Summertime is a great time to invite a pet into your home. As part of our Macs4pets series, we have put some pointers together for pet proofing your home. Getting a new furry family member (young or adult) can be like raising children, boundless love and fun with hours of coaching. Keeping your pet safe at home - and your home safe from pets does take some effort. Planning ahead is helpful in avoiding some common hazard around the house.

Living Room

1. Know which houseplants are toxic for your pets – Some plants like lilies, tulips, oleander, and chrysanthemum contain substances that are toxic to pets when ingested. To prevent your curious pooch and cat from eating these plants, it is best to keep them out of reach—or avoid planting them at all.

2. Place fire screens in front of fireplaces when in use – Dogs and cats are curious by nature, and fire could tickle their curiosity. Make sure that if you use a fireplace, to provide blockage via a fire screen to keep them away from the fire. And if your fireplace is compatible with the Apple HomeKit, you are able to turn off the fireplace remotely in case a household member forgot to do so. 

3. Put away small trinkets that might be knocked over – Got a couple of figurines and priceless mementos on your shelves? You should put them away lest they fall victim to your cat’s or dog’s playfulness. The same goes for less precious knickknacks, such as the special mothers day mug.

4. Place pee pads and litter boxes on strategic locations – Unlike humans, pets can’t hold it in. You can’t get angry with them if they soiled the floor either. Instead, be proactive with strategically placed pee pads and litter boxes.

5. Stick anti-scratch tape to furniture – Cats and dogs instinctively scratch materials like wood or fabrics. It’s an evolutionary tick that has something to do with claw-sharpening for survival. Unfortunately, the most common wood material available for your pets to scratch will be your furniture. Since there are no predators in your living room, discourage the habit by proofing furniture with anti-scratch tape.

6. Keep electrical cords out of reach – Your pet gnawing on charging wires could lead to injuries and/or pose a fire hazard. Tuck away cords when not in use and enclose them in chew-proof PVC tubes to discourage gnawing.

Bedroom

7. Use mothballs with care – If ingested, mothballs can cause your pet to suffer gastrointestinal upset. At worst, it may lead to kidney or liver damage. Store them out of reach for your pets, or better yet use pet friendly products.

8. Keep cosmetics in an inaccessible place – Some cosmetics may contain toxic ingredients such as carcinogens, plasticizers, and pesticides that are harmful to pets. It is best to keep them out of reach and stored in a drawer.

9. Tuck curtain tassels – While curtain tassels do not seem to be dangerous, your pets can latch on to them and pull them off, causing damage and injury. Keep them neatly tucked, or replace them with curtain rings.

Kitchen

10. Secure your garbage can – A trash can, with all its smells and goodies, will probably smell too interesting for your pets to ignore. If your pet ingested something spoiled from the trash, it can result into very upset stomach (and the resulting clean-up is also not too much fun)!

11. Cover small gaps between the fridge and cabinets – Cats and dogs like to squeeze themselves into small nooks and crannies where they can easily get stuck and panick. 

12. Install child-proof locks on cabinets – Pets are smarter than you think. Keep your cabinets secure from their prying eyes and playful paws with a child-proof lock or other contraption.

13. Keep pets away from desks and countertops – Leaving food on your countertop can incite your pet to surf the counter, knocking off your stuff and gadgets in the process. You can use pet deterrents such as mats to deter your pets from doing this - but you might end up just rearranging your countertops.

Bathroom

14. Keep chemicals and medicines out of reach – If ingested, medicine will most likely always be dangerous to your pet. Also, remember to keep cleaning products’ lids screwed shut to prevent your pets from drinking them.

15. Keep the toilet lid closed – Your pet might mistake the toilet as an alternative water source. That’s not just icky but risky, too.

16. Pick up stray socks – Stray socks seem harmless enough, but they can turn into choking hazards for pets.

Garage and outdoors

17. Install a dog door – Doing so will allow your pet to come into the house as they please without having to beg (loudly) for your attention. This is also helpful for dogs who are potty trained so that they can do their business outside of your home.

18. Hide your tools – What’s good for your car might not be good for your pet. Think small screws that might cause gastrointestinal upset, among other more serious possibilities, if ingested by your kitty or doggo. They may also knock things off like hammers and saws, which can potentially cause injury to them.

19. Consistently clean up pet waste – Dispose of pet waste properly. Not only is it the most hygienic for your home but it also prevents them from eating it up again, which is a good way to prevent parasitic infection.

Make Your Pet Feel at Home

Adding a furry family member will mean adjustments to your home. Make sure that all family members are on board with  pet’s safety , so that potential dangers can be avoided. 

In recent years many useful tools like cameras, remotely controlled lighting and trackers to name a few have become widely available and can easily be added to your home. Apple has many pet-friendly features in their ecosystem. If you are looking for a more affordable way to purchase refurbished Apple products from a reputable company, please contact Macs4U today to learn more about these products and how they can be added to your home.