INPUT ARTICLE: Article: The most effective way to keep your home from smelling like cat urine is to prevent spraying in the first place. One of the best ways to do that is to make sure that your cat is happy with his litter box situation. Cats are very particular about their bathroom needs.  If your cat is spraying, ask yourself if his box is clean enough. You may need to change the litter more often and scoop the box more frequently. If your cat started spraying after you switched litters, he may not like the new brand. Try a new product to see if he reacts more favorably to a different kind of litter. Consider getting another litter box. If space allows, give your cat another option for elimination. This may reduce his desire to go elsewhere. Most cats who spray are  males who have not been neutered. It is a way to mark territory. If your cat has not been neutered, ask your vet about the procedure. It will likely stop the spraying.  Cats may spray because of health issues. If this behavior is unusual for your cat, consult your vet to see if there is an underlying problem. Cats often spray because of stress or anxiety. For example, if you have recently moved or introduced a new pet into the home, your cat might react by spraying. Try to give your cat some extra affection. If the cause of anxiety isn't immediately evident, ask yourself some questions. Has your cat's routine changed? Is it possible that he is being bullied by another cat in the neighborhood?

SUMMARY: Clean the litter box. Monitor your cat's health. Provide a stable home environment.


INPUT ARTICLE: Article: You don’t actually need to locate split ends to tell if your hair is damaged. It will feel dry and tangled if it is. However, if you want to find the split ends, closely examine your hair with the help of a mirror and good lighting. Split ends occur most often at the tip but can show up anywhere in your hair. Split ends and related damage can occur in several different forms. If you find any of the following, you may want to remove them:  Hair tips splitting into two or more strands White dots at the end of your hair Single strand knots (more common in dry, curly hair) A hairdresser can always trim off split ends, but will usually remove about 1⁄4 to 1 inch (0.6 to 2.5 cm) of your hair along with them. Eventually, all hair will wear out enough to require this treatment. How long you wait between haircuts depends on your hair type, hair health, and how much time you're willing to spend hunting down your own split ends. This can be anywhere from 4 weeks to 3 months. If you aren't trimming split ends yourself, avoiding the hairdresser will not save your long hair. Neglected split ends will become weaker and weaker, eventually breaking off. If trimming off split ends are affecting your hair length goals, consider having your hair cut into layers. Ask the hairdresser to trim damaged hair in the surface layer, while leaving lower layers — and length intact. If you have afro-textured hair, a mild texturizer can achieve a similar effect, allowing you to manipulate your hair more easily and avoid trimming healthy hair. There are conditioners and other commercial treatments that claim to "heal" split ends. These seal the split ends shut to hide them from view, but the damage is still there. You can use these as a temporary fix, but relying on them long-term may dry out your hair and lead to worse damage.

SUMMARY: Check for damaged hair. Cut your hair regularly. Take steps to save hair length. Treat hair repair products with caution.


INPUT ARTICLE: Article: Animal shelters tend to have a high demand for old pillows to use as bedding in animal crates. Call or email the organization in advance to check if they are accepting pillow donations and then arrange a time to drop the pillows off. Veterinarian clinics and wildlife rehabilitation centers sometimes need old pillows too.  Make sure that your pillows are in a reasonably clean condition before you donate them. Animal shelters may also accept other linens like blankets, towels, and comforters. While not all homeless shelters accept pillows and bedding for sanitary reasons, it can pay to check because some do! Make sure that any pillows you donate are clean, in good condition, and don’t have stains or tears. Contact the organization in advance and arrange a drop-off time if possible. Like homeless shelters, only some charity and thrift stores accept pillows. Look at the website if there is one, or call in advance to check if they accept pillows. Make sure that the pillows are in good, clean condition. Don’t feel disheartened if the store can’t accept the pillows. This is usually because of overstocking or sanitary reasons. You can always call around to see if a different store can accept the pillows. Use a search engine to find a network for your local community that focuses on rehoming, trading, or gifting unwanted items. Either post a notice about the pillows that you have to give away or respond to an advertisement if somebody needs pillows. This is a great way to make someone’s day and help out your local community! While textile recycling facilities aren’t too common, they are a great place to take old pillows if you are running out of options. Use a search engine to find the closest textile recycling facility to you and contact them to see if they accept pillows.  Textile recycling facilities use the fibers from unwanted materials and fabrics to create insulation, rags, and carpets. This is a great way to get rid of pillows that aren’t in good condition. The pillows just need to be dry, and free of oil and grease. While you can’t place the pillow cover or casing into the compost bin, this is a good way to get rid of old, organic stuffing. Simply place the feather or down stuffing into the compost bin and wait for it to slowly break down. When you have exhausted all of your options, sometimes all you can do is throw your pillows into the garbage. Alternatively, you can take the pillows to the landfill.

SUMMARY:
Check if your local animal shelter needs old pillows. Ask your local homeless shelter if they accept donated pillows. Contact a charity or thrift store to enquire about donating pillows. Give the pillows away in your local community network. Take the pillows to a textile recycling facility if they are torn or stained. Empty feather or down pillow stuffing into the compost bin. Throw the pillows away as a last resort.