Are you thinking of getting a rabbit, but concerned about litter training? Wonder can it really be done? The short answer is yes, it can! All it takes is a little consistency and planning. It can be very difficult to change a rabbit’s habits once established, so it is very important to focus on litter training them from the start, before they get used to going anywhere they choose. However, older rabbits are easier to train than younger rabbits, especially babies. You just need to stick with it until they learn. First, choose a convenient litter location. Bunnies naturally will tend to pick a corner (or two) when they need to go. Start by putting them in an enclosed area with the corner you will want to keep their litter box. If it is in a laundry room or bathroom, be sure to have a mat or rug down so the bunny can lay down comfortably. You will want to keep your bunny in this area in order to get them acquainted with and consistently going in their litter box. Keep in mind that rabbit urine does have a very strong odor and they like to spend a lot of time in their litter boxes. Second, choose and prepare a litter box.  The litter box you choose for your rabbit should be a rectangular shape that your rabbit can comfortably complete a 360 degree turn. If you choose to use a covered box, it can help keep the urine and litter contained. Then line the litter box with newspaper or a paper grocery bag, this will help for an easier clean up. Then add a layer of an ultra-absorbent paper litter, such as carefresh paper bedding or carefresh Rabbit & Ferret Litter. Do not use softwoods like pine or cedar shavings or clumping litters. Rabbits do like to nibble on some of the litter and these may cause liver damage or digestive and respiratory problems. Always be sure to monitor them closely after changing to a new bedding or litter.  carefresh clean white paper pellets are super absorbent and control odors to keep their home clean and fresh longer and reduce the time spent cleaning up after them.  carefresh paper bedding makes a great warm and cozy nesting material for baby rabbits. To dispose soiled litter, carefresh can be used as mulch or composted and rabbit pills can even be applied to plants as a great fertilizer! You may also want to include some yummy hay on top of the litter as rabbits like to graze while they go, plus, this helps to keep their digestive track moving. Third, introduce your bunny to their new litter area. Initially you should be in the room while your rabbit is first learning to use the box, so whenever they leave droppings outside of the box, immediately put the bunny and droppings into the box. When they urinate, wipe it up with a paper towel and then put both the rabbit and the soiled paper towel in the litter box, this will help them as they begin learn where they should go. (You will also want to clean and deodorize the area they urinated at, please be sure to use a pet-friendly cleaning solution). Once your rabbit is in the litter box, encourage them with words of praise. Continue doing this until you feel the bunny is consistently going in the litter box, this could take anywhere from a few days to two weeks. Finally, give your rabbit more space to roam. Once you are confident your bunny is going in their litter box, give them a little more space to explore. You can even repeat step three in a few different rooms, and you may want to have a few extra litter box locations for your bunny to go. If your rabbit has any accidents, be sure to just put them and their droppings or urine in the box and clean and disinfect the area they originally went. Once in the box, praise them again. It is helpful to take them to the box every ten minutes or so and encourage them to go with a treat to hand out if they do. It takes a little bit of consistency and patience, but follow these simple steps and you will have a litter- trained rabbit in no time. For more helpful information and details on litter training your rabbit, please visit the House Rabbit Society website.

As a cat parent, not only do you want the best for your cat, but you also want to use a litter that works well, and if we are being honest, one that doesn’t make your house smell like a cat lives there. The most commonly used type of litter is clay litter, but did you know that there are more than five billion pounds of strip-mined clay annually? …..That most clay litter eventually ends up in landfills and never breaks down? …..That most clay litter contains HARMFUL chemicals, SYNTHETIC fragrances and lots of dirty clay dust? These start in the litter box and in the air, but then can also end up stuck on your cat’s paws and even ingested or tracked around your house. Make the change to a cleaner, healthier litter. Using a natural litter like ökocat® empowers you to make a cleaner, healthier choice for your cat, your family and your home. Plus, it’s better for our planet too since ökocat® is a premium natural litter made entirely from sustainably sourced, natural plant fiber, making it an eco-friendly choice.  It offers the brilliance of European engineering for a better litter with next generation performance that leaves old school clay and chemicals in the dust.   Three benefits of using ökocat natural litter:  ökocat stops odor before it starts without added fragrance  Wood fiber naturally stops the creation of ammonia odors with NO artificial fragrances, NO synthetic chemicals, NO toxic dyes, and NO GMOs.   ökocat clumps solid and it’s biodegradable & flushable*  Natural fiber quickly absorbs liquid on contact to form solid clumps for easy scooping and cleaning. Because it’s made from sustainably sourced, responsibly rescued natural plant fiber, it can be safely returned to the earth. Just scoop and flush one clump at a time, compost it, or dispose in a biodegradable bag. ökocat is 99% dust-free. No dirty clay dust! Clean natural fiber is screened and de-dusted for a cleaner pour. No more dirty, harmful clay dust in the air or on the floor, furniture or on your cat’s paws.   ökocat litter is available in a perfect variety for any cat or home.   ökocat original litter is relentless at controlling odor, while offering a pleasant, playful texture that's easy on paws, and provides a fresh natural scent reminiscent of the great outdoors. This is our most popular and widely-used variety of litter. ökocat super soft litter is perfect for cats with sensitive paws or even kittens. Its super soft texture is similar to clay, so transitioning your cat to a cleaner and healthier natural choice is a snap. ökocat less mess is made from soft, mini-pellets that are easy on paws, and less likely to stick to your cats' fur, or track through the house like finer litters. ökocat also offers a non-clumping dust-free paper litter created for cats with respiratory ailments, or people with allergies. This litter is made from clean, white paper pulp, not recycled newsprint, so it contains NO inks, dyes or added scents.  Make the switch to a superior, natural litter that is cleaner and healthier for your cat, your family, and your home and better for our planet too!    

It’s that time of year where flowers bloom, birds start chirping and we start looking forward to spending more time outdoors. Unfortunately, the country is currently facing a time of isolation due to COVID-19, which is causing us to spend even more time at home. We may not be happy about it, but think about all of the happy cats!Now that you find yourself with more time at home and less to do, are you thinking about doing some deep spring cleaning to pass the time? You may be catching up on laundry and cleaning out closets, but don’t forget your cat! Now is a great time to find all of those missing cat toys, improve your cat’s litter box area or clean up that lingering cat hair — don’t worry, we all have it!   Toys — where did they all go?!: We all love spoiling our kitties with toys they can catch and chase, but as you probably know, those toys can easily go missing. Make your cat’s day and consider taking the time to find all of the hair ties, springs and catnip filled toys that have fallen victim and gone missing under the couch, refrigerator or stove. If you need help reaching those toys in hard to reach places, a broom can help extend your reach! After you’ve completed your search, place all of the toys in one area and make it a mission to collect all of the newly missing ones each week. Your cat will be happy because he’ll always have something to play with, and you’ll be happy because you won’t have to keep buying more toys when the others go missing. If you want to take it one step further, thoroughly inspect each toy as you find them. Is it broken or dirty? If so, then take the time to fix, clean or toss them in the trash, if necessary. When cleaning cat toys, we recommend using a vinegar and water solution. If a particular toy is still in good condition but your cat doesn’t use it, consider donating to your local shelter. Litter — is it time for a switch? Giving your cat’s litter box area a deep cleaning isn’t always fun, but you’ll feel so much better once it’s done. Start by removing all litter boxes from the area and grab your trusty hand vacuum (or an old fashion broom and dust pan works too!) and sweep up any remaining litter pieces. If your litter boxes are on tile, vinyl or hardwoods go the extra step and wipe down the area with a floor-safe disinfectant spray or wipe.While your litter boxes are out of the area, now is a great time to completely empty all remaining litter and fill the empty boxes with ökocat. ökocat is the perfect choice if you’re looking for a cleaner, healthier cat litter for your home. One of the best parts? It can last up to 7 weeks with regular scooping, so you won’t have to deep clean as often. In addition to being a cleaner, healthier cat litter option, also includes key benefits found most important to cat owners when choosing a litter: Stops odor before it starts: Wood fiber naturally prevents enzymes from bonding with liquid and waste to stop the creation of ammonia. Clumps solid for easy cleaning: Precision-cut fiber absorbs liquid on contact to form solid clumps for easy scooping and cleaning. 99% dust free for a healthy home: Clean wood fiber is screened & de-dusted for a cleaner pour. No dirty clay dust. NO artificial fragrance, NO synthetic chemicals, NO toxic dyes, NO GMO’s 100% sustainably sourced, responsibly rescued Biodegradable & Flushable for fast, easy clean-up or can even be composted Naturally lightweight for easy carrying and pouring Doesn’t attract bugs like some food based litters Cat Hair — we all have it!: You know what warmer weather brings? More shedding… 🙀 All of us cat owners struggle with keeping up with the cat hair that floats around our houses. You’re not alone! Take this time to catch up on cat hair removal. This could mean giving your couch a thorough vacuuming, replacing the air filter in your furnace or finally taking the time to move that piece of furniture that’s typically hard to sweep underneath and/or behind. To stay ahead of the cat hair, you can also help your cat by brushing them often with a deshedding tool, which means less hair floating around your house. You’ll be surprised by how much hair it gets, and your cat might enjoy it, too! Another thing you can do to help your cat continue to live its best life as the weather warms up is to start treating for fleas and ticks early, especially if they go outdoors. Set up a time to meet with your vet to make sure you have everything needed to keep your cat and home pest free. As we try to enjoy spring and make the most of our increased time at home, we encourage you to take the time to make cleaner, healthier choices for your cat, your family and your home. Let us know other unique ways you’re making your cat’s life easier and cleaner if there’s something we didn’t cover!

As cat parents we love our kitties and we want to make the best choices to make sure our fur babies live their best life. Read on to discover three easy tips to make your cat’s life better. When caring for your cat and looking to improve their life and yours, it can be easy to overlook the importance of the type of litter you choose and proper litter box care.  Tip 1: Don't Forget the Litter Box Traditionally, clay litter is most common, which clumps firm and absorbs well. However, clay lacks many of the benefits provided by natural, plant-based litters. For example, clay litters are often dusty and loaded with synthetic fragrances, GMOs and toxic chemicals that are not healthy for you or your cat.  Switching to plant-based ökocat means your litter will naturally stop odors and clump solid for easy clean scooping without airborne dust, harmful chemicals, artificial fragrance or toxic dyes. ökocat is not only better for your cat and your home, it’s also better for the planet because it is sustainably sourced from upcycled wood and paper and biodegradable, so whatever you don’t use can be returned to the Earth. Fill your cat’s litter box with ökocat and you can trust that is truly the cleaner, healthier option for your cat, your home and the planet. Ready to make the switch? Here are 3 easy steps to follow when transitioning your cat: Fill half of the litter box with ökocat and top off with your current litter. Your cat will mix the litters as they are used. When it's time to clean the box entirely, use more ökocat and less of your current litter on top. When your cat is comfortable with the change, fill entirely with ökocat. When caring for your litter box, we recommend scooping daily and cleaning your litter box regularly with mild soap and warm water. Here’s a quick tutorial on how to use ökocat litter:   Tip 2: Keep Your Cat Enriched and Entertained A bored cat can be a destructive cat, which can be very frustrating and damaging to your house. It’s important to keep your cat active and entertained and  less likely to scratch furniture. Natural cat toys, growing your own cat grass, and cat scratchers are all great choices. Here are a few options that you can find on Amazon: Natural cat toys Cat grass planter Cat Scratcher   Empty boxes, wrapping paper and yarn often make the best toys for your kitty and you can feel good knowing you’re doing your part to help reuse and recycle. Just make sure there are no small, loose pieces they can chew off and swallow. Tip 3: Always Consider Your Cat's Safety Another way to make sure your cat has a better life, is to think about how you can keep them safe, away from other harmful animals or other possible dangers. This usually means keeping them indoors but there are also ways they can safely enjoy the outdoors too. One way for them to go outdoors safely is on a leash. Start slowly by putting a harness and leash on indoors and practice walking with them. Once they seem comfortable, try taking them outside for a short time and then gradually longer. A screened catio is another great way for them to enjoy the outdoors safely. However, if your cat goes outside often microchipping is important so others can easily discover your cat’s information if they are lost. Additionally, breakaway collars will keep them safe if their collar gets caught on something.  There are many ways to make a cat’s life better and give you peace of mind as a cat parent from making sure the type of litter you choose is clean and healthy and proper litter box care, to keeping your cat entertained with appropriate toys and scratchers, and making sure they stay safe no matter where they roam.

Mick Szydlowski, cat parent of Klaus and Juno, talks about going green for his two famous cats, including their food and litter. It's easier than you think!