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Pets are family! Not only do they bring us infinite joy, pets also have a measurable positive impact on our physical health and mental well-being. Having a pet in the family is associated with lower stress, fewer heart attacks, lower rates of depression and increased self-esteem.

But we need to be aware of the impact our pets have on the planet so we can make smart pet paraphernalia purchases and adopt responsibly.

The products we buy for our pets generate as much planet-warming gas as millions of cars.

Our four-legged friends don’t drive gas-guzzling SUVs or use energy-sucking appliances, but science has shown pets are contributing to the climate crisis.

What do Barkley and Whiskers have to do with our warming planet? It’s the products we buy for them that need inspection, and their meat-heavy diet is a big offender.

You know from the first Life, But Greener email about food that raising meat is a giant contributor to the climate crisis. It requires an exorbitant amount of energy, land and water to produce, and it contributes to forest and environmental degradation that has knock-on ramifications. 

That goes for pet food, too.

Feeding dogs and cats in the United States alone generates the equivalent of around 64 million tons of carbon dioxide each year. That’s roughly the same impact as 13.6 million cars on the road.

Put another way, if our furry friends formed a separate country, it would rank as the fifth-largest in global meat consumption.

Owning a pet -- especially a dog or cat -- will increase your climate impact. But there are things we can do to minimize it.

Before we launch into recommendations, an important note: Do not make significant changes to your pet’s food until you’ve talked with your veterinarian.

In fact, if you have a cat, you shouldn’t even consider overhauling their diet -- they are obligate carnivores; aka they are must-eat-meat animals. Dogs, on the other hand, can pretty much eat anything. (Okay, not anything, but they don’t need to eat meat at every meal to stay healthy.)

That being said, we recommend you take a hard look at your pet’s diet, because there might be room for improvement.

Don’t overfeed them.

Easier said than done, right? Hard to say “no” to those puppy-dog eyes staring up at you from an empty food bowl. 

But keeping your pets on a reasonable caloric diet for their weight is a benefit trifecta: It keeps them healthy, it helps make the bank account happy and it reduces your pet’s climate pawprint.

Once you’ve mastered portion control, you might consider what you’re serving.

The premium foods might have some alluring environmental descriptions (all natural! organic! free-range!) but they aren’t necessarily helping.

Your pets don’t need top-of-the-line steak -- and choosing these premium foods comes at a climate cost. Why serve sirloin when pets love the parts we don’t, like hearts and liver?

Here’s another wild idea: bugs.

Recent advances in insect-based foods are worth looking into. It might sound revolting to humans, but dogs love bugs, and they are a good and environmentally sustainable source of protein. The bug-based trend has already made it into the mainstream pet supply stores, including Petco and Chewy, which both stock the Jiminy’s brand of cricket-based dog food and treats. 

If the thought of serving insect-based food to your dog grosses you out, you should keep in mind that most of the things we buy for our pets are for our own satisfaction, not theirs. We enjoy high-quality meats, so we want to get those things for our pets, too.

That psychology crosses over into the peripherals, as well. Does your cat need a dozen special toys when we all know an empty box will do just fine? And while it may be tempting to buy pet costumes to dress up your little ones for outings and holidays, it takes a lot of energy to manufacture and transport those products.

Adopt responsibly.

We could tell you to not have pets -- or to look for one that’s a little less environmentally impactful (turtle or rabbit, anyone?) -- but we can’t quite bring ourselves to recommend a no-pet life. Instead, let’s agree we should adopt our pets responsibly.

If the goal is to do the most good for pets and the planet, then adopting a dog or cat from the local Humane Society or shelter is the way to go. We should feed the mouths that need feeding before we create more.

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Find one item on your pet’s regular shopping list you can upgrade to be more climate friendly based on the recommendations above. Just one! And if it was painless enough, tell your friends who have the same kind of pet and consider a second upgrade for yourself. Send us your recommendations at lifebutgreener@cnn.com.