June 22nd is National Bring your Cat to Work Day, but with most of the nation working from home due to COVID-19 restrictions, we know that for many of you, every day has become  bring your cat to work day. We wanted to learn more about what you are doing to co-exist with your new feline coworkers, so we asked and you answered through comments on ökocat’s Facebook and Instagram pages. Here are the three main things we learned from you: 1. You are happy to let your cat crash your party. While working from home is not ideal, there are a few major perks, including hitting snooze a few extra times, skipping your morning commute, and especially enjoying time with your four-legged friends. Our new furry coworkers do require a little more attention than your typical office-mates though. It can be a bit distracting when your kitties are constantly finding new places to sleep, trying to distract you, and staring you down as you work. However, because you love them, you let them crash the party anyways.   In fact, Facebook user Lorri tells us, “Sometimes I work on the couch […] Bella wants to make sure I don't forget to pay attention to her. She will just lay on my papers, and how can I disturb her?” (via Facebook) Jennifer spoils her sweet cat Lily, “Lily loves my keyboard and my memory foam mouse pad. I had to get a new mouse pad and give her the memory foam one. ” (via Facebook) Michelle makes new exceptions for her cat Kara, “Since working from home, Kara has been quite needy and constantly wants attention, I decided to work outdoors to get some fresh air and even though she’s strictly an indoor cat, I let her hang out with me to get some sun!” (via Facebook) Kristin reminisced about working from home with her late cat named Josie, “My two current cats prefer to stay in my bed all day. But my sweet Josie girl always sat on my fabric when I had orders from customers. Whenever I was working she had to be in the middle of it.” (via Facebook) 2. You keep the treats and toys handy. As you and your kitty settle into a routine of what it looks like to work from home, it’s important to establish healthy boundaries to make sure your cat gets the attention they need, while still staying productive yourself. Convincing your cat that they don’t always need constant attention when they are convinced they deserve it can be tricky. However, a great way to help both of you stay sane is by providing lots of treats, toys and other distractions to keep your four-legged friend entertained while allowing you to stay focused. Instagram user Jelli tells us that her cat loves to join in on Zoom calls and check out the computer, so she just “sets up his own monitor so he can watch YouTube, along with a bed so he can sleep near me while I work.” (via Instagram) Elizabeth’s cats, Sobics and Littleman, each have different requirements, but she is more than happy to make sure they both get exactly what they need so she can get her work done. “Sobics requires one cat treat to get off my mouse. I now keep treats in my desk drawer. And for Littleman, I keep toys around so when he gets in the window and squawks loudly at the birds on the power lines, I can easily get his attention and get him OUT OF MY OFFICE.” (via Facebook) Jennifer advised that in addition to having appropriate cat distractions available, it’s important to “keep desk drawers closed lest your feline office mate steal all the pens, paper clips, etc.” (via Instagram) 3. You set up a separate place from them to sleep. Maybe your cat isn’t attention hungry, but prefers a nice long snooze on your keyboard, your mouse, your chair or any other inconvenient location. Simply set up a cat-friendly place for your sweet kitty to be nearby, but not in the way of your workplace. Dianne told us, “My coworkers (cats) love my keyboard, so instead of having them occupying it, I put a box near my set up to distract them.” (via Facebook) Elizabeth made the decision to, “put a hammock in the office to entice Sir Poogie Woogie of the Pudding Bears to stop walking & sitting on the keyboard.” (via Facebook) Working from home means needing to keep the litter box clean. Working from home also means it’s even more of a necessity to keep the litter box clean and free of odors. No one wants to deal with litter box smells in their home while working. The best way to assure no ammonia odor and easy, fast cleanup is by using ökocat® natural wood litter. Because ökocat is a healthier, cleaner litter with no artificial fragrances or synthetic chemicals, you and your cat don’t have to breathe in dirty, heavily scented clay litter or obnoxious odors. ökocat is 99% dust free making it the better choice for you and your cat as you spend more time at home together. Make the switch to a healthier clean™ and choose ökocat. - - - - - - From spoiling your kitty with treats to providing the perfect spot for them to sleep, we know how much you love your fur baby, so we hope you enjoy a little extra time spent with them on National Bring Your Cat to Work Day!  

We recently ran a giveaway in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. We wanted to help by sending 20 people in need of okocat litter a coupon for a free box of ökocat. However, due to the high amount of responses, we were able to send out 100 coupons for a free box of ökocat across the US and Canada! Here are just a few of the many cat parents that received a free box of litter, our hearts were warmed by their stories and what they are doing to care for and love on their kitties.  “I have 2 babies. One is 4 and he’s blind since birth and one is 8 months and super active. They’re amazing together and are so happy since I have been laid off and the kids home from school. We get to spend so much more time with them! They are my everything and as important my own children. It’s been harder to afford things since losing my job, a free box for my babies would be amazing!” — Stacy, New York “I have worked with rescue for 16+ years. Recently had some health issues and had to stop volunteering at the shelter. I recently lost my 16-year-old beloved kitty from cancer. Just 7 months prior I lost my 12-year-old kitty also from cancer. Both were rescue cats. I have just adopted two young kitties who were born into a feral family. They are doing pretty good still have their jumpy isues. They are sweet and getting better every day. I have attached a picture of my orange girl Charlie and my multi-color long hair kitty Dorie.” — Sandy, Michigan “This is Grace. She was born to a feral Momma cat in my uncle’s backyard. She was one of three in the litter. She saved me. I had recently lost my fur baby who was over 16 years old. (Sadie) She was a special needs kitty and I was heart-broken without her. When I found Grace she was so small she could fit in the palm of my hand. Now she’s 4 years old and loves her life. I’ve used ökocat litter for many years and wouldn’t settle for anything less for my fur babies.” — Lisa, New Jersey “We run a kitty rescue shelter. We have taken in abused, orphaned, abandoned and feral kitties, along with some kitties from a high-kill shelter that were deemed by them as "unadoptable". We give them safety, love, full bellies and warm snuggles. We currently have 19 in our care, and all are loved and snuggled all day. Our business is based at home, but since it is art, our sales are slow and our gallery is closed. Keeping our supply of litter is very important.” — Joy, Washington “During this time of stay at home orders, in addition to my own three cats, I have taken to fostering a lovely momma cat and her four babies, and tomorrow two additional, bottle fed, kittens will be delivered to me for care and fostering.” — Dorothy, Virginia We are dedicated to helping cats in need, that's why we launched out okocause4paws program in 2018 which has donated over 10,000 pounds of ökocat natural litter to chosen shelters in eco-friendly cities across the United States, as voted on by our ökofans.Learn more about okocause4paws today!

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!