How to Use Foil Dinner Pans to Help Your Pets

Recycling today is not just about placing items in the proper container to be picked up during the week. Recycling can also be about finding alternative uses for items you bring home from the store. One of these is the foil dinner pan which comes with frozen dinners. There are a few ways to use foil dinner pans to help your pets for example. Here's how.

Bird cage liners

You can make use of foil dinner pans or pie pans for bird cage liners. This gives you an easier way to dispose of waste than you would have with paper. You can paint the pan with spray paint so there will be no reflection or shimmer to the pan. The foil pans are also washable and reusable with the use of hot soapy water.

Disposable cat litter box

This is one I found out when I accidently broke a litter tray and couldn't get to the store for another one. I used a foil tray from a family-sized frozen lasagna, which was about 24" x 12". I filled it with clay cat litter and put it down. My cats looked at it for a moment, and then proceeded to use it like it was always there. The only problem with this use is that eventually, after you scoop out enough of the litter, your cat will start poking holes in the foil and eventually slice open the pan. This is a good idea for emergencies, but I wouldn't recommend it for long term use. Cats with claws can get about four days out of a pan, while cats without claws can make it to five days before they just don't like the feel of aluminum. Cats don't like aluminum foil if there is nothing covering it.

Flea traps

This use of foil dinner pans I came across while trying to rid my house of fleas. I read about this and decided to see if it works. Take a pie pan, fill it with warm soapy water, and place it under a lit lamp overnight. The fleas head for the warmth and the light, and while trying to reach the lamp they will drown in the water. The next morning, simply empty the dish and start again. For best results have the lamp on the floor so the fleas will be more apt to make the trip. And keep your pets away from the dish to avoid having fleas take a detour or having your pet drink the water because soap is not good for cats or dogs.

Disposable Dog Dishes

This idea is handy for when you take your dog with you on vacation or trips. Having to pack a dog dish can be a problem if you have limited space, or can't clean it at the end of feeding time. Having a set of foil tins, such as pot pie trays or pie pans, allows you to feed the pup and eliminate the cleanup by simply tossing the pan into the recycling bin as you leave. You can also make use of foil dinner pans when you want to keep the cats out of the dog's food. The cats will sniff at the food but since cats don't like the feel of aluminum, they will tend to avoid the dish. If you make the portion small enough where the sides of the dish are exposed, most cats will not attempt to get to the food.