Just wanted to share this article (http://www.nwf.org/nationalwildlife/article.cfm?articleId=1000&issueId=70) with you.

It contains great information about the impact our beloved pets have on the environment, and suggestions on reducing that impact.

I got the magazine in the mail today and thought this was definitely good enough to pass on.

cheers!

Gren

Wow. What an interesting article, thanks for sharing the link!

Interesting article, thanks.

Interesting article. Reading about people flushing fish down the toilet brings up images of a popular urban rumour :a kid flushes a baby alligator down the toilet where it grows up in the sewers and attacks unsuspecting people :silly: .

Very interesting article... thanks for sharing :flower:

Actually we recently had an issue with an alligator in a pond here in Indiana. Apparently the thing was kept as a pet, got too big, and someone released it I *think* into the resevoir. People noticed that the birds were unusually quiet. They caught it, but the poor thing wouldn't have lasted the winter here...

I live in Indiana. It gets to -12 in the winter.

And I don't even LIKE alligators.

Gren, I have a question. What can I use for fleas? Somehow I've found and killed 3 fleas in our apartment in the last week or two. The cats are scratching. They are totally indoor cats, but there are some "neighborhood" cats that come to my porch and "entertain" my cats through the sliding door (which is closed). Is it possible those fleas are somehow coming in through the cracks and crevices in the doorway?

I bought some flea drops to use on the cats, but after reading that article, I noticed the drops have one of the dangerous chemicals in them. Thankfully I haven't used them drops on the cats yet.

If I put brewers yeast and garlic (powder?) on their food, will it work if it is just dry cat food? What if my cats turn up their noses at it? Should I try it in one bowl first and then the other? How much brewers yeast? How much garlic?

Also, I am happy to say that I switched to Pa-Purr cat litter several years ago. It is made from paper, not clay. I noticed that when I used the clumping clay that my older male kitty always vomited up "green stuff". When I switched to paper litter that stopped! I also bag the cat litter and put it into the garbage - not flushing it. I realize I could do better and bury it, but I don't have a yard.

Can cat liter be composted? (eww yuck) ;)


Thanks Gren! :flowers:

Thanks, Gren. We just got a cat. I too would like to know more about what really works for de-fleaing. I'm one of thsoe people who other people can use as a biting insect repellant for themselves: if they've got me around, they'll be left alone while I get eaten alive. I've been in places where no-one who lived in teh place had flea bites and the pets looked ocmfortable, and I walked out with multiple, painful bites. I once moved into an apt where an untreated cat had lived; i had to spray repeatedly, and toxically I'm sure, to be able to live there. I'm incredibly leary of flea remedies that don't do a thorough job. So I'd love to hear from others whether they'e found that garlic, etc., really really works before i take hte chance....

thanks for the great link.... I'll be sure to check it periodically....

Geez guys - I wish I had a quick and ready answer. Unfortunately, I don't.

I do give my dogs garlic and brewers yeast, but I also use Advantix, from the vets, because here in Upstate NY there are too many deer, therefore deer ticks, to rely on natural remedies only. Jack and Molly are both outside in areas where deer are every day. Since both of them are elders now, and lyme disease could seriously impact them, I have to be 100% certain of their protection, so we use chemicals in defense of mosquitoes, fleas and ticks. For me, it's a balance thing.:karma:

TBear - I would guess the fleas are coming from your visitors..:smile:

Sally - I'm the same with mosquitoes - I'm a walking buffet to them. No one else is bothered, and I'm wearing a living carpet of little flying vampires! Citronella and lavendar EO diluted half in a mist bottle. Saves my life every summer.

Back to fleas - some things off the top of my head - cedar chips, a tea of chrysanthemum flowers (not sprayed, chopped and put in warm water) to spray bedding and carpeting. Borax is supposedly good for ridding areas of fleas, but I have no experience with it.

I'm hoping someone with CATS will step up soon to give you guys better info than I have. I haven't had a cat in over 10 years...Jackie stole my :heartbeat

Sorry I can't be of more help -
Gren

Tbear, you can compost cat and dog droppings, but don't use that compost on anything edible like herbs or vegetables. Since cats and dogs eat meat based food, some stuff that's not good for humans can be passed through to the veggies through the compost. That's also why you don't compost meat scraps. Gerbils, hamsters, rabbits, etc. are herbavores, so their litter is safe to add to the compost.

Kate, you are a fount of knowledge! Thanks!! (((((Kate)))))))

:scared: Shhhh. Don't tell anyone...I'm supposed to be studying for midterms..........well if you could tell my profs I'm a fount of knowledge and thereby get me out of those essays, I'd appreciate it :lol: