HELOISE Quick homemade bed keeps pets nice and warm

Dear Heloise: I read the hint about making a simple pet bed in the Omaha (Neb.) World-Herald. My husband and I have several cats that spend the winter on our sheltered porch.
They adore these beds, which are a bit more complicated but are worth the trouble, in my opinion. I stuff plastic bags, like the ones that convenience stores and grocery stores use, loosely with plastic foam peanuts. Then I tie the tops of the bags and put several -- enough to loosely fill -- into a pillowcase and baste up the open end.
When the pillowcase gets too dirty or the peanuts get squashed down, I unbaste, toss the peanuts and wash the pillowcase. We always get plenty of those peanuts, and you can pick up cheap pillowcases at thrift stores.
These cushions are particularly nice because the foam is insulating and the cats stay toasty warm and out of contact with the cold porch floor. Ginny K., Via E-mail
Kate G. of Stafford, Va., says: "Our dogs were always making messes on their beds that soaked through. We threw so many beds away that we decided to make our own. We filled a garbage bag with cotton stuffing and taped it shut. Then we put one of the old covers that we were able to clean on it. The dogs absolutely love the bed, and it's very economical!" Heloise
Dear Readers: Here's a litter box hint from K.F. of Alaska:
"My favorite hint for the cat litter box: Scrub the litter box and dry it. Then spray the sides and the bottom with some cooking spray. Let sit for 10 or 15 minutes, then wipe out with paper towels and fill with fresh litter. This makes scooping much easier because 'stuff' doesn't stick to the box. And it's safe for use around cats." Heloise
Dear Readers: Jeanette Jordan of Brady, Texas, sent a photo of Suzie the dog and Frankie the cat at nap time, side by side and sound asleep. They look like best friends, and Jeanette refers to them as sister and brother.
Visit my Web site, www.Hel-oise.com, and click on This Week's Pet to see Suzie and Frankie. Heloise
Dear Heloise: Most people don't like rats, but I have one as a pet. She is the sweetest little thing. Every time I clean out her cage, I give her one of my old socks (with holes) to sleep in. She loves being inside it when she is sleeping. She's snug as a bug in a rug and always has a clean sock to sleep in. Carol R. in Arkansas
Dear Heloise: To prevent so many fly-away feathers and seed, open a plastic garbage bag and place it under the bird cage before cleaning. The static will pull most of the feathers, seed and dust to the bag, so there is much less mess to pick up after cleaning the cage. Michelle, Via E-mail
XSend a great hint to: Heloise, P.O. Box 795000, San Antonio, Texas 78279-5000, Fax: (210) HELOISE or E-mail: Heloise@Heloise.com.
King Features Syndicate