Pet Projects: how to share your home with cats and dogs

Content supplied by PetPlan

While welcoming a new dog or cat into your home is a highly rewarding experience, your home may sometimes become a little messy if not managed correctly.

Petplan reviews how to keep your pet-friendly home looking and smelling fresh.

Keeping your house clean with pets:

Manage dog and cat hair

One of the constant issues pet parents face is animal hair – on furniture, floors and clothing. Brushing your pet regularly will help dwindle the problem of unruly hair.

Placing a towel or sheet where your cat or dog enjoys sleeping will also help corral the hair.

Keep your pet clean

It’s a good idea to set up a pet grooming routine. This may sound obvious, but the dirt that is removed through grooming is dirt not lying around your home. Some dog breeds may also require trimming or de-shedding.

Besides making your pet look pretty, serious side effects like skin conditions, eye and ear infections and flea issues occur when we neglect to groom our pets. By grooming your pet on a regular basis, you can reduce the chance of infection and avoid expensive vet bills.

Upgrade your sofa

If you can’t resist pushing your dog or cat off the sofa, you may want to change your current couch. Pet fur will stick to certain sofa materials as well as hold odours and show up the faintest stain.

Try to look for a leather or tightly woven sofa, or for a more cost effective solution, add a pet friendly throw which can be washed when needs be.

Clean your pet’s belongings

Just like we need to wash our own sheets and clothing, your pet’s things need regular cleaning too. Pet beds and toys can pick up strong odours, especially with dogs.

Air your house

To avoid persistent pet smells, open your windows and let some fresh air in. Even on colder days, a 10 minute breeze of fresh air will help rid your home of odours.

Decorating your home for life with pets

There are many different ways to keep your home both fashionable and pet-friendly.

When decorating your home for life with pets, you need to work with materials that are sturdy and easy to clean:

Pets can bring so much joy to your home, and most pet owners will agree that these measures are well worth the uncond itional affection they receive in return.

PetPlan Pet Insurance helps you take care of your pets without the barrier of large payments. With a range of policies including their signature Covered For Life plans, you can cover the cost of unexpected veterinary treatment should your pet become ill or suffer an injury.