Pet-Proofing Your Home Room by Room

Pets explore with their mouths, paws and noses, and homes are full of things that were never designed with animals in mind. Walking through each room with a pet’s-eye view can prevent injuries and expensive repairs. This room-by-room tour highlights common hazards in general terms.

Get down to their level

Start by crouching or crawling. From a low vantage point you will notice dangling cords, items on low shelves and gaps behind appliances. For cats, also look up, since they will happily investigate shelves, counters and the tops of cabinets.

The kitchen

Kitchens combine food, heat and chemicals. Consider these steps:

• Use a lidded, secure bin so waste cannot be raided.
• Store cleaning products in latched cupboards.
• Keep human foods off counters. Several everyday foods, including chocolate, grapes and raisins, onions and certain sweeteners, are known to be harmful to some pets. Ask your vet for a reliable list.
• Supervise pets around hot hobs and ovens.

The living room

Cables are tempting to chew, so tuck them behind furniture or use cord covers. Check that heavy items such as televisions and bookcases are stable and cannot be pulled over. Small objects like coins, hair ties and children’s toys can be swallowed. Candles, open fires and heaters need guards or careful placement.

The bathroom

Medicines, razors, cleaning supplies and toiletries should be stored out of reach. Keep toilet lids down if a pet might drink from the bowl, especially if cleaning tablets are used. Small dogs and kittens can also get trapped in tight spaces, so check that cupboard doors close securely.

Bedrooms and closets

Socks, underwear and other fabrics can be swallowed by curious dogs and cause serious blockages. Keep laundry in a closed basket. Dropped pills are a common risk, so retrieve them immediately. Close wardrobe doors to prevent cats from becoming trapped.

Plants

Many popular houseplants and cut flowers can be toxic to pets. Lilies, for example, are often cited as dangerous to cats. Before bringing plants home, check them against a trusted pet-safety list from your vet or an animal welfare organisation, and place doubtful ones out of reach or avoid them.

Garden and balcony

Check fences for gaps, and secure gates. Store garden chemicals, fertilisers and slug pellets safely, and avoid products known to be harmful to animals. Standing water, compost heaps and tools with sharp edges are further hazards. On balconies, use netting or barriers designed for pets, since falls can be serious.

Windows and doors

Screens should be strong enough to withstand a leaping cat. Use baby gates to limit access to certain rooms. Teach a “wait” cue at doorways so that a dog does not bolt when visitors arrive.

Think about the unexpected

Holiday decorations, party food, tinsel and lit candles introduce temporary risks. Visitors may leave bags open, or leave doors ajar. Remind guests of your house rules, and provide the pet with a quiet retreat during busy events.

Keep emergency details handy

Post the number of your veterinary practice and an out-of-hours animal emergency service on the fridge. If your pet swallows something suspicious, call a vet immediately instead of waiting for symptoms.

A reasonable approach

You do not need to remove everything interesting from your life. The aim is to manage the biggest risks, supervise when you cannot, and provide pets with safe things to chew, scratch and explore. Revisit your checks whenever you rearrange rooms, buy new items, or welcome a new animal.