Q: Fern, our daughter’s first rabbit, just joined our family. May she eat only rabbit pellets, or should we also give her lettuce and carrots? A: Most of Fern’s diet should consist of a variety of fresh grass hays, such as timothy, Bermuda, brome, oat, rye, barley, meadow, and orchard grass hay. Avoid alfalfa, which…
Pet Chewing on One Side of Mouth Needs Dental X-rays
Q: Penny, my middle-aged indoor cat, chews her dental treats only on the left side of her mouth. Is this normal? A: I confess that I’ve never observed my cats or dogs closely enough to know whether they chew on one or both sides of the mouth. Nor have I heard this topic discussed at…
One Big, Fat, Wadded-Up Mess and How to Fix It
If I’ve heard from one reader, I’ve heard from one thousand—all with the same problem: wadded-up sheets. I feel their pain because I have suffered this problem as well. So annoying. It can happen in the clothes washer, but also in the dryer. My best solution, which only slightly reduces the problem, has been to…
Cats Attracted to Menthol, Catnip, and Other Mints
Q: Why is my cat Nala attracted to menthol? I like its coolness, so I buy shower gel and skin creams that contain menthol. Occasionally, I also use a menthol ointment on my sore muscles. Whenever I apply a menthol skin product, Nala rubs up against me, licks my skin, and follows me around, not…
Connect 2 Rooms With a New Door
Dear James: My living room is adjacent to the children’s bedroom. I would like to add a door between the two rooms. How can I open and frame the new door opening?—Carla T. Dear Carla: Adding an additional opening between rooms is a relatively easy and popular project. By installing the proper type of door,…
Use Pet-Safe De-Icer Instead of Rock Salt This Winter
Q: Icy sidewalk season is here. I’ve heard rock salt is hard on dogs’ feet, but I’m not sure what to use in its place. Can you suggest a de-icer that won’t harm my dogs? A: Look for de-icers labeled as safe for pets. These products are also safe to use around children. Rock salt…
Appliance Maintenance You Can Do Yourself
It was Christmas Eve several years ago. Everything was ready. Our overnight company would be arriving in a matter of hours. I opened the refrigerator to discover the inside had reached a balmy 70 degrees Fahrenheit. This could not have happened at a worse time. Away to my computer I flew like a flash, straight…
How Often Should You Clean Your Washing Machine?
Maybe it seems crazy to clean a washing machine, but the dirt that disappears from your clothes, towels, and sheets has to go somewhere, which means grime can build up inside your washing machine over time. Without regular cleaning, the appliance might also harbor leftover detergent, hard-water deposits, and mold or mildew around the door…
Elegant Villa Le Magnolie Is for Sale on the Italian Riviera
Overlooking the historic seaside town of Rapallo, Villa Le Magnolie is a private, secluded world with views of Portofino on the Italian Riviera. This elegant villa sits at the end of a sweeping drive that terminates at the grand entrance façade of the main house, which is enveloped in fabulous Mediterranean gardens. The 18th-century villa…
An Efficient Way to Slash Home Heating Bills
Just as I was knee-deep in researching, testing, and learning all I could about electric space heaters, this letter popped up in my inbox. Dear Mary: I need your help to figure out how we can reduce our home heating bills. It’s killing us to pay so much to keep our house warm in the…
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