When buying or moving into a new house, people rarely think about what their pets would prefer or how comfortable they would be in their new setting. You are definitely not supposed to make decisions about your living arrangements based solely on the needs of your furry friends, but completely ignoring their needs while choosing the layout and decorating your house is also not an option. Not to mention, it is not as hard to make your home pet-friendly as some might think.
What a lot of pet owners fail to understand is their pawed friends need their own routine, which means you need to dedicate a small space in your new home just for your pet.
Tip on how to make your home more pet-friendly
While decorating a house is a fun and creative way to put yourself into your living space, let’s not forget your pet has also just left his home and is probably trying to get familiar with the new place you have chosen for it.
Here are a few simple things you do to accommodate your furry friends.
Skip wall-to-wall carpeting
It doesn’t matter if you own a cat or a dog (or both), expensive wall-to-wall carpeting is never a good option.
Pets tend to shed a lot, so thoroughly cleaning carpeted floor every day will quickly become hectic. Secondly, unless you have done a good job training your pets, they will likely get the carpet dirty sooner than expected. Moreover, carpets are prone to shredding, which is something most cats love to do.
Instead, opt for ceramic tiles, as they are easier to clean and difficult to be scratched. However, since a dog running on tiles can easily slip and knock down things on his way, it’s advised to invest in some slip-proof pet-friendly area rugs that match with the colour of your pet’s fur, so the hair he sheds won’t be as noticeable.
Be smart while choosing furniture
It doesn’t matter if you don’t allow your pets to sit on your couch, because they will somehow find their way and it’ll soon be covered in fur. To avoid cleaning the cushions every single time your cat or dog sits on them, cover your furniture with heavy fabric or quilt – something that preferably goes with your home décor. Just remember to wash the covers regularly and don’t forget to remove them when guests are over.
Moreover, since pets are also a huge fan of scratching things, it might not be a good idea to purchase super-expensive leather furniture and furniture with dark polish.
Apart from buying pet-friendly furniture, make sure your the colour of your upholstery matches your pet’s fur as it would make cleaning a lot easier. It’s also necessary to spray your furniture regularly with non-toxic cleaners and use a lint roller to collect all the fur that accumulates on it. If you own a dog, choose a thick, sturdy material for your couch. In case of a feline, opt for microfiber.
Keep away from small decorations
Cats are notorious for climbing on tall shelves and dogs tend to get over-enthusiastic and knock items off tables. If you want to make your home pet-friendly, it’s always a good idea to keep your breakables in an enclosed glass cabinet to keep them safe.
If you have any small decorative items displayed around the house, move them to a spot that’s unreachable for the pets, as they can potentially choke your furry friends if they try to chew or swallow them.
Instead, invest it some pet-friendly decorations for your home.
Buy trash cans with lid
This one is a no-brainer. It’s definitely not going to be pretty if your pet gets into your trash or worse, knock it over and create a huge mess. It’s also important to note that some contents of your trashcan can be hazardous to your pets.
For instance, your pet can chew on the chicken bones you threw out and choke on the shards. They can also ingest some fruit seeds containing natural contaminants that might cause poisoning or organ failure.
Invest in trash cans with lids to make your house more pet-friendly.
Designate an eating spot for your pet
Get some trendy food bowls for your pets that not only go with your décor but are also not an eyesore. Train your pet to only stay in that area during mealtime so rest of your house doesn’t get affected.
Moreover, always store pet food in airtight boxes or bins and keep them out of your pet’s sight. If you have placed the pet food in a cabinet that’s easily reachable for your dog or cat, make sure to lock it so they aren’t able to get into the cabinet and attempt to open the box themselves.
Install window screens
Thousands of cats die every year after falling from windows. Despite what we’ve heard about felines having nine lives, they can’t survive the fall from a high rise building.
Therefore, to make your home more pet-friendly, install screens in all your windows and ensure their latches are in working order. Don’t leave windows or balcony doors open for your pet to get out. Similarly, make sure your guests know not to leave them opened either.
Move your medication to a safer place
Don’t ever leave your medication lying around, it can potentially put your pet’s life in danger. Painkillers and other medicine meant for human consumption can actually cause organ failure in cats and dogs.
Therefore, if you use medication like aspirin, ibuprofen or naproxen on a regular basis, keep them out of your pet’s reach as they might mistake them for a treat and ingest some.
Get pet-safe indoor plants
It’s always good to have some green around the house, but make sure you only purchase pet-friendly houseplants. A number of indoor plants can actually be poisonous for your cats and dogs. For instance, aloe vera plants are toxic to dogs, but only when they consume it.
Some other common plants and flowers hazardous to pets include calla lilies, Dieffenbachia or dumb canes, cactus and eucalyptus. You can’t call your house pet-friendly if you have any of these plants inside.
Keep cleaning products out of reach
Cleaning products can cause some serious harm to your pawed friends. Pets can absorb the cleaning agent you clean your floor and other surfaces through their paws. If you use bleach or some other strong chemical to clean your home, it can not only irritate your pet but can even prove to be toxic. Instead of cleaning agents, try using vinegar and water to get the job done.
Moreover, store all your cleaning supplies out of your furry friend’s reach, as they can threaten the safety of your pets.
Replace wallpapers with paint
There is no place for wallpapers in pet-friendly houses, particularly the one with cats. Unless you like the ambience created by a ripped wallpaper, go for washable paint in light hues so that scratch marks aren’t too visible. Every once in a while, you can simply wipe your walls with a clean cloth and voila, they will almost be as good as new. In case the stains left by your pet on the wall aren’t going away, you can simply do a fresh coat and make it look clean.
Choose chew toys carefully
Always choose toys that don’t make too much noise or leave behind too much residue for you to clean up. It’s also important to keep these toys in the plain sight of your pets so that don’t chew on your expensive throw pillows and upholstery. It’s also a good practice to store them all in one place. Buying a basket for this purpose is a good idea to keep your pet-friendly house organized.
Groom and bathe your pets regularly
Your pet might not be a huge fan of bath time, but it will help to keep it healthy and keep the fur level down around the house. It’s not recommended to bathe your pets daily, but maintain a strict schedule and take them to the groomers every once in a while. If that’s not a possibility, you can always do it at your home. You just need to clip their nails, trim down their fur and brush their teeth.
Don’t forget, pet dander and fur is one of the biggest causes of allergies. You can also take a look at some more ways to allergy-proof your home.
Double-check warm places
Kittens and pups love hiding in warm places, like freshly dried laundry or even the inside of your dryer. Therefore, keep your pets safe by double checking to make sure they haven’t made their way inside your washing machine. Do this every single time you are about to close the lid.
Secure cords and electrical outlets
If your curtains or blinds have long tassels or cords hanging off them, bind them properly so your pets don’t get tangled up in them. The same goes for electrical wires, which cannot only choke your canine but also electrocute it. Make your house is safe for pets by covering all exposed electrical sockets so your curious pets don’t get any funny ideas.
Baby-proof bathrooms
Looking after a pet requires almost as much dedication and planning as looking after a baby. Since cats and dogs are tempted to take a sip of the toilet water, which is harmful in more than one way, make sure the lid is always down.
This would also prevent any drowning incidents. If you want to make your home more pet-friendly, invest in child locks for toilets.
Food items that can be poisonous
Certain food items may be fit for human consumption but they should be kept away as far as possible from pets. Here are some dangerous items you should never feed your cats and dogs:
- Garlic and onions
- Chocolate
- Caffeine
- Chicken Bones
- Raisins and grapes
- Xylitol (found in artificial sweeteners and toothpaste)
- Peaches and plums
- Raw fish, raw chicken and raw eggs
Let’s not forget, you’re the one responsible for keeping your pets safe as well as looking after their health and happiness.
Therefore, it’s important to put them first every once in a while and make sure there is nothing inside your house that might cause them any harm.
