If you have recently welcomed a new kitten into your home, congratulations, there are few things in life as rewarding as owning a pet. However, teaching your new family member where the cat box is can be difficult. Here are a few tried and true tips for cat box training.

First off, if you have an older cat already in the house, the chances that the kitten will pick up on what to do is greatly increased. On the flip side, there is a chance that your older cat may not appreciate having to share the cat box with a new kitten. Try getting a second cat box if you have room. You can always take it away later.

If your kitten is going outside of the box, make sure that there is enough litter in the box, that the box is as clean as possible and that the kitten can climb inside of it. Sometimes the walls can be a little high on some models and it can prevent your cat from getting inside.

You may have to lift your kitten up and put him or her in the box every few hours if you notice they haven’t used it in a while. This behaviour shows the kitten what the box is for and that it is okay to use it. Cats are a lot like kids. Sometimes they need repetitive behaviour that can teach them what to do.

Finally, if your kitten does start using the box, make sure you praise him or her to teach them that the behaviour is positive. You won’t keep this kind of positive reinforcement forever, but a little praise now can go a long way in the future. Kittens are smarter than you think and they want to please you, they just have to know how.

Pets can add untold joy to your life, especially if you live alone, but dealing with cat or dog hair can be a real pain. Other than stocking up on lint rollers, here are a few things you can do to keep pet hair under control.

First off, make sure you comb your pet on a regular basis. This won’t stop shedding, but it will help keep it a bit more under control. Many pets don’t enjoy the sensation of being combed, but they often learn to like it, so don’t give up if Fluffy or Fido balk every time they see you approach with comb in hand.

Second, if you have the money, invest in a high calibre vacuum. There are models made now by many companies that excel at getting pet hair out. These models can cost in excess of $500 which is out of the price range of most people, but it can make an amazing difference.

Along with having a top of the line vacuum, you need to be sure you are using it frequently. If you have time, try pushing it around at least twice a week to keep your carpet from getting too matted. If you have multiple cats in a small apartment, you may need to vacuum every other day to keep litter from building up in your carpet, as well.

Pet hair shows up best on black clothing, so try to limit the amount of black you own. You can also remember to dust on a regular basis, as well, since pet hair can build up on places like desks, televisions and on bureaus.

As a special treat, you could have your apartment professionally cleaned once or twice a year. This service is often far less than what people expect and the end result is beyond what most people expect. Having a clean apartment not only makes you happier, it makes Fluffy and Fido happy, too.