How many people do you know with a pet dog or cat? There are nearly 200 million of them alone in the US and that means more and more families love their four-legged friends. If you’re one of the people who keeps one as a pet you always want what is best for them. They are part of your family and it’s your duty to make sure they are as comfortable as possible at all times. You need to ask yourself if there is anything you could do to make their life better.
One of the easiest things to look at is your home. What pet owners don’t realize is that sometimes their home isn’t quite set up for a dog or cat. Once you do understand what changes you can make it’s more than likely you’ll at least attempt them. It is in the best interests of the animal you love more than anything else. We can take a look at some of the changes you might want to consider making to your home. Read them and see if they are things you think makes sense.
Install a pet door
When people work all day it’s not nice leaving pets in the house. Unless you have a house cat you’re definitely going to need a way for it to get out. It will go crazy being locked up all day because it loves to explore. Dogs are fine being left inside, but that doesn’t mean it’s best for them. If your garden is secure there is nothing wrong with letting them out to use the toilet. This is harder for big dogs because burglars will be able to fit through the flap.
Put latches on the cupboards
You should know by now that pets aren’t the most stupid animals in the world and you could even say they are a little intelligent. If you’ve watched one open a door by itself you will know what I’m talking about. If they manage to break into the cupboard and get their paws on something they shouldn’t it has the potential to turn into a disastrous situation. If you have latches on the doors it’s unlikely they’ll get in because they’re not that smart.
Use window screens
This isn’t really something you need to worry about if you live in a small house, but when you’re living in the city it’s very important. I’m sure everyone has watched Single White Female, and even though the cat was pushed you get a good idea of what can happen when you have a pet up against an open window. The worst that will happen is your pet dying. I don’t think there is a best thing about a pet falling through an open window because it doesn’t have a screen.
Secure your garden fence
Cats like to wander about and are very independent, but when a dog gets out from your garden and goes on a little adventure it might not be able to get back. There are stories about dogs traveling for miles to reach their owner, but if your dog isn’t Lassie I don’t recommend it. Walk around your garden and make sure you can’t find any ways it could sneak out. You have to pay close attention to the details because you’ll be surprised where they could escape from.
Watch out for dangerous plants
Some plants are dangerous and pets will get very sick if they eat them. You obviously don’t want any of these in your garden because you don’t plan on poisoning your cat or dog. Crabapples can be quite toxic to both animals. Lilies are a big no-no for cats and they should be stripped from flower arrangements straight away. If you look on the ASPCA website you will find out exactly what plants are dangerous, plus you get a list of ones that are safe.
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