If you have a pet, you know how much their sweet demeanor and positive energy can contribute to a household. Though most dogs, cats, and other common house pets are good at adapting to their surroundings, there are a few steps you can take to make your home safer and more welcoming to your pet.
Let’s take a look at four of the best home improvement ideas you can do yourself that can optimize your home for pet ownership. No matter what kind of pet you have, they’re sure to appreciate these small gestures that go a long way.
1. Choose a Safe and Protective Fence
If you have an outdoor space where your pet is allowed to roam, choosing the right fence is crucial. Your fence should be high enough that your dog or cat can’t leap over it and flat enough on the top that your pet won’t hurt themselves if they try.
Additionally, it’s important to make sure your fence is installed firmly into the ground so your pet can’t dig underneath and escape or damage the fence from the bottom. Dogs, in particular, are known to dig under fences, so any material that’s weak or sharp could cause issues for your dog’s safety.
2. Make Your Home Accessible for Small or Aging Pets
Many pets are big and strong enough to get themselves around your home with ease and access any furniture items they’re allowed on. However, for pets of a smaller size or with reduced mobility due to age or illness, some additional help may be needed to fully reach every area of the home.
Adding small ramps in key locations such as right next to the couch, beside the bed, or up the stairs can allow smaller pets and pets with joint problems to climb to their favorite spots without having to jump or strain themselves.
3. Prioritize Pet-Friendly Landscaping
Many types of pets enjoy exploring their fenced outdoor space, and dogs in particular need their outdoor time to get some energy out, relieve themselves, and take in all of the interesting smells found in the outdoors.
There are several ways you can optimize your pet’s outdoor experience and create a beautiful landscaping design at the same time.
Add aesthetically pleasing features to your landscaping such as pathways, trees, and shrubbery to keep your pet interested during their outdoor time, and have a clearly designated area for your pet to do their business. Make sure that none of the plants in your yard are poisonous to animals.
4. Create a Safe Space for Your Pet
Pets are happiest when they have a space in the home all to themselves that they can visit if they want to, especially when things in the home are chaotic due to visitors or other commotion. Transform that unused closet or corner into a cozy sanctuary for your pet and they will love hanging out and resting there when they need some quiet time.
