How To Care For Older Cats

Is your cat a senior?

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.

Selling Your Home? You Need To Read This…

Honestly, does your home smell??

If you are planning to put your home on the market, you may want to get a second opinion on the way your home smells.

Many times we get used to odors in our home…whether it’s cigarette odor, doggy smell or strong food odors. Did you know odors in a home will turn away a buyer in a heartbeat?

We have shared this before but since it is coming into the season to buy and sell homes, Clear The Air thought it would be appropriate to share this article from Coldwell Banker again.

One of the top mistakes a home seller makes when trying to sell their home:

A recent survey of real estate agents by ActiveRain has confirmed that there are certain things a seller should avoid if they are trying to get their home sold for the best price in the least amount of time. Out of 1000 real estate agents interviewed by ActiveRain, 28% said Unpleasant Odors are the number one turn off to a potential home buyer. (Coldwell Banker’s recent article)

Here’s what they had to say:

Unpleasant Odors in the House – “Mr and Mrs. Seller, your house stinks!”

Most agents aren’t going to be this blunt. But in some cases they wish they could be. They’ll take a more tactical approach and say something like…..’during the time your house is on the market, it might be a good idea to smoke outside’.

But what they know is that nothing will stop a potential buyer in their tracks faster than a strong odor of any sort. In some cases this could just be the left over smell from last night’s dinner. In more extreme cases, agents tell horror stories of entering homes that have a bad smell of pet urine or smoking.

The main concern for the buyer is, of course, “is the house going to smell like this once we move in?” Real Estate agents confirm that many a buyer has passed on a home after coming to their own conclusion on that answer.

Your agent isn’t suggesting a fresh coat of paint and new carpet because they don’t like how things look. They are making this suggestion because they realize that the smoke odor in your home is going to be a major turn off for anyone thinking about buying your home.

Meet Hercules At The San Diego Humane Society

Hercules…a Dog of Mythical Proportions!!

We love sharing stories about animals looking for their forever homes. Today we would like to share a story for Mutt Monday about Hercules. Do you have it in your heart to give him a forever loving home?

For most, the name “Hercules” brings to mind images of a certain Greek god.

…Well, around here, the name “Hercules” instead brings to mind images of a certainly Great dog!

Yes, my friends, it’s true. Be it the mythical or canine Hercules to whom you are referring, either way – the subject is indisputably divine! And, like his namesake, the 1 & 1/2-year old American Pit Bull Terrier is a pillar of strength and has a most adventurous spirit!

Always at the ready should he hear the cry of a damsel in distress, Hercules is eager for action! His enthusiasm knows no bounds!

His playfulness? Contagious!

His spirit? Courageous!

His athleticism? Outrageous!

It’s true, this energetic doggie is full of the kind of personality, handsomeness, and charm that myths are made of!! All who encounter this canine king are quick to see that they are indeed in the presence of greatness.

Are you looking for a strapping young dog with whom you can pursue outdoor adventures?? Well, look no further!!

Are you ready for a pooch who is full of life and, I daresay, gusto?? Ummm…look to the photos on the right and just try to tell me that Hercules doesn’t fit the bill!!

He’s handsome, he’s energetic, he’s just so darn lovable, …he’s Hercules! And he is ready to become the hero of YOUR story!

To meet this awesome guy, give us a call at (619) 299-7012 to arrange an introduction!

Happy Customers’ Testimonials

Why do you love Clear The Air?

Clear The Air loves our happy reviews! Our product truly works when it comes to eliminating bad odors! Don’t take our word for it, find out what consumers have to say:

I have 3 cats who used by bedroom as their personal litter box. I sprinkled the product on my carpet and the next day the odor was gone completely and my carpet looks wonderful. Now I don’t have to replace it. ~Kacee

We have a problem with cats peeing on our carpet in our bedroom. We tried everything I’d found before to get rid of the smell or discourage them from doing it again. I put this powder all over the room and the next day ran the vacuum and all the smell was gone! I highly recommend it. ~Cat

This made a HUGE difference in my carpeted stairs. The dog smell is gone. ~Soobie

3 cats, 2 dogs. Accidents happen. Works great. Even use it in the litter box to get rid of odors. ~Baxter

St. Patrick’s Day Safety For Your Pets

Happy St. Patrick’s Day to everyone!

How are you celebrating this holiday? Are you wearing green? We hope so!

This is a fun holiday filled with lots of food and drink but it is important to make sure your pets stay safe during all the festivities. Take a moment to read the following St. Patrick’s Day safety tips:

• Don’t give or let your pets have access to alcohol. It is toxic for your pets and it can make them extremely sick.
• Dress your pet up in green! If you dye your pet green, make sure to use all natural, non-toxic vegetable dye. If you dress your pet up in cute green clothing, make sure it is not too tight and does not constrict any areas of their body.
• If you are bringing your pet around town or participating in a parade, make sure your dog is not too frightened or overwhelmed and make sure to always have plenty of water available for him or her.
• If you plan to throw a party, make sure to confine your pet to a smaller area if he or she does not like big crowds.
• Don’t let your pets get into any party treats or favors. Chocolate is extremely toxic to dogs and can kill them. Make sure to put all snacks up high so animals cannot reach them.

Clear The Air Can Eliminate Marijuana Odors

Our product works for any odor!

If you or someone you know uses marijuana for medicinal purposes, Clear The Air can eliminate the strong odor.

Clear The Air works great to eliminate pretty much any odor! If you own a dispensary or use medical marijuana at home, if the odor is overwhelming, our product can help.

The following are steps to use our products to eliminate marijuana odor:

• Hang 3 Earth Care Odor Eliminator Bags in the room you smell the marijuana odor the most. It is best to have some air circulation – leave windows cracked or doors open. One bag will cover 100 square feet and the odor will be eliminated in 24 hours.
• The bag will continue to eliminate new odors for up to 3 months.
• If odors have soaked into any areas, use Clear The Air Odor Eliminator granules to sprinkle on the flooring, furniture, etc. Once again, it is best to have some air circulation. Leave down 24 hours and vacuum or sweep out. Odors will be completely eliminated.

Tell us where Clear The Air Odor Eliminators have worked for you!

Don’t You Love A Story With A Happy Ending?

Here at Clear The Air, when it comes to animals, we love a happy story!

The San Diego Humane Society does a wonderful job of finding pets’ forever homes and we love to share success stories from them.

Charlie & Diego – Bonded Pair Provide Love and Warmth

Charlie and Diego are brothers.  When my husband and I saw them at the Central shelter we noticed they were VERY bonded.  We had never had two cats at the same time but we didn’t feel we could separate them.

That was two years this past Sept.  They have continued to express love for each other while maintaining decidedly different  personalities…this makes them even more fun to observe.

I could talk for hours about what a wonderful experience this has been for us, but what would Charlie and Diego say?  See Picture… caption’s would be: “We are so glad we were adopted by a quilter mom who lets us lay on every new quilt she finishes and sleep in a box of scraps in the sewing room, and a dad who built a cat condo and potty box area adjacent to a window so we can sit outdoors and be safe and NO potty smell in the house. We also enjoy nap time with him!”

San Diego Humane Society Success Story

We love hearing success stories!

As we usually do every Monday, we would like to share a wonderful success story from the San Diego Humane Society. Ruth, aka Elsa, was adopted by a sweet family and they think the world of her:

“…the sweetest dog in the world. We love her so much.”

Dear Humane Society,

I’d like to update you on the wonderful dog we adopted from you on Gaines St. on Nov. 24th 2012.  She was named Elsa while in your excellent care & is a pit bull mix & the sweetest dog in the world.  We love her so much.

I sent a few pictures shortly after we adopted her & here are a few more. We renamed her Ruth after Ruth 1:16 in the Bible where Ruth is speaking to her mother-in-law, Naomi.  “Don’t make me leave you, for I want to go wherever you go, & to live wherever you live; your people will be my people, & your God shall be my God.”  That scripture seemed to fit so Ruth or Ruthie she is & we are her people!

Thank you to all the folks at your place for caring for her so lovingly until we came along.  God bless you all.

Shari & Richard H.
June 2013

5 Helpful Bird Care Tips

Are you a bird owner?

Pet birds can be a lot of fun and provide much entertainment for your entire family. The Clear The Air family loves all animals  and we would like to share some care tips for pet birds.

Remember to use Clear The Air at the bottom of your bird’s cage to eliminate any and all odors. Remember, it is 100% non-toxic even if ingested!

1. Before bringing your bird home, you will want to make sure you purchase a large well-constructed cage.  No matter the species, it is important for your bird to have enough room to stretch his wings and fly short distances.  Horizontal bars and perches need to also be installed in your cage at varying heights.
2. Line the bottom of the cage with plain paper or paper bags that are cut to size and make sure it is changed daily.  We recommend sprinkling Clear The Air at the bottom of your bird cage to keep odors away.  Place your bird’s cage in a warm, bright part of the house off the floor that is close to where the action is but away from drafts and direct sunlight.  Make sure your bird is not close to the kitchen as they are extremely sensitive to fumes from ovens, cookware and such.
3. When it comes to feeding your bird, pelleted food is the way to go.  While seed mixes provide variety, they do not always provide the best nutrition. Fresh veggies and fruits should be given to your bird every day.  Dark, leafy greens are packed with vitamins and many birds also enjoy carrots and broccoli.  Fresh cold water should also be available at all times and changed at least once a day.
4. A trained and tamed bird will need at least an hour of exercise out of the cage in a safe and enclosed room every day.  He may simply want to just sit on your shoulder or explore the room.  For birds that do not take to handling, providing a selection of toys like ladders, swings and mirrors with bells are a great way to keep your bird entertained.
5. Providing a shallow dish at the bottom of the cage is a great way to provide a bath for your bird and keeping his plumage looking perfect.  It is probably a good idea to schedule a bath right before you plan to clean out the cage.

How To Eliminate Diaper Pail Odors

Does your diaper pail smell?

If you have a new baby, you are probably trying to keep diaper pail odors at bay.

However, with some planning and common sense, the diaper pail does not have to stink quite so much. With frequent cleaning, use of Clear the Air’s Odor Eliminators, and limiting the diaper’s exposure to the air, your home can be the best smelling home with a baby in it on the block.

The best way to help eliminate diaper pail odors is to keep one or two of our Odor Eliminator Bags at the bottom of your diaper pail. You can also sprinkle our Odor Eliminator at the bottom of your diaper pail. Hang a bag from the changing table, closest to the diaper pail to absorb odors as well.

You can also empty the diaper pail more frequently to help cut down on the odor. This will also help your Odor Eliminator Bags last longer.

Don’t use air fresheners. These only mask the odor and do not actually absorb it like Clear the Air’s Odor Eliminators. All you end up getting is a flowery/poopy diaper smell. Not too pleasant!

Wash out the diaper pail to limit bacteria in the air from the pail. Wash the pail with hot water and soap once in a while.

Do you have questions about using our product? Please comment on our blog or contact our customer service department. Our products are 100% safe, even if ingested, making it perfect to use around children and pets.