Here’s a great printable dog food coupon you might want to hurry and snag before it’s gone!

$1/1 Kibbles ‘n Bits Dog Food Printable Coupon (use zip-code 10001 to find)

You can find this under the “pets” category and you can print each coupon 2 times per computer.

Note: This coupon says “Available at Walmart” but it can be used anywhere that they sell this brand.

Happy Pet Savings!

One of the most frustrating parts about having a pet, as much as we love them, is maintaining cleanliness in the home. Odor is probably one of the biggest issues that families with pets face. While most homes with pets will have a natural pet odor, that doesn’t mean it has to smell bad! There are ways to maintain a clean house, even with indoor furry friends.

Having pets means cleaning up fur, vomit, accidents, dander, and other shenanigans that pets might get into (as I write this, there are blades of cat grass all over my carpet). For those with carpeting (like me), this is a double whammy! For people entering my home, I probably sound like some kind of crazy pet survey person, because I usually ask, “How does it smell in here?” One day, I was validated in my odor-removing skills by a complete stranger.

A young woman came to my door selling bilingual textbooks for children. I don’t have any kids, but we got to talking and she eventually asked to come inside and use the restroom. In conversation, I mentioned that I had three dogs and three cats, and when she entered my home, she said: “It smells so good in here! I would never know you had six pets!” Of course, I was pleased. Here are some of the methods I use in keeping my home smelling fresh while having pets:

Air filters: While I do have a large air filter, I primarily use two small Hamilton Beach plug-in air filters. One is in the hallway, and the other is in the living room. These filters keep the air fresh and clear, and remove a lot of dander as well. I paid just $15 for each air filter, and the refill packs are available on Amazon, 3 for $10 with free shipping.

Vacuuming: Someday we’ll be moving to hardwood floors, but until then, I keep up with quite a bit of vacuuming, and deodorizing occasionally with baking soda. I vacuum once per day, sometimes twice.

Homemade cleaners: A simple mixture of water, white vinegar, and a splash of lemon juice is an easy, affordable, and non-toxic cleaning solution to make. Wiping down windowsills, counters, and other surfaces on a regular basis keep the home smelling fresh, and it doesn’t take much time to do a quick “drive-by” dusting.

Scotch Fur Fighter Pet Hair Remover: This handy dandy tool is worth the investment, especially if pets are allowed on the furniture. I even dug out most of the cat hair on the carpeted cat tree with the Scotch Fur Fighter. This tool picks up fur from the furniture a lot better than my vacuum.

Nature’s Miracle: For any pet accidents on the carpet, this is my go to solution. I clean up any accidents as soon as possible to avoid odors setting in.

Letting the fresh air in: Yes, this sounds like common sense, but it’s amazing how far some fresh air will go in making the house smell clean. Even in the cold, winter months, I sometimes leave the window open for a few minutes just for the clean air.

Most of these methods to keep odor under control are very fast and easy, and more importantly, they don’t put my pets in danger of any toxic chemicals.

Do you have any tried and true methods for keeping pet odors under control in the home?

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This article was written by My Pet Saving’s contributor Melissa. She has a master’s degree in creative writing, owns several pets and runs her own online pet magazine. To learn more about this author check out the contributor profile page.

Here’s a great printable coupon if you have feline friends!

Buy One Get One FREE Friskies Plus Cat Food Printable Coupon (click “like” on Facebook to access)

Hurry and print if interested, you never know when they will run out of prints!

Happy Pet Savings!

Amazon often offers free ebooks for a limited time and right now they have an ebook for cat lovers!

Cat Training: How To Train A Cat With Ease [Cat Training - A Guide To Cat Training With Cat Behaviour Demystified, Training And Advices To Take Care Of Your Cat For Happy Cat Training!]- FREE! (price can go up at any time, so download your free book now if interested.)

You can download this book to your Kindle if you have one OR if you don’t have a Kindle they have an online reader that you can download easily and add your free book to it. I use the free online reader that they offer and it’s great!

Happy Pet Savings!

It’s a new month and that means that there are new pet coupons and some of them have reset, which means you can print more if you already printed them last month! :)

$1.00 off eighteen cans of Elegant Medleys Cat Food Coupon

$1.50 off ten cans of Purina ALPO Dog Food Coupon

$1.00 off twenty-four cans of Fancy Feast Cat Food Coupon

$2.00 off twelve Mighty Dog cans or pack Coupon

$1.00 off Cat’s Pride cat litter Coupon

Happy Pet Savings!

One of the most frustrating things about being a dog lover is not being able to bring the dog everywhere, especially when it comes to nature trails or recreational areas that are outside, but do not allow pets. A big part of how pets are perceived by the general public and the authorities that make decisions regarding pet rules is whether or not people pick up after their pets. While Fido doesn’t understand that every outdoor area isn’t there for his elimination needs, people can comprehend the need to pick it up and dispose of it properly. By leaving doggie fecal material on the ground in public places, a bad messages are generated about dog owners.

One of these messages is that all dogs will make a mess, and all people won’t pick up after their pets. While people who practice responsible dog ownership properly clean up after dogs and understand that this is part of common courtesy, not everyone sees it this way. Some feel that “nature will take care of it” or that because it’s outside, it isn’t a big deal. Unfortunately, this is not the case.

When a dog eliminates, leaving the material on the ground causes some problems. First, it is just left there for other people to step in. Non-dog owners and dog owners alike do not want to step in poop. It gets into the cracks of shoes and tracks to other places. Because it potentially carries harmful bacteria, it has the ability to harm people and make them sick. Not every dog on a leash is taken care of appropriately, and it shouldn’t be assumed that they are healthy and up-to-date on medical care.

Another issue with bacteria is that some dogs, or other animals, will consume the fecal matter and could get very sick from it. Yes, it is an owner’s responsibility to not allow their pet to eat it, but sometimes things happen and it occurs before we know it.

Not picking up after pets also sends a poor message to the community about dogs and their owners. Not everyone loves dogs (I know; it’s hard to believe!), and people that don’t are likely to complain to public authorities about owners that don’t pick up. If enough complaints are registered, those areas that once allowed dogs may change the rules and exclude pets from the area.

Areas that allow pets are precious, and being able to bring our pups somewhere is a privilege. By working together and picking up after our pets, we can continue to open doors for more public places that allow pets.

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This article was written by My Pet Saving’s contributor Melissa. She has a master’s degree in creative writing, owns several pets and runs her own online pet magazine. To learn more about this author check out the contributor profile page.

Love to travel with your pets? Look at these nifty little travel bowls that zip-up!

Bergan Zip-Up Pet Travel Bowls 2 Pack- $4.99 (Reg. $16.98) + $1.99 Shipping

About:

• 2 Pack – You will receive 2 bowls – Red or Black – Chosen at random
• Small travel bowl for day trips with your dog
• Zippered top keeps food secure (no need for a second baggie)
• Waterproof lining makes bowls suitable for food or water
• Compresses easily for storage in a backpack or under a car seat
• Holds up to 5 cups of food or water

Happy Pet Savings!

The goldfish is a pretty standard pet. They can be purchased at pet stores, won at fairs, and make a wonderful first pet for children, but there is a lot more to this pretty member of the “Cyprinidae” family (which is also home to minnows). Known for coming in array of red, orange, and white colors, the goldfish was raised in Buddhist monasteries as far back as the Tang Dynasty (618-907), and became pets in bowls during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) according to the Bristol Aquarists Society.

Goldfish color groups are divided into two types: metallic and calico. Metallic goldfish are usually in solid colors like red, orange, and yellow, and are highly desired. The Bristol Aquarists Society states that metallic goldfish that are solid in color do well in shows. Calico goldfish are not as reflective as the metallic fish, but they do have some metallic scales. These goldfish often have speckles and patches of colors.

There are many urban legends about the goldfish, and a lot of people assume that they can’t remember anything and that they die quickly, but goldfish can live up to twenty-five years, while the world’s oldest goldfish, named Tish, lived to be 43 years old before his death 1999. Goldfish also have a memory span that lasts up to three months.

One amazing thing about goldfish is that they have an incredible set of eyes! According to DogBlogs.net, “A goldfish is the only animal that can see infrared and ultraviolet light.” They go on to state that:

Overall, goldfish have developed full-spectrum vision so that they will be able to see the micro-flashes of static electrical charge and bio-luminescence that appear when a creature hunting with sonar sends sound waves through waters rich in micro-fauna in order to search for its prey.

Goldfish also play a role in education. Joni J. Gleason of the University of West Florida writes in an article from the Encyclopedia of Special Education that goldfish are important learning tools in the classroom for pets used to assist in special education. Along with gerbils, goldfish are often used to teach facts about the animal kingdom. Since a goldfish is easy to care for, it is used as a learning tool to teach children.

As you can see, there is a lot more to the goldfish than just being a little buddy swimming in a bowl.

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This article was written by My Pet Saving’s contributor Melissa. She has a master’s degree in creative writing, owns several pets and runs her own online pet magazine. To learn more about this author check out the contributor profile page.

Here’s a great free cat food sample if you have cats! It also comes with a $1 off Meow Mix Coupon.

FREE Sample of Meow Mix Pate Toppers Cat Food

Don’t use this brand of cat food? Grab this freebie to donate to your local animal shelter. :)

Happy Pet Savings!

Nail cutting time is not usually a pleasant activity for pets, especially for cats! Trimming the claws is a vital part of cat health and should be done every two to three weeks, depending on the growth rate. Keeping nails trim protects furniture, carpeting, curtains, children, visitors, and other pets in the home from potential destruction or injury. With practice and the right tools, nail trimming time doesn’t have to be a time to dread when it comes to health maintenance.

Having good cutters is a necessity when it comes to nail trimming. There are many types of clippers on the market, but even a set of fingernail clippers for humans will work. Nail cutters should be replaced as needed, because a dull blade can split the nails, crush them, or make them bleed. Cornstarch is a common household item that can be used to stop bleeding if it occurs.

In an ideal situation, a cat will learn to have their nails cut from a young age. When adopting at kitten, simulating the position of being held and the action of cutting helps the cat get used to the action, even if their nails don’t need to be trimmed at that time. If that isn’t the case, older cats can get used to having their nails trimmed through patience and practice.

If you aren’t confident in where to make the cut, go slow and only cut the tips. It is far better to cut a little bit than too much! Making a mistake will likely be a large setback when it comes to cats. If nails are clear, it is easy to see the quick through the nail, but it will be more difficult on cats with dark nails. In this case, only cutting the sharp tips is a wise step of caution.

Cats aren’t fans of having their nails touched, so making the experience pleasant for the cat is very important! In an article by veterinarian Jean Hofve, it is suggested that nap time is one way to get in a few clips without the cat noticing. A snuggle session with the cat before nail cutting time is another option. If the cat rolls onto his back and lets you pet his belly, this means he trusts you. Take advantage of the calm energy and massage the paws, if possible, then move on to trimming the nails.

There are exceptions to nail trimming experiences, and some cats may need to have their nails clipped by a veterinarian or a groomer. If this is the case, make sure that the cat is brought in frequently to avoid nails that are too long. Proper nail care protects not only the cat, but everyone in the family!

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This article was written by My Pet Saving’s contributor Melissa. She has a master’s degree in creative writing, owns several pets and runs her own online pet magazine. To learn more about this author check out the contributor profile page.