Odor removing tips

One of the most effective formulas I´ve found for removing ANY odor was from Popular Science Magazine.
Mix 1 quart of Hydrogen Peroxide, with 1/4 cup of Baking Soda, and one tablespoon of liquid dishwashing soap. Saturate the affected area, rinse thoroughly with clean water, and the smell is gone. This is non-toxic and safe for your animals and children, and those with allergies. This is especially helpful for removing skunk odor from your outdoor animals.
As always, test a small portion of fabric for color fastness, before treating a large area.

Gentle Behavior Modification

Kitty keeps returning to the scene of an ´accident´ to do her buisness. The first step to retraining her is to clean the area with an Odor Removing Formula from the other tips section. The second step is to change her attitude about that area.
Try storing her toys on top of the ´accident spot.´ Cats don´t like to soil their whole home, and by putting her toys on the accident area, she will instinctively not use this area.
Thanks to member Callie for this tip.

Urine odor

To remove the smell of urine from just about anything, first clean it with some sort of soap or kitchen cleaner. Then clean it with lemon juice. If you dont like the smell of lemon juice follow it up with a little bit of vanilla extract.

Steps to Re-Train Kitty

Kitty has decided to use something other than the box for his ´business.´ Don´t throw him outside, just take some steps to retrain him.
1. Try to find out why he stopped using the box, or began using other places. Is he stressed out over a major change in the home? Does he have a urinary infection? Is he spraying or urinating? (He will squat to urinate. If he is standing up to ´urinate,´ he is spraying/marking his territory. There are other tips to cover this.) Whatever the reason, you must take steps to remove the stressor, or help Kitty manage his stress.
1a. With urinary infections, you will need to follow your vet´s instructions, but also ask about UI Maintenance foods, your water quality, and any other things you should do to help your Kitty recover.
2. NEVER DISCIPLINE A CAT FOR MISTAKES. This will lead to other behavior problems. Instead, work on retraining him.
3. Clean all of the accidents with more than plain soap and water. Check Odor Removers Section for better formulas and products to clean pet stains.
4. Add another sand box to the household in a place different than the other boxes. Show Kitty this new box, and praise him for investigating it, but don´t expect him to use it right then.
5. Replace the old sandbox and sand. Kitty may have stopped using the old sandbox, not because you couldn´t keep it clean, but because the plastic box retains odors.
6. Give your Kitty lots of praise and affection around the new boxes, so he will want to please you, by using the boxes.
7. If he continues to use one particular spot, place a sandbox in that spot and slowly move it to a location you can be satisfied with. This is a last resort measure, because it could take several months to move the box.

Change her attitude about a spot

Kitty got mad at someone in the house and soiled a chair or a bed. The first thing to do is clean the
spot(s) with an Odor Removing Formula. The next step is to change her attitude about that area.
Start giving Kitty lots of attention and affection in the area she soiled. Cats don´t like to soil their entire home, and by giving her attention in a soiled spot, you are convincing her that this is not a sand box replacement area.
Thanks to Callie for this wonderful tip.

He´s going everywhere!

If your cat seems to be tinkling anywhere and everywhere, this could be more of a health problem than discipline. (Cat´s squat to urinate; they stand up to spray/mark their territory.) Urinary infections in cats are very similar to humans: they need to go more often-sometimes so suddenly that they can´t get to the sandbox. Another indication of UI is discolored urine, indicating blood in the urine. One last indication of UI is a very strong, acrid smelling urine.
Take your kitty to the vet if you suspect UI, it is easily treated.

Sand Box Training 101

When training kittens for the sandbox: be consistent, and constantly alert. Take the kitten to the sandbox at these times: after they wake up from a nap and several minutes after they start playing, after every meal, and every couple of hours through the day. Kittens are much like children, they don´t know they need to ´go´ until the opportunity is presented to them. If you consistantly take the kitten to the sandbox, the kitten will learn that you want them to use this particular box for their business.

He´s stopped using the box!

A cat´s sense of smell is highly sensitive. Although they return to the same place they have been before to eliminate their waste, they will find a new place if the old one smells too strong.
Plastic can retain odors; your cat can smell those odors even if you can´t. If Kitty has stopped using the box, even if you keep it clean, it could be that he can smell the odors from the box. You can try to clean the box with the Odor Removing formula from the other Tips sections, or you can try purchasing a new box. Remember that the cat can smell things you can´t so most cleaners will be too strong for your cat´s nose, causing him to turn away from the box.

Kitty still cries to be let out/in

Kitty has learned how to use the Pet Door, but still cries to be let in or out, from time to time.
That could be a signal your Kitty wants some attention from you.
When Kitty cries to be let in or out, ALWAYS, pop open the Pet Door to judge his reaction.
If he refuses to go out, then pick him up and give him affection, but do not open the big door.
If he refuses to come in by the Pet Door, peak out to make certain he isn´t hurt or unable to use the door. Then pop open the Pet Door and encourage him to use it. When he is inside, give him praise and affection for using the door.
I stress this again, don´t use corrective measures if your cat doesn´t use the Pet Door. Positive re-inforcement is a much better means for this type of behavior modification.

Correcting a Bad Kitty

Yelling and screaming at the cat is the worst way to correct bad behavior.

The best way to correct bad behavior is to eliminate the factor that motivates or initates the behavior. If the cat enjoys playing with some particular item, hide it for several weeks. If he is curious about something, explore it with him so you can control his reactions.

If he continues to misbehave, use a specific loud noise to startle him. I mimic the sound of a game show buzzer. I have read that a low growl from you will turn your kitty around. Although that would work for me, our cats ignored my husband. As a last resort, a water gun, or spray bottle will deter bad behavior. NOTE: Use these sparingly, or they will cease to have their effectiveness. Eliminating the behavior motivitator is the better answer.

Jobs involving pets

If you are interested in employment opportunities involving your pets, some ideas to consider are service pets, therapy pets, walking other peoples pets, pet sitting, performing pets, photography subjects, cat or dog treat tester for a pet treat store, exercise competition coordinator. Make a list of all possibilities and the ideal opportunity just may jump out at you!

Rug Protectors

This idea is from one of our members-Callie. Although I´ve never used it, I believe it is a good tip.
Kitty has chosen a spot (outside his box) to do his buisness. You´ve cleaned the spot with an Odor Remover Formula (found in the other tips section), now you need to retrain him to use the box. One step is to place an office rug protector (plastic mat with little knob/spikes on the bottom) upside down over Kitty´s spot. The knobs will be uncomfortable on his paws and deter him from using his old spot.

Misbehaving

If your cat is doing something it shouldn´t be doing, you can use a spray mist bottle filled with cold water to "mist" them.

I recommend being several feet away so that your cat does not associate the spray with you, rather it should associate the spray with the plant or whatever it was messing with.

What Won´t Work....

There are many home remedies for treating pet stains and odors, and let me stress that most of them are not too bad as far as removing odors for humans´ noses.
Vinegar, amonia, baking soda, laundry detergents, lemon juice, fabric softeners, and commercial strength pet stain removers are all great for removing the odors that humans can smell.
HOWEVER; you will need more to remove the odor for your cat´s nose. An enzymatic cleaner is the best answer, but it is slow and may take more than one application. (Nature´s Miracle is one of them.)
The Hydrogen Peroxide/Baking Soda combo is fast, but can alter the colors of some fabrics.
In the end, you must decide which application is best for your situation.

Pet Door Exit and Entry Training

Once you introduced Kitty to the Pet Door, put him on the opposite side of the pet door and rattle his food bowl, run the can opener, shake the bag of crunchy cat food... what ever sound he responds to when you feed him.
Place some food near the pet door, so he can smell it. After he starts talking to let him in, pop open the pet door so he can see there is an opening for him to get to his food.
Always give him plenty of praise and affection for doing the things you want him to do during this early phase of training.
Don´t use corrective measures-of any kind-in reference to your Kitty´s reluctance to use the Pet Door. This is one instance where positive re-inforcement for good behaviors will go much farther to acheiving positive results.

Sandbox Training 101

NEVER CORRECT A NEW CAT/KITTEN FOR INAPPROPRIATELY MISSING THE SANDBOX. You don´t spank a baby for dirtying it´s diapers, don´t correct your cat until she knows where the sandbox is and what it is for.
INSTEAD, pick up the solid waste, or mop up the urine with a paper towel, then place it in the sandbox. Take the cat/kitten to the box with it´s excrement or urine soaked paper towel inside. Encourage the animal with positive words and lots of loving. Your cat will smell the items in the box and bury them. Give the animal a couple of weeks to learn where the sandbox is before you get too concerned. If you still have problems after that, consult the vet for possible problems with the animal´s urinary tract.

Taking your pet to work

If you are interested in taking your pet to work, some companies do allow that and it works fairly well. They are mostly small companies, and the employees and customers enjoy the interaction with the animals. Plus the pets are more relaxed, being with their humans, rather than being alone at home all day. Talk to your employer to see if it can be arranged. If not all week, maybe they would consider one day a week.

Conflicting advice about litter box training

Retraining your cat isn´t impossible, but it does require patience and persistance. However, what works for one cat, may not work for another. Just like people, cats each have their own identity and personality. Plus, there are times when reverse psychology is good, but then there are others when plain old retraining is the only answer.

You just need to decide which method seems to fit your pet´s motivation for misbehaving, and which one you can follow through with. Also, you can use a combination of tips and advice to find the method that your pet will respond to.