Explained: The Environmental Impact Of Pet Ownership
While all cat and dog owners know the financial and time costs of caring for a pet, many do not know about or consider the environmental costs. As almost one-third of all households on Earth own at least one dog and nearly one-fourth of all households own at least one cat, the environmental effects of these pets have become incredibly significant and impactful globally. Specifically, an average-sized cat produces around 310 kilograms of carbon dioxide annually, while an average-sized dog produces 770 kilograms.
One impactful factor of this phenomenon is pet food production. As pets often depend on other animals’ protein as food to survive, producing pet food requires farming animals like cattle and poultry. This production adds up; in America, the production of dog and cat food leads to around 390 kilograms of climate pollution annually per animal, a number that is worsened by many pet food companies neglecting sustainable pet food ingredient sourcing.
Beyond production, the overall consumption of pet food contributes to climate pollution. In fact, one quarter of the environmental impacts of U.S. meat production are tied to pet food, taking into account the use of land, water, phosphates, pesticides, and fossil fuels, according to UCLA geographer Gregory Okin. While some cat owners have tried to opt for a vegan diet, Alexandra Whittaker, an associate Professor at the School of Animal and Veterinary Science at the University of Adelaide, stated, “One challenge that isn’t really addressed in this paper is how a vegan cat diet should be safely put together. Previous studies have shown cats on vegan diets to have severe deficiency disorders affecting the muscles.”
The environmental effects of pets are also exacerbated by the lack of conscious decision-making from pet owners. For instance, many owners do not think twice about purchasing from breeders, as they do not consider how this contributes to overpopulation and can increase the impact of pet food production or animal care costs in animal shelters. Similarly, many of the pet toys that owners purchase are made with toxic dyes, and the pet waste that owners do not pick up can spread deadly parasites to wildlife.
Fortunately, there are various things you can do to mitigate these negative environmental effects. Owners could opt for sustainable food alternatives, such as pet food brands certified by the Aquaculture Stewardship Council or the Marine Stewardship Council, which indicate that the protein in this food is caught legally and produced responsibly, or insect-based food, which has a smaller carbon footprint. Pet owners should also manage waste responsibly to avoid spreading toxins to wildlife and to reduce plastic pollution by decreasing the number of unnecessary purchases. With these measures, pet owners can significantly reduce the carbon footprint of their pets.
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