Adopting a pet can transform your household forever. Dogs and cats are some of the preferred pets for American homeowners. It’s easy to understand why! Most of us have grown up either with pets in their families or their communities. It’s not uncommon for children to reach out to their friends and neighbors who already own a pet. Whether you choose to adopt a puppy or a kitten – or both –, you can expect a little bit of a culture shock. Pets need attention and care. The typical American household will change a lot of habits after welcoming a furry friend.
Indeed, healthcare appointments will need to include regular checks at your local vet. Even a healthy dog or cat requires at least their annual checkup and vaccination. Vacation planning also needs to be adjusted. If you want to travel with your pet, you have to consider dog- and cat-friendly destinations and hotels. Your leisure time changes as you make time to play with your pet. Yet, these changes of routine are not the only impact of pet ownership on your home. Adopting a pet changes not only your habits but also your home. Indeed, our beloved dogs and cats can lead to a chaotic household if you’re not careful! Here are some essential tips to avoid the risks of pet ownership at home.
Set a budget
Most households create a budget when they have children or when they decide on a long-term project. However, a lot of American pet owners forget to budget for their dog or cat. The average household spends over $139 per month on their pet. The majority of the cost is divided between food and vet bills. Yet, despite healthcare costs for pets, less than 4 in 10 households have taken pet insurance. As a result, a whopping 20% of American households have gone into debt to tackle essential health bills. Health insurance can avoid surprise expenses. However, healthcare is only one of the worrying costs. In the US, people spend as much as $72billion on pets (2018) for food, pampering, toys, etc. Setting a strict budget with a smart tool such as Pigly.Com can allow households to manage their finances better and avoid pet-related debt.
Get the basics right
Your pet has basic needs that should be met at all times. It is easy for new pet owners to buy more than they require! Therefore, it’s important to think of your dog or cat in terms of needs and purchases.
- They need a cozy and safe spot to sleep and relax.
- They need entertainment.
- They need nutrients.
Buying toys for your pet can help you establish a healthy bond. Dogs and cats love to play with their owners. Additionally, stimulating toys can keep them entertained even if you’re busy. Consequently, you need to dedicate an area of your household to your pet. There, they can store their games and toys. Typically, a dog will keep his toys by his bed. A dog bed or a cat tree where Felix can rest is an essential addition to your household furniture. It guarantees that your bed has “their place” at home. More importantly, pets can be trained to relax on their beds rather than damage your sofa or cozy chairs – more on training later.
Have a cleaning routine
When you have pets, you need to transform your cleaning routine to keep the house tidy. Indeed, most cats and dogs shed hair; therefore, you need to vacuum regularly to get rid of pet hair. The standard rule suggests vacuuming once a week. Yet for pets that shed a lot or spend a lot of time playing outside, once a week isn’t enough. In a busy household, however, frequent vacuuming can be time-demanding and tricky to manage. It can be helpful to invest in a robot vacuum that can get on with the job without interfering with your routine. Unfortunately, your vacuum can’t always get rid of small particles that are more likely to get embedded into rugs and carpet fabrics. While pet hair may be invisible as particles sink inside the fabric, it can lead to allergic and respiratory reactions. It can be advantageous to use a portable steam cleaner every few months to clear fabric.
Make your floors pet-friendly
Ideally, avoiding carpeted floors can make a big difference in keeping your home tidy and smelling nice. Hard flooring solutions are more likely to be pet-proof. Indeed, a puppy is a cute addition to the household. But, pups are prone to have “accidents”. You won’t think twice about mopping your tiled or parquet flooring while getting the carpet back could prove challenging. Opting for beautiful and manageable floors can make a huge difference in the long term. You also want to avoid wooden flooring patterns that could get damaged by long claws or acidic urine. Modern interior styles can benefit from installing decorative concrete floors, which can be waxed for easier maintenance. These are stylish and can look every bit like a rustic tiled pattern, yet without any care hassles!
Training will save your furniture
Pets are full of energy. As a pet owner, your job is to create a safe environment at home for your pet and your furniture. Resilient furniture is a must, of course. But it’s also important to establish strict training rules early. Dogs and cats find it hard to keep off the furniture if their owners didn’t set consistent rules from the start. While it can be tempting to allow your cute puppy on the sofa, you need to realize that it teaches your dog bad habits. Your sweet-eyed Saint Bernard pup will grow into a 160 pounds dog, which can seriously damage the sofa if he carries on jumping on it.
Similarly, cats, while being light, can tear apart your beloved sofa. Contrary to common belief, you can train your cat to stay away from the couch. Declawing your pet is not the answer, and has been banned in many states. Keep your cats claws clipped, which you can do yourself after you are shown how, just don’t cut too short, just the tips. But encouraging your cat to use a scratch post and using soothing pheromone can achieve great results.
Final Thoughts
Adopting a dog or a cat transforms your household. But if you’re going to embark on the adventure of pet ownership, you need to make sure your home is ready to avoid some of the most dramatic risks. From creating a house budget for your dog to training your cat to stay off the sofa, these little tricks can save your household.
