Do you share your home with a Fido or a Fluffy? Whether you’re a dog or a cat lover, or have another animal, can you live together in harmony? To make for a great human-pet relationship, aim for a pet friendly home.
Whether you’re buying a new couch or redoing your laundry room, there are some savvy ways to create a pet friendly home. Consider the best materials for you and your pet, and find out how to make your pet comfortable.
Read on for 9 tips to make your home pet friendly.
- Pet proof your home
A survey conducted by Houzz found that 90 percent of pet owners in the United States say the top benefit of having a pet is that the animal makes them happy. Keep your pet happy too—and out of harm’s way—by pet proofing your home.
Take these precautions to keep your pet safe:
– Store cleaning products, toxins, and medicines on high shelves or in locked cabinets.
– Don’t leave antifreeze, which is very toxic, out in the garage where your cat or dog could get into it.
– Don’t allow window curtain cords to dangle, as they pose a choking hazard.
– Cover any loose wires at ground level.
– Learn more about which plants are toxic to animals, and don’t bring those plants home from the nursery.
Turn a keen eye to your home. Get down on your hands and knees and look around. What dangers do you see that are at your pet’s level?
- Give them space
You want your dog or cat to feel comfortable in your home, and that includes having their own space or bed. Put a pet bed in a quiet corner, out of direct sunlight, and in an area you don’t mind letting get a little dirty from pet hair. Place the animal’s food and water nearby, and you’ve created a nice sanctuary for your pet. If you have small children, provide your pet a place to escape to where your little one can’t intrude.
- Easy access
Consider installing a pet door to give your dog or cat access to your backyard, or another secure part of the outdoor world. If you’re remodeling your home, think about the best place for cat or dog access, and build a pet door into your design, whether there’s a human door there or not.
- Laundry list
If you’re doing renovations on your laundry room or mudroom, think about how the space could also be used for your pet. You could add a small pet bathing area, with a showerhead and walk-in access so washing muddy paws doesn’t mean using your human bathroom for cleanup. Add a shelf or two nearby to store towels, brushes, combs, and pet treats.
If your laundry room or mudroom is where your pet spends a lot of time, also add a pet bed or other comfortable area for your animal to lounge. If the room provides access to the outdoors, add hooks near the door for leashes and collars, doggie jackets, and a supply of dog cleanup bags.
- For the birds
If you have pet birds, consider where you place their cage in your pet friendly home. While you might think your bird wants a vantage point of the outdoors, living near a window could make your bird feel like it needs to constantly guard from predators it sees out the windows.
Keeping cages away from windows also helps protect your birds from heat and drafts. Also make sure your cage isn’t placed near a radiator or other heating or cooling element that may make your birds too hot or cold.
- Fabric for Fido
A whopping 78 percent of cats in the United States have free reign on their owners’ furniture, according to the Houzz survey.Whether you allow your pets on the furniture or not, chances are good that pet hair, pet nails, and dander will make contact with your upholstery.
Leather or pleather are a good choice for easy cleanup, though scratches will show. Ultrasuede and other machine-washable fabrics are a good choice for furniture. Or, use throw blankets, which can be easily cleaned, on beds and furniture where your pet is apt to nap.
- Consider your flooring
Make your home pet friendly for both you and your pet by making some smart flooring choices. Hardwood floors, brick, tile, and painted concrete are great options for pet owners because accidents and fur can easily be mopped or swept up. But avoid marble or other natural stones that are more porous. If you do have hard floors, remember to provide some comfortable beds for cat or dog naps.
- Carpet choices
Try to avoid wall-to-wall carpet if you have a pet friendly home. 70 percent of respondents to the Houzz survey said fur and hair are their biggest pet peeves, and carpet can trap odors, and pet hair and dander.
Throw carpets that are durable and easy to clean, like sisal or seagrass, are great options for pet owners. If you’re buying a new carpet, consider something your pet’s fur color will blend in with. That way you won’t see every single hair that gets shed on the carpet.
- Paint for pets
Satin or eggshell finish paints are a great choice for pet owners because smudges, nose prints, and other pet debris can more easily be wiped off. Semi-gloss paint is the easiest to wipe down, and a good choice for walls that will look good with a sheen.
Looking for more pet friendly home solutions? Contact us today to start the conversation.
