Article: Interactive play sessions in the evening are a great way to get your cat tired before bedtime. Toys that mimic the movements of mice and birds, which cats hunt in the wild, are ideal options. Look for toys that bounce and wiggles, like ping-pong balls, string-based toys, and furry mouse toys. Play until your cat seems tired or uninterested. Cats hunt in short bursts, so they tire quickly (like sprinters, not marathon runners). They usually tire after 10 to 15 minutes max. However, make sure there's plenty of play spaced over the day. Our pets lives revolve our comings and goings. Oftentimes, cats get bored during the day when their owners are gone. This leads to an excess of neediness later in the day, when you're trying to wind down and get to sleep. Keep your cat entertained while you're at work or school and they'll be less likely to need attention at night. Provide toys your cat can play with on his own. Small plush mice, especially those laced with catnip, are a great choice. They can be swatted around without a human's assistance. Make sure to rotate toys often as cats, like people, crave variety and will get bored with the same toy after awhile. DVD's are available for purchase online and at some department stores that are designed specifically for cats. Video CatNip from Pet-A-Vision Inc., for example, includes footage of birds and mice that cats will try to catch when you're not home. Just leave the TV on and make sure it's at the cat's eye level. Battery operated toys are available at most grocery stores, department stores, and supermarkets. These toys move on their own and can be left on for a few hours while you are at work. However, be sure to read any warning labels. Some battery operated toys recommend cats only use them with supervision. Cats love windows, and enjoy being able to see the outside world. Anything you can do to make your backyard more appealing is great. Installing a bird feeder is a low-cost way to give your cat something to watch while you're at home. Set up your feeder in a quiet place where it's easy to stock and refill. Feeders should ideally be close to natural shelters, like trees and shrubs, where birds will feel safe. Make sure your feeder is at least three feet away from your window. This reduces the likelihood of window collisions, which kill millions of birds each year.
Question: What is a summary of what this article is about?
Schedule playtime before bed. Provide entertainment options for your cat throughout the day. Install a bird feeder.
Article: The best way to attract birds to your area is with food. The blue jay's diet mainly consists of plants, vegetables and nuts, though they also eat some insects. You will draw quite a few blue jays to your area if you offer a variety in a large platform feeder. Some of the blue jay's favorites include: Peanuts (preferably shelled) Black and striped sunflower seeds Elder berries Cherries Dogwood Acorns Suet Make sure the feeding area that you offer the jays has plenty of perching available. You want a nice, large, open shelf not an enclosed area. If you notice it's covered in food or that part is inaccessible due to an obstacle of sorts (like a branch), adjust the shelf to make it easier for the birds to munch. If you really care about them you can clean off the sides of the house. You should clean up any left over berries, nut shells, egg shells, feces or dead insects on the bird perch or house to keep it clean. Blue jays prefer oak woodlands, though they can be found just about anywhere. However, if you want the best odds of getting blue jays, oak is the way to go. Beech trees are a solid second as they too have nuts blue jays love feasting on. What's more, having trees around will provide the blue jays shelter should they need it from inclement weather (which is especially important in winter). It's good for nesting, too. Blue jays are some of the most intelligent birds out there and, in general, have great memories. If you only stock food intermittently, they'll likely find somewhere else to go that's more reliable. Keep the peanuts coming and you'll be logged into their brains as a good, consistent food source. Blue jays are generally quick to move. If the food disappears, they won't likely wait for it to show up. To keep the same ones around, you'll need to be on top of your blue jay game.
Question: What is a summary of what this article is about?
Offer the blue jays their favorite foods. Keep their perch clear. Consider planting an oak tree. Keep the food stocked.
Article: Most High Efficiency (HE) machines require HE detergent. Using non-HE detergent will cause too many suds to form. These suds will leave behind a residue that can start to smell. Don't use too much detergent either. This will also cause residue to form inside your washing machine. Powdered detergent often is a better alternative to liquid as it tends to produce fewer suds. Use dryer sheets instead. Much like liquid detergent, liquid fabric softener can also cause residue to build up inside your machine. This residue will develop a bad odor over time. Buy dryer sheets instead. These are inexpensive and can be found in the laundry aisle of any supermarket. This will decrease the mold build-up as it allows the tub to dry completely. Leave the door slightly ajar when the machine is not in use. This will allow fresh air to circulate through the drum of the front loading washing machine and will help dry any remaining moisture after a load. If you have small children or pets, you should avoid doing this as they can climb into the drum and become accidentally trapped inside. Right after a cycle ends, take the wet clothes out. Set your washer to beep when a cycle is complete, so you don't forget to take the clothes out. If you can't dry your clothes right away, take them out and put them in a hamper or lay them flat until the dryer is available. This will prevent excess moisture from building up inside the washing machine drum after each load. Do this is a dry towel. Ideally, the gasket, the area underneath it and the inside of the drum should be wiped dry after each cycle. This can be time consuming and a nuisance, so be sure to do this periodically at the very least. You can also wipe down the gaskets with hot soapy water regularly and allow them to completely dry. This will keep them clean and free of mildew. Use a hot water or cleaning cycle. Pour two cups of white vinegar into the detergent dispenser and run a hot water or cleaning cycle. You can also use a commercial washing machine cleaner such as Smelly Washer, but vinegar is more cost effective and just as efficient. When finished, clean the inside of the tub, gasket, detergent dispenser and inside of the door with a mixture of hot water and vinegar and a towel. Repeat wiping down the inside parts of the washer with hot water only. Run your washer again with hot water only. Leave your washer door open to let the inside of the unit dry.
Question: What is a summary of what this article is about?
Use the right detergent. Avoid liquid fabric softener. Air out the washing machine between loads. Remove wet clothes immediately. Wipe down the gasket regularly. Clean your washing machine once a month.