Just as one prepares a home for a newborn, homeowners need to ready themselves for the arrival of the furry new addition to their family.
Adrian Goslett, Regional Director and CEO of RE/MAX of Southern Africa, says responsible pet owners will make sure that they have readied their homes against possible accidents long before their new pet arrives.
He says before your mind starts drifting towards plastic covered sofas and child-proof gates, there are many ways to pet-proof your home….
1. For starters, trash cans (or toy baskets in the eyes of your pet) need to be cleverly stowed away if you want to avoid an emergency run to the vet.
Goslett says nobody likes the smell of trash. A built-in cupboard is an inexpensive and easy way to not only protect your pet against the temptation of trash diving, but also to help you sell your home quicker when you decide to sell.
2. Next on your pet’s list of sinful temptations are your shoes and slippers. An hour feels like a lifetime to your pet, so they will seek out anything that has your scent on it when you are not around so that they can feel closer to you. And, what item of clothing stores your scent more poignantly than your shoes and slippers? To make sure these stay out of reach, consider installing a shoe rack in your wardrobe or buy a free-standing shoe locker for your entryway. Having a specific spot for your shoes lessens the temptation for your pet to scatter them around the house or chew them.
3. Electric cords are another thing you need to protect your pet against. While there are many anti-chew sprays on the market, it is advisable rather to organise wires in such a way that your pets cannot reach them.
According to Goslett, messy wiring is also a deterrent when trying to sell your home. There are many creative ways to hide the wiring in your home, from wiring covers to customised cabinets that have been specifically designed to fit your house’s wiring.
4. Moving on to your backyard, it’s time to get your hands dirty. There are certain plants that can be toxic to your pets, so you’ll need to remove these to keep your pet out of harm’s way.
Some of the most common outdoor plants such as azaleas, hydrangeas and daffodils can cause harm to your pet’s sensitive digestive system. It is best to do an internet search or ask an expert at your local gardening emporium for advice around this topic.
5. Fences and boundary walls also need to be properly maintained and reinforced before you add a pet to your outdoor space. Whether large or small, all pets will find the gap and escape to catch the squirrel or mailman or whatever else they think might have been taunting them on the other side. Your job as a responsible pet owner is to make sure this never happens.
Goslett says ultimately, you want to create a space that is safe, secure and pleasant to live in, for your pets and also for your family.
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