We've all got friends like this (or maybe you're the friend). You go over to their house, and it's covered in pet hair and smells like a barn. There's no reason to blame the pets in this instance — there are certainly things that you can do, even living in a small space, that will keep you from being the "smelly house friend."

Q: I know a lot of people who live in (tiny) apartments and have cats. I'm wondering about what the ideal kitty litter would be for these types of living situations. There's a new product that's a litter pad that adheres to the bottom of the box. I'm wondering if it would be a viable alternative. Would love to hear everyone's suggestions.

After years of buying cat scratchers, I finally came up with a solution to turn an inexpensive cardboard scratcher into something that works for my cats as well as my decor.

It's been something of a tough week for me, and perhaps it has been for you as well, so it seems like an appropriate time for a fun exercise. Usually I write about human decor, but for today, I'm going to try to get inside the mind of my pet chinchilla to see what kind of decor he would prefer. Join me if you feel like a bit of silliness.

If you own a pet, chances are he or she rules the palace and you are merely one of its subjects. My cat, Zola Jones, definitely reigns supreme as princess of the household ... and I wouldn't have it any other way. Check out this roundup of stores offering products fit for your four-legged royalty.

A few weeks ago I wrote about giving up your pets and my sister's difficulties in the process of adopting out her two sweet cats. Over 100 comments were posted with similar heart-wrenching pet stories and advice on dealing with allergies. So I wanted to share with you what happened with the two cats.

We all love our pets but we don't always love all of the things that come along with them. Often it feels like you are limited to the generic supplies at the big box pet store or to the opposite extreme, overpriced supplies at posh boutique pet shops. Enter Etsy, the handmade marketplace is filled with quirky, stylish finds that won't break the bank and look good enough to leave out.

Spring has sprung (or so the calendar says), which makes it the perfect time to head outdoors and tackle those projects you've been planning all winter. My list is long — filled with landscaping and gardening projects galore — and now I can add another to my list: a modern dog abode to shelter my four-legged kids from the hot summer sun. Here are five DIY doghouses that can easily be modified to fit your own needs.

Out with the old and in with the new. Now that you've got a DVR at home that can be set to record and save your favorite TV shows, you've got no use for that old programmable VCR. That old tech relic actually uses a physical timer and a motor to record shows, for goodness sake. But wait... can't you program a timer and motor to do nearly anything?

I first became drawn to animal-themed décor when I moved to a no-pets apartment and found myself bereft of animal companionship. After my husband pointed out that my sizable new collection was getting a little bit 1) expensive and 2) weird, I agreed to put my animal acquisition on hiatus. But then I found this adorable DIY animal pillow project, so I'm coming out of retirement. More