The biggest challenge that I have seen to creating nontoxic spaces for not just cats, but animals in general, including humans, is that the chemicals and materials that are in the products we bring into our homes or hospitals are largely unknown to people outside of the fields of material or building science.Ryan Wakat
Associate AIA, Animal Arts Design Studios
Every year in the US, we send about 4 billion pounds of carpet to the landfill, which makes up 1% by weight and 2% by volume of all our trash. While it can be recycled in some places, more than 70% of the 3.4 million tons of new carpet produced each year ends up at the dump, according to the EPA.
So, can you recycle carpet-covered cat furniture like cat trees? Doubtful. And it turns out, breaking down the components of the carpeting, adhesives, and backing might not be so healthy either, as it can release the potentially harmful stuff underneath.
Toxicity and Health Effects
“The biggest challenge that I have seen to creating nontoxic spaces for not just cats, but animals in general, including humans, is that the chemicals and materials that are in the products we bring into our homes or hospitals are largely unknown to people outside of the fields of material or building science,” says Ryan Wakat, Associate AIA, a designer at Animal Arts Design Studios in Boulder, Colorado.
Animal Arts specializes in designing animal-friendly environments for veterinary clinics, daycare and boarding facilities, animal shelters, and assistance dog campuses.
Much of what we know about the long-term health effects of indoor pollution comes from research into human health. For example, it is known that plywood, particle board, carpets and carpet pads, paints, finishes, and adhesives are among the household components (also present in many cat trees) that emit chemical volatile organic compounds (VOCs).
Human health effects from VOCs can include rashes, headaches, eye irritation, chronic cough and sinus infections, joint and muscle pain, memory loss, irritability, fatigue, anxiety, depression, and allergies.
And since kitties aren’t only walking on the carpet, but clawing into the innards of the scratching post’s very soul to reveal the fibers, adhesives, and core elements underneath, isn’t it logical to assume that the outgassing of VOCs pose health risks for them too?
As with many products, consumers need to ask the right questions.
“A good rule of thumb is, if the material in question is safe for humans, it is likely safe for our furry friends,” Wakat says. “The biggest thing we can do, as consumers, is to demand transparency from product manufacturers with respect to the materials used in the products we buy.”
Read the full Trends article to see what the actual elements of a cat tree are, which companies are working to create more eco-friendly cat furniture, and how to upcycle that old cat tree.
Photo credit: Photo credits: ©AAHA/Alison Silverman, Rhoeo/iStock via Getty Images Plus
Disclaimer: The views expressed, and topics discussed, in any NEWStat column or article are intended to inform, educate, or entertain, and do not represent an official position by the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) or its Board of Directors.