Keeping Your Pets Warm This Winter

The rainy season is upon us and for us Southern Californians, it is getting cold!

It is important to make sure your pets are warm and dry during the winter. Keep them safe, warm and happy with these tips:

• Pets should have a comfortable and clean, dry shelter to stay in especially if your pet spends the majority of its time outdoors.
• Check to make sure your shelter for your pet does not have any leaks and that falling rain cannot splash inside of the dry shelter.  It is important to place it in an area where water does not accumulate.  Bottom line: keep your pet high and dry!
• Continuous rain will usually decrease the frequency of your important walks with your dog. In order to compensate for less outdoor time, play with your pet more indoors either chasing a ball or playing tug of war just to get your pet the exercise he’s used to.
• Pets should always have access to adequate shelter and under no circumstance should you leave your pet tied up in the rain.
• Should there be an emergency you must have an escape or evacuation plan mapped out for your pets.  Prepare a first-aid kit for your pets in case they become wounded and never abandon them during a disaster.

How To Eliminate Pet Urine Odors

Clear The Air’s helpful tips to eliminating pet urine odors.

Cat & dog urine odor is one of the strongest and toughest odors to get rid of. Most products on the market are wet and must come into contact with the urine to remove the odor.

This means if you have urine that has soaked into the carpet you must pull up the carpet and pad and soak the carpet, pad and floorboards. What a mess! With Clear The Air Cat & Dog Urine Odor Eliminator just sprinkle the granules on top of the carpet leave on overnight and vacuum in the morning and the odor is completely eliminated. Works well on all surfaces pulling the odors out of tile and concrete. It also will completely eliminate the odors from your litter box and no one will know you have a litter box in the house!

Clear The Air is made from an all-natural mineral, is non-toxic and biodegradable and safe for Planet Earth.
It is also safe around children and pets even if eaten.

Directions to Eliminate Cat Urine Odors From Litter Box:

• Add granules to bottom of litter box, add litter, then add additional granules on top.
• Add ½ cup of granules each time litter is changed, scooped or as needed.
• Will prolong the life of your litter.

Eliminate Urine Odors From Carpets, Wood Floors, Tile, Concrete or Furniture:

• Remove feces and excess urine.
• Sprinkle granules over area until dry granules are present on top. Also works well on old dry urine odors.
• Leave overnight, then sweep or vacuum.
• Clear The Air pulls odors from carpet, padding, and subfloor.
• Typically one application will eliminate all odors; occasionally a second application is necessary.
• One canister covers 100 square feet.

How To Keep Your Pet Warm During The Rainy Season

Pet care tips during winter.

We’re getting into the colder months of the year and don’t you love to be able to go home out of the cold and curl up with your pajamas and sit by the fire.

What about your dog? Don’t you want to make sure he is as warm and cozy as you are when you’re at home?

Clear the Air would like to share some helpful tips to keeping your dog warm this winter:

Keep them indoors. This is the surest way to keep your pets warm. Dogs, while they enjoy outings, are often happier indoors as well so they can dote on their owners. Cats enjoy being able to snuggle up somewhere warm indoors.

Get your dog jackets and sweaters. If your home is a little chilly, cute jackets and sweaters can keep them warm. If they are going outside with you into the snow (dogs more than cats), it’s better to choose something that has a waterproof nylon covering.  Make sure the sweater or jacket fits them properly and they are comfortable enough to maneuver in it.

Check the temperature before going out. In winter, as in summer, the temperature can feel worse than what the thermometer reads. Check the temperature and the wind chill factor to keep your dog from getting a chill.

Proper outdoor housing. If your dog spends a lot of his time outdoors, make sure he has the right housing. His doghouse should have a sloped roof, insulation and even a heater if he is expected to live in there.

Bedding. His bed should be at least 3 inches off the cold floor to avoid drafts. Low platforms made of a light wood or aluminum frame with canvas stretched over it suit these pets just fine.

Booties. Your dog regulates his temperature through the soles of his feet (as well as his tongue, of course). When walking in the snow, booties can help keep him warm. This will also protect him from salt and other products used to melt ice.

Increase feeding. Pets use up more calories in the winter trying to stay warm. Feed them a little more in the winter months, especially if they spend a lot of time outside.

Use a hot water bottle or snuggle disk. If your home is chilly, you can keep your dog or cat warm by using a hot water bottle under his bed or even a snuggle disk, which is a manufactured disk that is heated in a microwave oven and can maintain heat for hours.

Don’t forget the occasional special treat , belly rub or scratch on the head. Nothing warms your dog and cat’s hearts more than special food and attention, so give him both.

How To Keep Your Pets Safe Around Christmas Decorations

Have you started decorating for Christmas yet?

We’re not sure about you but some of us here at Clear The Air have started to put up our Christmas decorations. We would like to share some tips to keeping your pets safe around your Christmas decorations.

Your pet will be curious about all the new decorations that are out.  Here are some tips on keeping your pet safe around the holidays:

• Poinsettias, holly and mistletoe can be toxic to inquisitive pets.  It is important to keep plants up and out of reach of both your dog and cat.
• If part of your holiday decorations includes a live tree, remember pine needles can create a danger to any pet that may attempt to eat one.  Needles can puncture the intestines of your pet, so keep your tree watered and clean up fallen needles as soon as possible.
• It is in a cat’s nature to be very curious and usually find indoor trees very entertaining.  As any cat owner would know, cats love to go after things that sparkle and move.  Tinsel is in this category and is extremely dangerous if ingested.  Glass ornaments should be placed up high to keep noses and paws away.
• Be careful not to let your pet drink the tree water if you have put any type of additives in it.
• For anyone that has seen the Chevy Chase Christmas Vacation movie, you would know the danger caused by electrical cords under and around the tree.  It is important to tape down or cover electrical cords to keep your pet from chewing on them.
• If you are planning on hosting a party, make sure to keep animals in a back room away from guests and the door.  While people are arriving it is possible your cat or dog could escape.  Also, while enjoying your holiday meals with family, it is important not to let animals eat scraps from the table; especially rich food usually served during the holidays as it can cause stomach upset or even pancreatitis attacks.

We wish you and your pets a safe and fantastic Holiday Season!

Crazy Cat Facts For The Crazy Cat Lady!

Think you are a “crazy cat lady”?

Did you know about these crazy cat facts? Check out some of the facts about cats Clear The Air would like to share:

• One litter of kittens can be produced by more than one father.
• A cat’s heart beats up to 140 times per minute, or about twice as fast as a human’s.
• Many people think that cats are colorblind, but it’s a myth. Now we know that cats can see blues, reds and greens. Also, many cats don’t have eyelashes.
• Cats will spend about a third of the day grooming. The process is helped along by the backwards-facing spikes on their tongues. Now you know why it feels like being rubbed with sandpaper when they lick you. They will also spend about 16 hours a day sleeping.
• Puss, a cat from England, lived to be 36 in human years: the oldest cat on record.
• Ancient Egyptians shaved their eyebrows in mourning when their cats died. And if someone killed a cat, he or she could get the death penalty.
• Cats weigh an average of 12 pounds. The heaviest cat on record weighed nearly 47 pounds. The lightest was one pound, eight ounces.
• When kittens are born, their eyes are blue – but they often change color as the babies grow. The will also start dreaming when they’re about one week old.
• Cats can be trained to use the toilet as their litter box. Some can even be taught to flush when they’re done.
• Researchers have tried mouse-flavored cat food. The cats who were introduced to it refused to eat it.
• You might think it’s disgusting when your cat brings you dead prey (like a bird or mouse), but you should thank her anyway. She thinks that she’s bringing you a present.
• Cats rarely meow at other cats. Often a cat meows to his human when you come home or even to greet you when you see each other in the house or yard.
• And our favorite – our cats don’t think of themselves as small humans. Rather, they think of us as large cats.

How To Eliminate Animal Odor

We all love our pets but sometimes they come with foul odors we would rather not deal with.

Our product can help! With our product you can safely and confidently eliminate animal odors no matter how strong they are.

Cat & dog urine odor is one of the strongest and toughest odors to get rid of. Most products on the market are wet and must come into contact with the urine to remove the odor. This means if you have urine that has soaked into the carpet you must pull up the carpet and pad and soak the carpet, pad and floorboards. What a mess!

With Clear The Air Cat & Dog Urine Odor Eliminator just sprinkle the granules on top of the carpet leave on overnight and vacuum in the morning and the odor is completely eliminated. Works well on all surfaces pulling the odors out of tile and concrete. Will completely eliminate the odors from your liter box, no one will know you have a liter box in the house!

Watch our video to learn how to easily eliminate pet odors:

How To Care For Your Pets In Cold Weather

Cold weather care tips for you and your pets.

In Southern California our “cold weather” is usually pretty mild compared to other parts of the country.

But keep in mind it does still get cold at night. Cold enough you need to take precaution for your pets.

Clear The Air would like to share some tips on how to care for your pet during the colder winter months:

• Don’t leave pets outdoors when the temperatures drop. Of course dogs need outdoor exercise however keeping them outside for lengthy periods of time during freezing conditions can cause health hazards.
• Make sure shorter coated dogs don’t spend too much time playing outside in the cold weather. If your dog will wear a comfortable sweater during walks and outdoor playtime, we recommend it.
• Dogs and cats are safer indoors altogether. Animals left outside unattended pose the risk of being stolen or otherwise harmed.
• Look for signs of hypothermia during cold weather conditions. These include weak pulse, dilated pupils, decreased heart rate, extreme shivering, pale or blue mucous membranes, stupor or unconsciousness. Consequences of sever hypothermia can cause neurological problems including coma, heart problems and kidney failure.
• Don’t let your pet be exposed to wind chill. If you must keep your pet outdoors, protect him with a dry, draft-free doghouse large enough for the dog to sit and lie down comfortable but small enough to keep in his body heat.
• Pets that spend more time outdoors need more food in the winter. Routinely check your pet’s water dish to make sure his water is fresh as well.
• Don’t expose your pets to antifreeze. This is a deadly poison that has a sweet taste which attracts animals. Wipe up spills and store antifreeze out of reach of pets and children.

How To Keep Pets Safe On Halloween

5 Halloween safety tips for your pets.

Halloween is just around the corner and as we all like to include our pets in our family activities, it is important to make sure we keep our pets safe and happy on holidays like Halloween.

Check out Clear the Air’s helpful tips to keeping your pets safe this Halloween:

• Pet Costumes – The safest pet costume is one that fits loosely and is simple. A bandana around your dog’s neck is perfect. Don’t let your pet’s costume restrict his mobility or allow him to get tangled up or strangled. Always make sure your pet is under your supervision when he has a costume on.
• Halloween Decorations – When decorating your home, remember to put decorations on display in an area they won’t be easily knocked over or reached from pets. This especially goes for any décor with lit candles.
• Noises – Pets can be scared and skittish of noises associated with Halloween such as the ringing of the doorbell, squeals and chatter outside the door and any small fireworks that are set off in the street. Additionally, scary costumes can alarm pets.
• Candy – Candy and chocolates are never a good idea for your pets. On Halloween there is an increased chance your pets may consume treats they aren’t meant to have. Provide your pets with pet-safe treats and toys to keep them entertained and keep all candies away from your pets during the holiday.
• Runaway Pet – Halloween is not the time to let your pets wander around outside. Keep your dogs on leash and your cats indoors. Unfortunately there are mean-spirited individuals that may be inspired to mess with your pets. This is also a great time to get your pets micro-chipped.

The Truth About Black Cats

Happy Halloween from Clear the Air!

We always like to encourage families adopt animals from shelters and we especially encourage the adoption of black animals because believe it or not, they are usually the last to get adopted.

We would like to share an article from the ASPCA regarding the truth about black cats.

How To Give Medicine To Your Cat

Tips to giving medicine to cats.

It is not easy to give a cat medicine. We would like to share some helpful tips from the ASPCA on how to successfully administer medicine to your cat:

• First, call your cat to a place she likes, such as the area where you keep her food dish. When she comes, give her one of her favorite cat treats. (If your cat doesn’t like cat treats, try something more exciting, like small pieces of fish or chicken.)
• Gently put your hand on her jaw and hold it for a very brief moment. (Try to release her before she tries to get away.) Just before you release your cat, say “Yes,” and then quickly give her a treat.
• Practice steps one and two for a couple of weeks, gradually increasing the time that you hold your cat’s jaw. Progress in very slow steps. First, increase from one second to two seconds. When your cat seems totally comfortable with that and doesn’t struggle to get away, you can increase to three seconds. Then increase to four seconds, then five, etc.
• When your cat will let you hold her jaw for 8 to 10 seconds, help her get her used to letting you stick your finger just inside her mouth. Again, start slowly. Only put your finger in her mouth for a second at first. Say “Yes” just before you remove your finger, and then quickly give your cat a treat. When you can put your finger in your cat’s mouth for about three seconds, proceed to the next step.
• Now you can teach your cat to allow you to open her mouth. Open her mouth, just a little, for only a second. Before letting go of your cat, say “Yes.” Then give her a treat. Repeat this step until your cat doesn’t resist when you try to open her mouth.
• When you can open your cat’s mouth wide enough, slip a small bit of treat inside, say “Yes,” and give her a second treat. When your cat seems comfortable with this step, you can move on to Step 7.
• Finally, open your cat’s mouth, slip in a treat with medicine juice on it, say “Yes,” and give her a real treat.