This issue is one of the top reasons that cats are either left to go feral or are dumped in a shelter. Cat urine has to be one of the most unpleasant odors.
Before we can help solve this kitty’s problems, we need to ask Mommy or Daddy a few questions:

1) Is this cat spayed or neutered? If male cats aren’t neutered, they can often “spray” to mark territory, which could be confused with pee.

2) Have you taken this cat to the vet to rule out an UTI (Urinary Tract Infection)?

Once these two major things are ruled out in this cat’s case, consider what’s been changed in the house. If this is a cat that always used the cat box and is now refusing to use it, ask yourself:

1) Has anything changed in the house – new baby, new dog, new cat? This may be causing stress and that may be the reaction you’re seeing with your cat.

2) Have you moved the litter box to a new location?

3) Is the litter being changed regularly? (Every day, couple of days, no more than a week…)

4) Have you changed the type of little you’re using? Some cats are finicky (yes, an understatement I know), and may not like the feel of corncob litter on their feet. Or they may not like the smell of the piney litter. Consider if you’ve made a change in the litter.

5) Have you added another cat to the family? If so, some cats will share litter boxes. Most people recommend one litter box per cat – i.e. 2 cats, 2 litter boxes.

6) If everything’s fine on these fronts, you might consider buying a new litter box – maybe an open box, rather than a covered one. Sometimes older cat boxes can retain odors that we cannot smell, but animals with a heightened sense of smell may be bothered by the heavy smell.

7) If your cat is older, you may want to help it navigate the stairs by placing a litter box on every level, reducing the number of times an arthritic or older cat needs to expend energy in this department. Cats cannot tell us that they’re bothered by arthritis or stiff joints and may be taking a short-cut to avoid pain.

If there’s a “special spot” on the rugs that the cat likes to pee – consider using an enzymatic cleanser and a fluorescent black light to find the spots.

9) Try buying a plastic carpet runner (from a place like Home Depot or Loews at about a buck a foot) and place the runner upside down (spikes up) to discourage your cat from urinating in that spot.

10) Almost like “potty training” a new puppy, you may need to restrict the out of the box pee-er to a small space – like a crate or a bathroom –that includes a litter box. Start there and when the successfully use the litter box 100 percent of the time, gradually increase the space – with supervision, until you can be convinced that this cat will not pee outside of the litter box again. It’s a process and won’t happen overnight. But, it can be, with patience, cured.

Good luck with your kitty!

Let me hasten to say that Cosmo is a parrot, a female African Grey Parrot who had been talking since her first birthday, or hatchday.

As soon as I settled in my recliner in my bedroom, I heard from inside her darkened room: “Cosmo wanna water!” So I got up, opened her door, brought her fresh water, gave her a good-night kiss on her little warm beak, told her I loved her, and shut the door to her room.

I returned to my bedroom, sat down, picked up my book, and heard: “Cosmo wanna peanut!” I got up, went to the kitchen, took a handful of dry-roasted, unsalted peanuts, opened the door to her room, deposited the peanuts in her food dish, gave her a good-night kiss, told her I loved her, and shut the door to her room.

“Cosmo wanna cuddle!” Oh, no!

Then, “Cosmo wanna go up, OK?”

“OK,” I said.

Defeated, I let Cosmo out of her cage to have a few more minutes of quality time with me before beginning the bedtime ritual all over.

Parrots need 10-12 hours of sleep a night. In the rain forests near the equator where they live in the wild, African Greys awaken at dawn and go to sleep at dusk. They do not stay up on their perches munching on palm nuts and chirping with each other late into the night, because they do not want to attract predators. Also, they can’t see at night.

Parrots living in our homes need the same amount of sleep as their ancestors, but sometimes they fail to get it. Whereas in the daytime they need a large cage in the middle of family activity by a window, for mental stimulation and entertainment, at night they need a roost cage in a darkened, quiet room for uninterrupted sleep. Without enough sleep, Greys become irritable, anxious, tired and sometimes unhappy enough to pluck out their feathers.

That’s why I try to put Cosmo to bed about 9 p.m., whether she wants to go or not. In June, when the days are long, she does not.

Cosmo does take naps. Occasionally, in the afternoon, I spot her resting on one leg, with the other drawn up under her belly, and with her eyelids closed.

When birds go to sleep, they automatically lock their toes around their perch to keep from falling off. They often sleep on one foot only, preserving warmth by sheltering the other under their body.

Late one rainy, wintry night, several hours after Cosmo had retired for the evening, I heard a ruckus and then a squawk in Cosmo’s room. I leaped out of my chair, flung open the door, and found Cosmo standing on the bottom of her cage looking dazed. She’d flown off her perch. I picked her up and held her close. She was trembling.

She must have had a bad dream.

We know that humans are not the only animals who dream. Just as all of earth’s critters sleep, I assume that all of earth’s critters, at least the feathery, furry and hairy ones, dream — often about each other, and sometimes about us humans. Everybody who has any mental life whatsoever must dream, and I assume that all animals have some sort of mental life. I love to imagine what hibernating bears dream about, and whales and skunks and hawks.

I’ve been wondering what Cosmo dreams about. Does she dream about me, the love of her life, her caregiver, companion, cook and driver? Does she dream about the dogs? Does she dream about the squirrels and the birds whom she watches during the day as they feed on the deck railing outside her window?

Does she dream about having company or going in a car?

Does she dream about her clutch-mates and her parents, from whom she was separated in her first few months of life when she was sold to the pet store? African Greys in the rain forest stay with their immediate families for a year after hatching. Cosmo’s departure from her parents must have been traumatic to her.

Does she dream in English? Does she have crazy dreams after eating too many peanuts?

Does she have nightmares — about a hawk coming to get her, or the dustbuster?

After we cuddled a bit that rainy, wintry night, Cosmo said, “Como wanna go to bed.”

• Betty Jean Craige is professor emerita of comparative literature at the University of Georgia and the author of many books, including “Conversations with Cosmo: At Home with an African Grey Parrot” (2010). Her email address is bettyjean@cosmotalks.com. Cosmo’s website address is www.cosmotalks.com.

I recently read an article about Stella & Chewy’s dog foods that was started because of issues digesting food by the founder’s shelter/adoptive dog…. So I interviewed Marie, CEO of Stella & Chewy’s:

PP: Marie, tell me about adopting your first shelter dog.

Marie: My first adoption was after I finished college and have been adopting ever since. His name was Louie and he was about a year old when I rescued him.

PP: What motivated you to adopt, rather than shop for a dog?

Marie: I’ve always found the most amazing dogs through adoption and rescue so it never occurred to me to shop for a dog.

PP: Did Stella and Chewy choose you?

Marie: Yes they did. My dogs have always “found” me.

PP: What motivated you to start Stella & Chewy’s pet food company?

Marie: My dog Chewy did. Soon after rescuing him I realized he was very sick. I consulted with my vet and he recommended a raw diet. I researched this kind of diet and began making food for Chewy myself. He’s health improved quickly so I continued to prepare his meals and decided to put Stella on the same diet. Both dogs loved the food, and were happy, healthy and full of energy so I starting producing larger batches. That is when I realized that other pet owners who love their animals as much as I do might be interested in what I was making.

PP: Why did you pick a midwestern city to place your company?

Marie: I’m from Wisconsin originally. I knew the area and knew that the real estate was much more affordable then New York City. I also graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and knew their college of Agriculture and Life Sciences would be a valuable resource for me. Also Milwaukee has a long and distinguished history in meat packing and processing.

PP: What makes Stella & Chewy’s food different from the traditional kibble most Americans feed pets?

Marie: Stella & Chewy’s philosophy is based upon what pets naturally eat in the wild. Frozen and freeze dried foods are made without using any heat. Foods that are processed above 120 degrees have less active enzymes and the vitamins and minerals are also impacted by heat. The food is therefore not as bio-availale.

S&C’s products are made without grains, fillers, artificial preservatives, added hormones or antibiotics. We don’t add sugar, salt or colorings S&C offers 100% complete and balanced dinners which are 95% raw meat, poultry and fish, 5% organic fruit and vegetables with add probiotics, vitamins and minerals.

PP: Why should a typical pet owner investigate your food for their pets?

Marie: This diet is species appropriate. People are more aware these days of the importance of fresh food and a healthy diet, for themselves and their families. They’re also more interested in and educated about what they feed their pets, who are family members as well.

PP: What are the health benefits?

Marie: We have heard from pet owners that while feeding S&C their animals have a healthier appetite and better digestion, increased stamina and vitality, healthier coat and skin and less ear and eye issue. We’ve also gotten feedback that while on this diet the animals have fewer allergies and less obesity. The food increases not only the quality of life for the pet but it also increases longevity.

PP: I am a volunteer with a local humane society and we often take in shelter dogs with lots of issues from dogs and puppies not being cared for properly. Do you recommend a restorative diet for these type of dogs?

Marie: Absolutely however it’s not always feasible to feed the rescue dogs a diet of 100 % raw or freeze dried, so we recommend at least supplementing with raw.

PP: If I’m interested in investigating a healthier diet for my dog or cat, where can I find Stella & Chewy’s available in my area (Atlanta)?

Marie: S&C can be found at over 3000 independent retailers across the nation. Our website has a store locator under “Where to Buy”. There are about a dozen retailers in the Atlanta area that carry S&C products.

PP: What is the website for more information?

Marie: www.stellaandchewys.com

PP: Any further thoughts you’d like to share with the Pet Peeves community?

At Stella & Chewy’s we’re dedicated to the simple idea that pets should be healthy and happy every day of their lives. We believe that dogs thrive on pure simple minimally processed food- the way nature intended.

Animal Communicator and Author Tim Link in Atlanta, GA helps the founder of Brazoria County Humane Society in Alvin, TX find her lost dog — a 2 lb, 18 year-old, blind Yorkie.

Alvin, TX (PRWEB) May 02, 2012

As founder of the Brazoria County Humane Society, Shirley Tinnin has rescued animals since Dec 2003, but she hadn’t used the services of an animal communicator until BB, her 2 lb, 18 year-old blind Yorkie was lost recently.

With the help of information provided by animal communicator Tim Link, BB’s location was pinpointed and within 24 hours she was reunited with her family.

Shirley said they keep a close eye on BB. Living in the country, BB would be the perfect snack for a passing hawk. The miniature Yorkie wandered out of the house when a cleaning crew came in, but no one realized she was gone immediately. Once outside, the little dog became disoriented and started walking.

When Shirley realized BB was missing, she kicked the search into high gear. First checking the house, their property and even the ditches by the road, Shirley then posted an update on Facebook, called animal control and started putting out signs. A friend suggested that Shirley talk with Tim Link, an animal communicator specializing in lost pets. At that point, she was willing to try anything.

Shirley contacted Tim the evening of March 19th. By the next morning, he communicated with BB and had a description of her surroundings through her sense of smell — with the scents of sawdust, metal and dirt being prominent.

In addition, Tim used a dowsing technique to pinpoint a more specific location. By late morning on March 20th, Tim emailed Shirley a description of the smells that BB communicated, along with a map with a street location that Tim’s dowsing highlighted.

Just as Shirley was getting ready to knock on doors, a man rode up and asked if she knew anyone missing a Yorkie. BB was at his house on the exact street Tim had indicated on the map. She was comfortably housed in a metal crate, inside a metal woodworking shed with two loads of fresh dirt dumped outside the door. The miniature Yorkie had been found the night before, but the couple didn’t know where the little dog lived. BB had communicated to Tim that she was comfortable, dry and felt secure.

Amazingly, BB who is about the size of a guinea pig, traveled across 10 acres — walking through two pastures without being injured by the cows and horses, crawled through two wire fences, across a ditch and into a yard with big dogs.

Tim Link commended Shirley on her quick action in contacting him. A medium size dog can travel up to six miles in a single day. As a very small dog, BB covered more distance than anyone expected.

Shirley said, “Being so small and blind, I wouldn’t have thought BB could go that far. This whole experience has given me a different outlook on working with an animal communicator. I never believed in it before, but Tim was so accurate that it has to be true.” She went on to say that she has already recommended his services to her rescue friends and on Facebook. Shirley says she’ll use the services of Tim Link in the future to communicate with problematic dogs at the shelter.

In addition to the thrill of finding BB, the shelter has exciting expansion news. On May 1st, the new location of Brazoria County Human Society opens in Manvel, TX. At that time, they’ll have an adoption center open during the week and expanded capacity to house rescued dogs, cats, exotic birds and livestock. Visit the new location at 6219 Masters Rd, Manvel TX 77578. If you stop by, be sure and ask Shirley about BB, the lost and found blind Yorkie.

http://www.brazoriacountyhumane.org

Have a lost pet or want help determining the cause of behavioral problems of your pet? Contact Tim Link through http://www.valheart.com/lost_animals.html.

In addition to finding lost pets, Tim is the author of Wagging Tales: Every Animal Has a Tale.

For the original version on PRWeb visit: http://www.prweb.com/releases/prwebanimalcommunicator/blindYorkie/prweb9457792.htm

By Betty Jean Craige

Yesterday, when I accidentally startled her, Cosmo flew to the floor. That is, she glided very fast to the floor, since her flight feathers have been clipped. I picked up my dear African Grey Parrot and held her against my chest. Her heart was beating very fast.

After a minute, Cosmo looked up at me and said, in the softest, sweetest, sincerest voice I’d ever heard, “I love you.”

Cosmo is not a perfect bird. She bites. And she poops on the floor. (See “Areas Requiring Improvement” in her Feb. 5 annual evaluation.)

But Cosmo knows that I love her, that I will always give her attention, that I will always feed her, and that I will never strike her, even when she bites.

Not all parrots are so fortunate.

A couple of months ago I was invited to a dinner party by parrot rescuer Deb Allwein and her husband Bob. Deb and Bob founded the No-”R”-Birds Parrot Sanctuary to provide a home to parrots not as fortunate as Cosmo.

Their lovely house looks perfectly normal on the main floor, inhabited by perfectly normal humans. But the basement: Wow! It’s like none I’ve ever seen. It is large, spotlessly clean, painted lime green, and inhabited by twenty-six colorful, highly intelligent and very vocal birds who reside in big cages full of toys. It has a kitchen dedicated to their feeding and an attached aviary for them to be outside in warm weather. It soon will have a huge flight cage.

I met two hyacinth macaws, the gentle giants of the parrot world; a blue and gold macaw; a scarlet macaw; a green-winged macaw; a severe macaw; a military macaw; two hybrid macaws; two caiques; a parrotlet; three cockatoos; two eclectus; one double yellow-headed Amazon and two African grey parrots — one a Congo African grey like Cosmo, and the other a Congo-Timneh hybrid. Oh yes, and a male, wild-caught Swainson’s toucan, 10 or 11 years old, named T-Bird.

You can meet them too, if you make an appointment to visit. Check the website norbirds.com. There you will get lots of information about parrots, including the fact that all parrots bite. I was relieved to learn that.

The birds’ stories are sad. Many had spent their lives in small cages without the possibility of exercise. Some had plucked out their feathers from anxiety over neglect or abuse. Several had lost their lifelong human companions and had been sent from one unloving home to another. Some had been struck and as a consequence remain to this day afraid of a human hand.

Parrots have a long memory.

T-Bird’s story is typical. T-Bird was illegally captured as a newly hatched chick, probably in Central America, and sold to a pet store. For the next several years he lived in a tiny cage, either on display or in a basement, and ate food with iron, which a Toucan cannot process. The iron stays in the Toucan’s liver and causes iron storage disease. By the time he was rescued, T-Bird was suffering greatly. He was malnourished and depressed. He had no tail feathers.

Now T-Bird, who has glorious plumage, is in great spirits. He loves Deb and Bob, enjoys all the visitors who come to the sanctuary to meet him, and plays catch with anybody who will toss him a little ball. He has a delightful personality.

Secure in the care of Deb and Bob, the rescued birds have finally found happiness. They are getting medical care, proper nourishment — with a hot breakfast every day — and plenty of human attention, which they really enjoy. They have made friends with Bob and Deb, and with each other. Some of them love each other.

And they talk to each other, occasionally calling each other by name. While I was there one of the Cockatoos grew a bit noisy. The Blue and Gold Macaw screamed, “Shut up!”

What an unusual evening that was!

I returned home full of excitement but aware that I myself was a one-parrot human. I want to be Cosmo’s best friend. If I were to get Cosmo an avian companion, Cosmo would choose to be with her fellow bird. My feelings would be hurt.

But I’m glad that when I’m not around Cosmo chooses to be with my dogs. Cosmo is a social bird. She loves the one she’s with.

As I entered the house, Cosmo called out from the dark, “Cosmo wanna go up!” I let her out of her cage so we could cuddle.

• Betty Jean Craige is professor emerita of comparative literature at the University of Georgia and the author of many books, including “Conversations with Cosmo: At Home with an African Grey Parrot” (2010). Her email address is bettyjean@cosmotalks.com. Cosmo’s website address is www.cosmotalks.com.