You’re in your perfect new home ready to start a fresh chapter of your life and now you might be wondering how to make your home pet friendly?  As a pet-parent, you didn’t realize all the potential hazards that could result in one too many trips to the vet with your fur baby. Plus, it’s got you wondering what else you haven’t even thought of yet.

Not to worry, though. With our helpful tips, you will know more about how to make your home pet friendly. 

How To Make Your Home Pet Friendly

Animals are like children. They can be energetic, inquisitive, and up to mischief at all times. The last thing you want is for your four-legged family member to fall ill from consuming something dangerous or sustaining an injury. While behavior and training play a crucial role, it’s also essential to consider the following: 

Lock ‘em Up

Apart from food items such as chocolate, avocados, garlic, nuts, grapes, raisins, Xylitol, salt, and onions, these non-edibles can also harm your pet:

• Household chemicals
• Pesticides and insecticides
• Tobacco products
• Medication
• Antifreeze and ice-melting products
• Paint materials
• Mothballs and fabric softener sheets
• Mouse and rat bait
• Salt dough and play dough
• Potpourri
• Cocoa mulch

Additionally, plastic bags, bones, fruit pits, seeds, and other small household items can pose a choking or suffocation risk. Keep anything you deem hazardous out of reach and locked away. If you have particularly intelligent pooches or cats, then investing in pet-proof locks for your cupboards may be worthwhile. 

Pick Pet-Friendly Plants

They may smell lovely and liven up your home, but some plants can be highly toxic for your pets.  A few common culprits include:

• Chrysanthemums
• Aloe Vera 
• English Ivy 
• Hydrangeas
• Tulips
• Kalanchoe
• Poinsettia
• Peace Lilies 
• Corn plants
• Azaleas

Do your research to determine what can be harmful to your fur baby. Fortunately, you can switch out that toxic greenery with pet-friendly plants that’ll still make your home look gorgeous.

Blockades and Boundaries

When considering how to make your home pet friendly, oftentimes people over-look this factor. Depending on your pet’s age and size, you may need to install blockades for those dangerous nooks and crannies. Smaller animals can get trapped in spaces behind appliances like the refrigerator, dishwasher, or washing machine. So if you can, try to limit small spaces that your pets might be able to get stuck in. Meanwhile, mobility-challenged pets and younglings could get hurt if they fall down the stairs. By installing a security gate, you’ll establish boundaries while also protecting your pooches from injury. Your feline can also get hurt from falling out of high-rise or even double-story building windows. If you’re not living on the ground, consider installing screens to prevent these kinds of accidents. 

Wind up the Wires

Cover, secure, or hide wiring from any electronics. Dangling cords could be fatal to your pets – especially if they’re playful and prone to chewing.   

Stash the Trash

If you have a pooch that always ends up in the garbage, trade out your small wastebaskets for tall trash cans instead. Opt for ones that are durable and come with click-lock lids. That way, even if your pet has the “zoomies,” knocking over the trash can won’t result in garbage strewn across the floor.   

Pet-Friendly Furniture

When it comes to furniture, dark, easy-to-clean, and stain-resistant fabric is ideal for a pet-friendly home. You’re bound to come across shedding, accidents, and odors, but synthetic microfiber, leather, or outdoor furniture materials will make life a bit easier. 

From Hazardous Home to Pet-Proof Palace 

Whether you want to sell house fast and relocate or welcome a new furball to the family, turning your home into a pet-friendly palace doesn’t have to be difficult. By making a few changes, you’ll have peace of mind that your beloved animals and lovely home are both protected. Remember to:

• Lock up dangerous items
• Choose pet-friendly plants
• Install blockades and boundaries
• Secure dangling wires
• Stash the trash
• Opt for tiles instead of rugs
• Invest in pet-friendly furniture