If you’re thinking about bringing a pet into your home then the first thing you need to do is ensure your home is pet-friendly.
Similar to bringing a baby into a home, making sure that your house is safe for a pet is essential for any pet owner. It will ensure your pets are kept out of trouble at all times and that you can feel safe leaving them at home when you’re out at work or running errands.
With that in mind, here are 9 ways to ensure your home is pet-friendly:
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Block Off Rooms That Are Unsafe
If there are any rooms that are considered to be unsafe for your new pet, consider blocking it off so they can’t get there. The easiest ways to do this is to buy a stair gate, or to simply keep the doors to the rooms they’re not allowed in shut during the day.
This is also a great way to protect your furniture in certain rooms, especially if you have an excited little puppy or kitten.
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Use Pet-Friendly Cleaning Products
There are lots of different toxins in cleaning products that can be considered dangerous when wet. Make sure you’ve done your research before purchasing anything, making swaps to products that are much more natural. For a list of pet-friendly cleaning products, you can take a look at this site here.
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Consider The Flooring In Your Household
If you’re getting a little puppy or kitten the likelihood of them running around your house for the first few weeks is very high. As an excitable pet that will be loving all the new attention they’re getting, you’ll find they’re going to be extremely hyper. Hard, wooden floors will help ensure they’re not getting their paws caught on fabric as they’re running around, avoiding any major accidents.
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Invest In A Good Vacuum Cleaner
Pets will pick up absolutely anything they can find off the floor. Investing in a good vacuum cleaner will mean there is less of a chance of them finding something to chew, as it will have picked up everything it can as you vacuum.
If you’re unable to vacuum your floors or can’t afford a high-quality one before your new pet moves in, ensuring you’re sweeping up on a regular basis to avoid them picking up something they shouldn’t.
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Hide Any Electrical Cables That May Be Showing
Electrical cables look like a great toy to play with, so hiding them away as best as possible is a great way to ensure your pets don’t suffer any electric shocks. There are some great, sturdy wraps you can purchase to combine all of your cables in one place, making it much harder for pets to sink their teeth into them. For examples, you can visit this site here.
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Use Pet-Friendly Fabrics Throughout Your Home
Did you know there are lots of fabrics that can be considered harmful to pets? Doing your research and finding out which fabrics are best for your house now you’re a pet owner is a great way to ensure they’re not chewing through something that could be harmful to them. For more information, you can visit the guide to pet-friendly fabrics.
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If You Have Plants, Research Which Ones Are Non-Toxic To Animals
Although it may seem like all plants are safe, there are lots of house-plants that can be considered toxic to animals. Whilst it’s best to play it safe and not have any house plants, you made find it worthwhile researching which ones are considered non-toxic should you change your mind.
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Try To Keep The Noise Down
Pets are often scared by loud noises, especially in a new environment. Keep the noise down and be sure you’re being mindful of your pets new surroundings.
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Create A Safe Space For Your Pet To Retreat To If They Need To
If you find your pet is becoming very aware and on edge, try creating them a safe space they can retreat to if they need to. This can be a pet bed, a den with lots of blankets or a dark space they can comfortably hide in. Whilst it may seem silly creating this space when you want your pet to get used to spending time in their new home, the whole experience can be overwhelming to them and they will feel incredibly thankful when they have somewhere to hide.
Are you looking to bring a pet into your home? How are you planning on ensuring it’s pet-friendly? Let me know in the comment section below.
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