We’re celebrating pets everywhere this week at GreenCupboards with the Top 5 Eco-Friendly Must-Haves for pet care.  We know you love your furry friends and will do anything to keep them healthy and happy; that is why we came up with our top 5 products that we think every pet owner should have to keep your puppies and kitties looking and feeling their very best.  These products are for both dogs and cats,  with a toy for each and grooming supplies to make maintaining that purr-fect look easy.  The products below are not in any particular order.

First up for your puppie's playful needs: the Tux by West Paw Design

Benny (9 months, pug/poodle “pugapoo” mix—highly energetic, clever, and smart) loves this toy—it’s his favorite. Our tester broke a crunchy bone in half and stuffed it inside the Tux, and he worked on it for a half hour—completely engrossed. The Tux is more of a brainteaser for him than other toys like a chew bone or a squeaky toy, and since our tester works during the day she likes to give him things that make him get creative. She gave him the bone-stuffed Tux right when she got home from work and it gave her a chance to change and get ready for the evening walk without him jumping all over her.

Also, the Tux is extremely durable. This dog literally chews everything and destroys things left and right (rugs, carpet, shoes, clothes, couches, pillows, blankets, you name it) one time he was even caught chewing on the wall… His robin’s egg blue Tux shows no signs of wear and tear whatsoever even though he uses it daily and has had it for 6 months now. It’s taken him through his “chewing stage” and it still looks good. Also, the Tux is flexible, it bounces, and floats! It’s a heavy sucker if you pick it up to toss it, but Benny loves that too. The toy probably weighs 3 or 4 pounds, and he weighs 13, but still carries it around. He loves it when the toy is tossed in the backyard for him because (since it has 3 tennis ball-shaped edges) you never know which way it will bounce, which keeps it interesting. And when it gets dirty you can just toss it in the dishwasher—on the top shelf—genius!

Finally, our tester loved the Tux because she tries to keep her house as toxin-free and eco-friendly as possible. She doesn't use toxic flea medicine on Benny, only gives him natural/organic treats, and uses non-toxic made-for-dogs shampoo/conditioner/detangler. The Tux comes in 3 bright, vibrant colors yet is non-toxic (nor does any of its components contain any known sources of lead, cadmium, mercury, latex, natural rubber, phthalates, hormones, Bisphenol A, or asbestos), ultra-durable, and recyclable too!

Also, if your dog does somehow destroy his/her Tux West Paw Design will replace it for free!

(Tux Zogoflex Material Info and read other reviews on West Paw Design)

For the fun loving kitties in your life: Catnip-filled, recycled Flower or Fish Cat Toy

This organic catnip filled cat toy is a wonderful and happy toy for your indoor kitty.  We took four cats, 2 indoor and 2 outdoor to test the appeal of the all natural cat toy.  In our little group, the 2 indoor cats both loved their toys.  While one of the indoor cats loves all toys, the other is a little more picky with the toys he plays with, but he loved the West Paw Design cat toy.  He carried it all over the apartment and played with it contently throughout the day.

The two out door cats, however, decided that the lifeless toys were not as fun and exciting as the mice and other rodents they could chase freely.  Apparently, for outdoor cats who live on a farm, toys are only fun if they play back and while the West Paw Design toy was filled with delicious catnip it wasn't enough to entice the strictly outdoor loving cats.

These fun cat toys are made in the United States and very eco-friendly.  Created from environmentally friendly fabric made up of 85% re-engineered recycled IntelliLoft™ fibers and filled with energizing USDA certified Organic Catnip. You won't want these Eco Toys to swim away, so let your kitty pounce on these new toy designs that radiate fun, with bright colors and sewn-in jingling bells.

For the outdoors lovers: Natural and safe Bug Repellent

If you love to spend time out doors, have an indoor and/or outdoor dog or cat, or simply have a problem with your four legged friends attracting pesky critters then you need Shiny Paw Dog/Cat Bug Repellent. This bug repellent works on both dogs and cats.

Shiny Paw Dog/Cat Bug Repellent is an easy to use, natural alternative for pest control.  Shiny Paw works to repel flees, ticks, mosquitoes, and all sorts of other insects that torment our pets.  This is great for repelling bugs and keeping your pets from bringing those dangerous insects into your home.  Shiny Paw is very easy to use; simply spray on a freshly cleaned coat and your good to go.  The repellent lasts for up to 36 hours and can be reapplied as needed.  Shiny Paw is not just for your dogs and cats, but works great on horses too!

Shiny Pay Bug Repellent contains: Purified Water, Tea Tree, Rosemary, Sage, Cedar Wood, Peppermint, Orange, Eucalyptus, Citronella and Pine Oils.  This bug repellent is environmentally safe, 100% biodegradable, and packaged in #1 recyclable plastic.

A product for indoor and outdoor pets: Gentle and biodegradable Dander-Out

Earth Friendly Products' Dander-Out is a great product for those with pet dander allergies or just want to keep your pets a little bit cleaner. This product is a very effective spray by EFP in dissolving dander on pets. We have no idea how it gets rid of the dander, but it completely disappears. Our tester spritzed her dog all over and then brush him, taking special care to get his belly where most of the dander comes from. It’s easy to use, and she did notice a deodorizing effect, which is great between baths. It’s easy to hold in one hand and spritz the dog while holding onto their collar in the other. Also, the bottle doesn’t leak! It has a twist tip to turn it on/off and the liquid is clear and biodegradable.

The Dander-Out contains:  purified water, enzymes, ethanol (derived from corn), biodegradable surfactant (derived from coconut), and lemon oil.  This wonderful product helps remove dander and environmental impact.  Dander-Out is packaged in #1 recyclable plastic.

Last But Not Least: Hypo-allergenic and pH-balanced Dog/Cat Detangler

Some pets are easy to groom, but others, not so much.  One of our testers is not a fan of grooming her lovable dog, Cheyenne.  Cheyenne is a five year-old Golden Retriever, Australian Shepherd/Labrador mix which means her coat can be quite a nightmare.  Anyone with a dog or cat with a long thick coat can relate to the amount of effort it takes to brush and comb through all that fur.  The knots, sap, and debris that get caught make brushing difficult and sometimes painful for your pets.  Cheyenne loves to roam around on the farm, swim in the creak, and wrestle with the neighboring dogs.  All this fun and excitement leaves her coat a complete mess.

The True Blue Easy Comb Detangling Spray is a wonderful find.  Simply spray it on either damp or dry coats and comb.  You will glide through those knots and tangles with ease.  Makes grooming take a fraction of the time, is painless for your pets, and leaves your pets smelling fresh and clean.  True Blue us detergent-free, pet pH-balanced, hypo-allergenic, biodegradable, easy to rinse, cruelty-free, tear-free, and made in the U.S.A.  The ingredients in the True Blue detangler are: water, natural conditioners and detanglers derived from coconuts and plants, vitamin B5, Vitamin E, Jojoba, meadowfoam, Lavender, wheat protein, glycerin, horsetail extract, lemongrass, myrhh, chamomile, green tea, organic aloe vera, citric acid, fragrance (essential oil blend), natural preservatives.  True Blue is packaged in #2 recyclable plastics.

Now help GreenCupboards celebrate pet week and go spend quality time playing, grooming, and loving your lovable and adorable pets!