Daily attention to litter box benefits pet

Dear Heloise: Maintaining my cats’ litter boxes is important. Here are some hints I use to make the job easier:

1. I stay with the brand of litter my cats like. There are many types of litter on the market ( clumping, clay, silica, sand), but they are happy with the brand we are using.

2. Experts recommend one litter box per cat, plus a spare.

3. I scoop the box every day, and scrub the box and change the litter once per week. I put a thin layer of baking soda on the bottom of the box to keep it fresh.

4. Two inches of litter is the maximum depth that is recommended.

5. If my cats stop using the litter box, my first call is to my veterinarian. Medical problems can cause these changes in behavior.

6. Plastic liners may be convenient, but if the cat scratches to bury its waste, it could poke a hole in the bag.

My cats are members of my family, and keeping them happy with a clean and accessible litter box is so important!

Illinois

Dear Heloise: When my dog licks my face, is she “kissing” me, or is she licking my skin because it’s salty? My husband says salty.

Great question, and I would say yes to kisses! Here’s the scoop: The dog learned as a puppy to lick its mother’s face for attention. If your dog licks you, and you like it and praise the dog, the dog will continue to lick you, if only to get the praise!

So keep those kisses coming!

I read your column in the (Terre Haute, Ind.) Tribune- Star. I use applesauce instead of milk or cream on crunchy cereal. For crunchy, put cereal on sauce. For less crunchy, put sauce on cereal.

In either case, I sprinkle with blueberries, strawberries or raspberries. B., Jasonville, Ind.

Dear Heloise: For years, I had problems with my feet smelling. A couple of years ago, I started using hand sanitizer on my feet before I went to bed and again in the morning before putting on my socks and shoes. It has helped me immensely.

I don’t travel very often, so keeping my suitcase smelling fresh is important. I unwrap a bar of soap and store it in the suitcase. This works well for me.

Angeles