Whether you have a rambunctious little kitten or an old dog, chances are you’re going to need to make a few changes to your home if you want to keep it safe for pets. The good news is that there are many simple changes you can make to your home for better pet safety. No matter what kind of pet you have, here are six useful steps to pet-proof your home.
1. Add Childproof Latches to Cabinets With Dangerous Items
There are many ways pets can get into cabinets that have all sorts of dangerous products in them. Whether that’s spices that might be toxic to pets or potentially dangerous cleaning products, many cabinets are dangerous for pets to get into. Most childproof latches are a helpful way to keep pets out, as most of them require dexterity that neither children nor pets have.
2. Block Small Spaces That Animals Could Crawl Inside
There are many small spaces that you might have in your cabinets, behind your washer and dryer, or in the general area of your home. If you have any of these small spaces, it’s a good idea to block them off. Most pets are able to get into shockingly small areas, and many of them even enjoy doing it. If you find any of these small spaces, block them off.
3. Keep Food and Chemicals Out of Reach
Both food and chemicals are things that can be dangerous to pets. Most pets are allergic to many foods humans enjoy, and chemicals of all kinds can be dangerous for humans and animals. Your best option is to keep these things in high-up cabinets that pets can’t reach or add childproof locks that the pets can’t get through.
4. Check To Make Sure Your Houseplants Are Safe for Your Pets
Many common houseplants are actually dangerous for pets. For example, while aloe vera is a great plant to keep around for sunburn issues, it’s also potentially toxic to pets. If you want to keep some of these houseplants in your home, you can choose to hang them somewhere your pets can’t get to them or keep them in an area your pets can’t access, like in an outside garden if you have indoor-only pets.
5. Keep Your Garage Clean and Check Your Car Engine Before You Start Your Car
Garages are another place where pets can find all sorts of problems. Engines are an especially common place for cats to hide, especially during the winter when it’s cold outside. Most people suggest banging on your car hood every morning to scare out any critters who may have jumped inside from underneath, including pets and other critters.
6. Know How Pet-Proofing and Childproofing Overlap
Pet-proofing and childproofing a home are two very similar processes, although they’re also different. Many of the things you’ll do to pet-proof your home, including adding latches to cabinets, moving chemicals away from easily accessible cabinets, and checking for houseplant safety, are all things you’ll have to do for children. If you’re looking to keep things safe for your children as well as your pets, PeopleFinders can help.
PeopleFinders wants to help you and your family stay safe. That’s why it encourages safe families, with all sorts of tools available to help you and your family build safe habits over time. Whether you’re preparing for a new kitten or a new child, PeopleFinders can help you stay safe in a completely different way from blocking small spaces and looking up houseplants. Especially if you’re planning to welcome a new child into your home, look to PeopleFinders to help your whole family stay safe.
Conclusion
Keeping your home safe for all the pets and children that may stumble around it is important. No matter what kind of little critters you might have wandering around your home, these tips can make sure your pets or children are able to have a safe place to call home. If you’re looking for more ways to keep your family safe beyond the superficial methods of pet-proofing, you can also look to PeopleFinders. That way, you can keep everyone safe in a variety of ways.
Image Attribution: Kira_Yan – stock.adobe.com
