How To Keep Your Cat From Scratching Your Furniture

A cat’s natural instinct is to scratch his nails. If your furniture in your home is being destructed, read the following tips on how to show your cat where it is appropriate to scratch.

First, it is important to know why your cat scratches and why it is important to provide the ability for your cat to sharpen his nails. The reasons why a cat scratches his nails are:

• It conditions the claws by removing the dead outer layer or sheath.
• It is a way of marking territory by leaving both a visual mark and an odor or scent (cats have scent glands on their paws).
• It is a way of stretching the entire body and flexing the feet and claws.
• It is used during play.
• It may be that cats communicate dominance by scratching in front of other cats.

In order to convince your cat he shouldn’t scratch your furniture, follow these steps:

• Try giving your cat posts made of cardboard, carpeting, wood, sisal and upholstery – all different qualities and surfaces. Some cats prefer horizontal posts. Others like vertical posts or slanted posts. Some prefer a vertical grain for raking, while others favor a horizontal grain for picking. Once you figure out your cat’s preference for scratching, provide additional posts of that kind in various locations.
• Encourage your cat to investigate her posts by scenting them with catnip, hanging toys on them and placing them in areas where she’ll be inclined to climb on them.
• Discourage inappropriate scratching by removing or covering other desirable objects. Turn speakers toward the wall. Put plastic, double-sided sticky tape, sandpaper or upside-down vinyl carpet runner (knobby parts up) on furniture or on the floor where your cat would stand to scratch your furniture. Place scratching posts next to these objects, as “legal” alternatives.
• Clip your cat’s nails regularly.
• Consider putting plastic caps on your cat’s claws so that he’ll do no damage if he scratches on something in your home. These special caps attach to claws with an adhesive. They’re temporary, lasting four to six weeks.
• If you catch your cat in the act of scratching an inappropriate object, you can try startling him by clapping your hands or squirting him with water. Use this procedure only as a last resort, because your cat may associate you with the startling event (clapping or squirting) and learn to fear you.

Remove Urine Odor From Carpets and Other Flooring

Do you have a dog or cat who has urinated in your home? We guarantee 100% the odor will be eliminated with Clear the Air’s Carpet/Furniture Odor Eliminator.

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 litter box, no one will know you have a litter box in the house!

Clear the Air does not have to come into contact with the odor producer; it will pull the odors from the carpet pad, and sub-floor. Clear The Air draws in odors like a powerful magnet. The odors are adsorbed, and neutralized without any fragrances. Clear The Air does not cover up odors; it literally “clears the air” leaving the air fresh and clean. 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.

Eliminate Cat 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.

Outside Cat vs. Indoor Cat

Many cat parents feel bad their cat can not experience life outdoors and out of guilt will start to let their cat out. Unfortunately awful things can happen to your cats when they go outside — they can be hit by cars, attacked by predators, infected with diseases or just disappear.

But many people still let their cats outdoors — often with misplaced good intentions. We would like to share Petfinder.com’s most common reasons people let their cats outside, along with safer, indoor alternatives.

Myth 1: Indoor cats get bored.

Fact: The truth is, indoor cats can and do get bored, but letting them outside is not a good solution.

Instead, make your home more interesting: Set up perches where he can watch birds from the safety of inside, build a DIY cat playhouse, hide his food or modify his feeder so he has to “hunt” for it. Finally, if your cat is amenable to it, you might consider adopting a second cat as a playmate.

Myth 2: Indoor cats are overweight.

Fact: If your cat is overweight, the safest way to help her trim down is by combining portion control and a daily exercise and play routine.

Stop free-feeding your cat, or at least be mindful only to feed a healthy amount per day. Yes, cats do overeat. You can consult your vet about how many calories your cat should be eating in a day.

Have a cat who won’t stand for an empty food dish? Keep him distracted with the activities mentioned above — the feeder toy would be perfect for him. If you feed wet food, try stuffing a smaller dog’s toy (like a Kong) with the food so your cat will have to work to get the food out.

Cats love a schedule. Try feeding him at the same times each day and he’ll get used to the routine quickly. Just remember to consult your veterinarian before starting any new feeding or weight-loss routines.

Myth 3: Indoor cats are destructive.

Fact: Destructive behavior is often a sign that something else is going on. Is your cat sick? Bored? A talk with your vet or a behaviorist may be in order.

Myth 4: My cat’s always been allowed outside, so he can’t be indoor-only.

Fact: Many cats have successfully gone from outdoor-only or indoor/outdoor to indoor-only. The key, again, is making sure the indoor environment is just as interesting as outside — and being vigilant about preventing escape attempts.

Myth 5: My cat is safe when he goes outside because he stays close to my home.

Fact: A study of 10 house cats and seven farm cats published in the European ecology journal Ecography found that on average, the house cats covered more ground than the farm cats — at night, the house cats moved within an average area of nearly 20 acres, compared to just over 6 acres for the farm cats.

A lot can happen even within a small radius of your home, so if you really want to let your cat outside, consider harness training him or creating a screened-in enclosure for him.

Myth 6: I need to let my cat out of the house because I’m allergic to her.

Fact: You may well be allergic to your cat, but it’s possible you’re really allergic to something she’s bringing in: Indoor/outdoor cats pick up fleas, ticks, pollen and other allergens from the environment.

If you really are allergic to your cat (an allergy test will tell you for sure), there are some easy ways you can reduce the allergens in your home — even when your cat is indoor-only. Find out more about living with cat allergies here.

To read entire article from Petfinder, click here.

New Year’s Eve Pet Safety

Keeping Your Pets Safe On New Year’s Eve

When you are welcoming in the New Year tonight, keep in mind your pets and other animals may not be so enthusiastic about the noise.

Pet’s ears tend to suffer from the noise made by firecrackers blasts, causing them to tremble, bark excessively, refuse to eat food, hide or run away and sometimes even lose bowel control. Besides the noise, fireworks also produce plumes of smoke that may harm animal’s respiratory systems.

Follow these helpful tips from PETA on how to keep pets and other animals safe during New Year festivities:

• Keep cats and dogs indoors in a room where they feel safe during fireworks displays and, if possible, stay with them.
• Act happy and calm around scared animals in order to reinforce the idea that they don’t have a reason to be afraid.
• Leave your animals at home during the celebrations – never take them with you to watch firecracker displays.
• Never leave animals tethered or chained outside.
• Close your windows and curtains. Turn on a radio that’s tuned to a classical music station, or turn on the TV to help drown out the sound of the fireworks.
• Watch for stray animals who may be distressed. If you see an animal injured by fireworks, call your local Humane Society.

Skin and Paw Care Tips For The Winter

Now is the time to visit the mountains and go skiing or take a trip to the snow with your family. If you are bringing your dog with you, please keep these winter tips from the ASPCA in mind.

Exposure to winter’s dry, cold air and chilly rain, sleet and snow can cause chapped paws and itchy, flaking skin, but these aren’t the only discomforts pets can suffer. Winter walks can become downright dangerous if chemicals from ice-melting agents are licked off of bare paws.

Says Dr. Louise Murray, ASPCA Director of Medicine, “During the winter, products used as de-icers on sidewalks and other areas can lead to trouble for our animal companions, potentially causing problems ranging from sore feet to internal toxicity. Pet parents should take precautions to minimize their furry friends’ exposure to such agents.”

To help prevent cold weather dangers from affecting your pet’s paws and skin, please heed the following advice from our experts:

• Repeatedly coming out of the cold into the dry heat can cause itchy, flaking skin. Keep your home humidified and towel dry your pet as soon as he comes inside, paying special attention to his feet and in between the toes.
• Trim long-haired dogs to minimize the clinging of ice balls, salt crystals and de-icing chemicals that can dry on the skin. (Don’t neglect the hair between the toes!)
• Bring a towel on long walks to clean off stinging, irritated paws. After each walk, wash and dry your pet’s feet to remove ice, salt and chemicals—and check for cracks in paw pads or redness between the toes.
• Bathe your pets as little as possible during cold spells. Washing too often can remove essential oils and increase the chance of developing dry, flaky skin. If your pooch must be bathed, ask your vet to recommend a moisturizing shampoo and/or rinse.
• Dressing your pet in a sweater or coat will help to retain body heat and prevent skin from getting dry.
• Booties help minimize contact with painful salt crystals, poisonous anti-freeze and chemical ice-melting agents. They can also help prevent sand and salt from getting lodged in between bare toes, causing irritation. Use pet-friendly ice melts whenever possible.
• Massaging petroleum jelly into paw pads before going outside helps to protect from salt and chemical agents. And moisturizing after a good toweling off helps to heal chapped paws.
• Brushing your pet regularly not only gets rid of dead hair, but also stimulates blood circulation, improving the skin’s overall condition.
• Pets burn extra energy by trying to stay warm in wintertime, sometimes causing dehydration. Feeding your pet a little bit more during the cold weather and making sure she has plenty of water to drink will help to keep her well-hydrated, and her skin less dry.
• Remember, if the weather’s too cold for you, it’s probably too cold for your pet. Animal companions should remain indoors as much as possible during the winter months and never be left alone in vehicles when the mercury drops.

For more information about pet care in winter, please read our Top Ten Cold Weather Tips. If you spot wounds or redness on your pet’s feet, please contact your veterinarian immediately.

Read more at: http://www.aspca.org/pet-care/pet-care-tips/top-ten-winter-skin-paw-care-tips

San Diego Humane Society Reunites Family With Cat

This is such an amazing story and what a GREAT Christmas gift!

SAN DIEGO – It’s a very Merry Christmas for a cat named Sophia, who went missing from her family in Arizona seven years ago and found her way to the San Diego Humane Society and Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals over the weekend.

According to the Humane Society, staff members were able to contact Sophia’s family thanks to her microchip.

A Humane Society staff member will be flying the cat back to Phoenix on Wednesday.

“We heard that the family was unable to get Sophia back home to Arizona so we decided to do whatever it takes to get her back to them,” said Gary Weitzman, president of the SDHS and SPCA . “Everyone deserves to be home for the holidays, so we couldn’t pass up the opportunity to get Sophia back to her family. This is another great testament to the importance of the microchip.”

Sophia’s mom, Trish Oster said, “I was shocked to hear that she was ok after seven years. I didn’t know how I was going to manage getting her from San Diego. I’m so grateful to the San Diego Humane Society for bringing my Sophia back to me. It’s the best Christmas gift I could have asked for.”

Read entire article here: http://www.10news.com/news/san-diego-humane-society-reunites-cat-lost-for-7-years-with-arizona-family12242012

Keep Your Pets Warm This Winter

Merry Christmas from Clear the Air! We would like to share some tips to keeping your pets warm this winter from the Humane Society of the United States.

Keep in mind, dogs and cats are social animals who crave human companionship. Your animal companions deserve to live indoors with you and your family.

In many areas, winter is a season of bitter cold and numbing wetness. Extra precautions during winter months will make sure your four-footed family members stay safe and warm.

Help your pets remain happy and healthy during the colder months by following these simple guidelines:

Indoors and warm – Don’t leave dogs or cats outdoors when the temperature drops. Most dogs, and all cats, are safer indoors, except when taken out for exercise. No matter what the temperature, windchill can threaten a pet’s life. Regardless of the season, shorthaired, very young, or old dogs and all cats should never be left outside without supervision. Short-coated dogs may feel more comfortable wearing a sweater during walks.

The best way to keep your pets safe (and happy) is to keep them with you.

If your dog spends a lot of time outside – A dog or cat is happiest and healthiest when kept indoors. If for some reason your dog is outdoors much of the day, he or she must be protected by a dry, draft-free shelter that is large enough to allow the dog to sit and lie down comfortably, but small enough to hold in his/her body heat. The floor should be raised a few inches off the ground and covered with cedar shavings or straw. The house should be turned to face away from the wind, and the doorway should be covered with waterproof burlap or heavy plastic.

Keep the water flowing – Pets who spend a lot of time outdoors need more food in the winter because keeping warm depletes energy. Routinely check your pet’s water dish to make certain the water is fresh and unfrozen. Use plastic food and water bowls rather than metal; when the temperature is low, your pet’s tongue can stick and freeze to metal.

Be careful with cars – Warm engines in parked cars attract cats and small wildlife, who may crawl up under the hood. To avoid injuring any hidden animals, bang on your car’s hood to scare them away before starting your engine.

Safety and salt – The salt and other chemicals used to melt snow and ice can irritate the pads of your pet’s feet. Wipe all paws with a damp towel before your pet licks them and irritates his/her mouth.

Avoid antifreeze – Antifreeze is a deadly poison, but it has a sweet taste that may attract animals and children. Wipe up spills and store antifreeze (and all household chemicals) out of reach. Better yet, use antifreeze-coolant made with propylene glycol; if swallowed in small amounts, it will not hurt pets, wildlife, or your family.

The best tip of all: keep your pets with you – Probably the best prescription for winter’s woes is to keep your dog or cat inside with you and your family. The happiest dogs are those who are taken out frequently for walks and exercise, but kept inside the rest of the time.

Caring For Your Cat And Watching For Illness

Cats are good at hiding how they feel if they are ill and the older a cat gets, the longer it takes for them to recover from an illness.

It is important to pay attention to your cat as he ages and catch any problems before they become very serious.

If you are close with your cat, you can usually tell if something is different or not right with him. Don’t discount that feeling that something doesn’t seem right. Because of the love and close relationship you share with your feline, you have an advantage to knowing when something is wrong.

In fact, change in behavior is the number one way a cat will tell you he’s not feeling right. Changes in behavior can be sudden or may develop over time. When your cat begins to age, it is important to make important enrichment to his nutrition, grooming needs and home life.

It is a good idea to keep a log of some of your cat’s normal activities. Since changes in your cat’s behavior are the best sign that he isn’t feeling good, knowing what is normal and abnormal for him will help nip a potentially fatal illness in the bud.

If your cat normally chases after his toys, make a note of that. If he wakes you up every morning then suddenly stops, this could be an indication of arthritis and it may hurt too much to jump on the bed.

It is also important to note how often your cat eats and drinks. If he always runs to his food bowl when he hears you pour more in and suddenly stops doing this, something may be going on with  him. Keeping note of his appetite, weight, water intake, urination and defecation, skin and fur, respiration and other habits of your cat will let you quickly identify if he isn’t feeling well.

If you have any concerns your cat may be sick, take him to the vet immediately. If your cat has accidents in the house, use Clear the Air to eliminate cat urine odor.

Keep Your Cat’s Litter Box Smelling Its Best

Do you have a cat? Are you regularly reminded you have one by the way your litter box smells?

If you are expecting company for the holidays, you will probably want to keep Clear the Air on hand to sprinkle on your cats litter box to make the odor non-existent while making the litter box more appealing for your cat.

We have provided some helpful cat litter tips:

Scooping – The number one rule, and the only thing that will keep litter box odor at bay, is constant cleaning. That means scooping the box out at least twice a day, removing the solids and liquid clumps if you use clumping litter.  If you don’t use clumping litter, you can use a large solid metal spoon to lift out the most urine-soaked areas each time you clean and add litter as needed to replace what is removed.

Washing Your Litter Box – You should also get in the habit of washing the litter box at least every other week if not more.  Use a mild unscented dish detergent and rinse clean.  Remember to clean your scooper too.  When the box is dry, sprinkle a thin layer of our Cat Urine Odor Eliminator in the box first.  Then add two to three inches of litter.  Cats do not like a deep tray of litter and this allows you to add litter as you scoop.

Type of Litter – Some have perfumes and others have additives to only cover the smell.  To a cat, these smells can be overwhelming and make the box unwelcoming.  It is usually a good idea to get unscented litter and sprinkle our Cat Urine Odor Eliminator in the box to eliminate the odor, not cover it up.

Type of Litter Box – Using the largest box your home can accommodate is the best idea.  A good rule of thumb is to get a box that is at least twice as long as your adult cat and wide as the cat is long.  Even though a covered box is nicer to look at, most cats don’t like them and they also trap odors inside making it unpleasant for your pet to enter.  Cats claws can get stuck in liners when they are digging for a place to relieve themselves and the urine can also seep into the liner, trapping odors in the box.

Location – Lastly, location of your cats litter box is very important to keep your pet happy to relieve himself in the correct areas.  The rule is one litter box per cat plus one.  If your cat is on the third floor of your house and the litter box is in the basement, he may not decide to make the long trek.  It is important to have the boxes in different locations.  Also make sure the box is in a low traffic area, away from his or her food and in a place that your cat can easily get in and out of.

These suggestions may take a lot of effort but not only with your cat be happier but you will as well, not having to put up with cat urine odors.    Remember to pick up Clear the Air’s Cat Urine Odor Eliminator available at all Petco stores or online.

Hastings Needs A Home!

Clear the Air always likes to feature pets in the spotlight at the San Diego Humane Society. Hastings is a recent employee favorite and in need of his forever home.

“Hastings is very loving and loves to snuggle in your lap or next to you,” says Kelly R., Chief Financial Officer of the San Diego Humane Society and SPCA. Kelly chose Hastings as her Employee Pick because of his winning personality and adorable little idiosyncracies that were quick to steal her heart, like the squeaky little chirping sounds that he makes when he is ready to play or have dinner.

Hastings is a Hidden Gem, which means that he tends to do better in an environment outside of the public adoption area. He is currently being housed in the Finance Department; and Kelly, along with the rest of the Finance team, couldn’t be happier about it! They are constantly taking photos of the sweet kitty playing peek-a-boo, or curled up in a ball, or just looking as handsome as ever. Adding to his handsomeness, says Kelly, is his “…beautiful soft coat and sparkly white belly fur.

He also has the cutest freckles on his nose!” We asked Kelly if there was anything else that makes her Pick awesome and she was quick to tell us, “Hastings is enough company to be the only kitty in the family, which will suit him just fine. He is all you would want in a cat and more! And maybe best of all, he has a TERRIFIC purr motor!!”

If you are interested in meeting Hastings, or in getting some more info about him, please call the San Diego Humane Society at (619) 299-7012.