7 Tips for Choosing the Right Pet

Choosing a Pet

No pet should be an impulse buy. Don’t give in to whining and pleading. This is something that will cost you a lot of time and money and will be with your family for its entire life.

To make pet ownership a positive experience for all concerned, know what you are getting into before you head out for that pet purchase. Get the kids involved with researching the pet and they are more likely to appreciate the pet and help care for it once you bring it home.

Pets come in all species, shapes and forms. There’s bound to be one that suits your family’s needs. Before deciding on a type of pet, consider the following:

❶ Expense: Do you want a $500 purebred dog or a $20 parakeet? But look beyond purchase price. Consider how much the animal will cost each year in food, grooming, vet care and other essentials. Where is this money coming from?

❷ Allergies and/or phobias: If Bobby is allergic to cats, why let Cassidy get one? If Kristen is terrified of dogs, would a lab really be a good choice for Billy?

❸ Housing: Do you have an appropriate place for the pet? A dog requires either a fenced in yard or walking a couple of times a day.

❹ Lifespan: How long does the pet live? How long do you want it around? Rats only live a couple of years. While this might be ideal for a kid with a short attention span, it could prove traumatic for a child who has bonded with the creatures. Cockatoos, on the other hand, live up to 70 years. Do you really want a pet that you have to provide for in your will? A friend of mine has carefully calibrated her daughter’s pet choices so that they will all die off by the time the child enters college. She wants an entirely empty nest. No muss; no fuss.

❺ Age of pet: Most kids want baby animals. They want puppies or kittens. Again, think this one through. A lot of people buy puppies when their kid is a toddler thinking how cute it is for them to grow up together. But what you’ve really done is give yourself two babies at once. And you’ve cheated your child out of a chance to have a puppy he will be old enough to appreciate. Also young children are often too rough for baby animals – and vice versa. Puppies and kittens may scratch or bite rambunctious youngsters. Save puppies and kittens for older kids.

❻ Compatibility with other pets: If you have other animals already in your home, consider how a new pet will affect them.

❼ Maintenance: There are low-maintenance pets (fish, lizards) and high-maintenance pets (parrots, ponies). What level are you interested in? What level do you think you will be interested in a year from now?

Determining Your Maintenance Tolerance Levels

One of the best methods for choosing a pet is picking one whose maintenance requirements best fits your temperament and lifestyle. Here’s a quick list of common household pets listed from lowest to highest maintenance. Predictably, younger children are usually better suited for lower maintenance pets while adults cope better with high-maintenance pets.

Lowest Maintenance Pets

These are pets that don’t require a lot of nurturing or special care. They don’t require grooming, walking or even petting. Just basic food, water and shelter. These are good starter pets. They also offer the least payback in terms of returning love and affection.

Fish

Most freshwater fish are inexpensive to buy and inexpensive to maintain after the initial investment of a tank or bowl and accessories. Some fish are hardier than others. For small kids, go for inexpensive, durable fish, such as goldfish. You don’t want floaters to start off your pet career.

To start off, go for a solitary goldfish or beta in a simple bowl. If that’s a hit, you can move on to an aquarium. Lighted aquariums can even function as nightlights in a child’s bedroom. Maintenance will be simply feeding once or twice a day and cleaning the bowl once a week. If you keep the aquarium away from direct sunlight, algae will grow more slowly.

Reptiles and Snakes

Boys love lizards and snakes. Moms don’t. If your kid is going to have a lizard or snake, be sure there’s some adult in the house who’s willing to handle it. You’ve got to have that backup person with pets. In other words, Dad is probably the go-to guy on this one. Put the reptile in an aquarium with a locked top. You don’t want Timmy taking it out without your supervision. Avoid large snakes, such as pythons, that might ingest small children.

Research types of reptiles. Some require live (shudder) food. This may not be the type of behavior you want to instill in your child. If you are determined, however, at least get a snake that has been trained to accept frozen mice instead of live, running-around mice. Then all you have to do is heat (to room temperature) and serve. Still not my cup of tea.

Some reptiles (like iguanas) grow to five feet long and can be hazardous to other pets. Some (such as pythons) can grow to 13 feet long and be hazardous to the owner. Nuff said. Don’t forget to ask how large the reptile will be at adulthood.

Even though reptiles are relatively sturdy, they are still living creatures. Never let young children handle them unsupervised. Make sure you choose a reptile that is tame and does not try to bite. Good lizard choices are a bearded dragon or a gecko. Good snake choices are a corn snake, rat snake or a king snake.

While reptiles and snakes are easy, they do have some needs: a tank, lights, water and food. Lizards need places to hide and things to perch on. Tropical or desert reptiles will also need a heat source. This will not be cheap. Some even need special thermometers and full-spectrum lighting.

The bearded dragon, for example, will require a 10 gallon terrarium with a screen top the first year and a 40 gallon terrarium as he grows (very, very fast) up to 18 inches. Many reptiles are omnivores, which means they not only eat fruit and vegetables but steak and mice as well. This is not a simple matter of dropping in some pellets each day.

Reptiles don’t need a lot of exercise (though if you released one near me, I would get a lot of exercise) and they don’t really need a lot of attention. Figure on about 15-30 minutes a day to feed them and about an hour a week to clean the tank.

Tortoises and turtles are other good reptile choices. Turtles are amphibians; tortoises are land creatures. Make sure you provide the right environment for your species.

Turtles can be quite affectionate and are quite long lived (30 to 40 years for the box turtle). Even though they look sturdy, take care not to drop them because that could injure their shells or internal organs. Tortoises in particular should not be handled often.

Low Maintenance

Rodents, such as rats, mice, gerbils, hamsters, etc., make nice starter pets. They are small, furry and cuddly. But they happily stay in their cages when the kids aren’t playing with them. Other advantages? They are quiet, not very messy and fairly easy to care for. They usually are inexpensive to buy and maintain.

Rats and Mice

First, remember that mice are not baby rats. Two different species. Two different personalities. Rats are especially intelligent and friendly, despite their nasty looking tails. Mice are cute and fun to watch in the cages, but they are a bit squirmy and nippy for holding and loving. If you want a love bucket, get a rat. Hold them at the store and if the rat or mouse is a nipper, request another one. Also, the younger you get them, the easier they are to tame and bond with.

Male or female? Good question. Male rat urine can be a bit smelly, plus males will mark territory with a drop of urine – a drawback if you let him out a lot. On the other hand, males are a lot calmer and more loving. If you change the litter at least once a week, smell should not be an issue, anyway.

You’ll need a special place for the rat cage as shavings can be messy. Their cages take up a lot of room. Each rat needs a minimum of two cubic feet. So if you had a rat couple, that would mean a cage 2 feet by 2 feet by 2 feet.

They need to be let out to run around at least a few minutes each day. You (or the kid) will need to supervise this outing as they tend to nibble through telephone cords, electrical wires. Plus, you don’t want them getting lost in your walls or closets. Rats live two to four years; mice one to three.

Other Rodents

• Hamsters: These guys also need extra vitamin C. They can bite and they’re more vocal than most rodents. They are best kept alone. But know that they are nocturnal and may be a bit sleepy during the day and more active than you would like at night. They live 2 or 3 years.

• Gerbils: These are small but fun pets. Not as intelligent or cuddly as rats, but OK. They are happier in pairs so get a couple. They live 2 to 3 years.

• Guinea pigs: These chubby little rodents make sweet, gentle pets. Get a pair. They need a large cage and a special diet of hay, vegetables and Vitamin C. They can live 5 to 7 years.

Small Birds

Birds are usually not good pets for kids under the age of 8. They are not gentle enough to care for them. Young kids dart about and alarm birds. Small birds, however, make excellent pets for older children. If you buy a bird that has been hand raised, it should bond readily with its new owner and be quite tame as long as you handle it regularly and gently.

Small birds are easy pets because they are generally confined to the cage and cannot wreak too much havoc. You only need to change the papers in the cage each day and replenish its food and water. You’ll need to do a more thorough cleaning about once a week. Cockatiels and parakeets are particularly good choices. The smaller birds, such as finches and canaries, are mainly for watching, not petting.

Cats

In my prejudiced mind, cats are the perfect pets. They are sweet and cuddly. They’re definitely low maintenance – you can go away for a weekend and just leave out food and water for them. They’re not messy – indeed, they are fastidious and will look at you in dismay if you neglect to clean their litter boxes each day.

Of course, they have their drawbacks. They shed. A lot of people are allergic to them. And if you don’t get them declawed, they can literally shred furniture and floor coverings.

They are relatively long lived (about 15-20 years) and if you keep them indoors, they are usually healthy animals. Don’t get kittens for small children. Cats between 1 and 3 have all the kitten attributes but are a bit hardier and can easily get away from rough little hands. Be careful introducing a new kitten into a house with dogs, as well.

Medium Maintenance

Dogs

I have a bias here. I don’t approve of entirely outdoor pets. They get neglected, especially during the winter months. I feel if you have a pet, it needs to come inside and be part of the family – at least occasionally. Plus, outdoor pets have shorter, unhealthier lives (thanks to cars and other hazards). And they are more likely to transmit disease, pests like fleas and bacteria to your family.

Dogs go through a golden age at about the middle of their lifespan when they are housebroken and calm. They no longer chew on your shoes and they often come when called. This golden age only lasts a few years. At the beginning and the end of their lives, dogs can be a lot of work.

Puppies need house training, they need to learn the rules of the house. They chew up everything. They are rowdy and rambunctious. With a puppy, you pretty much need someone at home for the first few months. Fortunately, they are adorable, too, so there’s a payoff.

Old dogs revert to puppyhood in many ways. They can’t hold their bladder as well. Accidents occur. Multiple trips to the vet may be required for health problems. Fortunately, by this time, they’re one of the family so you just bite the bullet and clean up after them just like you would for Uncle Harry. For the biggest payoff, get a long-lived dog so those golden years will be worth the effort on both ends.

Small breeds tend to live longer than large breeds. On the negative side, small breeds are often noisier and more frenetic than larger breeds. If you are a control freak who wants to make the very best choice for your home, you may want to consider buying a purebred. You can get great dogs at the pound. And you’ll be doing society and nature a favor. But if you have specific requirements, look through the books and there will be a breed that meets those requirements.

My friend, Kim, for example, wanted to get a dog for her kid. Her husband did not want a dog. Repeat. No dog. OK, she bargained, why don’t you want a dog? Because he said, it will tie us down. It will chew up the house. It will terrorize the cats. It will mess in the house. It will shed. I’m allergic. It will bark. We’ll have to walk it. She and her daughter plunged into a couple of dog books and believe it or not, emerged with a couple of breeds that fit his specifications. Five years later, proud hubby loves to walk the little Shih Tzu around the neighborhood.

You can buy a calm dog; a hyper dog; a watchdog; a lap dog. You can buy a dog that doesn’t shed and a dog that doesn’t bark. Whatever you want is out there. But realize that large dogs usually need lots of exercise. And any dog needs a good 20-minute walk at least once a day.

And unlike cats, you can’t just run off for the weekend and leave them. Dogs are pack animals. They need people around. They also need to be walked and fed and watered. Frequently. Think about how much spare time and energy you have before you say yes to a dog.

High Maintenance

In this category, you can put large birds, such as parrots and cockatoos, and any kind of exotic animal. These pets usually require more attention; more expensive cages or habitats; specialized vet care. And just try to find a pet sitter for them when you go on vacation.

These are not usually pets for children. Often they see children as something below them in the pecking order. And that is not good. Now if you would like an exotic pet for yourself, that’s one thing. But don’t get one just for the kid.

Parrots and cockatoos make cool conversation pieces. They are fun and comical and easy to train to do tricks. They are very social birds that bond readily with people. But they are also loud; they screech. They are messy and destructive. If you ignore or neglect them, they become self destructive and pick their feathers out. And they live 70 to 80 years. Just think of signing on for a 2-year-old who will never grow up. Ever.

Is Your Child Ready for a Pet? Are You?

Advantages of Pet Ownership

Here are just a few ways pets can enrich your child’s life:

• Pets can be a real comfort to children under stress. We’ve all had those times when we feel no one loves or understands us. Somehow it really helps to bury your face in a loving dog or cat’s tummy and just cry it out.

• Pets offer children unconditional love. Step on Poochie’s tail, yell at him, even take him to the groomer – and you’re still his favorite person in the world. Go figure.

• If you allow Fluffy or Spot on the bed, he or she can be a real comfort for kids who are afraid of the dark or who don’t want to sleep alone. This, in turn, can be a real comfort for parents who do want to sleep alone.

• Pets, especially dogs, are reassuring for kids who are alone in the house occasionally. Latch key kids have a living being to welcome them home. Teens feel comfortable alone while the parents have a night out.

• Pets are an excellent way to teach children about loving, caring and sharing. Show your kids how to care for a pet by the way that you care for it. If you kick the dog, they will, too.

• By caring for an animal that cannot talk, children learn lifelong skills, such as reading nonverbal cues, that they can use with people later. Kids who own pets score higher on tests for social skills, empathy and self esteem.

• Pets are an easy source of entertainment. Most furry pets are fun to play with. Dogs fetch. Cats chase string. You can even train them. Some children even show their animals.

• Kids who grow up with pets are actually less likely to develop allergies than kids who grow up solo. Scientists speculate that perhaps that’s because they acquire immunities to the animals early on.

• Pets provide biology lessons. Not only can alert kids learn the facts of life, but they also learn about the life cycle from birth to death.

Finally, pets are an excellent way to teach a child responsibility. Though this is often touted as one of the main reasons to let children have pets, I think it’s overrated. While most young children are not mature enough for such responsibility, they are old enough for the main value that I think pets offer –something to love that will love them back. Once that love is established, responsibility will gradually follow as the child matures.

Disadvantages of Pet Ownership

Now let’s address the parental knee-jerk response to the perennial question, “Can I have a ___?” The resounding “No!”

Your instincts are correct. Pets are a lot of trouble. They can be dirty, messy, noisy, expensive, etc. Here are just a few of the concerns that you should consider before agreeing to any pet – big or small; furry, finned or feathered.

• Animals are messy. Even caged animals seem to be able to hurl shavings to the far corners of the room. And we won’t even discuss the repercussions of a cat with a hairball.

• Animals are a lot of work. Pets need to be fed, bathed and groomed. Dogs need walking. Cats need litter boxes scooped. Aquariums and cages must be cleaned.

• Often, this will be your work. You cannot punish a negligent child by punishing the animal. If the kid goes off to school without feeding the rat, you can’t let it go without food or water all day. Just realize that there are times – no matter how old or responsible the child – that the pet will be your responsibility by default.

• Pets make vacations difficult. Consider how often you are away from home and how easily you will be able to get someone to look after your pet. If you have many animals or exotic animals, you will probably either need to board them when you’re away or hire a house sitter – both of which can add up quickly. The best bet is to get a pet that’s easily cared for and switch off with a neighbor.

• Animals eventually get sick and/or die. Can you say Pet Insurance? Seriously, you might want to check into it. An animal is a member of your family and you cannot let it suffer. What kind of parenting skills would you be teaching your child? Even a box turtle can rack up the vet bills. Be sure that you are willing to pay what it takes to keep your pet healthy.

• Pets are expensive. “But Mom, the rat is only $2!” Yes, but then there’s the $35 cage; the $9.95 bag of shavings; the $4.95 house; the $11.95 bag of food and the $6.95 rat care book. And he will need toys, of course, and treats. And he will need these things for the two or three years that the rat lives. And that’s just a rat!

• Pets pose some dangers. Some pets bite. Some scratch. Some carry diseases. If you get a pet, teach your child how to handle it safely and sanitarily. (Add vet bills to the item above.)

Wait! Aren’t we missing something? I saved the worst for last: Kids lose interest.

Of course, they do -- kids lose interest in everything. Their attention spans are about a nanosecond long. Why would you assume it would be different with pets? The real secret of getting your child a pet is knowing that this is probably your pet. You will be the one who is ultimately responsible – just like you are ultimately responsible for all the other lives in your household. If you don’t want that responsibility or if you don’t like cats, dogs, snakes, whatever – don’t get it. Period.

To Pet or Not to Pet

Still trying to decide? Whether you get a pet depends on how much time you are willing to spend with it, especially with younger kids. Pets impact the whole family, not just the “owner” (or, if you live in enlightened areas, the “guardian”).

Consider these questions:

• Your child’s age. Most experts agree that kids under age 6 are generally not capable of understanding an animal’s needs and caring for it properly. If you get a pet for a young child, realize that it is truly your pet. Don’t go into the situation with false expectations. That’s not fair to the kid or the animal. Many advise starting out young children with easy to care for animals such as mice, turtles or fish. But as we’ve discussed above, pets can be beneficial for young children, even if they cannot assume full responsibility for them.

• How mature is your child? Some kids are more responsible than others but all will have time conflicts occasionally. All will forget occasionally. So you have to decide how much you’re willing to help.

• How will the pet affect the rest of the family? Do any family members have allergies? Fears?

• How will a pet affect the family dynamics? Needless to say, they will all want a pet of their own. If you get one kid a dog, does the next kid also get to demand a dog? Kids may share bedrooms; they may even share toothbrushes (ugh) but they draw the line when it comes to pets. Just be aware of this phenomenon going in and have an idea of how you will respond to it. You might say that either they share that dog or no one gets anything. (That will last until the dog arrives.) You might say that everyone gets to choose one pet right now. (But do you really want three new pets at once? They would be cute together and they would grow up being friends instead of predators and prey.) You might say that age 7 is the magic number and as kids reach 7, they can choose a pet – with your approval. Just be prepared for this issue.

Valentine's Day Planting - With Kids!

Planting From the Heart

This fun family project combines the ancient art of paper making with gardening for a heart-warming result.

A Homemade Heart Transplant

There is nothing more heart-warming than watching seeds that you’ve planted push up through the earth.

Unless, of course, the flowers are coming up in the shape of a heart.

This spring, help your children make their own homemade planting paper in the shape of a heart. Simply make a sheet of handmade paper, sprinkle seeds on top, let it dry and plant. Water and let nature work its magic.

First, you need to make a little paper. Fill your blender about halfway full with shredded recycled paper (the more colorful the paper, the more colorful your paper). Top off with warm water and blend until the large chunks dissolve (about 30 to 45 seconds).

Cut a piece of old screen into a heart shape (about a foot long by a foot wide) and lay it in a shallow pan. Pour the paper mush over the screen and smooth it out with your hand.

Gently lift the screen with the mush on top. Let the excess water drain off, then place the screen on a stack of newspapers or felt and sprinkle generously with flower seeds. Cover the mush with more newspapers or felt and gently squeeze most of the liquid out with a rolling pin.

Carefully pull off the heart-shaped paper and let it dry. Plant the heart in the garden about ¼ inch deep and water frequently.

Now wait for your heart to grow.

How to Organize Your Car

Drive, He Said

Most of us spend a great deal of time in our cars.

We commute to and from work. We run errands. We take the kids to school, to the orthodontists, to soccer, to playmates, to the mall, etc. So it stands to reason that our car should be fully functional. After all, it's our home away from home

How many times have you gone for an outing that turned out to be a lot chillier than you expected? How many times has your kid spilled soda all over her outfit? How many times have you desperately needed to call another mom in your carpool but didn't have her phone number with you?

Parents obviously need a lot more backup supplies in their cars. But everyone should have basic things in their cars in case of emergency. If you drive a sports car, you probably don't have room for a lot of this – but then you aren't living in the real world, anyway.

Paperwork

You should always carry certain basic legal documents in your glove compartment:

• Insurance information
• Registration
• Auto manual
• Automobile club membership card and phone number

Those are the only essential documents. But there are a few other items you’ll be glad you’ve got onboard, such as:

• Personal phone directory: Plug in the numbers for fellow carpoolers into your cell phone. Be sure to include the school, team coaches, and any other numbers you may need when the freeway’s backed up and you’re running late.

• Pen and paper: How often do you think of something while driving and forget it before you get home? Or, should the unthinkable happen - an accident en route - you can jot down pertinent info for the insurance claim, such as the make and model of the other guy’s car, driver’s license number and license plate details.

• Notebook for mileage: Keep up with gas mileage or use it to record mileage for business trips or volunteer activities.

• Envelope for receipts: Put business receipts here. Take them out of your car regularly and file them inside.

• Coupons: You're not going to use coupons if they're sitting at home. Update them each month and toss out the ones that have expired.

• Maps and directions: Keep maps of your county in the car. Keep state and national maps in a file in your study and retrieve them as needed.

Tooling Tools

You will also need a few other travel essentials for your car. In the pocket, keep:

• Flashlight
• Ice scraper
• Rubber squeegee
• Change for parking meters
• Toll booth tokens or tickets

In the trunk, keep:

• Sign that says "Send Help" (heck, you might actually need it someday.)
• First-aid kit
• Flares
• Tools for changing tire and a spare
• Jumper cables

Cleanliness

Is a clean family car an oxymoron? If you have kids, know that they will eat in the car and they will trash the car, if allowed. The following will cut down on grime:

• Trash bags.
• Tissues
• Paper towels
• Napkins

Grooming

Yes, we all hate those women who put on their makeup in traffic. But everyone needs some emergency help at times. Consider packing:

• A lint brush: How often have you rushed into a meeting just to notice that the cat gave you a love rub before you left home?

• Extra clothing: Pack sneakers and extra coats for you and your kids. You never know when the weather will turn nasty or when you might want to take an unscheduled hike. Pack a change of clothing for small children. Spills can ruin any event. And if you or your kids have regular athletic activities that require specific clothes, pack a gym bag with the essential clothing and grooming items and leave it in your car.

• Cosmetic kit: Include a fingernail file, Chap Stick, lipstick, a hairbrush, ponytail holders. That keeps you from having to lug it all in your purse.

Entertainment

You'll need CDs or DVDs for those long road trips, of course. Consider an organizer – don't let them spill all over the floor. If you're planning a road trip, you can rent or buy small VCRs for the backseat bunch.

Other family essentials include:

• Activity kits (preferably one per child unless you like arguments): Kids can not only amuse themselves in the car with their games, coloring books or drawing, but they can take the kit into restaurants as well. In a little case pack books, coloring books, crayons, sketchbook, activity books, pencils, markers, pencil sharpener, crayons, tape and scissors.

• Sports equipment: You may want to travel with some seasonal sports equipment as well. If you're waiting for someone, the kids can amuse themselves in the parking lot by swatting tennis balls or riding their scooters.

• Food: Always have gum, crackers, chips and bottled water on hand to soothe whiners.

• Foul weather gear: Be prepared for the worst. Take a bag or basket filled with gloves, coats, sweaters, boots and an umbrella.

• First aid kit: If there's a piece of glass, a kid's foot will find it. Always take along some band-aids. If you have room, include kid's Tylenol, aspirin (for yourself), cough drops and antiseptic ointment and any prescription drug you may need unexpectedly.

• Pets: Always have pooper scoopers and a water dish.

Seem like a lot? It is. But as long as you live in your car, you may as well live comfortably. The first time you're stuck in traffic and you're able to appease a wailing child with a piece of bubble gum, all your efforts will seem worthwhile.

And finally, a word of caution, take all identifying papers out of your glove compartment whenever you valet park. And only hand them the car key. Take your house and office keys off the chain. All you want is to hand a complete stranger the keys to your car, home and office, plus your address.

Tips for Cleaning Up after Pets

Pets, kids, messes. They go together like, well... Let’s save that analogy for another time. For now, here are some tips on the biggest pet problems most of us face at home:

Removing Hair

Cat hair is notoriously difficult to remove from clothing as well as upholstery. My favorite method of getting it off furniture is simply to dampen my hand and rub it gently along the surface. The fur sticks to my hand and I just rinse it off. If you’re too squeamish for that method, try rubbing it with a dampened sponge. Still another approach is to vacuum the upholstery at least once a week.

Removing Odors

A product called Febreeze does a nice job of eliminating pet smells and it’s safe for most upholstery and carpets. Or, you could try placing a scented fabric softener sheet between the cushions of the sofa (or wherever the animal naps).

Removing Stains

Pet Piddle: This problem requires a three-prong solution. And a lot of time and effort.

1. Absorb excess liquid with a white rag or paper towels. Blot on a solution of one-quarter teaspoon of mild liquid laundry detergent and one cup warm water. Repeat until there is no more stain transferring to your towel or rag. (Never rub the carpet.)

2. Blot the spot with a solution of two tablespoons ammonia in one cup water. Rinse with warm water. Repeat and blot dry. Then blot the area again with a solution of one cup white vinegar and two cups water. Rinse again.

3. Cover the area with several layers of paper towels weighed down with a heavy object. (I sometimes just stand on the towels.) Continue changing the paper towels until the carpet is dry.

Pet Poop: An even messier problem to remove.

1. Gently scoop up the solids with a spoon or spatula. Take outside.
2. Blot with a solution of two tablespoons of ammonia in one cup of water. Let soak for several minutes. Blot and repeat until the stain is removed.
3. Rinse with cold water.
4. Blot dry.

If any odor remains, sprinkle baking soda on the spot. Let it sit overnight, then vacuum.

Warning: Some stains just won’t come out. And be careful not to use too much water on the spot. If the urine gets into the pad underneath, you’ll never get it out. The carpet will look clean, but then the urine will wick back up from the pad. If this happens, patch the carpet (as well as the pad).

Cleaning the Litter box

We swear by the clumping cat litter. Urine clumps so you can scoop it and other solids out of the litter box without changing all the litter. Scoop the box as many times a day as you have cats. One cat: once a day. Three cats: three times a day. You get the idea.

Always use gloves when you clean the litter box as cat urine and feces can carry viruses, worms and bacteria.

At least once a week, change the entire contents of the box. Fill the pan with hot water and a half-cup of bleach and let it sit for 10 minutes. Then rinse well and dry.

Add fresh litter and your cat is back in business.

Tips on How to Care for Jewelry

Valentine’s Day is right around the corner. Chances are you’ve got some precious pieces in your future, perhaps? Remember: a diamond is forever only if you take good care of it. Good jewelry warrants good care. Here’s how to keep your precious pieces sparkling.

No jewelry - not even a wedding ring - should be worn all the time. All stones (including diamonds and sapphires) can chip. Gold, silver and platinum are easily scratched. And harsh chemicals can damage both stones and metals.

Take off jewelry when...

♢ You workout or do gardening or yard work. (If you lose a stone, you might never find it.)

♢ You clean the house including washing dishes. Household cleaners can damage jewelry, plus you run the risk of scratching it on something.

♢ When bathing, swimming or soaking in the hot tub. Chlorine can damage stones and metal.

While the fear of losing a precious piece may seem to outweigh potential damage, you can manage both risks by keeping a small cup or container nearby places you normally take off your rings.

Cleaning the family jewels

Jewelry needs occasional cleaning to remove grunge around settings and to remove oily buildup that dulls the sheen. Most jewelry can be cleaned by soaking it for a few minutes in a bowl of lukewarm water with a little dishwashing detergent and scrubbing gently with a toothbrush. Don’t use toothpaste - it’s too abrasive.

Ultrasonic cleaners should only be used for all-metal jewelry or diamonds. It can damage other stones. Ditto for ammonia. Here’s the scoop on specific care by item:

♢ Silver If you use silver polish, be careful not to get it on any stones. Polish with a soft all-cotton cloth as paper or rough rags can scratch silver.

♢ Gold or silver chains Let soak in soapy water. If they get tangled or knotted, apply a drop of baby oil and unravel with sewing needles.

♢ Diamonds A little ammonia dissolved in water will remove any oily film.

♢ Crystals, rubies, sapphires, etc. Soak for just a few minutes in a warm solution of hand dish detergent and water and scrub gently with a toothbrush. Polish dry with a clean cotton cloth.

♢ Opaque stones (turquoise, malachite, onyx, lapis, etc.) These are actually rocks, not crystals, so they are absorbent. Don’t soak or expose these to ammonia or any other chemicals. Just polish clean with a soft, dry cloth.

♢ Opals Clean these fragile stones with soapy water and quickly wipe dry. Don’t clean in an ultrasonic cleaner or expose to ammonia.

♢ Pearls Do not soak these - instead, wipe clean with a moist cloth. Unlike other jewels, pearls get better and more lustrous with exposure to the skin’s natural oils. Be sure to take them off before bathing or showering. Restring once a year.

♢ Emeralds Clean these soft stones using just a dry, lint-free cotton cloth.

Daily care for precious pieces

Resist the urge to toss good jewelry into the bottom of a jewelry box. Not only do chains get tangled, but the jewelry can be damaged. Diamonds and sapphires can scratch metals and other gems.

Here’s how to store your best buff stuff:

♢ Store your best pieces individually in soft fabric bags in a cool, dark place.

♢ Light causes silver to tarnish so be sure to store these pieces individually in tarnish-preventing bags.

♢ Store gold pieces in chamois to protect its luster.

♢ Store bead necklaces flat because the silk string will stretch over time.

♢ Don’t store peals in plastic bags; chamois is best.

♢ Store opals in a cool, dark place; they will dry out if exposed to light.

Final tips for keeping your jewelry in tiptop condition:

♢ Don’t apply makeup while you have jewelry on. Ditto for hairspray and lotion.

♢ Check settings frequently for loose stones.

♢ Wipe clean all jewelry after each wear with a soft, all-cotton cloth.

Pet Chores for Kids - By Age

Here’s a guide to which chores kids can do at what ages to care for and clean up after the family pets. Once a child reaches a certain skill or age level, he can generally do the chores for his age group and those for the age groups below. Of course, some of these chores need to be done each day, others each week, and still others once a month or even less frequently. Use your best judgment for what gets done when.

Ages two and under:

• Play (supervised) with pet.
* Pick up the pet’s toys

Ages three to five:

• Put away pet’s toys in the proper boxes or bins
* Wipe up spills

Ages six to nine:

• Feed pets
• Exercise pets
• Clean pet’s bowls
• Scoop up the dog’s poop

Ages 10 to 13:

• Clean fish/reptile aquarium
* Clean pet’s cage
• Help give medications, bath pet
* Scoop dog’s poop
• Scoop and clean out the litter box
• Wash the dog and/or cat