处理猫砂最环保的方法是什么?

处理猫砂最环保的方法是什么?

There are multiple green and eco-friendly ways to dispose of cat litter, each with its own advantages and disadvantages. Because of the wide variety of cat litters, the different wastewater treatment and sewer systems in each municipality, and the difficulty in composting cat waste, there isn’t one solution that will work for everyone.

有多种绿色环保的方式来处理猫砂，每一种都有其优点和缺点。由于猫粪种类繁多，每个城市的废水处理和下水道系统各不相同，以及对猫粪进行堆肥的难度，因此并没有一种适用于所有人的解决方案。

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You’ll first need to research what kind of litter will work best for you and your fluffy friend. Litter these days is made out of a wide range of materials, from potentially toxic to all-natural materials. You’ll then have to decide how you want to dispose of the litter. (Flushing it down your toilet is not a safe or responsible option.)

首先，你需要研究什么样的猫砂最适合你和你毛茸茸的朋友。如今猫砂由各种各样的材料制成，从潜在的有毒材料到纯天然材料。然后你要决定如何处理这些猫砂。(把它冲进马桶不是一个安全或负责任的选择。)

Cat waste is different from dog waste. If not properly disposed of, cat waste has the potential to be hazardous to your health and the environment. Being a green pet owner isn’t always easy, but it’s important to be aware of every option and purchase in order to make the most sustainable decision.

猫的粪便不同于狗的粪便。如果不妥善处理，猫的排泄物有可能对你的健康和环境造成危害。成为一个绿色宠物的主人并不容易，但是为了做出最可持续的决定，了解每一个选择和购买是很重要的。

Biodegradable Litter

可降解垃圾

Choose a kitty litter made of natural materials. Look for ingredients such as recycled compressed paper, wood shavings, corn, grass seed, pine, wheat, and sawdust. Most biodegradable cat litters are made of various plant-based products and can be more expensive than grocery store litter. Keep in mind that many of those mainstream cat litters contain silica dust, which can cause upper respiratory infections in both cats and humans. Also, avoid litters that contain sodium bentonite (clay) or fragrances. These materials are harmful to both cats and the environment, due to their extraction methods and use of chemicals.

选择由天然材料制成的猫砂。寻找材料，如回收的压缩纸，木屑，玉米，草籽，松树，小麦和锯末。大多数可生物降解的猫砂是由各种植物制品制成的，比杂货店的猫砂还要贵。请记住，许多主流猫窝都含有二氧化硅粉尘，会导致猫和人上呼吸道感染。同时，避免含有钠膨润土(粘土)或香料的猫砂。这些物质对猫和环境都是有害的，因为它们的提取方法和化学物质的使用。

Biodegradable Bags

可降解塑料袋

The easiest and most common method to dispose of cat waste is to scoop it out of the box, tightly seal it in a bag, and toss it in the trash. A biodegradable bag designed for cat litter may seem like a great option. However, these kinds of bags, allegedly designed to compost more quickly, have very mixed results.

处理猫粪最简单、最常见的方法是从盒子里舀出来，紧紧地封在袋子里，然后扔进垃圾桶。为猫砂设计的可生物降解袋似乎是个不错的选择。然而，这些据称是为了更快地堆肥而设计的袋子，却产生了非常复杂的结果。

If you must contain the waste in a bag before you add it to your trash bin, opt to use a brown paper bag. These take less time to break down than a plastic bag or even current biodegradable bags on the market.

如果你必须把猫砂装在袋子里，然后才把它放进垃圾桶，选择用棕色纸袋。这比一个塑料袋或市场上目前的可生物降解的塑料袋需要更少的时间来分解。

Why You Shouldn’t Flush Cat Litter

为什么你不应该冲走猫砂

Flushing cat litter and waste down the toilet is risky and potentially harmful to the environment. For starters, cat waste can clog your pipes, contaminate drinking water, and hurt ecosystems. Even if it’s advertised as “flushable litter,” it might not be safe for your pipe system. Some litters aren’t designed for septic systems, let alone the fact that many septic systems can’t break down certain materials like cat waste, no matter what litter you use.

把猫砂和排泄物冲进厕所是有风险的，而且可能对环境有害。首先，猫的粪便会堵塞管道，污染饮用水，破坏生态系统。即使它被宣传为“可冲洗垃圾”，它可能对你的管道系统不安全。有些猫砂不是为化粪池系统设计的，更不用说许多化粪池系统不能分解某些物质，比如猫的粪便，无论你使用的是什么猫砂。

How to Safely Compost Cat Litter

如何安全地堆肥猫砂

Some cat people claim composting cat poop is possible, but this can also be dangerous to human health and the environment. If you plan on using compost on or near any edible gardens, avoid using any pet waste. Compost made of pet waste is to be used only on lawns or non-edible crops (like a rose garden or perennials).

一些养猫的人声称将猫的粪便制成堆肥是可行的，但这也可能对人类健康和环境造成危害。如果你打算在任何可食用的花园上或附近使用堆肥，避免使用任何宠物猫砂。由宠物粪便制成的堆肥只能用于草坪或不可食用的作物(如玫瑰园或多年生植物)。

Cat Diet and Sustainable Litter Boxes

猫粮和可持续的猫砂盒

Most cat litter boxes are made from plastic, which is a fossil fuel byproduct that Treehugger highly discourages purchasing brand new. Consider upcycling a plastic tub that would otherwise get tossed in the trash, or pick one up at your local thrift store. If you want to make an investment in a long-lasting option that won’t absorb odors, consider a (used) stainless steel steam pan.

大多数猫砂盒都是用塑料做的，而塑料是化石燃料的副产品，“抱树者”强烈反对购买全新的。考虑升级一个塑料浴缸，否则就会被扔进垃圾桶，或者在当地的旧货店买一个。如果你想在一个不吸收异味的长期选择上投资，考虑一个(用过的)不锈钢蒸汽锅。

While it’s true that our pets’ environmental footprint is bigger than we’d like to think, researching every option and making informed purchasing decisions will help you and your Fluffy live a more sustainable life.

虽然宠物对环境的影响比我们想象的要大得多，但研究每一个选择，做出明智的购买决定，将有助于你和你的宠物过上更可持续的生活。