Eco-Me specializes in D.I.Y natural cleaning, bath and home products and kits. The idea is a bit unusual: rather than simply selling natural products, they provide the recipes, reusable containers and tools, and essential oils so that you can make your own.
Many of us, most especially those that are new to green living are either so stuck on the idea that we need really harsh ingredients to clean our homes or are too intimidated by the idea of making our own to take that step towards giving it a go. It sounds like extra work but most of the products we need in our daily lives can be made very simply using basic, everyday ingredients such as baking soda and vinegar. And they are incredibly easy to make, taking only a minute or two to mix up a big batch of cleanser or window spray. What I like about Eco-Me is that their products act as a stepping stone towards independence rather than just providing a new fix.
When Eco-Me asked me if I’d like to try out one of their products I chose the Cat Starter Kit. I’ve been making home and body products like these for years but had never tried making my own cat treats, flea spray, or some of the other projects supplied in this kit.
The Cat Starter Kit included: Jars and bottles to make Litter Freshener, Flea Spray, and Cat Treats plus a scooper, stirrer, burlap bag, catnip, essential oil mix, and a Burlap Cat Pillow.
The first thing I did when the kit arrived was show the pillow to my test subject, Voltron: Defender of the Universe, aka “Kitty” our finicky 14 year old cat. We had a good feeling about the pillow since she goes crazy for jute and other similar materials. As predicted she LOVED it and writhed around on the ground with it for about an hour, spilling kitty drool all over the kitchen floor. It was a little bit disturbing to watch, kind of like walking in on a private moment I wish I hadn’t seen. And that was without adding any catnip. She loved the bag everything came in too. I found her rubbing against it a few days later. I took everything out, sprinkled a little catnip inside and made it into a fun toy that she rolled around with and kicked with her back legs. Good times!
Having made all the recipes provided I am most pleased with the Litter Freshener. We live in a small space where the cat litter is hidden from sight but can be smelled from any room after a particularly nasty “movement.” We use a wood-based cat litter called Mountain Cat that is pretty good if scooped daily and changed regularly. I’ve been adding a small sprinkle of the lemongrass-scented freshener just after scooping to freshen up the joint and it is working out. We like it although I’m guessing Kitty could care less. The fact that she doesn’t notice it is what’s important. The natural Flea Spray is fantastic but in all of Kitty’s years we’ve never had a flea problem so I don’t see a use for that anytime soon. The Cat Treats were easy to make but Kitty didn’t care for them much. She ate a few and shunned the rest. Kitty is very particular and can only dedicate herself to one treat flavor at a time, which she will beg for and eat until she suddenly decides she is done with it. She is currently in love with a oven roasted chicken — I don’t think she was ready to make the switch to the tuna-flavoured biscuits I made. And as for the catnip…. well Kitty loves catnip so we had a winner there.
It’s been a month since the kit arrived. We are still using and loving a small sprinkle of the Litter Freshener after a particularly unfortunate “deposit” and while Kitty is thankfully no longer dry-humping the Burlap Pillow or leaving puddles of drool on the floor she does enjoy a good snuggle with it most evenings.
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