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THINK SMART Helpful tips for your everyday life

GreenSmart	NATALIE E. RUSSELL

Cats can be eco, too

We want only the best for our cats (and our households). Caring for them with green products is good for the planet, pets and people. Here, certified feline specialist Drew Weigner shares some easy tips:

Clay-free kitty litter. Clay is stripmined (bad for the planet) and emits dust (bad for lungs). Eco-friendly litters typically are made of paper, corn, wood or other biodegradable, hypoallergenic materials.

Biodegradable litter bags. If you put biodegradable kitty litter in a plastic bag, it won't decompose as it should. Use bags made of compostable materials, such as the BioBag, which is made from corn.

Fume-free flea control. Flea bombs contain chemicals that, when trapped in your home, you breathe in. Use an oral product containing non-pesticide growth regulators (such as Program Flavor Tabs, with lufenuron). After the fleas bite Fluffy, any eggs they lay can't hatch.

Birth control. Neutering decreases the incidence of some diseases. It also decreases the number of stray cats (and fights) and increases the number of wild birds.