Kitties' litter box has privacy

Dear Heloise: We have three cats and recently moved into a new home. One problem, though: Where to put the litter boxes?

I have a double door under the counter sink in the bathroom, so I removed one door (just two screws on the front of the hinge). Then I got some lace at the fabric store and made a small "curtain" for the opening. I used a dowel rod a bit longer than the distance, slipped the dowel rod in the casing at the top of the curtain and then hung it using screw eyes. This gives the cats enough room to use the litter box without us having to look at it every time we use the bathroom. — Lois P., via e-mail

Smart solution! Cats need privacy, too! Meow. — Heloise

Dear Readers: Mary Rogers of Billings, Mont., sent in a photo of Buddy, her little papillon, sitting on the back of a recliner so he can see what's going on outside the window.

If you have a unique pet photo you'd like to share, send it to: Heloise/Pet Photo, P.O. Box 795000, San Antonio, TX 78279-5000. — Heloise

Dear Heloise: Our dog had gotten into the habit of going into the kitchen trash can and spreading the contents all over the house. The can is the kind with a lid that is raised by stepping on a treadle. My husband came up with a solution: He poked a small hole in the lip of the lid and hooked a short bungee cord, with the other end under the treadle. The cord stretches enough to allow us to place most trash in the can without unhooking the cord, but the dog can't get in! — Judy Marcus, Columbia, Md.

It's advisable to keep your pets — especially dogs — out of the food trash can. If Rover gets hold of something high-fat, like cheese, meat or even chicken, it can cause a life-threatening (and expensive to treat) condition like pancreatitis. — Heloise

Dear Heloise: When my dog was sick recently, I was hesitant about her using her cushion/bed, in case of accidents. So I unzipped the outside cover, took out the padded part and enclosed it in a thick, extra-large trash bag. Then I put the zippered outer cover back on. This way, nothing can penetrate the insides of the cushion, and the outer cover is easy to wash when necessary. — Susan Ferguson, via e-mail

Dear Heloise: The best way to remove pet hair from furniture is to use a latex glove (normally for medical use). You can get a box of 100 latex gloves from a discount store, and they can usually be found in the pharmacy section near the bandages. — Darby Kinne, Greene, N.Y.

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