Pets are great fun and they provide great companionship. It’s so common now-a-days to have a pet living in the home, that pet owners often refer to the pet as a part of the family. That is why it’s important to make your home pet friendly so that your pet is out of harm’s way and you can also save your possessions from being damaged by your pet. Creating a pet friendly space is quite similar to baby-proofing a home and should be done with the same attention to detail.
Cords
Go through the house and tape any electrical cords against the wall so that your pets cannot be strangled or electrocuted. If your window shades or blinds have cords, cut them short or tie them up to keep them out of your pet’s reach. Not only can a pet get strangled on these cords, but a pet may also end up pulling the shades off the wall while playing with them.
Valuables
Remove everything that is valuable or breakable from low shelves and coffee tables and put them in higher shelves or storage areas where your pet will not be able to access them. If you can, put doors or a gate to close off the areas that you don’t want your pet to go.
Kitchen Items
In the kitchen, store all snacks and food items in the cupboards or the fridge so that your pets are not always climbing on the kitchen counters. Not only is it unsanitary for pet owners, but it is dangerous for pets. If your pets, especially cats, are used to being on the counters, they could get in harm’s way, either by knives, heat, or kitchen appliances, while you’re cooking. Therefore, when cooking, ensure that small pets, even those such as mice and hamsters, are in their dwellings so that they don’t get harmed during food prep.
Medications & Chemicals
Keep medications and household chemicals locked up in a safe place. If your pet ingests some of these they may require hospitalization; and if your pet takes large amounts, it may lead to death. If you smoke, don’t leave cigarette butts lying around because it is likely that your pet will chew on them. Nicotine is just as dangerous to animals as it is to humans.
Children’s Toys
Keep away all children’s toys, dolls, figurines, and other such items so that your pet does not chew them, choke on them, ingest pieces of them, and not to mention, destroy them. It is very dangerous if your pet swallows small toy parts, rubber and plastic items or polythene bags as they can become lodged into the animal’s throat while no one is home, or the material could get stuck in the digestive tract causing further health problems. Get into the habit of putting things away so that your pet cannot access them, just as you would with a baby or toddler around.
Garbage Cans
Take the garbage out often and use a garbage can with a tight fitting lid so your pet cannot open it. Many foods that humans eat are not suitable for pets so it is important that your pet does not have access to the trash. Many dogs also like to chew on garbage found in the bathroom so it is a wise choice to keep your trash can in the cabinet or keep a lid on it.
House Plants
If you have house plants, keep them out of your pet’s reach as these may be poisonous to your pet and can become destroyed once your pet chews on them. Cats are notorious for chewing on house plants because it is in their nature to chew on grass and other greenery outside. Thankfully, grass patches that are designed to be eaten by your cats are readily available at your local pet store.
Furniture
To protect your furniture from fur shedding you can use materials for your furniture that don’t stain easily such as crypton, ultrasuede and leather and they are easy to clean. Alternatively, you can pick furniture fabrics and carpeting that match the color of your pet’s fur so that the shed fur is not as visible.
Give Your Pet Their Own “Spot”
Put a designated pet area near entrances so that your pets have an area where they can sleep and keep their toys. Make sure it is easily accessible to the outdoors for those quick moments when they need let you know that they need to go. Bored pets tend to chew furniture and get into mischief so ensure they have safe chewable toys and can go out when they need to.
