Getting ready to bring home a new addition to the family is an exciting, loving occasion. However, your house needs to be in tip-top shape to keep your new furry friend out of harm’s way. Whether it’s a curious kitten or a senior canine companion, there are certain pet-proofing measures you’ll need to put into place. Below, we’ll go over a few of the necessary changes every new parent should consider making to pet-proof a home.
Let’s start in the living room. While this area of the house may seem innocuous enough, there are still potential risks. Mainly, there are electrical cords that could be chewed or yanked on. It’s advised to utilize secure covers for such cords. You could also protect them by using a pet-safe deterrent spray. Better your pet gets a nasty taste in its mouth than an electric shock.
Another measure of protection for the living room is to cover furniture in antiscratch tape. Little claws can cause a lot of damage. With this tape, you may not only avoid expensive replacements but also help prevent pets from choking on the scraps of their latest victim. Lastly, any small objects should be kept on high shelves or otherwise out of reach. Candles, knick-knacks, and even TV remotes could become the target of chewing and destruction.
The kitchen can also present a lot of temptations for pets. From scarfing down food that’s poisonous to animals to licking up cleaning chemicals, there are a lot of ways pets might get into trouble in the kitchen. Often, the safest route is to keep them out of this room altogether with closed doors or pet gates. If that’s not going to work, you need to keep any dangers well out of reach, such as using a secure lid to keep your pup out of the trash.
Another preventative measure to pet-proof your home to consider in the kitchen is counter covers and guards. Cats have an innate desire to be up off the floor. It makes sense they’re going to love your kitchen counters and cabinets, but giving them free reign over these surfaces isn’t safe. If training methods can’t keep your cats off, consider using a stove guard to prevent burns from the hot surface. Any gaps in the cabinetry — whether up top or from down below — should also be sealed off to prevent access and, therefore, potential injuries.
The final area of the house we’ll cover is the garage. Like with the kitchen, it’s best to just keep pets out of this part of the house. From poor ventilation to myriad hazardous chemicals stored here, the garage is generally a treacherous spot for dogs and cats alike. If access is going to be granted, just be sure to keep these hazards out of reach. This includes rodent poison, sharp objects, antifreeze, paint, chemicals, and other toxic substances.
These are just three of the rooms you should pet-proof. For a handy, room-by-room breakdown of pet-proofing tips, please see the accompanying resource.
Infographic provided by pet sitters Chicago company, Majestic Paws
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