At The Blairs, we recognize that your pet is an important member of your family.  That’s why we’re proud to provide a variety of pet-friendly apartments and townhomes.  Keeping your pet happy and healthy can be a big responsibility, so to ensure that your apartment is the safest it can be for your furry friends, we’re happy to provide the following pet-proofing tips for your home.

Close and Lock Cabinets

Cats especially are notoriously curious when they encounter closed cabinets and doors, although many dogs find it difficult to resist the temptation to explore.  Unfortunately for Fido and Sylvester, low cabinets are typically home to dangerous cleaning chemicals.  To keep your cats or dogs out of cabinets, a child-proof latch will typically do the trick.  These inexpensive latches are easy to install, and can be found at your neighborhood ACE or online at Amazon.

Hang Up Plants (Or Avoid Altogether)

Animals love to chew on green, leafy plants and grass, whether indoors or out.  In fact, given their love of chewing on plants, you’d be amazed how dangerous these plants are for them to eat.  Some plants are downright poisonous (click here for a PDF of plants that are toxic to domestic pets).  Even non-poisonous plants can cause vomiting and worse.  If you have a green thumb, ensure that your animals don’t run foul of your greenery by hanging your plants from the ceiling.

Unplug Cords

By unplugging electrical cords, you can ensure that if your pet does manage to chew through the cords, they won’t get a nasty shock.  You may also want to train your pets to leave these cords alone by coating them with a hot sauce or a non-toxic ointment/spray, or placing them in a cord protector.

Hide Fragile Objects

Cats loving jumping, climbing, and exploring.  Dogs routinely bump tables and shelves that are set low enough to be an obstacle.  Prevent damaged objects (and broken ceramic or glass on the floor) by either placing fragile items where pets can’t reach them, or packing them safely away until you can safely display them.

Get a Heavy Duty Trashcan with a Lid

Cats and dogs are drawn to smelly objects.  The items they find in the trash can be extremely hazardous to their health.  Make your apartment more pet-friendly by getting a heavy duty trashcan with a lid.  A step trash can works well by making the trash can more accessible for you, and less accessible for your pet.

Your apartment can be a jungle for cats and dogs, but with a little bit of planning and upkeep, you can tame that jungle to be a safe and engaging environment for your furry family member.  For more information about how to keep your pets happy and safe, visit The Humane Society of the United States.