How To Make Your House Pet-Friendly

To many, pets are solid members of the family. However, very few homeowners take their time to ensure that their houses are safe and comfortable for their little buddies.

Keeping pets requires effort. You’re responsible for their well-being and safety. Honestly, it’s a small price to pay for all the goodness these beautiful creatures bring into our lives. Having pets is therapeutic.

You can do a lot, and we’ll try our best to tell you everything we know about how to make your house pet-friendly.

We aim to not only ensure your pet’s safety but also protect your house from pet-related damage. We’re aware that even though our little friends are fun and cuddly, they’re not exactly angels. At times they can get naughty and mess things up—we love them anyway.

Ensuring your pet’s safety

Think like your pet

It would be better to think like your dog, cat, fish, or any other animal you might have under your care. Put yourself in your pet’s shoes and survey the house for anything that might pose a threat to them.

Yes, you need to get on all your fours and go around the house. Why?

First, because it’s fun.

Second, because getting on your fours enables you to see the house from your pet’s view. This way, you can tell what is within reach for them.

While you’re at it, here are some things to look out for:

• Access to cabinets and drawers– Our little friends are known for their adventurous nature. Make sure that all cabinets are out of reach of pets. You can choose to either elevate them higher or keep them locked at all times. Especially the cabinets and cupboards with medicine and chemicals like cleaning products and pesticides.
• Electrocution or suffocation hazards– Ensure that all your electrical wires are neatly kept and hidden from their vicinity.
• Secure your trash bin– Sometimes, your cat or dog might get bored and decide to go treasure hunting in your trash bin. Most of the waste we throw in our trash bins are hazardous to our pets. Even organic waste like leftover bones can choke your pet. Did you know that some fruits like grapes will cause kidney failure in pets? The same goes for chocolate and nutmeg.
• Small dangerous places– Pets (puppies and kittens) tend to seek refuge in small cramped spaces (probably because they’re warmer). However, some of the small spaces around your house might be dangerous, such as open dryers and tool stores. Always keep them closed. Make sure that your pets have a nice warm and cozy bed they can go to when it gets cold.
• Toxic plants– You need to be careful when landscaping or installing houseplants. Some plants are toxic to pets. Some of them are the day-to-day plants that most of us wouldn’t consider toxic or dangerous. Like Lilies, Aloe Vera, Amaryllis, among many others. Click here for more details.

Protecting the house from pet damage

As mentioned earlier, these guys aren’t angels. If you’re not careful, you might end up spending a lot of money on repairs and cleaning. Luckily, we’re here to help you.

Before we begin, you might want to visit https://ballymorehomes.com/. Your pet will appreciate it.

Invest in pet-friendly fabric and flooring

You’ve got to watch out for those sharp claws and teeth. Of course, you can’t do away with your furniture and decorations, and that is why we’d advise you to go for pet-friendly fabrics like leather, denim, ultrasuede, or microfibre.

Do you already own furniture that you can’t afford to replace? Then we’d advise you to buy some protective pet-friendly slipcovers to shield your furniture from damage.

We’d advise you to stay away from carpets and rugs for the flooring. They are way too tempting for your dogs or cats. Not only are they prone to damage, but the majority of them are also quick to collect pet hair and dirt.

If you must, go for pet-proof carpets and make sure they are wall-to-wall.

Nevertheless, we’d advise you to stay away from carpets and invest in ceramic flooring. It’s hard and less likely to hold on to stains. 

Provide outlets for destructive behavior

Your pets will sometimes want to express their wild nature. It’s natural. However, you can lessen the adverse effects by slightly accommodating them and offering an outlet. You can install scratching posts in your house—a place for your cats to get it out of their system.

For dogs, make sure they have plenty of chewing toys they can tug. That way, they’ll spare your precious sofas and rugs. While you’re at it, make sure you research the best chewing toys. Some of them are choking hazards to pets.

Groom and clean your pets

If you can guarantee a clean pet, we will guarantee you a clean house.

Your dogs should be well-groomed at all times. Plus, if you regularly clean your pet, you’ll not have to spend money on costly grooming services.

In addition to that, nail clipping will reduce the amount of damage your pets can inflict. Also, regular brushing will prevent fur buildup on your sofas and mats. Consider getting a vacuum that is designed to handle pet fur.

You can also invest in a mud-room for your dogs and cats. We all know how annoying it is to find paw prints on the floor you’ve spent all afternoon cleaning. Of course, you can’t stop your pets from playing outside. They need to play and exercise.

Instead, create a mud-room with installed dog showers for easy cleaning. If you’re short on space, incorporate the mud-room in the laundry room.

Mudrooms make it easier for you to clean your pets before bringing all the dirt into the house.