How to Pet-Proof Your Home

Expert advice on the best ways to keep your house in tip top condition with a pesky pet

Have you ever come home to find the curtains chewed, rugs ripped up and plants scattered on the floor? Whether you have a new puppy or kitten – or have always had a pet – you quickly learn how chaotic life can be living with your furry friend. From curious cats to daring dogs, there are many ways your playful pet can misbehave in a house filled with fun things to explore. With the help of Itchpet.com’s in-house vet, Zoe Costigan, we have devised the best ways to help pet-proof your home.

Designated pet perimeters
Your pet likes to feel that they have certain areas for themselves, so it’s always a good idea to create a special place just for them. You can do this by putting their belongings within this space, such as their bed, their favourite blanket and their toys. Zoe suggests using a pet crate; however, these should be used to create a place of security and safety – not as a form of punishment. If you are not using a crate, try using a safety gate to reinforce your pet’s designated perimeters when you are not home.

Tidy up time!
When you have a pet, it helps to keep things as tidy as possible. Shoes, socks and rubbish bins are all oh-so-appealing to an adventurous pet. Zoe explains how important it is to tidy up, as small items left around the house can often be choking hazards. Socks…. or should we say, ‘squidgy fluffy things I can put in my mouth’, can be attractive to pets but can also lead to surgery if swallowed. Anything that looks chewable needs to be safely stored away. Zoe also recommends making all bins pet proof – as the little rascals can often raid the bins as soon as you leave the house – so make sure there is no way they can access what’s in the rubbish.

Tackle the toxic
Zoe comments that many home accessories can be toxic to a pet. Cleaning solutions are a clear culprit, so make sure to keep them carefully locked away. Essential oils can also be dangerous – so think twice before lighting your wellbeing oils around your pet. House plants can be poisonous to pups, whereas lilies are extremely poisonous to cats! Zoe even advocates cat owners avoid keeping lilies in the home all together and keeping houseplants at height, if at all.

ITCH Flea-free your home
The last thing anyone wants is a flea-infested home, or a flea-ridden friend darting about – it’s unpleasant for both of you! But the good news is that you can prevent unwanted visitors hitching a ride from your pet to your carpets with ITCH Flea’s monthly treatment. Regular application of ITCH Flea protects your pet and your home from becoming infested by killing all fleas, eggs and larvae, breaking the flea life cycle at every stage.

Things go wrong
Above all, we have to accept that our lovable pets can sometimes make mistakes – but we still love them for it! Be kind. They will learn and hopefully, with these tips, you can be more in control. Punishing is now widely known to have adverse effects on your pet, so remember to think carefully how you treat the situation. Using reward behaviour conditioning can teach them right from wrong.

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