Pets can go green, too

I have 3 cats: Luckadoo Horatio, aka Lucky, 3 1/2; Gwendolyn Louise, 9 months; and Gwen's littermate Daisymae Matilda. These crafty critters are my furbabies, my kids until i have kids. I started thinking about THEIR environmental impact... or rather, the one i choose to make on their behalf.
I used to use clay litter (scoop away was a personal fave), scoop the waste into a plastic grocery bag, tie it up and toss it out. I didn't know of a better way to go about it. A few years ago I saw Feline Pine and tried that, but the pellets didn't work with my regular scoop so i quickly gave it up.
In December (2007) i decided i wanted to try again. I asked the good people in the livejournal community green_daily for their take. I learned that clay litters are made by strip mining, which is a rather unpleasant, destructive process. I've also heard that this type of litter will never biodegrade, because it has already reduced as far as it will go.
Greenlivingtips.com's take on strip mining

So what's a cat lover to do? Luckily, there are now many different alternative litters on the market.
Swheat Scoop - a wheat-based clumping litter. (The only negative i've heard about it is that for some, it attracts Asian Meal Moths. But most people i talked to had no issues.)
Feline Pine - 100% recycled pine. There's also the Feline Pine Litter Box.
World's Best Cat Litter - corn based, perfume free, great for people with allergies.
Smart Cat Box - An amazing system! Non-absorbent litter (safflower seeds!) is used and it's a great option for diabetic or special needs cats, as the urine goes through the seeds and into a chamber below, so it's available for easy testing.

And last but not least, Cedariffic. (Sorry, no website!) This is what i've been using since December, and WOW what a difference!! It's reclaimed sawdust, so no trees are harmed. I buy it at my local grocery store, for $4 for a 7-lb bag. It also lasts twice as long as the traditional litters i've used, for half the price! I figured out that i'm saving over $200 a year by switching!

Now for disposal. Instead of putting the waste into a plastic bag, i've found a better way. I had kept a plastic bucket from my Scoop Away days, and i now scoop the waste into the bucket all week and shut the lid tightly. Then before i take out my trash to be picked up, i dump the contents straight into the bag. No dealing with odors, no mess, and best of all, a LOT more eco-friendly!

If you know of any other options, or want to share your experiences here, please do so!

Beginning a Green Journey

I've always been a bit of a tree-hugger, ask anyone who knows me. :) But lately i've been trying to move towards greener living in general. I've been doing so much research and trial and error that my regular blog was getting bogged down with it all. Hence, a new one, devoted to the trials and tribulations of my adventure!
I plan to share articles, tips, and whatever else i feel is relevant. Expect a lot of crafty recycling! :)

I am not an eco-nazi. I just have found that there's so many small ways we can make a big impact. Most people aren't aware of how simple it can be. It's ok, that's what i'm here for. :)