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.”
Clear the Air knows that during the holidays, company can stop in unexpectedly and we would like to share some quick cleaning tips to make your home look its best in just a few minutes.
Remember, if you have a cat, sprinkle some of our Cat Urine Odor Eliminator on the litter box before company comes over.
If you have a small animal cage, place an Odor Eliminator Bag in the cage or around it (don’t worry, our products are 100% non-toxic).
Did you get a puppy and there are accidents around the house? Clean them up then sprinkle our Carpet/Furniture Odor Eliminator, leave on for 24 hours then vacuum up!
Any other odors you aren’t sure about? Ask us, we’re happy to help!
Clean the counters with a spray bottle: If you have a lot of dirty counters to clean, spray at the same time. Here’s how. With a spray bottle in one hand and a paper town in the other, spray each counter in a clockwise manner. Then, start at the beginning and wipe without ever missing a beat. It’s a more efficient way to do it and quick too.
Clear the Clutter: Do you have a lot of loose papers or bills sitting around your office desk or in the kitchen area? Grab a large plastic bag and fill it. Stuff it with the papers a handful at a time. Then, over the next week, sift through it when you are relaxed and you have time.
A few minutes per room: Take five minutes to clean each room of your house. Sound like a waste of time? Well, it isn’t. Most people can pick up a room, vacuum and load a dish washer in five minutes. So try it. You’ll be surprised at how much cleaner your house looks in under 30 minutes.
Dishwasher tips: If you wash your dishes prior to throwing them in the dishwasher, it’s time for a change. Through technology and science, dishwashers and dish washing detergent/liquid is much more powerful. So quit washing your dishes before you “wash” your dishes. Rinse them instead. Then, with two hands, pick up two dishes/cups/silverware and place them in the dishwasher at the same time. It’ll help you load your dishwasher in a more efficient manner.
Make vacuuming count: If you tend to run your vacuum over the same spot two and three times, stop it. Pretend you’re in a race and you have to cover each area of your carpet in singular motions. Do this and you’ll complete this chore quickly.
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.
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.
Are you expecting company this Holiday season? If you’d like to get your house smelling its best, we have some helpful tips.
No matter what odor may be lurking in your home, we guarantee we will eliminate it. Please visit our website to order.
Directions to Eliminate Cigarette and Cigar Smoke Odors:
Hang 1-2 Earth Care Odor Eliminator Bags in each room that smells likecigarette smoke. One bag will cover 50-100 square feet. Odor will be eliminated in 24 hours.
Bag will last 1-2 months, if room is heavily permeated with smoke odor the bag may need to be changed more often at first.
If odors are particularly strong or room has been smoked in for years sprinkle Clear The Air Odor Eliminator for Carpet and Furniture granules on carpets and furniture. Leave down 24 hours and vacuum. Odors will be completely eliminated.
One canister of Clear The Air Odor Eliminator for Carpet and Furniture covers 100 square feet; one bucket covers 900 square feet.
Granules can also be placed in ashtrays and cigarette butt receptacles.
Directions to Eliminate Dead Animal & Related Urine/Feces Odors:
It is not necessary to remove dead carcass to remove the odor.
More bags =better faster results, we recommend a minimum of 3 bags.
Hang a bag in every room you smell odor.
If you believe dead animal is in attic or crawl space hang one bag there also.
Bag will outlast odor from carcass and handle any urine or feces odors that may exist from previously infested areas.
One bag covers up to 100 square feet. It will last 3-4 months in use, or indefinitely in plastic wrap.
If odors are strong (or you have had a flood) also sprinkle Clear The Air Odor Eliminator for Concrete or Carpet granules on floor, leave down 24 hours and sweep or vacuum. Odors will be completely eliminated.
One canister of Clear The Air Odor Eliminator For Concrete or Carpet granules covers approximately 100 square feet.
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.
We would like to share some helpful tips to prepare your pet when you and your family decide to go on vacation.
With all the packing and travel planning that accompany a vacation, it is easy to forget that the most lovable members of the family usually have to stay behind. Although they may be staying at home, pets should be properly prepared for vacations as well.
Most pet owners know to leave emergency numbers for the veterinarian and a trusted neighbor, along with detailed pet-care directions. Pet owners should take a few simple steps to preserve their animals’ daily routines and to ensure that their pets feel safe and comfortable while they are on vacation.
Choose a familiar face as the pet sitter: Pets are more likely to stick to their usual routines if they feel comfortable with the person providing their care. Extended family members, close friends, and friendly neighbors make great pet sitters, because they already know the pet’s disposition, habits, and quirks. If a professional pet sitter or other new face will be coming in, schedule a few meetings before leaving, so that the pet can acclimate to the new person.
Maintain routines regarding food and water: Ensure that food portions remain the same size with electric pet feeders, which are available for weekends or even full weeks. Both pet and caregiver will appreciate this step: not only will steady, regular portions curtail the pet’s stomach upset, but the pet sitter won’t have to worry about measuring meals accurately. Automate pet care even further with a pet water cooler, which will provide fresh cool water for several days. If your pet waterer uses a filter, be sure to change the filter before long vacation trips.
Make sleeping arrangements comfortable: Wash any pet beds and place them in the usual location. If the pet sitter will be staying in a guest room, provide a heated pet bed there, as well. This is especially important for older dogs; they often prefer to sleep in the same room as their caregivers, but may also suffer from stiffness or arthritis, which makes sleeping on the floor painful. The heat is especially therapeutic, and has been shown to ease separation anxiety in pets. For the warmer months, simply unplug it or consider an all-season pet bed, which can cool them down and warm them up. For both dogs and cats, place a t-shirt or other article of clothing in or near the pet bed. The familiar scent is calming if the animal gets distressed or anxious while you’re on vacation.
Ensure easy outdoor access: For pets that are used to having a dog or cat door, be sure to check that the door is unobstructed. Remove any items that could become dislodged, fall, or otherwise become a pet-door blockade, such as dangling tree limbs or stray outdoor toys. Electric pet doors give both cats and dogs greater freedom to go in and out, if the pet sitter cannot stay home or must be gone for long periods of time. They also prevent other garden pests and neighborhood pets from entering your home.
Make cleaning up a breeze: The least appealing part of pet sitting is the clean up. The kitty’s litter box can have a strong, off-putting odor, and picking up after the dog is equally unpleasant. An automatic litter box means that the pet sitter does not have to worry about daily scooping while you are on vacation.
For a truly carefree vacation, it is critical to make pet care stress free for both the pet and its caretaker. By preserving routines and providing easy-to-use tools, pet owners can rest assured that pets will be comfortable and safe in their absence.
There are very few cats that actually don’t mind or even enjoy having to ride in the car. Clear the Air would like to share some car ride tips for your cat.
The most common car trip is usually to the vet, and that event causes enough anxiety by itself. Getting stressed out by the car ride to the vet may make it difficult to tell what is “normal” and what is stress-related on the physical exam for some cats. Here are some tips to reduce travel stress to the vet’s office and beyond.
Cat Transportation
For the safety of the driver and the cat, carriers should always be used for transporting cats (dogs too). Cats can startle easily, jump out of the smallest opening or basically interfere with the driver’s duties when they are stressed. The carrier should be cleansed after each use with a non-toxic soap or cleanser.
The Carrier
Letting your cat explore the cat carrier at their own pace and without any pending trip is always a good idea. Offering a treat or small amount of food in this non-stressed situation may incite some curiosity and comfort, too.
Short Trips
While it may be considered a hassle to take your cat for a quick ride to the post office or bank, short trips of no consequence (i.e. a vet visit) may help reduce car anxiety and build confidence in your cat with each car ride. It is important to stress the need for short trips so your cat will not be left alone in warm weather, where heatstroke in hot cars poses serious risk.
Weight Check at the Vet’s Office
Most veterinary offices are happy to do a quick weigh-in. Be sure to call ahead to check office hours and avoid busy times. The receptionist should be able to recommend a best day and time for a weigh-in.
Your cat may be weighed alone on the scale or in the carrier on the scale (subtracting the weight of the carrier) to become familiar with the veterinary office. A one-pound gain or loss in an average 10-pound cat represents 10% of their body weight, so tracking weight is always a healthy idea.
Creative Scheduling
Speak to your veterinarian about scheduling your cat’s appointment during quieter times of the day. Some veterinarians have cat-only entrances and waiting rooms which also help to keep cats calm.Feline Only Practices
Some veterinarians specialize in feline medicine and their practice is limited to cats only. This is a great option for cats who are OK with the car ride but get stressed out by the dogs and noise of a mixed practice.
House Call Veterinarian
If the thought of going to the vet stresses you and your cat out, consider utilizing a mobile veterinarian. Ask your vet if they do any house calls, and if not, if they can recommend a house call vet in your area. Friends, family, groomers and boarding kennels may also know of someone to recommend.Sedation Medication
If your cat is one that will not be calmed in the car or at the veterinary office, please speak to your veterinarian about the possibility of giving a light sedation at home prior to the trip. This may maximize the veterinary exam effectiveness while reducing your cat’s stress.
It is cat month during the month of September! Get rid of smelly litter box odors.
If you have a cat you have probably noticed the litter box aroma once in a while. Not only do you not want to smell the sand box, but your cat doesn’t want to have to either. Clear the Air can make the litter box easy on everyone with their Cat Urine Odor Eliminator product.
Remove cat urine odors in carpets, concrete, wood floors, tile, furniture, and litter boxes with out chemicals or fragrances. This unique form of Earth Care Products Mineral can also be sprinkled on top of your cats litter box to completely eliminate odors.
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. It draws in odors like a powerful magnet. The odors are then 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.
Next time you go to clean out your cat’s litter box, sprinkle some Clear the Air in the litter box and your cat will thank you…so will your nose!
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.
As a huge supporter of the San Diego Humane Society and finding animals a forever home, Clear the Air would like to share a Hidden Gem in need of a home.
Cindercol is Simply Irresistible!
Cindercol is a beautiful, 2-year old female feline, whose personality size is only exceeded by the size of her heart. This pretty kitty is sure to keep you endlessly entertained with her playfulness and enthusiasm for life, and her sweet sassiness is a bit contagious. One can’t help but imagine the letters of Cindercol’s name lighting up some margue on Broadway, such is the charisma and vibrance of this cat’s personality! And boy-oh-boy, does this kitty love attention! Whether it’s a well-earned chin scratch, some rousing playtime with a toy, or engaging in a leisurely conversation about your day, Cindercol is happy as long as she’s with you!
During our Pick Your Purrfect Price promotion YOU can determine Cindercol’s fee, which includes her spay, current vaccinations, permanent microchip identification, a certificate for a free veterinary exam, and a license if residing in Oceanside or Vista!
For more information about this lovable gem of a kitty, or if you’d like to meet her, please contact Customer Service at (619) 299-7012 or stop by our Gaines Campus.
