It’s been a long while since I’ve featured a product for pets, and when I saw this one, I knew it was time. The Litter Robot is precisely what it sounds like: It is a contraption that automatically separates messes from kitty litter so you never again have to scoop cat poop manually.

Now, I am not a cat owner, and although I’m actually really fond of cats, my dislike for the litter box might stop me from ever owning one. I have lived with a cat, and although I had no problem feeding her and even rubbing her down for “baths,” I HATED clearing the litter box. It was always a stomach-churning task for me, and I generally have a pretty strong stomach.

So for people like me, the litter robot seems like a godsend. A few minutes after a cat exits the unit, it automatically sifts the litter, extracting clumps of poop and depositing them in a bag-lined compartment underneath. So all you have to do is remove and throw away the bag.

What’s so green about this, you ask? Well, it is  reasonably green in that it is made in the U.S., and the eco version is made of 100% recycled plastic. But whether it’s necessary is certainly up for debate. Some people would say it’s an extravagance. I can imagine a few cat owners would see it as the best idea ever.

Either way, the thing is ugly. So…the ingenious folks over at Automated Pet Care Products Inc. also created a cabinet to fit over the unit and cover most of it. I’m not sure whether the box is made of reclaimed or sustainably harvested wood. And even with the cabinet, the robot is still pretty large and noticeable. BUT, I’d venture to say that’s a small price to pay if you never have to scoop the litter box again.

What do you think? Considering both form AND function, is this thing drab or fab? And is it green enough?

Why It’s Green:

• Made in the U.S. of recycled plastic

Price: Eco Litter Robot, $329; Cabinet, $119-179

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I learned about Molly Mutt and their innovative product months ago when I was living in Tennessee and I thought it was a great idea, but I didn’t have a dog. When my family and I moved back to Georgia, we moved to my mother’s home, and she does have a fine four-legged friend, her beagle, Candi.

I love dogs as much as the next treehugger, but Candi is a shedder. She leaves a wake of fine white hairs everywhere she goes, no matter how often she is brushed or bathed. So keeping her bed clean (not to mention any other room in the house where she is allowed to roam) is more than a little bit challenging. She has been through at least a dozen pillows, blankets and beds in the past two years or so. Between the red Georgia clay that seems magnetically attracted to her paws and fur and the hair that winds up everywhere, after a while, they just weren’t salvageable.

This is why I immediately loved the idea of Molly Mutt. The company makes dog bed duvet covers. On the surface, this may not seem very innovative, but in practice, it’s awesome! The duvets are designed to be stuffed with whatever you have on hand, from old pillows and blankets to clothing too dingy to donate to Goodwill.

For us, that meant a stained, but cushy old blanket that had once lived inside Candi’s kennel and a couple of old pillows that would have made their way to the local shelter if we hadn’t found another use for them. My daughter and I folded them and put them inside the mesh stuff sack that Molly Mutt sent to us. We then put then entire stuff sack inside the beautiful, medium-sized Bird on a Wire duvet cover we received. The whole process took maybe 2-3 minutes.

Candi had been sleeping on a thin, years-old baby blanket, and I’m pretty sure it wasn’t keeping her very comfortable inside her kennel. Now, she hardly ever wants to come out! I’m not overexaggerating. Before we got the Molly Mutt bed, she’d be barking to come out of her kennel first thing in the morning. Now, she’s content to sit in there all morning, or at least until she gets hungry. Candi is still shedding a lot, of course, but I take great solace in the idea that we can remove the components of the bed and wash them all separately instead of trying to find a laundromat that has a washer big enough to fit a whole bed.

If I had one criticism, it is that the fabric used for the duvet is thick, sturdy cotton canvas, but it’s not organic. If the duvets could be made of organic cotton, hemp, jute or some other sustainable fabric, this would be a perfect green product! Still, I love it, and I love the idea that we were able to fill the duvet with whatever we had laying around and still managed to give Candi a comfortable bed that she loves as much as we do!

And to top it off, they are absolutely beautiful! I love the graphic, designer prints that are available. Candi sleeps in the laundry room, but if your dog sleeps in full view of the rest of the house, this a great option that you won’t want to hide from your guests!

Why It’s Green:

• Reduces waste by allowing you to create a bed by filling the duvet with old blankets, pillows, clothing, an existing dog bed, etc. instead of replacing your bed

Price: $20-40, depending on size. Stuff sack sold separately for $10-15. Available in small, medium & large. Scroll down for a coupon code.

Want to Win One?

Molly Mundt, the creator of Molly Mutt (yes, that’s really her name), generously offered a doggie duvet and stuff sack to one lucky reader in the size and style of your choosing! So how do you win? Visit Molly Mutt’s website, then come back here and leave a comment telling me which size and style you would pick if you won. Do this by 11:59 p.m. EST on Tuesday, July 21, 2009, to enter.

Want to enter more than once? Boost your chances of winning by completing one or more of the tasks on this list. You MUST complete the main entry method above before any of these extra entires will be counted. Please leave a separate comment for each entry:

1. If you haven’t already, sign up for Green Your Decor’s email updates by 11:59 p.m. EST on Tuesday, July 21, 2009. You must verify your email subscription to be eligible. After you sign up, FeedBurner will send you a verification email. Leave a comment letting me know that you subscribed. If you are a current email subscriber and want to be entered, please leave a comment saying that you are current subscriber and interested in this giveaway.
2. If you’d prefer to receive your updates via RSS, sign up for the GYD feed. Then please leave a comment letting me know that you’ve done so, and be sure to include your email address. RSS subscribers are anonymous otherwise.
3. Become a fan of Green Your Decor AND Molly Mutt on Facebook. Leave a comment on the GYD Facebook wall that mentions both Green Your Decor and Molly Mutt. For example, “I love Green Your Decor and Molly Mutt!” Then leave a comment here letting me know you did so.
4. Follow Green Your Decor on Twitter. Then tweet about GYD or this giveaway and leave a comment with a link to your tweet.
5. Fave Green Your Decor on Technorati. Then come back here and leave a comment with your Technorati user name so I can verify it.

You have until 11:59 p.m. on Tuesday, July 21, 2009, to enter. U.S. mailing addresses only! A winner will be chosen via Random.org and contacted via email. Good luck everyone!

BONUS!

Molly Mutt has offered a discount exclusively for the readers of Green Your Decor. Use coupon code “greenyourdecor” and get 10% off your order! Exp. 8/14/09.

(review)

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It’s been a while since I’ve shown our fine furry friends some love here at Green Your Decor. But when I stumbled across these doghouses while looking for something else, I just knew it would be a great solution one (or several) of the eco-savvy animal lovers who follow this blog.I don’t have a dog, but there is one in our household, and I know how much she hates to be left outside in the Georgia summer sun. The back of the house doesn’t offer a whole lot of shade, so she comes scratching at the door whenever it gets a little hot. I’m sure she’d appreciate a little sunctuary in the form of these doghouses.

They are made of a material called eCo-Flex, which is made from 100% post consumer recycled materials. The doghouse is available in a Bunkhouse style, which I’m personally partial to, along with a simple lodge style. Both styles also come in a couple of sizes, so you can make sure it will work for your pet, whether he’s big or small.

If you’re like me, you’re probably worried about how much it will cost to ship something so large. Thankfully, seller Stacks & Stacks is offering free shipping on both models.

Why It’s Green:

• Made of eCo-Flex, which is made from 100% post consumer recycled plastic and wood waste
• Made in Canada

Price: Bunkhouse, $189-299; Lodge Style, $215-269 (aff)

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If you’ve lived in as many small spaces as I have, you’re always looking for ways to save floor space. The oldest trick in the designer’s book for small spaces is to use vertical space and elements as much as possible to fool the eye into thinking the room is larger than it is. It is also practical, as it gives you more room to move around. Even if you’re not lacking space, any pet owner would appreciate this beautiful hanging Square Cat Habitat by Buddha.

It is made of bamboo plywood, a great renewable resource, and the insert is basic carpet. I’m not sure what the carpet is made of and I’m trying to find out. I’m hoping its made of organic wool or recycled fibers to make it extra green. The carpet inserts are available separately in a variety of colors, so you can change them as your mood or decor changes.

And as we all know, most cats love to climb and manage to find their way to seemingly unreachable places — like on top of the kitchen cabinets or refrigerator. Maybe a hanging habitat will encourage your cat to stay away from the kitchen. And if there’s a cat owner on your gift list, I’m sure they will appreciate this for its stylish, green, space-saving qualities.

In my mind’s eye, I’m also envisioning this is a stylish shelf for other purposes, even if you don’t have a cat.

Why It’s Green:

• Made of bamboo plywood

Who Would Like It:

• A cat owner
• A homeowner who likes modern design

Price: $99 (aff)

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This has got to be one of the cutest products I have ever found! Pet owners know this dilemma well — you love your dog, but that doesn’t mean you want to look at his bed every time you walk out into the living room. If the love of your life is a particularly furry critter, that bed is probably covered in hair, no matter how many times you’ve tried to clean it. And where do you stash it when when you’re having company over?

Not to worry. This stylish Murphy Dog Bed solves those problems — well, everything except all that excess hair. By day, it is a regular cabinet. Put an eco-friendly lamp on top can noone will ever know the difference. But by night, your dog will have a cushy, comfortable place to rest his paws. The only down side: the mattress is filled with polyester and covered in fleece. I would’ve much preferred eco-friendlier options, but you can always replace the cushion with something made of organic cotton or recycled fibers with an insert like kapok.

Why It’s Green:

• Made of recycled rubberwood

Price: $280 (aff)

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I am always impressed by companies and designers who can look at something that would normally be thrown away and imagine it as something much grander and more functional. I’m always telling my husband not to toss things in the trash because I want to “make something from it.” No inspiration has struck me yet (but for one kooky idea involving plastic hangers), so I love to see when others strike gold like this.

These pet feeders by Whiner & Diner reflect such an inspiration. They and handmade from wooden wine boxes marked with the names and logos of the vineyards they come from. And because they are available and several sizes and customizable, they can accommodate your four-legged friends no matter how big or small they are.

And of course there’s no sacrificing your decor. This is one doggie bowl you won’t want to hide. This would make a perfect gift for that friend of yours who is both a wine lover and a pet lover.

Why It’s Green:

• Made from wine boxes that would otherwise be discarded

Price: $150-225

Is there anything in your household that you would normally throw away that you think you could turn into something useful? What is the item and what would you make with it? Leave a comment and let me know!

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I’ve never really been a “cat person” or had one for a pet, but from my limited experience, I know that when they’re not being moody, they like to frolic and play. Of course, noone wants an ugly scratching post or unsightly fuzzy cat tree in the middle of their living room. But this cat tree…well, it is more of an artistic statement.

Designed by Susan Kralovec, the “Pounce” Cat Tree is handmade by Everyday Studio in San Francisco. Their handiwork would be welcome in my home any day, with or without a cat. It is a sculptural marvel, with sleek lines and angles that will make any lover of contemporary design squeal with delight. Use it as a seat or an end table, or just as a beautiful piece of art. Oh yeah…and your cat will probably like it too.

Why It’s Green:

• Made of 100% corrugated cardboard with a minimum of 35% recycled content
• Uses non-toxic adhesives comply
• Surface treated with a zero-VOC, non-toxic paint

Price: $179

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You know that old saying “let sleeping dogs lie?” Your dog will never want to get up if you put him to bed on this beauty. My mom loves the idea of letting her dog rest in a comfortable spot under the window in her breakfast area where she loves to relax. But we also don’t like looking at her pillow, which is covered in the red Georgia clay that she brings with her when she comes in from a romp in the backyard.  So this great doggie bed would solve two problems: the fabric is a dark color so it won’t show as much wear and tear, and it is great to look at, so we won’t mind having it under the window.

This durable mat is made from heavy hemp canvas and washable, organic kapok filler. Kapok is a naturally soft material that contains none of the toxic chemicals present in the polyfill that is commonly used in pillows and dog beds. I imagine you’d want to protect your pets the same way you protect your children. And since my mom’s dog has a knack for ripping pillows open after a few months of use, I’d rather have her discover natural kapok fiber than end up with a mouth full of foam rubber.

Why It’s Green:

• Made from 100% pesticide-free hemp fabrics (with a stripe of upholstery-grade hemp/flax blend fabric)
• Uses down-like organic kapok filler

Price: $89

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If your whole household is going green, don’t leave your pets out. This large food dish by Big Shrimpy is made of 100% recycled glass. And because the bowl is shallow and wide, it will accommodate your pets’ whiskers (which is why it is called “Whisker-Wide). And to make it even better, it is dishwasher safe for easy cleanup, and it comes in two colors: green and grey. The colors have an iridescent quality that makes them appear multicolored, which is why the bowl shown above, which is actually green, looks purple. How cool is that?

Why It’s Green:

• - Made of 100% recycled glass
• - Handcrafted

Price: $16.01 (aff)

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Your beloved pet doesn’t have to be left out of your household’s green changes, and if you love your pet as much as most pet owners do, you also want them to sleep in style. The Eco Slumber Bed features eco fabric, which is made with 85% recycled IntelliLoft™ fibers and then filled with 100% recycled IntelliLoft fiber fill. IntelliLoft fibers are re-engineered from post-consumer recycled plastic bottles and take six times less energy than producing fabric from virgin fibers. And since both the pillow and cover are machine washable, you can keep them fresh-from-the-laundry clean.

Price: $77.95

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