Outdoor Furniture, Outdoor Patio and Outdoor Gardens

Frequently Asked Questions

1. QUESTION:
   How can I clean indoor/outdoor carpet?
   I just bought a house and the master bathroom has indoor outdoor carpet (weird) and eventually we are tearing it up and putting in tile, but until then we have to deal with it. I have tried to use out Bissel Quick Steamer but it hardly sucks up any of the water I put down. It's dark carpet and I can't see any stains, I just want to have a clean bathroom and there is a slight musty odor. I have some baking soda carpet powder. Would this be okay to use on this type of carpet. Are there any other idea?
   Thank you!

   • ANSWER:
     Contact a professional. See if they have a special on indoor outdoor carpet. In the Minneapolis St. Paul Metro area www.customcleans.com is best

2. QUESTION:
   Carpeting over Carpeting?? Professional Carpet Layers....HELP!!?
   I have a sun porch attached to the house that is not on a solid foundation, but rather built up about two feet off the ground so it is fairly open to the elements below. (Does this make sense?) The room has electric baseboard heat, but it is still pretty chilly in there during the fall and winter months. (I plan to enclose the around the exterior base this summer with siding, but it will still be open to the ground under the floors.) Currently, there is indoor/outdoor carpeting in there that is glued down. It is very flat due to the nature of the carpeting, not wear and tear. And it's basically in good condition...just ugly. I need to re-carpet and I wanted to leave this on the floor for insulation. My question is...can you lay padding and carpeting over the carpet that's already in there? Will I be able to get someone like Lowe's or Home Depot to do this? Or will I have to buy the carpeting myself and have an independent carpenter do this? Any other options I am missing?
   Absolutely no mold or moisture issues in this room. Just ugly carpeting.

   • ANSWER:
     First off, don't have lowes or HD do it you will pay wayyyy tooo much. find some local carpet shops to give you some estimates.

     I have the same problem in a sunroom except the carpet is glued down to a concrete floor. I can even begin to imagine trying to pull it up.

     It should not be a problem to just put pad/carpet down over it. My only question is are there any moisture/mold issues on the current carpet? Then I would want to try and pull it up.

     Good luck.
     No I am not a professional carpet layer, but have bought and lived in two fixer-uppers.

3. QUESTION:
   When you buy a house, do you usually give the asking price, above the asking or how do you know?
   I went to tour a house about 6 months ago. The owner clearly was way over priced on the house and he was showing it on his own for his parents who were placed in a nursing home. I loved the house and the area it was in, He was just way over priced.
   The house had no appliances, nothing to upgrade it except for some windows which were placed about 10 years ago. For crimeny sakes he put indoor outdoor carpet in the kitchen and the light fixtures looked like something out of the 50's which was the time the house was built. He had painted everything white even the kitchen cabinets.
   I was still looking for a house when I noticed this same house for sale by a realtor on the internet for &150 thousand. The guy must have given up and listed it with a realtor.
   So now what do I do? Do I have someone look over the house to see if it is worth that much money. How soon in the game do you make an offer? I would hate to committ to an offer and find out there are some real problems
   The first listing by the owner was 0 thousand, now it is 0 thousand

   • ANSWER:
     When buying a house, it is important to know the market, so you know what a fair price for any given house is. In a "hot" market, you might have to bid above the asking price to "win" a particular house. But most places, the real estate market has really cooled and this particular house seems to have problems that might make it harder to sell. Since you sound like a newbie in real estate investment, I would suggest finding a buyer's agent to help you in negotiating for this house. A buyer's agent will represent your interests in the transaction. Since this seller has been trying to unload this property for a while, he may be open to a low-ball offer. When you make an offer, make sure you put in a contingency for an inspection, since an older house may have lots of hidden problems.

4. QUESTION:
   Want to put easy peel and stick vinyl tiles on stairs but I'm STUCK!?
   My husband and I are working on a semi-basement redo this week (adding a wall to enclose storage area, laying laminate over concrete floor, wrapping support poles...you get the idea). I was all excited about how much better the basement would look and function until I remembered our stairs. Here's what happened: a couple of months after I bought the house 2 years ago, I got sick as did my pets and eventually a professional discovered large amounts of toxic mold in the basement. Needless to say I spent thousands of dollars on professional mold remediation. They ripped out walls and all the carpet that was down there – including the horrible red carpet covering the wooden steps. The carpet was so old it was unidentifiable to me but in trying to remember it may have even been indoor/outdoor carpet (which I guess isn’t a terrible idea on basement stairs that lead to the basement from the backdoor but whatever…) So, it appears the mold guys took out all the red carpet, exposing some sort of “padding” underneath that is glued to the wooden stair. It’s no padding I’ve ever seen for indoor carpeting…it’s ridged and hard and VERY glued down. They apparently attempted to remove it from t he top 3 steps with mediocre success before giving up. The main piece is removed, but there is (what appears to be) parts still stuck with whatever adhesive was used.

   Sorry this is so long. It would be shorter if I knew technical terms. My problem is in laying the peel and stick vinyl tiles. Do I need to peel off the rest of the “padding” from the steps and use a chisel or putty knife or something to get the stuck parts off? Can I put peel and stick tiles over the hard, ridged “padding” crap?

   I really hate for the rest of the basement to be so improved and not fix the stairs.

   Thanks for any advice – even if it’s that I’m screwed.

   • ANSWER:
     Your peel and stick vynl tiles are not going to adhere well (if at all) to your stairs unless you totally remove all that padding and gunk and make sure the treads are smooth and clean (that may require some sanding). As for other the rigid stuff -- sacrifice a tile if you have one (or get a single one, usually home stores have some singles) and see how it works. There are adhesive releasers/solvents for such things (honestly do not know how well they work) so that is something to ask at your home improvement store. To remove the bits o' stuff before getting some heavy-duty chemical to do it, try a heat gun, scalding hot water, or steam to get them up. Super moist heat is often effective in getting old glues to release. Otherwise, I would suggest you look into carpet tiles/treads or just having new carpeting laid. These, at least, are more flexible and will mold to any imperfections left on the stairs better than a vynil or linoleum will.

     Another alternative would be to paint the stairs with a textured "stone" paint* and paint over the stuck stuff, provided this does not make for uncomfortable or unpleasant treading on the stairs.

     * "stone" paint - http://www.daichcorp.com/

     good luck.

5. QUESTION:
   Does anybody have experience with the indoor/outdoor dog pottys? Or have any alternative ideas?
   I have a 1.5 year old purebred Pekingese (10 lbs, Zelda). We just moved to a different apartment where there is very little grass for our dogs to do their business. Our previous apartment complex had a lot of nice grassy areas for them to go. She is not 100% potty trained yet, she seems to know that the preference is to wait to go outside but she does screw up about once a week (that we know of, it's difficult to spot pee spots on dark carpeting. We have a patio here at the new place. Our plan was to get one of those kiddie wading pools, put dirt in it and then sod on top. Well, we live in Colorado and it is winter so I can't seem to find sod anywhere unless I want to buy a minimum of 15 square feet online, and believe it or not we weren't able to find just plain dirt to put in the bottom. So we got cedar shavings (the kind you put in hamster cages) and covered that with hay. All the dogs do is dig and eat it. So we are now looking into getting a doggy potty station. I haven't been able to find one for less than 0 and I would like to know if it worked for anybody (rather than reading the testimonials on their website). 0 is a lot of money to be spending on a hope. Also if anybody has any better ideas for a set-up I would certainly consider those too. Thanks!
   Here is a website for it. Not that particular one but something like it. http://doggieloo.com

   • ANSWER:
     I have seen things on tv that are basically like litterboxes, but the are covered in fake grass. Apparently they are easy to clean. I would suggest this if your baby absolutely wont go unless on grass. How long has it been since you moved? If it was just last week or something, she could be a little confused, she is used to something and all of a sudden everything is different. It might get better, just stay focused on taking her out to whatever you choose to use as a potty.
     here is one I found on the net for 20.00 bucks, you can look around for a better one if you want, but this would most likely do the job.
     http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://images02.olx.com/ui/1/01/86/42089586_1.jpg&imgrefurl=http://losangeles.olx.com/dog-potty-litter-box-and-fresh-natural-sod-grass-delivery-service-orange-county-iid-42089586&usg=__QXjXL-30zqVkPTLjeeNmkkmEe00=&h=314&w=625&sz=93&hl=en&start=1&um=1&tbnid=fNEmB0DpofK6zM:&tbnh=68&tbnw=136&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dapartment%2Bdog%2Blitter%2Bbox%2Bwith%2Bgrass%26hl%3Den%26rlz%3D1T4DKUS_enUS327US327%26sa%3DG%26um%3D1

6. QUESTION:
   Where to buy floor for large indoor dog kennel?
   I have a border collie; these dogs are well known to be aggressive chewers. (he's chewed carpet, window sills, chairs, blankets; everything except the dozens of toys i give him to chew) Because of that, i cannot leave him inside the house alone, unless he is in his small dog cage, which i hate doing because he needs to be able to play. He does not like being left outside, nor is our yard suitable for such. So my idea is to buy a 6H x 7.5L x 7.5W outdoor dog kennel, and actually set it up inside in one of my rooms in the house. The only problem is, I need something to go on the floor, so that he doesnt chew up the carpet. my idea is some sort of metal or plexiglass or some sort of plastic. What would be the cheapest option out of those, and where can i buy an 8'x8' or two 4'x8' sections?
   Whatever it is, it needs to be something safe for my dog, and relatively chew resistant.

   Thanks!
   ps i can post more details if you need them.
   please tell me which type of flooring would be cheapest but still relatively chew resistant.
   what about laminate flooring? would it be resistant to scratching should my dog decide to do so?

   • ANSWER:
     You can buy large pieces of vinyl flooring or laminate at Home Depot etc. They sell just sections similar to area rugs or will cut off only as much as you want to buy off a roll of flooring. Or if you can find a used truck bed liner to use as flooring. Check the free sites - times ppl are give away used flooring etc or leftover.

7. QUESTION:
   Removing an unknown residue from a deck to prepare for waterproofing?
   I bought a house that had indoor/outdoor on the deck. I pulled it up today and about 20% of the deck has a thin (1/8"-1/4") black residue on it...looks almost like barbecue residue. Doesn't seem to be backing from the carpet or mold. It comes up pretty easily if scraped, and leaves no residue. But I'm a bit arthritic and can't be on my knees scraping the entire deck. I need to prepare it for waterproofing... floor sander?

   • ANSWER:
     It may be black mold. It can look kind of powdery. At any rate you can rent a pressure washer and it will do a better overall job of cleaning than sanding with a lot less work. Let it dry for a day or two before you put your waterproofing down. Some people are allergic to black mold so unless you know you are not, it might be good to use a respirator.

8. QUESTION:
   What do you think about my business venture?
   Buy a parking ramp... Install rough surface tile on the floor or even indoor/ outdoor carpeting. Make the whole 1st floor available for parking and the rest of it will be for dog walking in the winter. Charge an annual fee (because they may not come in the summertime) and make it accessible by key or fob so that only members can get in. Hire maintenance people to clean when needed. On the second floor, have vending machines for snacks and pop and also, vending for dog treats. People can either walk uphill with their dogs or take the elevator and walk down if they are too old or sick to climb. A play area for big dogs and a special area for small dogs. Neither one will be allowed in each other's area. The first time is free.. After that, you have to pay your annual fee as a member. Only 2 dogs can be there with each owner/ membership. If there are 3 dogs, they MUST buy another membership. Much, Much more. What do ya think???

   Any suggestions will be greatly appreciated. Thanks
   I live inBuffalo (city) No place to walk in the winter. The winters are long and hard..

   • ANSWER:
     There already are indoor dog parks that are similar to what you've described. I'm not sure how much of a demand there would be for a place just to walk dogs- I walk my dogs and go hiking with them plenty in winter so I wouldn't have any use for a place like that. If you added more services like grooming, training, an open agility course, etc. it would draw more people in. A place just for walking dogs, doesn't have much versatility.

9. QUESTION:
   What kind of a water removing/prevention system is this? See more info below...?
   We are buying a house and the previous owners said the basement only gets water after very severe rains. The basement has some type of system that looks like a black pipe or tubing that goes around the bottom of all the walls and links up to the sump pump. It looks like any water that might get in, just gets pump away... but how does the water get into the tubing?
   Do you have a system like this? How does it work?

   *Main concern, can we put carpet downstairs - like indoor/outdoor carpet?*

   • ANSWER:
     sounds to me like weeping pipe, check to see if it has holes in it that will be sucked up to the sump pump If that's the case I wouldn't advise putting carpet of any kind down until you find out what makes the water to fill the floor in the basement floor. Good luck on this one. Maybe you have to have a larger discharge pipe on the pump or a heavier sump pump.

10. QUESTION:
    Going to adopt pet bunnies soon! How should I properly care for them?
    My boyfriend and I have been wanting to adopt rabbits ever since we met. We have not been able to as we are living at home, and both have big dogs that would be dangerous around rabbits. We are going to be getting our own townhome in the Summer, and I plan on adopting 2 rabbits. I am curious what advice you could offer for me to properly care for them...

    I plan on building them a pen they can stay in instead of cages. I plan on it being about 4 x 3 feet, with garden fence (about 2 feet tall) on 2 sides. (it will be in the corner of the room) I want it to be as nice as possible for the bunnies, and I plan on having indoor/outdoor carpet under the pen. On top of that, I plan on putting down some kind of foam like yoga mats are made from. Is this a good idea? I also want them have have beds instead of cages, and a playplace. I want them to feel they have freedom to move around as I will be gone for the majority of the day. Is a pen with no cages a good idea?

    I will be gone from about 6:30 in the morning, to 6:30 at night Monday - Friday. I am worried that leaving the bunnies alone and in a pen for too long would not be healthy for them. I plan on letting them out at night, but my boyfriend is an audiophile and will have MANY cables throughout the house. Is there a way to keep the bunnies away from cables, or to protect cables from bunnies?

    My boyfriend has a very strange schedule, and he will probably be gone a lot as well. Though he is home a lot during the day whether it's in the morning, afternoon, or evening for a few hours, his schedule varies as he works a part time job and goes to college. There may be some days though, where the bunnies would be alone for 12 hours at a time (not often, maybe once every 2 weeks or so) is this OK if I supply enough food and water? Are there special toys or playplaces to keep them occupied? I do not want them to get bored!

    I also plan on either making or buying small harnesses for the bunnies so I can take them into the back yard, or take them to a park. Is this healthy for bunnies? Is it OK to walk a bunny like a dog? I just want my bunnies to be safe!

    I have read that there are a few essential tips to keeping bunnies. A few of them are: Do not use wood shavings in their litterbox, as it could be harmful to their health, and that if a bunny ever vocalizes, or thumps to take them to the vet immediately. Are there any other crucial things I should know about rabbits? I plan on purchasing rabbit care books... Are there any you would recommend? I want to learn as much about rabbits as I can before I adopt, so that they are as safe and happy as possible. I also want to be able to foster bunnies that are in danger of being put to sleep, or not finding a home.

    Any and all help is very much appreciated!
    On weekdays, I would get home around 6:30 and go to bed at 10:00. I don't think I would be able to spend as much time on weekdays, but I plan on spending most of my weekend with them! As of right now, my boyfriend is home either until noon, or home AT noon every weekday (except Friday) and I know that he loves bunnies just as much as I do.

    I would be very willing to rabbit proof a home, and litter box train. I am just not sure how to do either of these things 100%. I would also definitely go to a rescue! I am also not sure about the hutch... I have heard a lot of people say they are cruel and not to do it, but since I am gone for so long, would they rather be outside than inside? I am just worried that they would become too exposed to the elements or that hooligans that may live in the apartment complex may bother them when I am not home.

    • ANSWER:
      You don't need to take them to the vet if they vocalize or thump! Rabbits make a lot of sounds that are just the way they express themselves, and you'll hear them a lot, so don't panic! The key is volume. If they are making loud squealing sounds or loudly grinding their teeth, you should take them to the vet. But they do grunt, grumble, snort, and grind their teeth softly just as a means of communication. And thumping is never something you need to worry about, it just means your rabbit is alarmed or pissed off. My rabbit grumbles and thumps her feet every time I clip her nails, she also does this when the dog downstairs barks. It's not a symptom of illness, it's just how she lets me know that she's not happy about something.

      If you get two, it would probably be best to get two rabbits that are already pair-bonded unless you have the time to properly introduce them (which would mean, at least at the beginning, you would need to have two separate spaces for each rabbit) because they will fight otherwise. It's the same as if some stranger walked into your house and just started living there - you would kick them out or call the police! Rabbits are very particular about their space and introducing rabbits can be a time-consuming project. It's also important to get your animals spayed or neutered as this will reduce territorial aggression somewhat and will keep them from spraying, it also tends to make them healthier bunnies and of course will keep you from accidentally acquiring a whole litter of rabbits.

      If you aren't planning on giving the rabbits the run of the entire house, you don't need to bunny-proof the WHOLE house. However, any rooms where the rabbits will be allowed to run (even with parental supervision ;D) should definitely be rabbit-proofed. My rabbit climbs all over the furniture in rooms where she's allowed, she runs under things and tries to get into really surprising places (my bunny somehow squeezed under my dresser once, which I didn't think she could because I can hardly get my arm under it, so be thorough). You should also make sure all electric cords are out of their reach in the rooms they're allowed in, because they see them as roots and instinctively try to chew through them.

      And when it comes to keeping your bunny from being bored, that's something you might have to find out on your own. My rabbit has ignored lots of toys that I've given her, but through playing with her I discovered that her favorite games are to play underneath a blanket, to pick things up and throw them (I gave her a bunch of cardboard squares after I found this out, she loves them) and to knock over bottles (plastic bottles filled with water, she will charge them and then push them with her feet). It's easy to find inexpensive entertainment for your bunnies if you know how they like to play. Keep in mind that some rabbits (like mine) also really love to dig, so if you don't want them digging up your carpets you should provide them something else, like a box with sand or litter in it, or a blanket that they can dig their toes into.

      My biggest advice to a new bunny owner is that you can't rush your bunny into friendship with you. I got my rabbit after bunnysitting for a friend, and I had no idea how to care for a rabbit before I had her, so I inadvertently did the right thing by leaving her basically to herself at first, letting her out of the cage for short periods of time and just letting her run on her own. When she realized I wasn't dangerous she became curious about me and started interacting with me more, and as I let her out for longer periods and we spent more time together, we really bonded. You can't force a relationship on the rabbit and you need to let them choose when to initiate interactions or they can get scared and defensive, just let them choose their own pace!

      Good luck, rabbits are great pets and have big personalities. I'm sure you'll learn all you need to know as you go along and get to know your bunnies

11. QUESTION:
    Need help finding a material to put under my tractor sprinkler in my garden?
    I bought a tractor sprinkler for my huge vegitable garden because it's the only one that i don't have to walk out in the mud and move to a different spot. The only problem is the back wheels get stuck in the mud and it won't move. So can someone suggest somthing i can put under the wheels like a track that's really cheap? I need about 12" wide by 150' long. I am willing to cut and work with it a little bit to make it work. The only thing i thought of was indoor outdoor carpet. thanx!

    • ANSWER:
      shingles... they'll work great... and later you can use them under a fence to keep the weeds down.....

12. QUESTION:
    should i let my home forclose?
    here's the situation, i am 26, my husband and i are forced to file bankruptcy because he was laid off twice last year and has just been laid off again, we have a new baby and i was forced to take 3 months maternity leave from complications. one of our cars was repossessed, so our credit is going to be shot either way. we bought our home when i was 21, they approved us for a 200,000 loan. at the time i didn't know what i was doing and we purchased a home that cost that much. it has a fixed rate but the payments are 1500 a month. it is a 2 family and we get 750 rental income. it is a very large house and the utilities for one floor alone run us about 7-800 a month because of poor insulation and wiring,the home needs major repairs ( this is where i didn't know what i was doing when i bought the house.) it needs a roof, it has old siding, the second floor bathroom is gutted, there is major water damage to one of the rooms due to the leaking roof, we started renovations and didn't complete them because of finances so it needs major cosmetic work- it has old paneling and wallpaper in some areas of the house, old molding and plaster walls. old furnace, hot water tank the porch on the second floor is slowly deteriorating from water damage, since there is no awning above it and the previous owners had indoor outdoor carpeting on it.it is very weak and unsafe. the driveway is cracked and caving ( it is the size of 3 driveways. we fully intended to completely rehab the home when we purchased it and eventually use it as rental property. we would never get what we owed if we sold the way it is right now and we would need at least 50 grand to get it in selling condition. i still owe 192,000 and i am behind 4 payments from job loss. mortgage company is willing to work with me because of the bankruptcy but it would mean extending the loan and higher payments. i feel like i am drowning now! would it be better to just walk away from the property and claim it in the bankruptcy for a complete fresh start or would it be better to stay and try to fix it. i wouldnt even ask as i obviously know forclosure is never the best option but in my case with the house being worth so much less than what we owe what option be best for us in the long run. my primary concern is repairing my credit and creating a future for my family

    um i asked question for help not criticism. yes he did look for other employment and did do small jobs until he found something but a fast food job would not cut the 62,000 a year he was making as a machinest, with two kid, 2 car payments and other misc bills. and i was on bedrest the last 6 weeks of my pregnancy from incompetent cervix so how is that hard to believe and what reason would i have to lie. i am only here to get some feedback on what would be the best option for my family in the long term.

    • ANSWER:
      sWell you got your selves in a big mess. So there were no job out there at all while your husband was laid off. not even at a fast food joint? Any job is better than no job. Bankruptcy and foreclose and really bad and will stay on your credit for a long long long time. Letting these 2 things happen is not what is best for your family. 3 month maternity leave for complications, find that really hard to believe, sorry. Good luck

      If you can't handle is let the foreclose on your home.

      edit: like I said Foreclosure and bankruptcy is never a good option. I know how hard it can be, I was a single parent for 6 years with only 1 income and it was low income, and I managed to Escape from it with no debt at all, I just never had any extras like cable and treat and snacks and new clothes all the time and no cell phone. All those little extras add up, the movies, renting movies, going out for dinner, anything like that. Buying soda, beer, etc.

      Is there anything that you can do without right now to avoid doing what you are thinking about doing?

13. QUESTION:
    I have a condo question about construction?
    I bought a condo on the second floor of a condo building. It had a balcony that looked nice at the time because it had new indoor outdoor carpeting. Later, I noticed that it was slowly rotting and needed replaced. I contacted the condo association who said that they would fix it. That was five years ago. It's still not replaced. But, since then in talking to the construction guys who do the work out here (I don't know if they're the actual builders of the condos), that they just have two sheets side by side of plywood for the decking of the balcony. They want to replace it with the same thing. If I had known that this type of inferior material was used, I never would have bought the condo. I have brought this up time and again with the condo presidents and the construction guys who do all of the work out here. Both said that they would look into other materials to use this time for the decking. Neither has done so. In fact, the construction company said that they'll probably just use plywood again; but, if I wanted to, I could get some coating applied that might help. What do I do? I could possibly replace it myself at my own expense with something better, but there are also uniform codes out here for all condos.

    • ANSWER:
      If plywood was used on top of the "real" balcony, it's sure to meet code. No inspector would have passed a balcony built solely of plywood if it didn't meet code.
      Your City planning department will (or should) hav record of the general contractor who built the condo complex. Start there. Explain your problem & verify that all construction materials used are up to code.

14. QUESTION:
    What gate would you buy for a stairwell?
    I need a referral for a solid gate for the stairway. Would like one with a 1- handed door so my 7 yr old can use it. Have solid wall on one side and iron rail on the other. Rail is just under 1" thick. Would prefer not to drill into the railing to attach. Will be using 2 gates, one at top and bottom of staircase. Anyone with experience with gates to fit the bill?

    Here is why we need it, we just rescued a 2 yr old Aussie Cattle dog/Lab mix. Good dog, but she has had no training and was an outdoor dog so indoor manners are being worked on.

    Need her to stay downstairs (peeps with alergies, upstairs is carpeted downstairs is hardwood). First few nights were good but now we have caught her going upstairs to daughters room for stuffed animals. She has lots of her own toys, incl. stuffed (plain white fuzzy).

    Will be getting a crate and will do crate training but hate to make her sleep outside until she is crate trained, esp since she has slept in the house last few days.
    THX

    • ANSWER:
      There is a great pet gate selection at pawpersuasion.com I think you will find what you need

15. QUESTION:
    How can I help my cat become an indoor one?
    I have a rescued cat from the street who might be 3 1/2-4 years. Before we rescued him, he lived on the street and would occasionally come in front of our door. When we got him (he has been living with us for almost a year now) he was both an indoor and outdoor cat. Actually, he was more of an outdoor one. He would usually come home with wounds and scratches which worried us and 3 days ago we decided to keep him in for good. Now, he knows how to use the litter-box and we didn't have to train him a lot (maybe he used to be an indoor cat before) and he is fine with most things but he really misses going out. He would stand at the door and meow and today he was looking sadly at the garden. He's meowing at the door right now. I know that he'll probably sooner or later get used to it but how can I help him now? He doesn't like to play (except sometimes), catnip does not really excite him and he basically only likes food and me stroking him. But when he wants to go out he'll even ignore my stroking (he won't ignore food). I can't feed him ALL the time cause its not good. Also, is there something that I can buy that he can sharpen his claws on because he is using the carpet right now? What can I do? Any ideas? Did I do the right thing keeping him in forever? If we let him go out even once he might run away or come back worse than he is now. Is leash training a good idea? I heard that some cats can get used to it and when we tried it once he didn't complain a lot. Please answer all questions and sorry for having to read this Thanks

    • ANSWER:
      yes you are absolutely doing the right thing making him an indoor kitty. he will get used to it. get him a scratching post and sprinkle catnip on it and show it to him. he could run away since he will try to run out the door when you open it just so he can get outsidevif you are not careful. .i live in forida and have a screened in porch that i occasionally let my cat go on.if you have one go out there with him for a while every day. he loves being out there because it is interesting,all the sights sounds and smells.he will be less likely to catch diseases and be injured or God forbid killed by a car if you leave him indoors.as for leash training, cats need harnesses and if you walk him he will still be exposed to disease and fleas etc. keep him indoors. he will be okay after a few months .

16. QUESTION:
    Advice on a good vacuum for a pet home. ?
    I need to know what is a really good vacuum for picking up dog hair off of carpets. I bought a Bissell in February,,it worked great for 1 week. Then I caught a shoelace in the roller/beater brush, then had to get a new beater brush from the company. Since then, it has not worked for even just regular cleaning let alone the dog hair. I have 2 cocker spaniels, that I groom every week, but there is still some hair on the carpets, and I am tired of having to clean the brush after doing only 1/2 a room! The hair sticks on the brush and does not go into the canister at all, so I have to pull it off the brushes after only doing a small part of the carpet. My OLD Hoover worked better than the new ones out now,,but they don't make them like the old Hoover anymore I have both high plush carpets, and some low indoor/outdoor type. I am very discouraged,,thought Bissell was suppose to be a good one. Any help would be appreciated. Please, no stupid remarks. I have no time for them. Thanks.

    • ANSWER:
      I have a Kirby G5 and it works beautifully. It is about 12 years old now and still going strong. I have replaced the brush roll one time. They have started making a roller brush specifically for pet hair (I haven't tried it yet).
      They do cost a little but are well worth it. If you have to spend a couple hundred bucks every couple years you will end up paying more than if you just spent the money up front and got a Kirby that will last a very, very long time. You can also find them on ebay pretty reasonably priced.
      http://www.totalvac.com/ this is the site where I get my parts and accessories. They're pretty good and reasonably priced as well.

17. QUESTION:
    Advice: Should I rip up carpeting?
    I bought a cheapish house. Everything is decent but the carpet was kind of stained when I moved in and it's an indoor/ outdoor inexpensive kind anyway. Now with three pets and a job working in landscaping (dusty jeans, muddy paws and boots) we have fleas and throw up stains and pee spots I just can't keep up with!!! I've really tried. I am very tidy but this carpet is nightmare.

    Should I steam clean it myself (time! money! just to have it messed up and infested again) or should I just rip it up and go to the dump today. If I rip it up I don't have the time, knowledge or money (labor or materials) to put down the wood floor I want yet, so it will be the Oriented Strand Board subfloor exposed.

    How hard do you think it will be to clean and will fleas attached to this semi rough surface?

    • ANSWER:
      Definitely get rid of with it!!! As soon as you clean it,it will get dirty again. I think you would enjoy better if you have the kind of the floor that you could just sweep and mop, even everyday. Just get you some rug or rugs to stop the dirt or anything that go to scatter all over the floor. When you get sick and tied of that rug, you can just throw it out.

18. QUESTION:
    Cat urinating on carpet question?
    I have a cat thats about 7 yrs old and she is an indoor/outdoor cat. In fact she spends most of the day outside. We also adopted 2 other cats about 2 yrs ago. They are indoor cats. At first the older cat did not like the other two, but they seem OK now. Well, we put our cats in a finished family room we have in the basement at night. Its a huge room they can play and they don't bother us while we sleep. But I think the older cat has been urinating outside of the litter box and also she urinated on one of those fleece cat beds that I bought.
    How do I get her to stop? Will that machine you rent from the store take out the odor? Should I get a professional steam cleaning person to come in? Obviously, I cannot see where the cat has done this.
    Oh, also any suggestions about what type of air cleaner to use in my basement?
    don't forget about suggestions for an air cleaner/purifier? I want to plug one in overnight or even before we have company.
    don't forget about suggestions for an air cleaner/purifier? I want to plug one in overnight or even before we have company.

    • ANSWER:
      She should go to the vet cause she could have a Urinary Tract Infection. My cat just was diagnosed with it. UTI's are VERY painful. Then the cat associates the pain to the litter box and thats why they go in weird places. If she does have it and you let it go it will be MUCH harder to get rid of and much more expensive. Also if its left for too long she could get a severe infection or get blocked and she could die, so it would be best to get her checked out. Good Luck and I hope shes fine.

19. QUESTION:
    My new house needs construction( Tiles, hardwood floor..) Where can i find construction workers for those?
    I just bought a new single house and need construction, i want to switch the carpet to hardwood floor, and also have tiles in my kitchen. Maybe new painting outdoor and indoor.. Where can i find construction workers can do those? Any website or newspaper? Thank you!

    • ANSWER:
      If you live in the US, subscribe to "Angie's List" which is an organization that collects ratings and quality reports on contractors in most major metropolitan areas. They are an excellent resource for finding reliable and responsible contractors for all kinds of remodelling work. And you definitely want to hire licensed contractors and sign a clear contract with them for the scope of work and time frame they will perform it in. I suggest you read some articles on line about how to get bids and what should be included in a written contract. Don't just hire "handy men" or "students" to work on your house. They can cause more damage than good and you will not be protected from any damage to the property or to the workers themselves if they are not working for a licensed, insured contractor.

20. QUESTION:
    I have a 3 year old male cat and he has been peeing on random things, why is that?
    I keep the liter boxes clean and i keep finding him peeing in different places... he will do it and look at me while he is doing it, I just dont know what to do anymore he has never done it before... We bought a place 2 years ago and the ppl that lived here had a indoor/outdoor cat with no box so it peed on the carpet and we have not been able to pull it up yet, but he just stared doing it... I also have a female but we have had here for over a year now... Can someone help me please???

    • ANSWER:
      My 3 year old male cat did the SAME thing, my mom was getting REALLY frustrated. Then we found out it was because he was anxious or scared about something. My other cat was on a diet, and so they were fed twice daily, instead of bowl of food just out. That made my cat really anxious, and the second my mom brought the food back out, he stopped.

21. QUESTION:
    Is laser declawing more humane than the traditional method?
    Please know that I am definitely what people refer to as a "cat person" and have not owned a declawed cat in my life. My parents had them and they were indoor-outdoor pets, and mine is an indoor cat.

    We've moved into a new home and NO, my concern is NOT that my cat is destroying 00 furniture (we don't have 00 furniture anyway) or that he's damaging things with his claws.

    He's damaging himself and that is the problem. This cat has serious pica issues (eating inedible things). He has had numerous vet visits, including a Christmas where he ingested so much curling ribbon that it was lodged in his intestines and had to be surgically removed (~0). We cannot keep flowers, or small ribbon-like material ANYwhere in the house.

    Our new house's stairs are carpeted, and he has taken to clawing the corners of them. He is pulling up carpet thread (clear, nylon thread) and (surprise, surprise) eating it. He is then vomiting wherever he is when it comes back up. We cannot afford another intestinal surgery.

    We've bought new scratching posts and different kinds of anti-scratch spray and nothing is working. We've tried foil before. I'm not sure we have a choice.

    • ANSWER:
      It seems as if you have thought this over well. I'm sorry that you cat is having these issues, but it seems that while declawing is definatly a step in the right direction.

      Laser declawing is slightly more humane and less likely to cause nerve damage. So if you have the option, you should go with that. Also remember that just because he is declawed doesn't mean he still can't get into mischeif.

      Good luck!

22. QUESTION:
    My kitten won't poop in her litter box any more, what can I do to encourage it?
    We've had my kitten for about 8 months. She's 11 months or so now. She's spayed, and we have 2 other spayed females (one is an indoor-outdoor cat), and a male that hasn't been neutered (he will be next month). Her, one of the spayed female, and the male are house cats. But the kitten is getting used to going outside.

    When we first got her, we had NO problems with her. Up until about a month ago, she used the litter box.
    But then she suddenly stopped pooping in it, she still pees in it but she poops all over our carpet several times a day. She's even done it in my mom's bathtub a few times. It smells SO bad, and you can smell it through the whole house pretty much. Plus, when she does that, my Shih Tzu puppy rolls in it and gets covered in cat poop (he's done this like 4 times..).
    It's gotten so bad that my mom is threatening to find her a new home.

    We keep the litter box clean, we have 4 cats and the litter is usually scooped 3 times a day or so. We thought maybe she just didn't want to use the same litter box as the other cats, so my mom put a different litter box in her bathroom but ended up taking it out because the smell was so bad. We don't really have any other place to put a litter box because our house is pretty small. The one we have now is in the laundry room, which connects with the kitchen. The only other places we could put it are the living room or the hallway towards my bedroom.
    I don't think we've changed litter... I honestly don't pay attention to what kind my mom buys but I'm pretty sure it's the same. And she isn't sick and trying to get our attention, she's been to a vet.

    Is there any way I can encourage her to use the litter box again? I really don't want to get rid of her. :/
    @MR ANFIELD ACES: I'm sorry if this "novel" was too long for your tiny brain to comprehend.

    Dumbass.

    • ANSWER:
      I've got a feeling the dog or one of the other cats has chased her out of the box, making it 'dangerous' for her to use. A pooping cat is more vulnerable than a peeing cat.

      Try adding a second box and showing it to her. It may be all she needs to feel safe about using one again. Putting sandbox sand into the box can help a lot too, even though it tracks through the house more, no cat turns their nose up at using sand.

23. QUESTION:
    How can I get rid of these COCKROACHES!?... They just won't die!?
    My boyfriend and I just moved into an apartment in Denver. We didn't realize until after signing our 12 month lease that the place was infested with cockroaches. The landlord told us he was having Terminix come out to get rid of them next week. We could not wait a week so we purchased a box of 3 Hot Shot Foggers for roaches (our apartment is 450 sq ft so 1 can should of been enough but we used 3). That didn't work so the next day we bought a can of Raid Roach Killer for Outdoor/Indoor use. That didn't work. So we heard about boric acid and poured it all over our apartment, the carpet, down the drains, the cabinets, countertops, walls, ect.,... still seeing roaches, but a little less. THEN, the Terminix people finally come, and 2 days later... STILL HAVE COCKROACHES! Please someone tell us how we can get rid of these pests. We just moved in about a week ago and are very clean people. We haven't even been able to unpack because we're petrified of these bugs! Please help us, PLEASE! Tell us what we need to do, we have no where else to turn to.
    Oh yeah... and we puchased this RAID BUG MAX spray for 12 bucks and that didn't work either. How the heck do we kill these things!?

    • ANSWER:
      Sprays make roaches scatter. It kills some, some run to other apartments and some stay in their hiding places. Then there are some roaches that sprays will not kill. The boric is good. Combat gel, cost around .00, will kill all kinds of roaches. The roaches eat the gel and go to their nest and die. The other roaches eat the dead one and they die. The boric acid powder works the same way. It will take some time. Roaches can go through the walls from other apartments. Keeping the powder out and the gel will be there ready for them. The roaches can get the gel and powder in the walls and that will help kill roaches there. Roach motels, glue traps, are good to put on shelves. Mint tea bags are good to put in drawers.

24. QUESTION:
    If Terminix can't even kill these Cockroaches, then who can? How can I get rid of these!?
    My boyfriend and I just moved into an apartment in Denver. We didn't realize until after signing our 12 month lease that the place was infested with cockroaches. The landlord told us he was having Terminix come out to get rid of them next week. We could not wait a week so we purchased a box of 3 Hot Shot Foggers for roaches (our apartment is 450 sq ft so 1 can should of been enough but we used 3). That didn't work so the next day we bought a can of Raid Roach Killer for Outdoor/Indoor use. That didn't work. So we heard about boric acid and poured it all over our apartment, the carpet, down the drains, the cabinets, countertops, walls, ect.,... still seeing roaches, but a little less. THEN, the Terminix people finally come, and 2 days later... STILL HAVE COCKROACHES! Please someone tell us how we can get rid of these pests. We just moved in about a week ago and are very clean people. We haven't even been able to unpack because we're petrified of these bugs! Please help us, PLEASE! Tell us what we need to do, we have no where else to turn to.
    PLEASE HELP US!
    Thanks. The thing is tho there is absolutely no food in the house. We are so scared of these things that we have been eating out everyday so we don't have to worry about them stealing our food. And the whole building was bombed and sprayed. Does it usually take a little time for them to leave after terminix sprays?

    • ANSWER:
      As a graduate student, I briefly worked in cockroach control.

      You're on the right track with boric acid. No, it doesn't kill all the roaches right away because for every roach you see in your apartment there are a hundred more living in the wall spaces. Use spackle to seal up all cracks in the walls, like any cracks around plumbing. Spackle up all the cracks between your kitchen shelves and the cabinets holding them. Do the same in the bathroom. Spread boric acid powder freely. Don't forget to powder under and actually inside your stove and under your refrigerator. The most effective and permanent cure is to have boric acid powder injected into your wall spaces where most roaches are living. But most pest control operators have never heard of this, and those who have heard of it don't like to do it because it's a permanent solution and they don't get to charge you for repeated treatments.

      Your neighbors must be suffering from the same problem. I suggest that you find a pest control operator willing to inject boric acid powder, get together with you neighbors, and demand of the manager or owner that he take care of the problem once and for all. If he balks, threaten him with reporting him to the county health department. You can't live with cockroaches indefinitely. They are a recognized health hazard in addition to being smelly, disgusting creatures.

25. QUESTION:
    Cat=Satan Water=Claws up my nose..?
    OK so I'm sorry If you see this again...I posted it earlier and the answers I got were...well they weren't going anywhere...and I can't really comment or interact so IMA be the jerk that reposts the same questions twice HA

    "so I have a male tabby, his name is Taco. I love him to bits but he's an outdoor/indoor cat (mostly outdoor) SO, because he really likes to fight with things twice his size I cannot declaw him (plus I really don't think that does much he can inflict as much dammage on ME without his claws...) and since he is a male cat his favorite past time is populating the neighborhood. well....he has a real, and I mean a REAL nasty case of fleas.
    OK so my cat Taco will hear the bathroom faucet 3 stories up and be like "OH HELL NAW" eyes get huge, does that darting all over the room thing, loud stress-filled meows, the whole 50 yards...
    I HAVE to get these fleas off him. (he has an insanely thick coat...which he's done a great job applying motor oil from the garage to)

    tried FrontLine....wasted ...tried Adams....HA joke....
    the dang thing needs a bath...or to be shaved. (no really the pet salon/groomers suggested this, of course then they said THEY SAID THEY CANT DO ANYTHING because he's not declawed)

    OK onto the actual question (now that you're familiar with the situation) I NEED TO KNOW SOME CHEAP (possibly homemade) TRANQUALIZERS!!!!
    anything under ...I'm desparate....but still broke soo..."

    OK SO
    let's get something straight before you hit the OMG DONT YOUS GONNA KILL UR CATZ!!!

    -Taco is and always will be an outdoor cat (cats didn't come from a carpeted cave from martha stuart land) true and true the only thing wrong with him is fleas bc there was a recent infestation of the area
    -HE IS NOT ALLOWED IN THE HOUSE TILL THEY ARE GONE. it is important I get him flea free bc winter is coming and he's got a motor boat meow...and he knows which window is mine.
    so! there are no fleas in the house....don't get away from the subject here ppl...

    -VETS will of course tell you to get regular check ups...its their salary...cat=not something I will pay much more than food, (water isn't really something i 'buy' for it), dewormer (bc theyre no fun), and cat nip.....cats a cat...not spending on a toy he wont like in 3 secs...
    pet groomers do not treat cats with front claws bc they are sissies and good god if only i had their stupid harness/muzzle i wouldn't have this problem....

    this cat has gone threw some serious crap...random sores, missing pieces of ear, bringing home his babies....(YEAH HAHA whoever suggested neuturing? you stick your hand near my cats giblets...no really TRY bc I sure as heck ain't paying someone $$$ to take my cats manhood)
    He's a rough tough kitty
    BUT HE'S DIRTY AND NEEDS A BATH...plz...just suggest pet friendly tranqs i can dip in a bucket of 'Flea Free Smells Like A Fresh Summer Day'
    plz.....

    • ANSWER:
      call the vet and tell them exactly what the problem is - including your lack of cash. ask if they can give you one tranquilizer so that you can bathe your cat. a single dose should not cost a lot.
      using anything that is not prescribed can seriously hurt your cat - as in brain damage or death.
      i have some tranqs for car rides and each individual one costs only two dollars. if the vet knows you they will most likely have no problem helping you out.
      conversely, you could ask if they have a suggestion - sometimes vets will waive the consult fee and just ask for payment for the meds. they might have something that will help.
      the best flea medication i have ever used was advantage - it was 25$ and lasted three months.
      it is a pity that you will not consider neutering your cat. so many babies die on the streets every year - hit by cars and eaten by dogs and frozen to death. there are just so many. there are many places that will do it for free. he will still be your little guy but he wont be able to make dozens of kittens any more.
      good luck!

26. QUESTION:
    i took my new cat outside..and when i brought her in she went CRAZY!?
    I bought a new cat about a week ago. she realllllly really really wanted outside, so i put her on a harness and leash and let her explore a little. she went out there and was laying and rubbing her body all over in the dirt. when i brought her in... i gave her a treat for being good...then she just went bazerk...and started running around and freaking out. she started scratching upthe carpet...and like jumping around on her string toy. she is usually really really MELLOW and sweet... it was just a crazy moment! what do you think is up. should i trust her to go outside again. eventually i want her to be an outdoor indoor cat, but i dont want her to run away and freak out!

    • ANSWER:
      first of all... did you know the lifespan of an outdoor cat is 3-5 years? if you love your kitty keep it indoors only.

      and secondly.... I have a leash and a harness for my kitty too... she loves to walk with it if I hold up her leash and ask her if she wants to go outside she meows like crazy and starts rubbing my legs its cute.

      My kitty always goes nuts when I bring her back in.... but she eventually settles back in to her normal self... I think it's just that the cat likes it out there so much that they are frustrated that they can't figure out how to get back out there again... so when cats are frustrated they just go nuts and take it out on you... carpet... toys... its just nature.

      but I love taking my cat outside and she seems to love it too... it's rare that a cat will walk on those things so you are lucky like me!

27. QUESTION:
    My cat just got fleas, what do I do?
    I was brushing my cat earlier today and I noticed a bug crawling on his fur. I didn't know what it was, but when I saw it leap away I immediately thought of a flea. Well I got a good look at it so I looked on the net, and sure enough it was a flea.

    I'm pretty sure that he just got them, but after doing some reading I'm becoming concerned about what to do now. The last time he was brushed was a week ago, so I'm thinking that he got them recently(he hasn't been scratching a lot this month[the usual], just recently).

    My cat is an outdoor cat(was indoor), but we've never gotten any kind of flea repellent for him. He's been an outdoor for a good 2 years now(almost 3), and he's never gotten fleas before so I'm at a loss about what to do.

    I've read that Capster and something plus is good to get rid of the fleas on him, but I'm wondering where I can pick some of this stuff up? Do I have to take my cat to the vet, or can I go to a place like a pet store and pick some up? Do flea collars work, or is there a better and more sure way of preventing him getting fleas again?

    I've also been reading that the fleas don't really stay on the cat, just when it wants to feed, most of the time they are in carpets, bedding, etc. The room the cat usually stays in has no carpet, but there are tiny crevices along the edges of the room near the corners. Will the fleas be laying their eggs down there? If they are somewhere in the floor/wall of the room, is it going to be hard getting rid of them? What should I buy to kill these eggs/fleas? Can I just get some Raid Flea killer, or do I have to order something better? Will the fleas be in the bed and the mattress? How do I get rid of them if so?

    If the cat has been bitten by a flea, can he get any diseases from them? I need to know if I should bring him to the vet.

    Does the climate matter where you live, or can fleas live in any climate? The city I live in gets very cold in the winter, and its already getting cold so I'm wondering if the fleas will die off in the winter that are around the house(should I miss any during the clean up stage).

    If anyone can help, I would appreciate it. If you can list the price of the items you recommend, I would be very grateful!

    • ANSWER:
      Send your cat to the Vet.

      End of Story....

28. QUESTION:
    Advice on cat furniture?
    We have 3 cats, 2 are completely indoor cats and 1 is an indoor/outdoor. We are moving soon and the home we are looking at has a sunroom. I'd like to get some cat furniture like a tree or condo that will be comfortable for them in there. I would also like them to scratch it instead of the carpets!

    I'm having a hard time as the two indoor cats are larger and probably would not fit through those little holes and my cats like to lay in beds (mine mostly but they like their little ones a lot too) Also I bought them a scratching post a long time ago and they never scratched it not once.
    Can someone help me on the best style to get? For larger cats to mostly lounge in that could be enticing to scratch as well?
    If you have a link, please share!
    Thanks.
    Thanks everyone!!
    None of my cats "love" on each other but they seem to call things off when it's nap time and will even sleep almost next to each other. Ive had cats all my life but never owned any furniture just for them other than beds. The beds they have now are on top of our kitchen cabinets because they were getting up there and sitting. (I know cats like to be high up) I'm looking to get one large piece that has a few spaces on it to save on used space and money They are ages 9, 6 and one of them adopted us when we moved in a few years ago and he's probably between 10 and 14 years old but very agile.

    • ANSWER:
      These are some URLs that I have bookmarked.

      http://www.cozycatfurniture.com/cat_houses/bigcathouse.html

      http://www.katwallks.com/

      http://www.bigappleherp.com/Grab-A-Mouse-Mega-Toy-Box

      ...

29. QUESTION:
    Fleas on my cat WONT go away!!?
    Our poor cats fleas wont go away! He used to be an indoor/outdoor cat but has been strictly indoor now for about 4 months. He has gotten a horrible flea problem and passed it on to our dogs =( Last night we went on a 'murdering spree' and cleaned our Apartment from top to bottom! I used 20 Mule Borax and sprinkled it everywhere!! I moved all of our furniture and put it on our beds, couches etc..I also bought a spray by hartz that I sprayed on the furrniture & got a powder to sprinkle on the carpets. Then I washed ALL of our clothes and bedding in hot water!! While doing all this I also gave the dogs and cat flea baths and then blow dried them. When I was brushing out our cat I looked at his tummy and I'll be damned but he STILL had LIVING Adult blood suckers on him!! Hes not all the way dry yet but when he is Im going to give him a dose of frontline and he is wearing a flea collar. Should this work? So far they are still alive even after water and flea killing shampoo! Im at my wits end!! Im also worried for my young daughter and our other pets. I cant have fleas like this.

    *I should also add that I just gave him frontline 2 weeks ago! It has done nothing to kill them off! The vet said to give them flea baths every two weeks and than a dose of frontline. He said with infestations it can be given more often but Im scared of all these poisons being put on my poor cat =(

    • ANSWER:
      Use a flea comb and put combed out fleas in a dish of soapy water. Frontline works, but you can use Dawn dish soap more often. You may have trouble with fleas hatching in your carpet. I bought "Adam's" from Walmart (about .) and sprayed the carpet, furniture, and even the back of the dog [by accident]. I did this daily for 2 weeks and it broke the cycle. I will never waste my money on anything else. Enforcer works well, too (Ace Hardware), according to my daughter.
      I do not like to use a flea collar on my kittens/cats. They are too feisty and likely to hang themselves on something! lol

30. QUESTION:
    Random cat behavioral changes?
    My cat is about five years old. She is strictly indoor only and has never had contact with any other cats since we got her. She was adopted from a shelter, and is believed to have been abused or at least mistreated in the first year of her life before she was in the shelter. So we were okay with the fact she was very antisocial and skittish when we first got her. It took her a few years for her to come out of her shell and simply not run away at full speed when people came into the room.

    She actually began becoming a rather friendly cat who would walk up to people and purr as long as they were sitting down and not moving around too much. We were happy that she was beginning to get along with everyone in the family better.

    Then out of nowhere, she fell back into her old habits. We watched a friends dog for a weekend, and it all went downhill from there. This was about two years ago, but she basically tried to kill the dog and since then she's been particularly vicious at random. It started out that she'd occasionally scratch someone from time to time, but it's gotten worse and worse. At first we thought she'd get over it, and her issues were rare, but now it's at the point she attacks EVERYONE other then me and my mom and we can't let anyone pet her, from my grandma to little kids. She'll act all sweet, but then turn around and begin rapidly clawing at people and hissing.

    She's also been getting sick on my carpet more and more frequently.

    My (outdoor only) dog needed surgery a few weeks ago, and it cost enough that we could have bought new couches, so I know my parents aren't going to take her to the vet. It took tons of begging for me to get the dog there originally when she started having problems, and the dog is actually nice to them and everyone else. Does anyone know what Emilee might possibly have? Is it something that is threatening her health? She seems perfectly healthy other then the throwing up once or twice a week... but I know something's up because she's such a brat now that I'm beginning to be unable to stand her.

    • ANSWER:
      A girl I worked with had a cat that would do that... It turned out that it actually had a brain tumour causing the change in behaviour..

      Perhaps a trip to the vet could be in order.

31. QUESTION:
    What kind of a water removing/prevention system is this? See more info below...?
    We are buying a house and the previous owners said the basement only gets water after very severe rains. The basement has some type of system that looks like a black pipe or tubing that goes around the bottom of all the walls and links up to the sump pump. It looks like any water that might get in, just gets pump away... but how does the water get into the tubing?
    Do you have a system like this? How does it work?

    *Main concern, can we put carpet downstairs - like indoor/outdoor carpet?*

    • ANSWER:
      Those systems (if properly installed) have that black pipe installed in gravel. The pipe has holes or slots in it, usually on the bottom side. Water then flows into the sump pit.

      These systems are not the best way to mitigate water in a basement. Water still often comes down walls before getting to the pipe. They are best when the water table rises under the slab.

      The best approach to mitigating water is from the OUTSIDE. Keep the water from ever getting into the basement in the first place.

      Make sure all ground is sloped away from the house, gutters are not clogged and gutter outlets drain at least 6' away from the foundation.

      Let me know if you want more tips.

32. QUESTION:
    How can I get rid of these COCKROACHES!?... They just won't die!?
    My boyfriend and I just moved into an apartment in Denver. We didn't realize until after signing our 12 month lease that the place was infested with cockroaches. The landlord told us he was having Terminix come out to get rid of them next week. We could not wait a week so we purchased a box of 3 Hot Shot Foggers for roaches (our apartment is 450 sq ft so 1 can should of been enough but we used 3). That didn't work so the next day we bought a can of Raid Roach Killer for Outdoor/Indoor use. That didn't work. So we heard about boric acid and poured it all over our apartment, the carpet, down the drains, the cabinets, countertops, walls, ect.,... still seeing roaches, but a little less. THEN, the Terminix people finally come, and 2 days later... STILL HAVE COCKROACHES! Please someone tell us how we can get rid of these pests. We just moved in about a week ago and are very clean people. We haven't even been able to unpack because we're petrified of these bugs! Please help us, PLEASE! Tell us what we need to do, we have no where else to turn to.
    PLEASE HELP US!

    • ANSWER:
      First off, you need to vacuum up all of the boric acid that was dumped around. Then you will need to use caulk to seal up cracks and around pipes where they go through the walls. Now you are ready to reapply the boric acid.
      To apply it, you can use a ear irrigating bulb you get from the pharmacy. You just suck up a little of the material into the bulb and then LIGHTLY dust cracks and crevices that aren't caulked (inside drawers, cabinets) and on top of pipes.

      The reason for doing this "lightly" is because the insects will avoid piles of the stuff, whereas if there's just a little dust, they will tromp right through it, collecting some on their legs. When they go to groom themselves, they ingest it and die.

      Also invest in some good baits and deny roaches a place to set up shop(such as in stacks of paper bags, cardboard boxes or newspapers).

      Lastly, once you've pretty much won the battle, upon seeing one of the little cockshuckers run across the floor, chase it down and kill it no matter how it tries to escape you. If it runs into a closet full of stuff, dig it out and terminate it with extreme prejudice.