it) that's also better for environment. Corn can be flushed if your city allows pet poop being flushes (my did so it was wonderful). Cannot recommend enough
In Germany, I use cats best compostable cat litter. Its coming in a papaer bag - which I reuse for my paper waste. And bc its completely plant based I put it as a nitrogen supplement in my composter or in (re)new(ed) flower beds 🙂
This video is greenwashing lol. Clay litter is one of the worst pet products for the environment. It has to be mined (bad) and it doesnt decompose (bad) and its really horrible for cats health (obviously bad). The impact of the plastic packaging is negligible compared to the clay, plus most of the sustainable brands are using recycled/ post consumer plastic for packaging.
What do people do about dog poop and scoop, bags, etc? We've been considering getting a dog, but I wondered about sustainability, avoiding plastic bags, etc. Any tips?
My issue with the refill is it’s only clumping where I live, don’t know about elsewhere, and my boy can’t use it due to some disability issues. I don’t mind cleaning the non clump the way some people do, but I really would like to find a good biodegradable non clumping that won’t stick to him. He’s missing part of a back leg and it’s constantly scabby or weeping due to abrasion and licking, so clumping sticks to the skin and causes issues.
Former Petco employee here! The refill system is filled with the same plastic bags of sophresh thats on the shelf. It is not as zero waste as you think. Better off buying the one in plastic or even better, in a cardboard box.
I work at a pet store too and generally the clay littler comes in bags bigger than the average refill bucket. Not great but not as bad as it could be. However, the wood chip litter comes in paper bags here, so refills of that is probably the best option
Agreed, I think she needs a clumping litter for the litter robot she has. I've tried and liked the walnut shell and grass seed litters.
like most influencers, she probably doesn’t even care that much because she isn’t the one wasting plastic. most people on social media only care how they appear online and how they are affecting the world, so if they aren’t the ones physically throwing away the plastic then they can feel better about themselves
@@fishgirl341you sound mean, this girl shows for long Time better solutions to waste less and Teaches people other solutions. No one can be zero waste, its not possible in this world. No matter what others do and if she is trulry Trying to be zero waste its good, she shows things i woud not even think of, if way more people woud take their Time to do half the things she show the world could be a better place
@@noahsebastian9791 my intent wasn’t to sound mean, sorry i came off that way. i’m just tired of seeing all these other zero waste influencers who have been exposed for not actual being zero waste and assumed she was one too, sorry
Fun Fact: not only does the clay litter itself not breakdown it actually fosilizes the cat waste so IT also doesnt break down. We switched to a plant-based, corn and pine litter because of that and reuse the empty bag to put our recyclables in. The litter smells way better and theres no dust like with the clay as well.
I changed all my cats' litter to pine-based as well as bought double-bottomed litterboxes (the upper bottom is with holes). The litter breaks down in contact with moisture so it sifts down through the first, upper bottom. It also doesn't stick to poop as much as clay litter, so it's much easier to clean up, there's no smell (only a slight foresty pine smell) and it's much more eco friendly.
Clay litter also requires strip mining. I have an auto scooping litter box due to my health and it needs at least partially clay litter, but I do the other half with walnut shell litter.
Clay isn't renewable as well
We use raw pine saw dust, which is the waste product from a local mini sawmill. The cats love it, their no dust at all. It smells amazing, and there is no cat poo smell ever. It also can last for up to two weeks without changing if you use a deep litter tray.
@thecraftycyborg9024 oh! wow! Seriously, I don't do scooping either. All I do is tip it into my compost bin down in my garden that I put together just for dog and cat waste. I also have a special worm farm within that as well.
Zero waster here from Scandinavia. I use wood pellets and they come in paper bags. You can find them in any type of shop with building supplies as it's often used for wood burning (at least here). It's also a great product that always just smells like forest. Scoop the poop, the pellets turn to sawdust when the cat urinates, so I have two boxes and drilled holes in the top one so the saw dust will just fall to the bottom. It's a fully natural product 😊
Thank you for sharing! I will be looking into this option!
I used the same one (also Scandi) ! For me, it's mostly the smell, I can't stand other types of cat litter. Wood pellets are also not as heavy to carry home from the store. ✌️Love it.
You can find the same type of pellets at feed stores, like Tractor Supply. Look for the pellets used to line horse stalls. Bagged in paper most times and occasionally on sale 2 for 1.
I too use pellets but it doesn't cover the poops. So it smells. How can I solve this?
@@szd4897 regardless of what litter you use, scooping up the poop at least once a day should be part of the routine. If the toilet is clean, your cat will be a happier cat (also noone enjoys using a dirty toilet, animals included) there's a great setup that works for pellet use, this is a great video explaining that: ua-cam.com/video/fRvRxHGDcm4/v-deo.htmlsi=y4gJ514Ylgf8oIWH
Good luck and I hope it's helpful information regardless if you choose pellets or not.
PLEASE i beg of you move your cats food away from their litter box. it’s dirty and can give them worms. Please be mindful that no one would want to eat next to a place they poop, even a cat ❤
Well, not noone. Bunnies do that always, they love it and it's best for how they function. But yea, I think the cats and dogs might not like it
Most animals do, their guts are far more hardy than your dramatic ass, they eat their own shit for crist sake
Hard agree! Litterbox should be in a different room from the food dish, and the water bowl should be in a different area from the food dish as well. Cats don’t like to drink water where they eat, sounds weird, but it’s true. I noticed my cat’s pee was really….pungent, vet said she was dehydrated, they gave her some fluids and when I got home I switched her to wet food, and moved her water dish in my room, and and added a water dish in the office, and outside, and unlike the water dish that I had next to her food bowl for so long I noticed she was actually drinking out of the other dishes. Draining them actually. Cats are so funny.
@@leslierae6416my vet recommended to put a water dish in every room
Please get your cat a water fountain cats drink more if the water is moving and also use filtered water it keeps them from getting health problems like urinary infections and bad breath as well..
Hear me out, cause I love this content and I don’t want to upset people or creator, but the clay litter doesn’t break down either and it’s really bad for the health of the cat and us as well. I hate that the other more sustainable litters, the one shown is the one I use actually, is not packaged sustainably but the impact of the litter becomes more important than the packaging in this case. I haven’t found one that does both the good litter and good packaging yet, still searching. I hope that knowing this, plus seeing this video gives someone with the funds the idea of maybe creating that refillable litter system but with the more sustainable material that was in that plastic packaged bag. So it’s like you take the best of both. Heck, if I had the funds I would do this. I feel like there’s a long way to go in regard to sustainability efforts in fields like the pet industry… also, I’ve found that my cat likes it better with no liner, so I use a stainless steel litter box. When I do dump it, because I use the litter that I do, I can actually compost their waste. It can be tricky if you live in a small space or apartment though because their waste can throw off the pH fast… Again though, it comes in plastic packaging so you still have to deal with that. I hope people see what I’m trying to get at here; there’s not a perfect solution yet, but we want one, and if someone is reading this that has the funds this would be a great idea that would help all of us. The other thing is that don’t feel bad if you do the other option and that there’s more to sustainability than just packaging. I hope I don’t upset people, I want to help. Sending good vibes and energy your way 💚💛
Also clay mining for cat litter is really problematic for the environment!
Clay or bentonite is not good for cats because of the dust from it harming their lungs …: Cats best has a great plantbased litter which lasts months , is flushable &!affilordable
it possible to train the cat to go bathroom outside? I’m genuinely curious cause I don’t have a cat lol
@@suckiiiit9368Yes, all of my cats go to the bathroom in our yard, I still buy cat litter when they are inside the house (like in winter)
You're totally right. Clay litter is so bad for cats and the environment, much worse than a plastic package.
Remember it can be dangerous for pregnant woman to handle cat feces! My gynaecologist strongly recommended me to stay away from the litter box
Although I admit you do this hygienically!
Especially when using clay litter because of the dust (which is also very bad for cats)
When I had to handle the litter box, I wore a good mask for it. My daughter only came out with a couple of extra toes.
Really? Idk about that, but glady I won't be having kids anyway.
Just wash your hands and wear gloves. It's fine.
Actually, if you already have a cat, it’s unlikely that anything would happen
I care more about my cats health than the plastic packaging for this necessary item. Clay litter is so unhealthy for cats and the environment. Tofu, corn, and walnut are among some of the best options all around in every category.
Oh girl I tried corn litter for ma baba but it didn’t cover the smell at all.
@@prostitutepeppapig5849Smell isn’t really that much of a problem if you’re cleaning it regularly. I’d take my pet’s health over smelling something bad.
I've had cats for years and I never knew this. I'm switching to non-clay ASAP. Luckily my local pet store had a ton of options and they all come in paper bags. Thanks for letting people know!
I have used corn litter in the past it was good cat litter but it was so messy. I now I use wooden litter
I really want to live with zero waste when I’m older! I can’t right now because my parents think it’s bs but I’m doing what I can right now! :) Your videos are so inspiring and aesthetic!
So good to hear! & my parents thought the same now my mom is my biggest copy cat! 😆 Leading by example is the best formula here
Samee and billie eilish is my favourite too
You don't have to be absolutely zero waste, you can still aim to produce less waste! Avoid disposable dish ware, encourage your family to recycle, repair what you can rather than replacing it, shop secondhand, repurpose items instead of buying more, and advocate for reducing waste! When I lived with family I always thought it would be impossible to get them to change. However, with enough persistence and leading by example, they are all at the very lease conscious of the waste they produce! I did things like set the table with non-disposables, do the dishes, sort the recycling, and find our old party supplies so we didn't need to buy more. All little things, but they made an impression on my family. Stand up for what you believe in, but don't expect perfection. The goal is really to consider the environment when throwing something out and be encouraged to avoid it, not to never have trash.
Me too,i try my best still
Zero waste is actually not an attainable goal. I like to refer to low waste more because it's realistic. Its just about asking yourself the hard questions and reducing waste by making conscious choices, when you buy and dispose of things. If your trying your succeeding.
We use wood shavings for cat litter. They do coke packaged in plastic, but I feel that’s better than Clay, which will not decompose with time.
We use the plastic from the bags repurposed by crocheting to make things like baskets.
How did you transition your cats ?
We have a foster fail and I’m newer to cat eco friendly
I just recently transitioned mine by just mixing the two. I use feline pine and it comes in a recyclable bag 🤷🏽♂️
I just switched and my cat didn't miss a beat. It doesn't track as much as clay and is way cheaper but it doesn't trap any of the smell (which is actually healthier than the fragrances added) and has to be changed way mkre frequently like every 7-10 days. That's my observations :) I actually buy the pelleted horse bedding for like $7 for 40lbs so cheap!
Yes! (I buy pellet litter for my ferret) in bulk so I’m buying less often. The plastic bag it comes in makes me frown however. I’m not super crafty so I’m not sure what to do with it!
Try oko cats litter, it’s packaged in cardboard and is amazing! It doesn’t smell like cat at all!
I use the okocat brand of cat litter that's made from wood. It is packaged in cardboard and dissolves in water.
Interesting! I wonder if this would work in my litter robot
@@loveofearthco possibly
@@loveofearthco I buy mine at Petco. The specific kind I use from this brand is called Low tracking which literally is as it says
I use this one too! It’s the best!
@@brookeO yep
We use a litter made from corn and it comes in paper bags. It doesn't have the dust that clay does, so you and your cat aren't having to breathe that in. It clumps beautifully, dries out solid waste really quickly, reducing smell if we aren't able to scoop it straightaway (which we do whenever we can as our cat likes her litter box pristine.) It's compostable and even septic safe.
Maybe something like that isn't available where you are, though.
Where do you live/what brand is that litter? It sounds perfect!
We have tofu cat litter here in Malaysia, so it’s completely flushable!
Woah what? Tell me more.
@@samanthahaggstrom3707it’s on Amazon too!
My dad and I are by no means a zero waste family. However, one of my cats is EXTREMELY fussy about what litter he will use. It got to the point we just started using a dirt/mulch mix. Best decision we ever made. We live on 40 acres and get the litter mix from in our (usually) dry creek bed. We have a spot where we dump the litter after a few days of uses and we leave it for a few months and then reuse it in the very bottom of our raised garden beds to help fill them up.
However, I realise very few people have to opportunity we do with being completely self sufficient for litter.
Don't change the cat litter! That's your partner's job while you're pregnant😜 Congratulations btw!
I'm a zero waste bunny owner! I love supporting Small Pet Select because their hay comes in cardboard boxes (and is the best quality I've ever seen). I also use hand-me-down blankets for their enclosures, recycled paper litter for their litter boxes (also from Small Pet Select) and paper bags I get from the grocery store when I do litter box changes. I buy their bunny food in a huge 35lb bag (plastic, but I either send it in to Terra Cycle or clean it and use it for storage) and seal them in jars, so that the freshness can last as long as possible.
It's not perfect but it's what's worked best for me over the years.
The clay dust is really unhealthy for cats to breathe in. The health of your cat might be worth the plastic! I like walnut shell litter. It clumps really well. :)
I Like a lot of your content but it’s odd that you criticize the greenwashing of the litter bags and then buy liners (compostable or not, it takes energy to manufacture them, transport them, etc.) for a plastic automatic litter box that also uses power. Frustrating mixed messages here. That said, I know we’re all just doing our best, so these are just my thoughts. I’m not totally zero waste.
Most of what she says is factually inaccurate. Like this video - clay litter has to be mined, it doesn't break down in land fills, it's hazardous to your health and your cats health and the compostable liners are still made of plastics.
Unfortunately, in a landfill, devoid of air, compostable liners won't break down either. They are designed to break down in a compost pile where they receive oxygen.
I thought pregnant women shouldn’t be near cat litter
They shouldn't and especially not around clay litter because of the dust. Everything in this video is wrong
There is no risk of toxoplasmosis if the cat is indoor only. And toxoplasmosis is the reason they caution pregnant women against handling cat litter.
Google is usually accessible, I'm guessing if you can access UA-cam you can ask Google what you're wondering just saying
My gyno was VERY stern in asking if I had cats at my first check up & immediately gave me information on toxoplasmosis & pregnancy. My 3 cats were indoor/outdoor with a cat door to our enclosed area. So technically “outside”. He changed the litter both pregnancies the entire time & I’m grateful he cared.❤
I make my own cat litter out of paper- mostly junk mail and newspaper plus receipts and any other paper based stuff I get a hold of. You let it steep in double the water to paper ratio until you can tear it into gloop, then bring it to a rolling boil for 15 minutes with the lid on. This is to disinfect the paper and it'll break down the ink. After 15 minutes add in baking soda until the texture begins to look clumpy/ separating from the water. Then, use a tub or go outside with your boiled mush in a reusable bag after its cooled off of course, and stand on top of it to get the liquid out. Once it's fairly dry, lay it on cotton fabric and start rubbing it. It'll start to come apart into small bits. You want them to loom like eraser shavings. Leave them to dry, and you're done! Usually It only takes me 1 afternoon and then overnight to dry. It also does clump! You can also use it for bedding for small animals like rats. I hope this helps!
We use wood stove pellets, yes they come in a plastic bag and that bag is recycled in our soft packaging recycle bin, but I buy the damaged bags that can't be sold for stove fuel. They usually come at a discount bc of the damage. Usually they would toss em into the dumpster. I'm actually saving the businesses 😉 they can make a profit from what they call waste/shrink 😉
This video helped so much, thank you!!! I recently started realizing how much waste the way I dispose litter likely causes, so I'll definitely try to incorporate these methods instead 💗
don’t go out of your way to buy compostable things if you plan to trash them. They’ll end up in a landfill, where there’s most likely no oxygen for them to decompose. Archaeologists have found perfectly preserved food in century-old landfills. Even if they do decompose, it won’t matter because they’ll still be stuck in a landfill and take up the same amount of space. In this case plastic would be a better option because at least it’s produced with less carbon emissions and natural resources by volume than plant-based material.
I am really surprised you don't use equine pellets or paper litter. And where I'm from the city says to compost it. Using a regular litter box is better to know your cat's health and less energy waste.
We use pine wich is economical friendly and natural. It is super cheap and reduces risks for disease that Normal littler can cause it comes in compostable 10lb bags
And when kitty pees the pine turns to dust
This refill was previously in plastic bags that they opened so you could take it and refill. There is plenty of options for litter in cardboard
Remember, anything that works for you! Im really impresed on what you do to be as much zero waste as possible
I use a natural litter that can be composted, comes in paper bags and that means I just have to put the poop in the general waste.
Yeah um.... the bags they use to refill the litter station are fabric covered in plastic....... its not as sustainable as you think. Also clay littler like that doesnt really break down. I would look into some of the pine or crushed walnut litter. The bags are about the same and i think some are recycleable but props to you for being sustainable that shit is hard work!!
I stick to the pine litter, but buy the giant bags from a farm supply store so the plastic to product ratio is lower. Having the product itself be a renewable resource that will decompose is more important to me personally than the packaging in this case. Plus I enjoy both the savings and lack of smell/tracking more with wood pellets
I use recycled paper pallets for my cat, which are biodegradable and come in a paper bag
Clay litter is way worse for the environment than wood shavings in plastic… kinda surprised you believe it’s better 😅😅
I use pine bedding from tractor supply. It’s the same as Feline Pine but half the price. While the bag is still plastic, one bag lasts me 5-6mos, which is way longer than any other litter. Trade offs. Where do you get the compostable liners?
Our cat used to just use a big sand pile we had outside for gardening lol
I’ve been trying to find compostable litter liners that fit the litter robot!! What are those called??
These are just the 13 gallon BIO BAGS! :) they work beautifully!
I just wanted to clarify that the risk of a litter box is NOT CLAY dust. (Albeit, it’s not great, but still. Not the worst thing you’ll be around). The risk is Toxoplasmosis, which is a parasitic infection that can harm baby.
It is transported via touching feces, then touching your mouth, face, or eyes. Mainly your mouth, but still.
While it is typically non-fatal to non-pregnant women, it can hurt baby while in utero.
So: If you are forced to change the litter box, use gloves, and practice food hand washing. And do NOT TOUCH YOUR FACE, until your hands are clean :))
Happy Pregnancy to all the moms out there! ♥️
I’ve seen them refill the big container thingy with smaller bags that they throw away…
Go to your version of a horse/ feed store and ask for what they use in horse stalls! It should be wood pellets! Much better for the cat and much much better for the environment!
Is this satire? Saying "green options" of cat litter are green washing because they come in plastic bags, but then you go straight for the clay litter. I think a few grams of plastic going to landfill is better than many litres of clay litter.
Breathing in cat litter dust can cause toxoplasmosis for a pregnant woman. Please be carful- better yet, have your hubby do it whilst you’re prego, mine did. It’s very important.
It’s “very rare”, but as safe as you are with everything else, I just feel like it’s necessary for you to mask up during that task, if he can’t help.
I just wish we had a sorted waste system nationwide. One bin for recycling, one bin for composting, and one bin for incineration for emf energy production for things like medical waste, diapers, bathroom waste contaminated cardboard, and pet waste. Then we could get reverse vending machines to encourage more efficient specific recycling. It just makes sense. Love your content
I have chickens and we donate the food bags to someone who makes them into reusable bags!
I don’t understand people in the comments, I get that maybe you don’t think it’s zero waste or maybe you think she’s wasting her time but she’s doing her part and trying her best. I love seeing things like this because I dream to be zero waste and while it’s hard to convince my family since I am still living with them I try my best to do my part as well. Let her do her best because no matter what you say it probably unlikely your doing any better
I do use pine pellets but that’s because they’re dirt cheap 😅 and they work way better at keeping the smell down than clay does (plus my dogs no longer try to eat the poop since switching to pine)
Could you please make a top ten “starter” video on how to live with less waste? Little tid bits on just starting out..
I made the switch to pine pellets a year ago and haven't looked back . Costs way less, doesn't hurt the cats, and does a lot better soaking up fluids and scent. I'd recommend getting it from farm supply or hardware stores tho. The stuff you get in regular pet stores tends to be overpriced. At least in my region.
The bags my cat litter comes in are truly recyclable in my area as long as you cut and rinse them and the litter is flushable (municipal waste treatment not septic) so no plastic bags. I also stay on top of scooping so I only have to top up and give the box a good scrub every other month, I just transfer the (freshly scooped) litter to a bucket and then put it back, this means I use less litter over all. I buy the largest size I can store to cut down on individual plastic bags.
When I started doing it this way actually my girl’s territorial anxiety went way down, because as it turns out, cats don’t actually prefer a perfectly clean box because the sent is an important way they identify their territory. That’s not to say it should reek, but it shouldn’t smell like perfumes and masking sent (many of which cats can be sensitive to making them more likely to go outside the box) but the smell should be at a level where they can smell it but you can’t.
Finding a system that works for you and your family is always going to be an individual process, in our case my girl is a rescued adult with a lot of past trauma and respiratory damage on top of allergies so clay based litter was never an option for us, (not to mention that clay based litter itself also smells putrid) it took a lot of trial and error but we have found something that works for us an our situation.
What is your compost made of? Who makes it? Looking for a recommendation. Thanks!
I switched to a almond shell litter and love it. Highly recommend. Using that scent boosting powder you did at the end is jot good for cats. I used that for a couple years until figuring that out, and the almond shell litter keeps in all of the smell somehow!
heyy may i ask what you feed your cat? and what do you think about the concept of “owning” a pet, especially when someone is vegan. i personally struggle with this a lot and how i wanna handle this in the future so i would love to hear your opinion :))
Not sure where you are, BUT if you got out of the city, in rural towns feed mills they often have the “greener” cat litters in reusable bags you can bring back and refill:) they’ll take your plastic bins as refillable often too:) they normally also have local eggs that are from free range low( separate coops for nightly safety) or no cage family farms:)
Hope this helps:)
Oh! We got wood pallets that come in a recycled sturdy paper bag, the wood palets are done from the waste from wood works at wood shops. Its cheeper, smells better, lasts longer (15 kg can last up to 3 months, we got 5 cats) only down side is that you gotta put more effort into cleaning it (it requires a different litter box woth 2 steps) but overall it was a game changer from the regular litter, which is really the only other option we have
We just let our cats go outside lol I currently live out in the country side but when I lived in the suburbs is San Jose California we let our cats outside and it was fine so no need for a litter box and slowed the rat population
My parents tried out a cat litter once that is little pellets of either wood or sand that breaks down when your cat uses the bathroom, it didnt work for us due to our cat litter system, but it might work for you!
Have you tried wood pellets? You can probably pick some up in a bucket if there’s a wood mill near you or you can buy a massive bag of it from tractor supply that will last you months (less plastic than regular sized litter bags)! It decomposes better and is greener and safer bc you’re not inhaling clay dust which can cause lung issues in the long run
If you go to your local lumber mill, you can get all the fresh sawdust you can use, usually for free. It smells wonderful, doesn't track any more than other litter, and is fully zero waste. Plus, it doesn't fossilize the cat poop.
Hey,
Cat owner here. I have an indoor/outdoor cat, so I never have to clean out a litter box. I got my cat a little over a year ago and have only cleaned the litter box a handful of times. Just like a dog, my cat goes outside to go to the bathroom. I love this because my house never smells and I don't have to buy cat litter. He still has a litter box for an emergencies, but never uses it unless I'm out of the house all day. He comes inside overnight when it gets dark and if the weather is too cold or too hot he stays in. I got him an apple air tag so I can track his location. When he was a baby he use to tear everything up and seemed very unhappy. I started introducing him to the outdoors and he doesn't rip anything up anymore in the house and is a lot more cuddly and friendly with people now. I recommend just observing your cat to see what they like. My other cat was a completely indoor cat. I tried to introduce him to the outdoors and he hated it. He wouldn't leave the terrace at all, so he stayed indoors. My cat now though runs into the woods, climbs trees, and hangs out with the other neighborhood cats. He is so much happier. If your cat seems to be very energetic and likes being outside, try it out. He has free range to go where ever he wants, but anytime I call him he comes running to my backdoor. If you live in a safe area with lots of grass or woods- id recommend to try an indoor/outdoor situation. The only thing I would suggest is to go to the vet and get the proper vaccinations for outdoor cats because it's different than indoor cats. Also make sure you get proper medication for ticks if your cat goes outside.
Wow every time i watch your vids, i learn something new. didn't even know compostable liners were a thing. I'll def be using those!
In my country litter bag was always made from paper.
sustainability yours is part of the rainforest trust program and their litter is compostable, not really green washing. Also the best litter I have used for smell 🥰
I use okocat which is wood pellets that come in a cardboard box. The boxes are pretty study and since there is no dust (perks of pellets) I sometimes repurpose the boxes for future art projects or turn the cardboard into litter itself.
I use the sustainably yours brand and repurpose the bags for garbage and unrecyclable waste instead of buying garbage bags! The white color allows me to monitor my cats’ urine in case there’s a problem and it keeps the smell waaaaay down.
You could try pine bedding. Some farm supply stores sell it in bulk, meaning it’s trucked in, in huge piles. No plastic. The pine absorbs liquors well and is a natural deodorant without overpowering your home. It can be bought by the pound or by the cubic foot. I’m sure it would cost next to nothing to fill your containers. And if you can find the pellet version, it’s so convenient. My cat never seemed to notice the switch and there is less litter on my floor which is a plus.
Do you test the claims? Like have you ever put one of those liners in a fishtank with whatever normal trash they'd be in to see if they actually breakdown in 60 days?
Most of the things she says are incorrect. The liners are super flimsy and do break down but they are still plastic which we don't want breaking down in the earth. Plus clay litter is one of the worst environmental choices and it's bad for cats and people
My cat is an outdoor/indoor cat, she was my aunt and uncles barn cat and she does all her business in the wilds of the outdoors. No mess for me inside and no worries about wether the litter is toxic or bad for the environment because I don’t need to buy it. Win win honestly.
If you can find it, there is a green option in paper packaging instead of plastic! It's made by Purina and called "Yesterday's News", and it's made entirely from recycled newspaper. It's what I use for my cats and I love it
My work gives use scratching posts they make. I work in the graphics department at a large print shop. We have large rolls of Material with cardboard ends. They collect these on a cardboard tube and when someone wants a scratcher for their cats they just cut a bit of it off.
What automatic litter do you have for your sweet cat??
Years ago I switched to pine pellets. I buy a huge bag at tractor supply for about $7 ea. Made a custom litterbox that has an insert with holes on top for the pellets to dissolve underneath. I feel like this option is more sustainable and healthy. In theory you would think it would be commercially compostable at the city level because it’s hotter than at home composts. But they unfortunately do not want it.
How do you do trick-or-treating sustainably?
Here in Brazil we have two very sustainable options: "areia de mandioca", wich is made from burnt cassava peel, and cereal litter (it's called KatBom). Both of them can be disposed on the toilet, 'cause they're biodegradable and allowed in the sewage system
we also use compostable bags when scooping litter every night, we definitely don’t claim to be zero waste but we try with what we can get
So the clay works well in your litter robot? I’ve been afraid to use anything but clumping litter.
Wood pellets or wood chips would be a good alternative to the litter. I believe there are some companies that sell them in paper bags but you can also talk to local companies and normal get some delivered. They also make great compost for gardens.
You might want to look into compressed wood pellet litter or walnut shell litter. You might be able to find them in bulk somewhere.
From what i understand, landfill folks say to not put compostable anything into the trash because it creates pockets of gas in the trash which can make it unstable for them to work with/on
I use pelletized bedding since you can compost it. It does come in a large plastic bag but it might be recyclable the bag.
We used what we called zeolit sand. It can be reusedable as long as you want. All you have to do is throw away the cat pup, wash the sand when it's already to wet, dry them in the sand. And you have the "new" and cleand sand for your cat
We have an auto litter box that washes and reuses the litter! It doesn’t use too much water and has lots of settings to it - so we set it to only clean when she’s been in it.
Question, I’ve seen a few videos where you have a little compost bin in your kitchen, do you have a big compost outside? How do you start one?
We use like a wood pellet cat litter at the clinic I work it. It’s horse bedding or smth (I’ve never had to buy it or seen the bag I wish I had more info) but it works great. It shreds apart on moisture contact and the poop just sits on top you if you have a self sifting litter box you only have to dispose of the solids by hand and everything else falls into a pan.
the compostable liners will not break up in the landfill in 60 days they are industrially compostable
They biodegrade within 60 days no compost environment needed! I’ve actually tested them myself & it totally will disappear in 2-3 months!
The clay is really harmful to the environment to mine.. there are much more green options that don’t all come in plastic. Some online come in cardboard
Hi I just wanted to say that there is a better version of her sponges they’re called Lufa‘s and they’re actually plants that you can compost every time you use or once a week or once a month and they’re gray I would totally recommend to see loofahs, which is a plant search it up loofah loofah so sorry which is a plant that I just totally recommend
I recommend Okocat as it comes in cardboard box with no bag! If it is at your local pet shops I would give it a try, otherwise stick to your current method. I’ve ordered it online once and received it with a plastic lining around the litter. 🙄
I use the plastic bags that Worlds best comes in as trash bags, and for gardening stuff! (Dirt, collecting fire materials, diy mulch). I feel that corn so far has been best for me and my cats health bc its lightweight, VERY minimal odor, NO DUST and Im using the plastic there instead of buying bags for those other purposes
i like walnut or corncob litter because its just a byproduct of plants that are already grown so its not using up extra resources and it works really good tbh
We use pine pellets bought in bulk from the farm store. Like 6 or 7 bucks for a 40 pound bag and we are able to throw it in the manure pile, easy to clean and doesn't hurt the cats, smells good
I live in europe, and if I recall correctly it is common for cat litter here to be packaged in paper bags. Of course with paper which is sturdy enough to hold the weight.
But I live in an area, where it is possible to just let your cat outside; so my cat is an indoor and outdoor cat.. and at some point he just started doing his buisness outside. So in regards of cat litter my cat chose the no-waste option, without it ever being intended.
Owns 10 cats here. Clay ones are nonbiodegradable and very bad for the environment. I use woodshaving pellets i bought by 15 to 25 kgs from local wood-workshop place, its so cheap, comes in huge bag you can recycle or reuse, smells much nicer, the pee bit can be recycled as plant medium or compost. Its WAY more green than clay.
I use recycled newspaper pellets. Way more environmentally friendly and no dust my cats have to breathe in! The dust has proven to be very unhealthy for cats to breathe in/get on their fur/paws. ❤❤
Hi, I'm just wondering what razor specifically you use. Is it on Amazon or somewhere else you buy it? Because I have seen many similar safety razors but want to know which is the best one.
I realize it is in her website so never mind.
I have cats and while im not a zero waste person i find it easier to have my cats trained to use the bathroom outside and not in a litter box like you would with a dog that way you don't have to deal with litter and can just be sure the poop is picked up later
I use wood pellets that come in a paper bag and I don’t use liners. The added benefit of the wood pellets it’s that it’s also good for cats because it doesn’t produce dust and it respects their scent
We go to the lumber yard or any like hardware store and get Saw dust pallets. They're all biodegradable they don't smell and they're easy to clean up. 🐱
I recommend putting some type of double sided tape on the bottom of the scratching post so it doesn’t wobble when the cat scratches
My cat litter comes in paper bags. Small amounts are in plastic, but since I have 2 huge cats I buy huge bags (25L)and they are paper.
And before I had to switch to clay (no idea how this is the only litter my cat tolerates) I used to use corn litter that is way better for environment and also comes in paper bags.
If it's something in your reach you can also try wood litter (but you need a diffrent box for it) that's also better for environment. Corn can be flushed if your city allows pet poop being flushes (my did so it was wonderful). Cannot recommend enough
In Germany, I use cats best compostable cat litter. Its coming in a papaer bag - which I reuse for my paper waste. And bc its completely plant based I put it as a nitrogen supplement in my composter or in (re)new(ed) flower beds 🙂
This video is greenwashing lol. Clay litter is one of the worst pet products for the environment. It has to be mined (bad) and it doesnt decompose (bad) and its really horrible for cats health (obviously bad). The impact of the plastic packaging is negligible compared to the clay, plus most of the sustainable brands are using recycled/ post consumer plastic for packaging.
What do people do about dog poop and scoop, bags, etc? We've been considering getting a dog, but I wondered about sustainability, avoiding plastic bags, etc. Any tips?
Any suggestions on zero waste with contacts?
We use compostable litter nade out of wood or corn Material (its made of the waste ) we can just trow it in the garden and it comes in paper bags
My issue with the refill is it’s only clumping where I live, don’t know about elsewhere, and my boy can’t use it due to some disability issues. I don’t mind cleaning the non clump the way some people do, but I really would like to find a good biodegradable non clumping that won’t stick to him. He’s missing part of a back leg and it’s constantly scabby or weeping due to abrasion and licking, so clumping sticks to the skin and causes issues.
Is it cheaper to buy in bulk?