Health and Well Being - When You Gotta Go

A Safe and Clean Place

One of the biggest issues most people have with keeping a pet is cleaning up after them. It would be so much easier if all pets could be trained to use the toilet, including how to flush. However, most earthlings just don't have the time to be able to spend the time to do this.

So, if you can't afford a professional trainer, keep these things in mind when ensuring your pet has what she needs.

Cats

Most vets will recommend that an owner has at least 1 litter box per cat in the household. That can be a LOT of litter boxes, if you're a hoarder. Litter set up kits are very handy, along with disposable litter boxes.

Myself, I like to have that, plus 1. So if you have 2 cats, have 3 boxes available.

An owner should always clean the box at least 1x per day, if not twice. This will keep the germs and bacteria load down. Also, keep in mind how you might feel if you went into a bathroom and the toilet hadn't been flushed...like all day. Pretty gross. If you're in a public place, you would probably be exiting that stall and searching for a cleaner one. There are options out there to make it easier, however, a good motto to live by is to never own more pets than you can handle their poop.

A cat may feel the same way, and if she can't find a clean litter box, she just may put her waste inside your favorite shoes. To avoid this litter-box-avoidance-issue, here are a couple solutions:

• Get into a routine; when you are making your coffee or breakfast in the morning, go take a second to clean out the box;
• Save your plastic shopping bags and scoop the poop; OR
• Buy an automatic litter box or sifter box. BUT always remember that you will still have to pull out the container that the yucky stuff is swept into.

Barring any other health issues, this will keep you kitty using the proper waste deposit facility and not on top of your favorite sweater.

Dogs

Dogs have their own routines; males like to mark their territories, females like to sniff out those territories.

Some lucky owners have backyards to let their canine housemates run around in. But if not cleaned regularly, your lawn can start to look just like a litter box, just on a much bigger scale. Same with dog patios and dog runs. Who enjoys seeing those little burnt up hot dogs out there?

There are now many pooper scooper options available in your local stores, but there is always the old fashioned way; newspaper and a trash bag.

Bacteria can grow just as easily in the back yard as in a litter box. Scooping the waste away and watering the lawn is the best way to deter any unwanted lifeforms growing where you barbeque.

Again, get into a routine. It's rumored that once you do something daily for at least 2 weeks in a row, it becomes a habit. If you don't have neighborhood kids willing to pick up the waste for a nominal fee, make it one of your weekly chores;

• Saturday morning, before the weekend shenanigans begin, grab an old grocery bag and newspaper, and clean away the mess.
• Water the lawn and spray down walkways, dog runs, bushes and trees.

If your pet is using an area you don't want used, be sure to spray down and try some Bitter Apple Spray on the area to see if you can dissuade your buddy from using the wrong toilet.

Supplies

Having the right supplies handy is important, especially when getting started. It may be easier to get into a good routine if you have the right supplies necessary and immediately to hand. After you have the routine down, it'll be easier to improvise. You can shop in Luving Petz Store for a complete array of items that can assist you in caring for your pet(s).

Summary

Again, keep in mind how you feel when entering a public restroom that is stained, smelly, broken faucets and flooded toilets. It is incredibly unappealing. Animals can feel the same distress. They may not think to themselves, "Oh dear, there might be eColi growing in there" but they become frustrated, anxious and grossed out just the same as we do and will look for alternate places to do their deeds.