Cats v. Dogs: Which Pet Is Greener?
Tallying your best friend's carbon pawprint.
back-of-the-napkin calculations based on a University of California-Berkeley study suggest that on average, feeding Fido creates 596 lbs of CO2 emissions a year, versus about 517 lbs for Fluffy's kibble. Size matters: According to a 2006 National Academies study, a Saint Bernard needs 12 times as much food as a cat, meaning greater energy use and more emissions; Chihuahuas are daintier eaters, and thus greener pets. A weekly 10-mile ride to the off-leash park produces about 400 lbs of carbon per year—the equivalent of feeding a whole extra cat. But (sorry, catbloggers) felines have flaws, too. They kill songbirds, and litter pellets, often made with strip-mined clay, add some 3.4 million tons of solid waste a year to US landfills. The biggest problem? Pet owners: We spend $1.8 billion each year on dog toys, often imported and/or made of plastic. Cats have to make do with $1 billion worth of catnip and rubber mice.
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Some studies indicate that houses with cats don't get mice 'cause of the cat smell, so deduct for mouse poisons.
I'm not going to feel guilty for having a pet. My carbon footprint is well below average and having a pet makes you healthier and more productive. What's next? No more showering in hot water?
Cats, smats! Dogs, smogs! Keep chickens! our chickens are free range. They eat lots of nasty bugs (less spraying). They fertilize our lawn (organically!). They lower our egg bill (to nothing!). We feed our whole tiny flock a coupe of cups of cracked corn a day--maybe 50 lbs every six weeks.
ps-my cats poop outside too...
I feel totally unguilty.
I don't think it's a matter of feeling guilty about owning pets. Of course, as a living creature, they are consumers of resources. But, individually, their consumption is tiny compared to humans. The key to keeping the planet healthy is the same with people as with other animals... population reduction. If people were to cut out puppy mills, set up a safe, effective and affordable regime for spaying and neutering, our 4-legged friends population would quickly be manageable and make for a healthier, happier and more sustainable population of cats and dogs. Meanwhile, reducing the human population should be priority number one. Unfortuately, people don't want to think about that. Barring a natural contraction of the human population (something horrendous like a deadly virus epidemic) our species is down the well without a rope.
That's only for us little people. The wealthy will still be allowed hot water.
Sorry, that was a response to the second poster. Not used to the way this is threaded!
I don't feel guilty about my pets either. I never had any kids, so how much CO2 did that save?
Many major first world countries are not producing humans at replacement rate, ie their population will go down as more people die than are born. But there is a population explosion in many repressive and/or third world countries. What's the difference? Empowering women. Women who are empowered and educated tend to delay child bearing and have fewer children and those children receive better nutrition and are more productive. Betcha never knew feminism was good for the environment!
Even worse - the mounds of pet carcasses in the landfills - the carcasses created when families are foreclosed and leave behind their pets; carcasses created when dog racing tracks get rid of the losers; carcasses created when dog-fighting rings dispose of the losers and baiters; carcasses created when college students return home for their holiday breaks and leave their pets behind. . .and the list goes on and on.
songbirds, cat litter and rubber toys....
I have three cats and have a grand suggestion for you all who wish to make your cat greener — keep her/him indoors or construct an outdoor area that keeps your pet contained. The killing of small wildlife (bats and other small mammals, amphibians and small reptiles) by your pets (dogs included) is a huge environmental problem and is completely preventable. The outcome here is the result of human-made choices.
Unfortunately, I have found discussing this topic very difficult with people who can not imagine keeping their cats from wandering the wilds. There are many other reasons for keeping pets under close supervision — it's just a matter of time before your cat meets another cat, dog or a wild animal (like a coyote or raccoon) and gets beat up or eaten, gets a disease like rabies, gets caught in a leg-hold trap, gets hit by a car or gets stolen or tortured.
With regard to the litter issue... "The World's Best Cat Litter" is a corn byproduct and is flushable. Now of course that still adds waste but it's a little better than clay ending up in landfills. And it's not dusty, therefore less damaging to lungs.
As for rubber toys... my felines make do with refillable catnip mice made out of fabric. And they've lasted for over a decade. A pet's best source of entertainment/enrichment could be his/her human guardian.
Show them the love because you are all they have.
Children not pets are the
Children not pets are the real problem. Anyone keeping children is selfish.
Dogs are a mans best friend
Dogs are rule.
cats have their own minds
Cats think and look after themselves, you need to look after dogs.
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