My Pet World: When a dog resource guards, a behaviorist can help

Cathy M. Rosenthal, Tribune Content Agency on May 12, 2021

Dear Cathy,

My granddaughter’s cat urinated on my couch. I used the 50/50 method (baking soda/bleach), but now l am left with a big white patch where the urine was. What can l do? — Jane, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

Dear Jane,

You will need to consult a fabric expert about your current dilemma, but I can tell you what to do next time this happens. The best products for cleaning up pet messes are biological enzymatic cleaners (available at the pet store). They gobble up the biologicals (urine and feces) and eliminate odors. But please test a product like this out on your fabric first to ensure it won’t ruin your furniture.

Dear Cathy,

I have seen many people commenting in your column about dog poop bags being left on the side of the road. The easy solution and something you should recommend is to have a pet waste carrying bag attached to the dog’s leash or the harness. It has a poop bag container along with a pocket for hand cleaner. There’s lots of room inside to carry the filled poop bags until you come home or to a waste receptacle. — Joan, Glastonbury, Connecticut

Dear Joan,

I searched online and found dog poop bag holders that attach to the leash, including some with charcoal filters to reduce the odor. I have had so many letters about this topic, and you Joan, may have solved the problem for everyone. Thank you for sharing your idea!

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(Cathy M. Rosenthal is a longtime animal advocate, author, columnist and pet expert who has more than 25 years in the animal welfare field. Send your pet questions, stories and tips to cathy@petpundit.com. Please include your name, city, and state. You can follow her @cathymrosenthal.)