The Frugal Furbabies

Click here for a coupon to save $2 off one bag of Purina Puppy & Dog Chow.

So yesterday I woke up to discover a huge pile of cat pee on our beloved microfiber couch.  I let out a blood curdling scream that scared the life out of my dogs and hubby who were peacefully still sleeping. Why our cat decided to pee on the couch? I have no idea. I know he’s been loving the new couch because of the hideout it provides with all its’ nooks and crannies but never did I think he would mark it as “his” couch.  Sigh… Of course, being very cheap people we took to the internet for some home remedies before we tried any harsh and frankly expensive chemicals.  I tried spraying the stain with vinegar, lemon, and even air freshener but nothing worked! If you’ve ever had to deal with cat urine you know how hard it is. Then, it was like a higher power took pity upon me when they heard my pleas to save the couch and that’s when I stumbled upon this glorious recipe:

• 1 qt. 3% hydrogen peroxide
• 1/4 C. baking soda
• 1 tsp.liquid dish soap

I mixed the ingredients together and covered the affected areas with the recipe. I took the covers off the cushions and douched the stain with this mix.  I poured this mix over the stained area on the Styrofoam cushion under the seat covers too. I had leftovers so I saved it for future pet messes.  Then, I let everything air dry over night. There was some baking soda residue on the area but I brushed it off with a paper towel. The cat urine smell was GONE though!  GONE with a trace! I would suggest you do a test spot on your furniture though. I didn’t do that because I didn’t think of it at the time but since everyone’s furniture is different, do a test spot to ensure that the mix won’t ruin your furniture.  If you try this recipe, give me some feedback and if it worked for you. I want to tweak it to perfection since it has the potential of being an all purpose pet deodorizer. So, please give me your feedback everyone!

So my dogs are pretty much lazy little balls of fur. They don’t do much except sleep, roll in the grass, eat, poop, and then eat some more. Note the example below: my pug Max pretty much does this all day.

Recently however, I’ve found a neat way for them to help me out. I give them my old bananas to eat. Since I have a really bad habit of buying too much bananas, I give them to my dogs instead of throwing them out. I use to make banana bread with them but my family started complaining that they eat so much of it, they dream of eating it at night too. So now I’ve moved onto giving old bananas to the dogs. I researched that bananas are non-toxic  to dogs so it’s safe for them to eat. I usually chop the bananas into small pieces and make my dogs do simple tricks like sit or lay down for the banana pieces so they think they are getting something very special. Bananas are fat free and healthy so I think they are the perfect treat alternative for dogs.  At around 69 cents a pound, they make one of the cheapest treats out there so give them a try!

Around here, I’m always cleaning up after our pets. Our cats are relatively harmless but we have six little trouble makers in our dogs. So the other day while I was cleaning up an accident, a thought just popped up.  Here I am paying all this money for chemical sprays when I’ve got cheap all natural cleaners lying around the house.  I guess after five years worth of science classes, my education finally paid off.  It dawned on me that the ammonia, which is a base,  in my dog’s urine can be neutralized with the acid from household items such as lemon juice and vinegar.  So here’s some cheap and all natural things I’ve been doing around the house to clean up my pet messes:

1. For pee accidents on tile, I’ll neutralize the urine with sprays of vinegar, clean up the mess and then scrub my floors with lemon juice and salt to make sure the odor and urine is neutralized.
2. For big messes that require me to mop the floors, I’ll mix 3 parts water with 1 parts vinegar to use as a mop solution for my floors. My house usually has a slight vinegar smell afterward but once I open my windows, to let in some fresh air, the vinegar smell is gone in an hour or so.
3. To freshen up the dog beds,  I spray mists of lemon juice and water over their beds with a plastic spray bottle.  I let the beds air dry and they are left with a fresh lemony scent.
4. For yellow stains on carpet and rugs, I rub in a paste made up of baking soda and water. Then, I let the paste sit on the stain for 5-10 minutes before cleaning the paste off with water. The area is then left to air dry.
5. To neutralize urine ammonia in rugs and carpets, I spray a solution of equal parts water mixed with vinegar onto the area and let it air dry.

I’ve only done these few ideas so far but there’s so much more you can do. Give these all natural methods a try and tell me how they turned out for you!

The latest Wellness pet food coupons are out.  Click on the following links to save money on wet & dry pet food.  Remember you can use the current $5 off $25 coupon from Pet Supermarket on top of these manufacturer’s coupons.  Just check out the quick links at the left of the page for the printable $5 off $25 Pet Supermarket coupon which expires 9/4/10.

Save $3 off any bag of Dry Wellness Dog or Cat Food

Save $1 off any can of Wet Wellness Dog or Cat Food

K9Cuisine.com is offering a buy one get one free offer on Addiction brand puppy food with coupon code AddictionBOGO.  There’s no word on when the expiration date is so I’m assuming it’s until they are out of the food. For more information on the dog food brand just click here to go to their website.  The food seems to be a high quality holistic brand. Too bad I don’t have puppies. The lamb formula seems to be the cheapest at $14.82 for a 4lb bag.  Shipping is free if you buy over $50 and you can also request samples when you order stuff by clicking on the “Free Stuff” link at the top of the page.

Click here for a buy one get one free coupon on individually wrapped.  These individually wrapped Greenies are sold in stores such as PetsMart, Petco, and Pet Supermarket and range from $.99 to $4.99 depending on size. It’s very important that you select the Greenie that’s appropriate for your dog based on their weight. That allows them to have an appropriate sized Greenie that they can chew and digest.

Greenies are dental chews meant to help reduce the tartar and plaque built up in your dog’s teeth. Many dogs can suffer from dental plaque, tartar, and bad breathe because well let’s face it they don’t brush their teeth twice a day! Dental chews like Greenies help reduce the plaque and tartar so that their teeth stays cleaner longer.  My dogs are absolutely in love with these things but it gets pricey to buy Greenies for 6 dogs so this coupon couldn’t have been more welcomed.  Enjoy the savings guys!

Click here for a $5 off $25 coupon to Petco this weekend. The coupon is short lived and will only be valid today (8/21) and tomorrow (8/22).  This coupon is for some of you guys out there who might not have been able to use the Pet Supermarket coupons. Remember that you’ll need a Petco Pals card to use the coupon. The card is free so there’s nothing to lose. Enjoy the savings!

The latest $5 off $25 coupon from Pet Supermarket is here. You can use this coupon at stores like Petco and PetsMart as a competitor’s coupon. This policy is based on the discretion of the store’s manager so some stores will have it and some won’t. Just ask when you go. The coupon expires 9/4/10. Click here to print it and be sure to match it with other coupons posted for extra savings at your pet stores!

Click here to sign up for the Halo newsletter.  Halo will send an email with a link where you can go to print out a coupon for 1 free bag of dog or cat treats. To my knowledge, Petco and Wholefoods carry Halo products. Be sure to check their website to see where Halo pet products are located near you!