With more and more people working from home, many people have introduced new pets into their lives. While these animal companions liven up the home and keep loneliness at bay, they also introduce a variety of new complications to home care and daily life. If you’re looking to protect your pets from harm and keep your home in good condition, here are some tips and advice to use to animal-proof your house.
Why do I need to animal-proof my home, and what does it cost?
Animal-proofing your home is essential for both protecting your animal companions and keeping your home safe from damage. Pets can be destructive, especially if they’re young and untrained. Dogs can destroy pillows, cats can scratch up the couch or window screens, and rabbits can chew apart baseboards and loose wiring. By taking time to pet-proof your home now, you keep both your home and your pets safe. The cost of readying your house for animal companions varies dramatically depending on your pet’s species, ranging as low as sixty dollars to costs over seven hundred dollars. There’s no singular factor to estimate the costs of proofing your house for pets, so plan to animal-proof your home according to your specific needs.
Pet-Proofing, Room-by-Room
There’s no one-size-fits-all for animal-proofing your home, and what steps you need to take vary a lot depending on what room of the house you’re working on. Laundry rooms and kitchens contain many hazards that you’ll need to protect against; for instance, both contain dangerous chemicals like detergent and soaps that need to be stored securely and out of reach of pets. It may also be a wise idea to install child safety locks and pet gates to keep animals out of these spaces entirely.
Electrical wiring and technology also present dangers you’ll need to protect your pet from. In the living room or studio space, you’ll need to keep wiring and cables hidden or covered to protect them against chewing. It’s also a good idea to keep other choking hazards out of reach or up high, such as tying up window blind cords. Fire hazards present dangers, too. If you have a fireplace, install a grate or a pet gate to keep animals away, and store candles away from where pets can access them.
Cat-Proof Window Screens
Sometimes though, you’ll need specific protection to animal-proof your house, and windows are especially dangerous for cats. With their unique ability to reach high places in the home, you’ll need to take special precautions to protect your windows from your cats and vice versa. As always, the amount of protection necessary depends on your cat. Some cats might try to claw their way through window screens, while others might be able to push the screen off entirely. There’s no one-size-fits-all approach to cat-proofing, and you’ll need to adjust your plan to reflect your own cat’s behavior and needs.
Oftentimes, you can deter your cat from being near windows entirely. Placing down double-stick tape on a windowsill can be enough to discourage cats from lingering near the sill, and using steel pet grilles or pet screens can keep your cat at bay and protect your screen and cat alike. However, it may be necessary to reinforce your windows, too. Reinforcing window screens with outside nails or screws may be enough to protect against your cat’s body weight, and installing metal latches on your windows strengthens your windows and prevents them from being opened too far. There are plenty of commercial options for cat-proofing your windows, so search around for the right fit for your home.
Looking to animal-proof your house?
Whether you’re looking to animal-proof your home or if you’re looking for consultation on what level of preparations are right for your pet, reach out to Big D Building Center today. Since 1921, we’ve helped the north Florida area with its home needs. Contact us today, and let us know how we can help make your home safer for you and your pet.