Three Important Litter Box Considerations
Three Important Litter Box Considerations
There are three important litter box considerations to account for whether you're a new kitten owner, or someone who has had a cat for a while. If kitty isn't happy with any or all three of these, you may find she'll start urinating outside the box.1. Litter Box Location:Location is all-important in real estate. The litter box location is important to your kitty. As an owner, you need to be certain her box is in a quiet location, away from traffic and noise. Ideally, a room that is seldom visited, such as the basement or laundry room is a good choice.Cats need to be left alone while tending to their business. A child's room, the hallway by the front door, or the family room may be too noisy for her.2. Litter Box Type:New cat litter boxes are marketed constantly. The final decision may rest with kitty. If you buy her a box, and she doesn't use it, think about the way she does her business. For example, my boy, JJ (who is fixed), urinates standing up. He's 14 years old, and it may be too much effort for him to squat. We have tall sided, and hooded litter boxes to accommodate the splash on the back wall.You may consider the mechanical, self-cleaning litter box. They rake the results of kitty's visit into a small container. The drawbacks are that your cat may be scared of the motor noise. If so, she won't use it. The rakes, or tines, need to be cleaned regularly. They're close together, and can be a real trial to clean properly. What if you lose electrical power for an extended period of time? The motor won't operate, and the box won't get scooped, if you forget!Bottom line? Observe your kitty doing her business, and formulate a strategy about the best box to buy.3. Cat Litter:There are lots of different types of cat litter you can purchase. There are different blends of clay; some are perfumed, some are not. Again, your cat may decide for you. If you purchase a certain brand, and kitty eliminates somewhere else, you'll need to experiment with different types until you and she agree on what will be used.Perfumed, or scented litter is for us humans, not the cat! Some cats will refuse to patronize a box with heavily scented litter. As bad as the smell may be for you and your family, the end goal is find the right litter she'll use every time.About The AuthorNancy E. Wigal
Cat Urine Odor Advisorwww.cat-urine-odor-advisor.comThe Cat Urine Odor Advisor offers solutions, resources, and materials that work together to get rid of cat urine odor in your home. nancy@cat-urine-odor-advisor.com
Preliminary Considerations Before Building Your Own Backyard Garden Pond-Gardening
Preliminary Considerations Before Building Your Own Backyard Garden Pond
This article is geared towards the beginner water gardener, who is comtemplating the installation of his/her first garden pond. The key to a successful do-it-yourself project is to gather as much relevant information that you can. To follow are some preliminary considerations and design tips that must be taken into account, before embarking on a water gardening project.PRELIMINARY CONSIDERATIONS1. LocationInstall it as close as the house as possible to maximize enjoyment. For safety reasons, make sure that there are no underground utilities where you will be excavating. Check with your local utility company before you begin digging.Be sure to consider the slope of the land and the location of the pond in order to avoid rainwater runoff. If the pond is located in a low-lying area, lawn fertilizers and other chemicals can wash into the pond and harm the fish and plants.To grow healthy aquatic plants, you will require adequate sun exposure. Most aquatic plants require four to six hours of sunlight per day to ensure healthy growth.2. SizeMake your pond as large as possible, to give you flexibility when you later fill up the pond with fish and plants.3. PurposeDo you want to focus on growing water lilies? If so, locate the pond in full sun. Do you want to raise pond fish? If so, shady areas would be preferred.4. EdgingYou can edge your pond with stones, boulders, plants, beaches, and docks. Plan ahead how you would like to edge your pond.5. StyleNatural style ponds are built to create the illusion of a mountain stream with waterfalls. Larger boulders and flat stones can be used in combination to create the look of a naturally formed stream. The sound of falling water can be fine-tuned through the careful arrangement and placement of stone.Urban ponds are typically smaller in area, and are designed to fit well in smaller backyards.Koi ponds must be able to accomodate fish that can grow to about 2.5 feet in length. Many koi ponds have no plants because koi have a tendency to eat certain types of plants. You must plan for an extremely large pond, and provide adequate surface area for the absorption of oxygen into the water. Ponds for koi must be at least 3 feet deep to provide room for mobility. They also require filtration to keep the water clean.DESIGNNext, you must make a decision on the type of pond that you want.Pre-formed ponds come in a variety of shapes, usually with plant shelves built in. They are ideal for first-time pond builders because they are extremely durable, and less susceptible to tears and punctures. Furthermore, their sturdy pond lips ease the task of leveling during installation. Preformed ponds are easy to install and clean, but require more skill to fit the hole in the ground with the shape of the pond. When properly supported, preformed ponds are ideal for above-ground, indoor, and patio setups.Flexible liners are ideal for the more experienced water gardeners. They allow for easy and very forgiving installations, which consequently promotes greater creativity. Because you can create various shapes with liners, it is possible to construct larger, and deeper configurations (when compared to preformed ponds).Concrete installations usually require a professional installation. Concrete is a medium that tends to crack as the ground freezes and thaws.Use a garden hose to lay out your garden pond shape on the ground. This will allow you to experiment with the size and shape of your pond. Once you have a plan for your water garden, it is important to get your design on paper. The design drawing is paramount because it will help you to make an accurate estimate of the material you will need. The diagram also will allow you to plan for the placement of all the accessories. Be sure to take into consideration the space that rocks and aquatic plants will take in the final design. The pond may appear much smaller visually after all the ponds and rocks are added. At this point, you should also plan for the amount of plant material that you may need to landscape the pond.Finally, it is now time to make a list of materials required. These materials can be purchased from our online store. In our next article, we will provide detailed instructions on how to install both liner and preformed ponds.This article was reproduced with permission from http://www.gardensupermart.com/tips.aspTo view the complete article (with pictures), please go to http://www.gardensupermart.com/tips/intro.asp
Ten Considerations Before You Buy A Bird House-Gardening
Ten Considerations Before You Buy A Bird House
When you decide to buy one bird house or more -- be aware that there are many designs being sold that are unsuitable for the birds. These houses may not attract any birds or the types of birds you wish, or they may actually be harmful.
Many are very cute and look like little decorated houses. There is nothing wrong with these, but they are usually more appropriate as indoor decoration than as good safe homes for wild birds.
Below is a checklist of the ten most important features of a good working bird house. Before you put a house out for wild birds, be sure it has these ten features. If it is decorative and still has these features, then it is fine to put it out.The Ten Things:1. No PerchTree holes in the wild have no perches, so the birds that use nest boxes do not need them. They can be a disadvantage in that they may attract House Sparrows, an invasive species that often takes over nests from our native hole-nesting birds.2. Diameter Of Entrance HoleMost of our common hole-nesting birds can use an entrance hole 1-1/2 inches in diameter. This size also keeps out Starlings, another invasive species that takes over nest boxes from native species.3. Inside Flooring DimensionsThe inside dimensions of the box are important and should be at least 4 inches by 4 inches so that there is room for the young to develop.4. Overall Height Of HouseThe distance from the bottom of the entrance hole to the floor of the box should be at least 5 inches. This keeps the developing young well down in the box and away from predators that might approach the entrance hole.5. Easy Access For CleaningYou must be able to open the box, either on the side, front, or top. This helps in two ways: to monitor the progress and health of the young; and to clean out the box at the end of the season.6. VentilationThere must be holes or slits at the top of the box sides or along the top of the front of the box to let hot air out when the sun beats down on the box in summer.7. Drain HolesThe bottom of the box needs to have holes or cut off corners to allow any water to drain out of the box.8. MountingCheck to see if there is some way that you can attach the box to a pole, such as holes or a bracket.9. Wood Material Of ChoiceBe sure that the materials the box is made of are 3/4 inch thick wood or a similar material that will insulate the birds from cold and heat. The only exception to wood is Purple Martin Housing -- many are made out of Metal.10. Roof OverhangThe roof should overhang the entrance hole by 1 to 2 inches. This both shades the entrance hole and keeps the rain out.Courtesy:
Cedar Creek WoodshopCome Visit Cedar Creek Woodshop For All Your Bird House Needs!!