withstand wet accidents. “I use a hair-attracting dry mop to pick up fur on hard floors. It takes me 10 minutes a day to do 2,400 square feet; otherwise, I’d have tumbleweeds of hair blowing around. I use a Quick Vac every two days on area rugs,” says Joan Fradella, a Florida Supreme Court-certified family mediator in Lantana, Florida. A basset mix, vizla/Rhodesian ridgeback and boxer/Labrador all shed hair in her house. Fradella also uses a water-soaked microfi- ber cleaning cloth to remove what she calls sniggle art (dog nose prints) on sliding glass doors.


If a hairy cat balks at brushing, try a cat hair removal glove. Some are designed to massage and remove loose hair; others clean up furniture and fabrics. Stick with washable cat or dog bedding and use a re-


movable cover for more frequent laundering. Warming tem- peratures due to climate change are fostering a rise in flea populations worldwide. Food-grade (not pool-grade) diato- maceous earth sprinkled on a pet’s bedding or the pet itself is safe; the silky powder adversely affects only creatures with hard outer skeletons. Some dogs grab a mouthful of food and join the family,


trailing crumbs along the way. Instead, feed them in their crates where they feel at home, allowing 15 minutes to fin- ish. For a dog that eats too fast and then sometimes vomits, use a puzzle-designed feeder so it has to work to get to the food. Fradella uses food and water bowls with wide bottoms because they’re harder to overturn. Stainless steel, washed daily, is best. A waterproof mat with a raised lip helps contain mealtime spills. A static mat removes litter from a cat’s feet upon exiting the litter box. “Dogs can be trained to put away their toys,” advises Rob- inson. Cats, not so much. Birds are messy, producing floating bits of feathers and scattered seed. A mesh seed catcher will capture most of it; a dry mop gathers up the rest. Bell suggests randomly sprinkling about 15 drops of


lavender essential oil on a new air filter before installing it for a fresh scent throughout the house, and regularly changing filters. Multiple pets may necessitate more frequent filter replacements, which also reduces dander and related allergy symptoms. Simple routines and the right tools lead to a safe, healthy


home. They also free us up from unnecessary chores to enjoy more time with our beloved pets.


Connect with freelance writer Sandra Murphy at StLouisFreelanceWriter@mindspring.com.


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