Our pets negatively impact the environment far more than we realize, but we humans can reduce the damage. We can all do our share by following the suggestions below:
Don’t allow your cat to roam outside. Free-roaming cats take a huge toll on the environment. Felines are fascinated with birds and being instinctive hunters, they have a fairly high kill rate. Even though your pet is well-fed, it will still go after birds, just not necessarily for something to eat. They also kill other small creatures, like squirrels, rats, rabbits or moles.
Years ago in rural Middle Tennessee, my daughter’s indoor-outdoor kitty routinely gifted us with moles at the front door. We didn’t know any better in those days, and Fungo wrought havoc on all the small wildlife around us, but he learned his lesson the hard way.
One day, the cat caught and killed a juvenile mockingbird just learning to fly. Of course, he deposited his prize at our front door. We were all upset but none more so than Mama Mockingbird.
From that day on every time Fungo was let out the front door, that bird lay in wait for him. She dive-bombed him repeatedly, day after day. At first, he tried to catch the big bird, but she was smarter and wilier than a mere cat. She came at him from the rear, swooped in and attacked the top of Fungo’s head. Mama Mockingbird got her revenge, because we never knew of that kitty killing another bird. He preferred to sit inside the glass storm doors and observe nature from a distance.
Not all cats learn that lesson, so keep your curious kitty indoors.
One of the worst outdoor pollutants is pet poop! Cats dig up flower beds and use them for their litter boxes. But they don’t bury their waste deep enough to protect gardeners. Cat feces carry parasites that cause Toxo-plasmosis, among other health issues. Recognize that it may well be your neighbor’s flower bed, that your kitty is “christening.”
With indoor cats, litter is a problem. Millions of tons of cat litter end up in solid waste landfills each year. Most of it is clay litter and is not absorbed into the earth.
We humans must change our habits and work harder at creating a more earth-friendly environment. Clean up after your pet; switch to an environmentally-friendly cat litter; use only natural, organic products when grooming your pet; and switch to all natural cleaning products inside your home. Just a little effort on our part can make a world of difference.
