There are a lot of stories about cats falling out of windows, from terraces or other high places. Most of these stories end up well, but in many of them an animal undergoes some kind of treatment resulted in, most likely, broken limbs. There are cases of cat falls every week, and the veterinarians deal with them all the time. They even have a name for this phenomenon, high-rise syndrome.

Unfortunately, many of the cat owners do not take this seriously enough. They let their felines carelessly walk on the window sills, terraces, fire escapes or roofs. They can easily explain this with understanding their cat’s need to explore or have some extra space. This might be a good idea, but it poses a great threat to the animal.

Do not overestimate your cat’s abilities

All cat owners are familiar with one common problem – everything gets covered with cat hair. Of course, there is nothing pleasant about it: the hair sticks to the clothes and furniture; it is left on the carpets and can be easily found on the dinner table. This hair can get into food, and some might develop allergy to it.

Well, hairless cats surely might be a great solution – you don’t have to do anything about the fur if you have one of those felines. However, these cats are quite expensive, and not everybody really likes them. Having a cat at home usually means that you have to deal with its hair all around the place. Of course, there are ways to minimize the amounts of it.

Cleaning your place

Want your pet furniture to last without the ruin of sour smells? A washable pet bed may be the option for you. Some pet beds can get a sour smell after your pet has spent months laying on it. Most times it’s difficult to get that fresh smell - or any good smell - to return. Washing the bed is not always simple. The inner stuffing can get lumped up in the washing machine, if it can even fit in there. Now your pet's bed is fresh, but the stuffing may never be smooth again. A pet bed with removable stuffing can be the perfect solution. With a Velcro closing, you can remove the stuffing and wash the bed fabric with no worries. And replacement is no issue, when the stuffing gets too flat. Here's how you create a comfy pet bed that can be washed again and again.

Materials Needed:

Freshly washed sweatshirt - Preferably one that your pet loves
Polyester Stuffing
Yarn / Thick Thread
Thick Needle
Scissors
Pins
Sewing Machine (Optional)
Piece of fabric (Optional) - Preferably fabric that matches the sweatshirt
Tape measure for fabric
Velcro Brand Sew-On fasteners, measured to length of bottom hole

Instructions:

Turn your sweatshirt inside out and smooth it out. Use your pins to stretch the sweatshirt and keep it straight.

Measure the width of the bottom of the sweatshirt and cut two Velcro pieces of the same length.

Sew the Velcro pieces to the inner edges so they will face each other when the sweatshirt is outside in.

Back stitch the fasteners to secure them.

With the sweatshirt still inside out, sew the neck hole (the collar) together, leaving a small hole at the top. Sewing while the sweatshirt is inside out will ensure the thread stitches are hidden once your bed is made.

Turn the sweatshirt right side in and fill entirely with stuffing - belly and sleeves. Test to make sure bed is full to your liking. You may use your pet to test it but beware - (s)he might not want to get off.

Once you’ve adjusted the stuffing to your liking, put extra a little extra in the sleeves so that some is left out past the cuff. Join the cuffs together and sew them so that they make one long sleeve.

As an option, you may circle your piece of fabric around the sleeve cuffs to hide the thread stitching. After sewing the fabric, turn it in so its stitches face the sweatshirt, not you. Now your pet bed is done.

Alternatives:

For larger pets, you may use a large sweatshirt. As an option, you may sew the sleeves along the body of the sweatshirt after you back stitch the Velcro pieces. If you do this, use your pins to stretch and straighten the sweatshirt.
You may fill the belly of the sweatshirt with a pillow rather than stuffing.

Your cat’s litter box: It stinks. It takes up space. It can even be an eyesore. Sometimes it gets messy cleaning up after your kitty. You can help change all that by fancying up your litter box and hiding it away from company. Spice that litter box up with some decor ideas and you (and your cat) will love the box forever.

The Cover-Up:

The best covers for your cat’s litter box can be found in your garage or at a thrift store. You can use a storage container, desk drawers or embroidered trunks. Old filing cabinets or wine cases are good too. If the covers your find are empty, you’re off to a great start!  Just place the litter box in your container, add some lining, and the inside is done. With furniture that has compartments or drawers you may opt to remove the top drawer and place the litter box in the bottom. Otherwise you will have major work in clearing out your cat’s future bathroom. If the container is small enough you may opt for simple lining along with the litter box. Be wary that these type of containers will have to be opened and closed each time - hardly any room for your cat to enter on its own. You can also choose to build a littler box from scratch with wooden boards and a nail gun. Just make sure you have your measurements right or the box may come out crooked.

Add Some Color:

Once you’ve set the inner decor, it’s time to decorate the outside. If the box has an ornate design, a simple paint job is best. You will have more room for creativity with an outer surface that is flat. The design helps you hide your litter box in plain sight. When you have company, guests may see your box simply as decor and would have no second thoughts about it.  If your box is a converted piece of furniture - like an old filing cabinet - you can leave it plain. Still no one would be the wiser.

Backdoor & Ventilation:

If your litter box is big enough, your cat will need a door. A backdoor helps keep kitty's bathroom activity a covert operation. The most efficient tool for creating your backdoor will be a power drill. The position of the door depends on how your cat would enter. Make it easy on your cat; anything that requires too much effort might deter your cat from entering. Also make sure your cat has enough room to walk behind the box - back and forth. Make a hole for ventilation as well. Ventilation keeps the smell out of the litter box. So when it’s time to clean, you’re not attacked with a day’s worth of stench. The ventilation hole can be on top of the box or in the back near the door. Just as long as it’s out of site, you’re okay.

A pet tent can come in handy for a variety of reasons. You may be on a camping trip or maybe your pet needs a recluse. You could be feeling creative and just want to treat your little friend to a new home. Whatever reason may come by, this homemade pet tent can make your pet a little happier.

Necessary Materials:

Two Wire Hangers
T-Shirt
Piece of Cardboard -15x15 
Tape - Adhesive or Duct
Safety Pin
Wire Cutter

Instructions

Cut the curved part of each hanger. Reshape so that they make a curved arch. Smooth them out to your liking. The hangers should be identical.

Use one of your hangers to make holes in each corner of your cardboard piece. The holes should be at least half an inch from the edge. Stick the ends of one hanger in holes diagonal to each other.

Stick the ends through each hole so that about an inch hangs out of the other side. Bend each end and tape down to the cardboard to secure. Repeat the same steps with your other hanger.
Once the ends of both hangers are taped down, turn the tent over. Both hangers should be crossing each to make the shape of a curved X. 

The cardboard and hangers together make the outline of your tent - a dome shape. Adjust the dome any way you please. The inner space will be your pet's new home so make sure they will have enough comfortable space. If you feel comfortable enough, you may let your pet enter the dome to test the space.

Next take you t-shirt and pull it over the tent. Position the shirt so that the neck hole is in the front and the middle of the tent. There should be far enough from the top so your pet may easily enter and far enough from the bottom so the hole does not form part of the tent floor.

Depending on the size of your t-shirt, there will be excess fabric. Gather the excess at the bottom of the tent. Use safety pins to hold in place. The floor should be smooth; the t-shirt should be tight around the tent. It may take a few tries to get the floor smooth and the tent tight. This is okay. If you find yourself getting frustrated, take a deep breath and try again.

Once you get the desired result, your project is complete. All ready for your pet!

Bonus Styling

If it’s normally cold where you live, substitute your t-shirt with an old sweatshirt or sweater. The fabric may be thicker than a shirt, so you will want to use large safety pins. Line the floor of the tent with a warm blanket.
To make a tent for bigger pets, cut out a bigger piece of cardboard. For a bigger dome, use multiple hangers to tape together.

Stains and odors can be a pain with pets. Especially with carpets we work so hard to keep spotless. After a while, the effort becomes fruitless and carpet cleaners too expensive. These homemade remedies can help keep your carpet looking brand new and smelling like it too.

Baking Soda Mix for Stains

Mix together a ½ cup of hydrogen peroxide and a teaspoon of dish soap in a bowl. Have baking soda on hand. Cover the stain with paper towels while it is still wet. Soak up any excess liquid by placing an object, preferably heavy, over the napkins. Add more napkins and repeat if necessary. When there is no more excess, pour a handful of baking soda over the paper towels.  Add more baking soda for bigger stains. Next, pour the peroxide/dish soap mix over the baking soda. Scrub the mixture into the carpet and let sit for 15 minutes. Then vacuum the area. Repeat steps until stain is gone.

Pro Tip: Let the mixture sit longer for more difficult stains.

Citrus Enzyme Solution for Stains and Odors

This mix will take about 3 months to complete. As it cannot be made last minute, make the solution as soon as you can.
You will need 7 tablespoons of brown sugar, 1-½ cups of lemon (may substitute with orange) scraps, and one liter of water. Pour the brown sugar into a container big enough to hold all ingredients. A 2-liter bottle is best. Next add the scraps then the water. Close the bottle and shake the contents around to get a good mix. Open the cap of the container halfway to release gases. Mark the date on the bottle to keep track of when you made it. Once it is ready, you may use this solution without adding anything. Pour the solution on the stain and leave it there. The amount of solution and time to leave it depends on how deep the stain is.

Pro Tip: Add a teaspoon of yeast to speed up the process. The solution will be ready in two weeks.

Vinegar/Water Solution for Urine Stain and Odor

Create a solution that’s half vinegar and half water. You will need to act while the urine is still wet, so it’s best to have the solution prepared beforehand. Pour the solution on the urine and let it sit. After ten minutes, place paper towels over to soak up the urine and solution. It can take a few hours for the carpet to dry. Once it does, get some baking soda and pour a little over the spot. After 15 minutes, vacuum over the spot and the smell should be gone.

Why It Works:

Vinegar acts as a neutralizer against the ammonia. It does no harm to your carpet. The baking soda is an absorbent for the odor. Skip the baking soda step and the smell might not come out.

It can be quite a task cleaning a home. The hardest part is trying to figure out which cleaners go with what job. To help with sort all of those kinks out, here are a few cleaners that are sure to be helpful in your home:

Window Cleaner

The title speaks for itself. Window cleaners are mostly used to clean glass, though some people use it for other purposes in the homes including cleaning mirrors. This cleaner is designed to cut oil stains left from fingerprints and food. Try a little windex on that streak of grease left behind on a glass table. and if you want an organic approach a little white vinegar and warm water is both cheap and easy.