Aside from giving pets plenty of love and attention, make sure your home is a safe place for them to patter around. Prepping your home for any potential damage your four-legged companions might cause can not only protect them, but also minimizes damages to your home.
Here are a few tips for keeping your home pet-compatible:
1. Cover any exposed wires. If your pet likes to chew, this tip is for you. Buy cord covers for any wires that run along the floor or in places your pet is likely to explore. Here?s a DIY eco tip: use old paper towel or toilet paper rolls to weave cords through and hide them behind furniture to prevent not only tangling, but curious pets.
While it is definitely a nuisance when dogs chew through cables, it is their health that can be at risk. If your puppy is a chewer, consider investing in some dog insurance so he/she is protected in case of electrocution. There are also cat insurance options available if your kitten is the wire-tampering culprit.
2. Use a foot-pedal trash can. Let?s face it: Without a barrier, many dogs and cats will eat out of the garbage.
Aside from leaving a mess in your kitchen, there could be things in the trash can that are bad for pets. Go for the foot pedal, and nip that problem in the bud.
3. Arrange furniture strategically. Don?t want your cat to jump on the mantle? Worried she will knock over those crystal glasses on the dining room hutch?
Make sure there is nothing around that your pet can climb on that would compromise the safety of any valuable possessions. Keeping these items safe should be as simple as arranging furniture so that there is no way your pet can jump or climb where she doesn?t belong. Be particularly mindful of tall bookshelves that are near standing lamps and curtains.
4. Hide poisonous chemicals. Just like with a child, ingesting harmful cleaning products and chemicals is harmful to your pet. One option is to only purchase eco products that aren?t harmful to animals. If this isn?t feasible, make sure to keep products out of reach of curious pets. This includes putting child locks on lower cabinets and always storing medications and smaller products out of reach in closets and medicine cabinets.
If gardening is your thing, here is a pet-friendly gardening product guide outlining pet-safe products for those that like to exercise their green thumb.
In the event that your pet does ingest something that makes him sick, call your local veterinarian right away. Many pet insurance plans cover accidental poisoning, so make sure you know which veterinarians in your area are covered by your insurance and keep the number handy.
5. Screen your windows. Not only can this let in bugs that could be harmful to your pet (think ticks, bees, mites, etc.), but it can also allow animals to escape. Cats, in particular, are known to be attracted to windows of tall buildings in a phenomenon called high rise syndrome. So if you live in a tall apartment or condo building, install screens to keep your animals safe.
6. Create a pet area. Assuming you have the space, why not create a pet-friendly ?zone? complete with dog or cat doors? If possible, pick a room with a hardwood or tile floor to minimize damage from their nails and allow for easy accident cleanup. Otherwise, try to find carpet that is the same color as your pets? fur so their hair doesn?t show too much.
While pet-proofing your home is a necessity when you keep an animal companion, it doesn?t have to be expensive or even all that time-consuming. Keep these tips in mind, and you?ll create an environment that?s safer for your pet?not to mention your home.
Adria Saracino is the owner of Seattle fashion blog The Emerald Closet.?You can find her tweeting about fashion @Emerald_Closet. Looking for more from Adria? Check out her personal website at www.adriasaracino.com.
Source: http://www.servicemagicconnection.com/keep-pets-and-home-safe/
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