Tips to Pet Proof Your Home

New pet owners have many things to consider when preparing to bring a new furry family member into their homes and lives. Today we are going to cover tips to pet proof your home. Dogs and cats can both be very curious, but with these tips you can keep them safe and your belongings secure.

PET PROOF YOUR KITCHENS/BATHROOMS

• Consider using childproof latches for any cabinets you don't want them to open

• Place medications, cleaners, chemicals, and laundry supplies on high shelves or behind secured doors

• Keep trash cans covered or inside a latched cabinet or closet

• Block any small spaces or holes inside cabinets or behind washer/dryer units where they could get stuck

• Keep human foods out of reach, some wrappers and ingredients could be bad for them

• Keep toilet lids closed to prevent drowning or drinking of cleaning chemicals

PET PROOF YOUR LIVING/FAMILY ROOM

• Place hanging wires from lamps, DVD players, televisions, stereos, telephones or other electronics out of reach or cover them with wire cover strips from the hardware store

• Keep children’s toys and games or items with small parts out of reach and put away when not in use

• Put away knick-knacks that are breakable or put them up out reach to keep kittens from knocking them off (consider how far they can jump)

• Check for random trash or debris on the floor, to prevent choking hazards or things that can be dangerous to digest like strings

• Move common house plants that may be poisonous out of reach

• Make sure all heating/air vents have covers

GARAGE

• Relocate all chemicals in reach to high shelves or behind secure doors

• Make sure to clean all antifreeze from the floor and driveway, or spills from any other chemicals that could harmful

• Keep all sharp objects and tools out of reach

• Stack boxes and other stored items securely to ensure they can't knock them over

BEDROOMS

• Keep laundry and shoes in closets or drawers (drawstrings and buttons can cause major problems if swallowed)

• Make sure any medications, lotions, or cosmetics are off of any accessible surfaces like nightstands or tables

• Move electrical and phone wires out of reach of chewing

• Be careful that you don’t close your kitten in closets and remember to check dresser drawers before closing them (they may climb inside)

• Make sure any valuables like jewelry are secured and placed out of reach

CREATE PET FRIENDLY AREAS FOR SLEEPING, EATING & PLAYING

• Make sure if your pet is going to be indoors most of the time, that you have designated some areas that provide comfortable places for eating, sleeping, and playing. Puppies and kittens both require a healthy diet, sleep and exercise as they grow. You can use baby gates to create safe spaces for play if you are concerned about them getting into other areas until they are more house trained. You also want to ensure you have a consistent routine for potty training.

With these tips in mind your home will be much more pet friendly and safe. These tips will also help you prevent some of the unwanted incidents that come with new puppies and kittens like accidents or broken knick-knacks.