Bedding and Other Gear
Bedding can be made from organic cotton or hemp stuffed with recycled polyester. Beds need to be washed, not just to clean up the dirt and hair but to help with flea control. Toys made from organic and recycled materials are also on the market. Cat trees are now made from reclaimed untreated wood, giving indoor cats a real tree to perch on.
Training agents can be environmentally friendly, too. Grannick's Bitter Apple manufactures products to keep dogs, cats, birds, ferrets, horses, and small animals from chewing on things they shouldn't — from your furniture to themselves. The Bitter Apple product line is nontoxic and biodegradable. It works by giving a bitter taste to the items you use it on, thus discouraging your pet from chewing. Clean up after your pet with odor- and stain-control solutions that use natural ingredients. To disperse pet odors, Earth Care markets its Clear the Air product, which does just that.
Is it safe to use human shampoo on animals?
There are shampoos made specifically for pets, but using a mild or baby shampoo on your pet may work just as well as fancy products just for pets. Consult with your veterinarian or a groomer; they'll know best. In any case, your pet does not need to bathe nearly as often as you do. Washing your pet too frequently will dry its skin, resulting in an itchy and miserable companion.
There are organic shampoos and skin treatments available that use organic, biodegradable ingredients. The popularity of the green movement along with the desire to pamper pets has led to a market for organic grooming products.
