How to prepare your home for a pet?

Posted On Monday, 18 July 2022 16:28

You have made the decision to get a pet, consulted with a veterinarian on feeding and vaccination, and even found out who you will leave it with during your trips. It's time to think about how to create a comfortable living environment for you and a new family member by fitting the needs of the furry one into your life and interior.

Place for feeding and drinking

It should be out of the way and isolated enough so that the pet feels calm while eating. It is convenient to organize food storage nearby, but, at the same time, in a place inaccessible to the pet (some animals deftly cope with opening the package, others might be extra attracted by the smell).

For cats, the water bowl should be kept separate from food. It is also worth considering that many cats drink from the tap - they are interested in moving water. For dogs, the bowl of water should be next to the food.

Places for sleep and lie down

There should definitely be a few. Most often, the pets like to sleep on their owner’s bed or sofas. For cats, this is in the order of things, and it makes no sense to forbid. Therefore, it is necessary to either make the bed, or to regularly clean the bedspread and sofa pillows from fur. Cats will also sleep with pleasure on shelves, in closets and dressing rooms.

For dogs, their bed should be in a comfortable corner or next to the owner's bed. The dog itself can choose a place to sleep, then the owners will just have to move the bed there.

A place for the claws of the cat

It can be a special rug, an ottoman, or a wall upholstered with wooden clapboard, which is easy to replace. But it is important to understand that the cat will not always sharpen its claws exactly where you want. Therefore, you can go from the opposite - observe what the pet chooses for this purpose, and adapt to it.

Some cats are more prone to scratching stuff, others almost never do that. In order to find out what are your future pet’s predispositions, you can invest into a cat dna test kit

Game area

Cats need to run and jump. There is no escape from this. Young pets especially need movement. Ideally, they need a play complex on the wall - shelves at different levels, hinged ladders and houses. But just horizontal surfaces will do. 

The owners need to be prepared for asceticism in the interior for a while: it is better to put away jewelry, figurines, dishes, photo frames, etc. behind reliable cabinet doors. Cats especially love climbing: cabinets, open shelves, refrigerators and the upper tier of the kitchen. But you should not hurry with the purchase of various toys - the pet will tell you which ones are of interest to them.

Dogs also willingly show interest in home games and a variety of toys. A large dog and even a small puppy will need free space to chase the ball and roll their favorite toy on the floor - you should also think about this in advance, freeing the center of the room from coffee tables and flimsy structures that the pet can inadvertently break. When the dog does not play with their toys, it is more convenient to store them in one place - for example, in an open basket or a box - then the pet will be able to decide for himself what he wants to play with them.

Cat litter

It is more convenient to place it in the bathroom, in a fairly secluded place. It is better to choose a deep litter, so that the filler spills out of it less often. But for a kitten, for the first months, you need a small one. When they get used to it and grow up, change it. 

Concerning the fillers, there are many types of it, you just have to choose the right one for the cat and you, just by trying.

Plants

For cats, plants can be viewed as a salad and sometimes even a toilet. If your cat sees the plant pots as a WC, this must be immediately controlled and stopped: catch the pet “while doing it” and patiently take it to the litter. Usually cats quickly understand what's the issue. If the pet digs the ground solely out of love for the process (many dogs do the same), and you cannot live without flowers, then you can try to cover the surface with pebbles, or cover it with craft paper. It is important not to keep poisonous plants at home, because domestic animals, unlike wild animals, alas, do not know what is right and wrong and can be seriously poisoned.

Details

Do not forget to allocate space for storing various little things for the furry ones: scratchers, nail clippers, spare harnesses, toys and more. It is more convenient to keep these compact in the hallway. Get a helper: a robot vacuum cleaner in a house with animals is simply indispensable, especially during periods of molting.

If you are just going to make repairs or update furniture, then give preference to wear-resistant materials. There are anti-scratch fabrics for upholstered furniture, also called "anti-claw".

Choose furniture to the floor without gaps under the bottom, where toys always roll up and balls of wool are stuffed. Or, on the contrary, get yourself items on legs high enough so that you can vacuum and wash.

If the animal is healthy and socialized, all this is quite enough to ensure a comfortable life. If there are any behavioral difficulties, it is important to contact a zoo psychologist in time, in order to correct them. 

Sometimes the whims or hooliganism of a pet are the result of poor health. This way, the pet tries to attract the attention of the owner and ask for help.

What about you? Do you feel ready for a new furry friend? If you still have questions concerning this topic, take a look at this awesome article on greeting a pet into your home!

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