Secure Your Home for Your Pet
When we welcome a new member to our family, we like to make sure they will feel comfortable in our home, as well as safe. If you’ve already had your pet for a while, those tips might not all be useful, but it might be worth checking if you could improve your house safety for your pet. And if you’re about to adopt a cat or a dog, most rescues ask to visit your home to make sure it’s a safe environment for the animal, so this article is the best tool to start preparing!
Create a “pet friendly” space for them
It’s important for your pet to have their own corner in the house like we have our own bedroom. A place where all their favourite things are together: bed, toys, even water and food. If your pet hasn’t arrive in your yet, choose the corner that’s the most quiet in the house, the one where there is less movement. You can also find old diffusers for cats and dogs to help them relax in their new environment!
Protect your possessions
It might sound a bit silly, but it’s important to protect your belongings from your pet but also for yourself. Cats and dogs can be very sneaky when it comes to biting electric cables, chewing plant, or nibbling on fruits left on the kitchen counter… So make sure you’re protecting anything that your pet could possibly play with or eat!
Some sprays exist to repel your pet from chewing on dangerous objects. You can also buy cable protectors to hide and protect them from any trouble.
You pet will want to explore their new surroundings, hence climbing on your furniture, so take the time to teach them not to. Same thing for appliances, don’t forget to close your washing machine, freezer door, and microwaves, and toilet lids (the cleaning products are highly toxic for them!) Don’t forget to secure your garbage bins and drawers, you can do that with baby safety lockers.
Make some research about what might be poisonous for your animal. For instance, grapes, chocolate, onions, garlic and dairy are very toxic for dogs and cats, as well as lilies, tulips, and daffodils. Have a round check of all the plants in your house to make sure none will make your pet ill.
Proof you garden
First things first, some pets when coming from a rescue will not be allowed to go outdoors due to risks of escape. So if your cat for instance is an indoor only cat, the first thing for you to purchase will be nets for your windows. They’re not too expensive and will allow you to open your windows in the summer without risking for your cat to escape.
If your pet is allowed outdoors, the thing which comes to mind first is a cat or door flap, but it’s not the only one you should get to insure their safety.
Make sure that your fence is secured so they won’t be able to escape onto nearby roads. If you use pesticide, now would be the time to stop as they’re highly toxic for dogs and cats. Hide your tools, you never know when they could step or play with them and hurt themselves.
When you’re away
When you leave for a few days, it’s important to be certain your pet has everything they need. You can buy a food distributor which will give food to your animal at regulated hours. You can also buy a water fountain which will last longer than a normal bowl.
Make sure that someone visits your pet at least once a day for them to get a bit of social interaction, and if you have a dog, find a trustworthy dog sitter for them to go on walks together.
You can also invest in a live camera which will give you updates on your pet to make sure they’re okay (or that they didn’t break anything!) Some of those cameras even let you record and send voice messages to them, as well as give them treats!
Sources:
@freddie_uk
@shegoeswear
@parisiancroissant
