Best methods to Pet-Proof your home

By Elsa Smith

A lot can happen while you’re out. While adding a new pet to your household can be a lot of fun, leaving them alone for even a short period of time can mean disaster.

This is especially true if your pet is anxious, untrained or energetic. However, this destruction can be avoided by taking the time to set up your home, helping them to feel happy and comfortable in their new environment. This means thoroughly pet-proofing your home. 

There are a lot of things you can do to make your home a secure place for your animal. First, it's important to think about all the possible areas of injury throughout your home. Tackling the most dangerous areas first can help prevent major accidents from occuring as your pet gets used to their new home.

Like humans, pets can get lonely too. This sometimes is displayed as depression or anxiety, and many of the symptoms will predominantly manifest while home alone. So knowing how to deal with pet separation anxiety is very important. The result of these symptoms can often translate into a damaged piece of furniture or messy room. With a few pet-proofing protocols set up, you can rest easy that your furry friend would be a lot less likely to cause mayhem when they are feeling down. 

A common misconception is that training your pets is enough to ensure peace is maintained in your absence. However, even if you don’t have a puppy, animals often behave differently when left to their own devices.

Pet-proofing does not have to be complicated, nor does it need to be expensive. Below is a list of simple quick fixes from the team at Hippo that you can do to ensure that your pet’s home is safe and sound.
Breaking It Down Room By Room
​Living RoomPets love common spaces, and living rooms are no exception. While we can enjoy lots of cuddle seshs in the living room, it’s also a place with loads of opportunities for something to get damaged. To avoid foul play between your pet and the sofa, take these pet-proofing steps:

• Place small objects on high shelves and cabinets
  
• Keep potty diapers within easy access
  
• Have anti-scratch tape for your couch and table corners
  
• Tuck, cover and hide and electrical devices, wires or cables
  
• Cover up HVAC vents and any other orifices where your pet could get stuck or hurt
  
• Make sure to turn off any appliances that are not in use
  

BathroomYour pet might like to follow you around the house, and the bathroom is no exception. In order to make sure your animal is out of harm’s way, here are a few measures you can take:  

• Leave any pills in the medicine cabinet 
  
• Keep toilet paper out of reach and tucked away
  
• Remove any rugs from accessible spaces to avoid potty problems
  
• Leave the toilet seat lid down
  
• Clear out the trash bin regularly
  
• Maintain small objects inside bathroom drawers or away from the ground
  

YardWhether it’s a large backyard or a small terrace, this may likely be one of your pet’s favorite places to roam. If you have an outdoor pet and an outside space in your home, this list is an absolute must:

• Keep your pets inside while using any pesticides or artificial fertilizers
  
• Seal any holes or potential escape routes
  
• Make sure none of your plants are poisonous to animals
  
• Clean up any pet waste as often as possible to avoid insects or rodents
  
• Throw out food or trash as often as possible 
  

KitchenEveryone knows the kitchen is probably one of the most inhabited places in the home. With everything from food storage to meal preparation, the daily habits often are centered around kitchen activities. To make sure that you keep your kitchen clean and your cat, dog, or other animal off your plate and out of trouble, here are some go-to pet-proofing precautions:

• Purchase non-toxic cleaning supplies to avoid any accidental poison consumption
  
• Keep liquids out of reach 
  
• Consider investing in a stove guard to keep your animals from burning themselves on hot surfaces
  
• Seal off small spaces that can be used as hiding spots like between big appliances
  
• Regularly throw away any trash or recycling to prevent any curious sniffs or leaks
  
• Invest in a pet gate or door to keep your pet outside when you need space to cook or clean
  

Bedroom
There are many factors that can influence how organized the bedroom is, pets being one of them. It doesn’t matter if you spend the night with your fur baby in the same room or if they just come in for an occasional snuggle, the key piece to pet-proofing the bedroom is about maintaining an orderly area. This will ultimately affect whether or not you, your pet, or your room, are left intact. 

• Leave all liquids on high shelves or tucked away
  
• Keep a daily practice of making the bed to avoid dirty paws or claw scratching
  
• Have the floor cleared and clean  
  
• Close the doors and windows to avoid unwanted entry
  
• Stow away and cables or cords for safety reasons
  

A Healthy Pet is a Playful Pet What pet-sitters and pet parents need to know is that when you keep your pet active, it makes them a lot happier. A healthy amount of activity makes them a lot less likely to misbehave while everyone is out. 

It’s worth remembering that engaging in a good amount of exercise will ensure that your furry friend not only stays sane, but also so that they don’t take out all their energy on your precious furniture. This is why it’s so important to pet-proof your home, so that your pet doesn’t hurt themselves and stays clear from ripping up the table cloth. At the end of the day, taking a few simple measures will help everyone feel safer to leave the house and not worry about pet safety or home maintenance.  

Apart from keeping your pet active and hiring a pet-sitter, pet-proofing is the best way to keep your pet healthy and happy for the long haul.