Designing a Pet-Friendly Home

Originally Published on Rent.com, Sept 5, 2024. Written by Cam Hayes

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Ensuring your home is safe and comfortable for your pet involves more than just providing food and water. A truly pet-friendly home requires thoughtful planning and adjustments to create an environment where your pet can thrive. Whether you are looking at homes for sale in Seattle, already renting an apartment in Boston, or moving to a rental house in Little Rock, here’s a comprehensive guide to pet-proofing your home, covering everything from furniture choices fit for your established dog to safety measures and grooming practices for your new kitten.

For cats, provide “Standard carpet covered posts with no levels, or multiple levels with scratching posts,” suggests
Barbara Nyke from Barbara Nyke Interiors & Design. She also shared that for an economical alternative,
you can “make your own using twine wrapped around a post nailed down to a 12 x 12 covered plyboard.
My Bullitt loves his recycled cardboard scratching board. When it’s all scratched out, it goes into the blue bin!”

Barbara also recommends investing in a feeder. “Automatic pet feeders are purrfect for both cat and dog kibble
and come with a range of awesome features such as a variety of styles, different price points, and a common
type are machines that dispense specified amounts of food- while other styles use multiple slots that you fill with food.

In addition, some feeders can be programmed for several feedings per day. These feeders may have cameras,
two-way audio, and other smart features! If an automatic pet feeder sounds like the perfect addition to your
pet routine, we’d love to help you find the best fit.” If you need some extra assistance maintaining the health
of your pet, smart technology has many viable options to consider!