We all want to do our part in helping create a clean and safe environment. Some of us go the extra mile to make sure products or behaviors are not harming the environment while the rest does their part in recycling, conserving water and energy. No matter what your role is in saving the environment, there are always ways in which we could do better. Here are a few tips to going green with your pets.

Recycle:

If you feed your cat or dog canned food, buy food that comes in larger cans. Buying the biggest can of canned food is most ecological and uses less metal. And when you’re done, you can recycle the cans. Save all plastics. Save your bread bag or that cereal bag that comes in the box. With these plastic bags, you can clean up dog poop, saving the environment and you money.

Reusable bags:

We all know that using reusable bags when we go to the grocery store is a great way to reduce wasted bags, but when you a picking out your fruit and vegetable, skip putting them into a plastic bag. You’ll wash your produce before you eat it anyway, so what does the plastic bag help with?

Buy in bulk:

If you usually get your dog rawhide, buy them all at once, they won’t go bad. By buying them in bulk you will be saving the amount of packaging, plus savings for you. If buying 100 rawhides is too much, look for a few friends or colleagues that would go in on them with you.

Reuse plastic bottles:

Most of us nowadays have reusable water bottles, but the select few that still use regular plastic bottle can use them as a toy when they’re finished. Take off the lid from the bottle and throw it to your dog, it’s a great chew toy that is safe and is still recyclable when they’re finished with it.

Scoop the poop:

When you go to change your kitty’s litter box, scoop the urine and feces clumps versus dumping the kitty litter. You should only be changing the entire litter box once a year. When you do scoop the poop, get a smaller container or pail and place the plastic bag in it. When you scoop the poop, place it in the plastic bag in the container and cover it with a lid. When the bag gets full you can throw it out. This way, you’re using less plastic bags.

Whether it’s an engraved sterling silver disk from a fancy boutique or a make-it-yourself aluminum circle from a pet store, your cat’s ID tag is more than feline jewelry. It’s a vital safety net for keeping you and your companion together.

Tag; you’re it!

For their health and safety and your peace of mind, all pet cats should be kept indoors. But accidents can happen. A door or window inadvertently left open can tempt your feline friend to slip outside. That’s why all cats should wear collars and tags.

An ID tag is your cat’s ticket home. If you’re lucky, a neighbor will find him and return him to you right away. But your pet could be picked up by a stranger or an animal control officer and taken to a shelter. Without an ID tag, he could be mistaken for a homeless stray. A tag tells the staff that your cat has an owner who loves him and wants him back.

ID info

Your cat’s ID tag should have your name, address, and a telephone number where you’re easily reached. Including a second telephone number or the number of a friend or relative is also a good idea.

You should check your pet’s ID tag regularly to make sure it’s still readable—a heavily scratched or broken tag won’t do any good. And, of course, if your contact information changes, you should update the tag immediately.

An ID tag is even more important if you and your cat are traveling or moving. Pets have been known to get loose on airport tarmacs or at roadside rest stops, and you’ll have a much better chance of recovering your pet if he has an ID. Make sure his tag bears your cell phone number or the number of someone who can contact you or take responsibility for your pet if you’re out of reach.

Types of tags

There are tags to suit every owner’s taste. The easiest way to get a tag is to make it yourself at a local pet store. Many pet supply stores have engraving machines that let you choose the size, shape, and color of the tag as well as the contact information that you want engraved on it. This typically costs about $6, and the tags are finished in a couple of minutes.

You can also find mail-order tag forms at most veterinary clinics and animal shelters. Tags come in all sorts of shapes (circles, squares, houses, bones, etc.) and colors. Some even glow in the dark. You can also go the boutique route and order a tag from high-end stores.

Of course, an ID tag’s function is more important than how it looks. Still, you shouldn’t try to save a little money by improvising—duct tape and magic marker don’t last.

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