Having a pet brings a multitude of things into the home: love, joy, cuddles, responsibility and extra mess! Fur, sawdust, hairballs, and general debris are just some of the additions that you might find around the home when cohabiting with an animal. So how do you keep on top of cleanliness and hygiene in the home without it feeling overwhelming? Looking after your pet whilst keeping your house clean and tidy doesn't need to cause extra stress. Here are some simple tips to keep those chores from building up!
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Fur and grooming - it's no secret that cats and dogs shed a lot of fur around the house. This is normal and helps them to regulate their body temperatures and keep their coats clean. To keep on top of natural shedding, grooming your cat or dog regularly can help to reduce excess shedding; this way, you can catch loose fur before it ends up on sofas, carpets and other furniture.
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Stains and odours - it's inevitable that your cat or dog will have accidents from time to time: hairballs, vomiting and urination in unwanted places can't always be prevented. Having pet-safe enzyme cleaners and sprays to hand will help to prevent stains in carpets from developing, and will ensure that bacteria and odours are eliminated quickly.
- Litter trays - for cats, having a litter tray that keeps mess to a minimum is more than ideal. Hooded litter trays may be favoured for reducing the amount of litter spillage onto the surrounding floor, and for keeping the odours contained. Make sure to be regularly cleaning out your cat's litter tray and providing clean and fresh litter on a consistent basis - your cat is less likely to want to use the litter tray if it is dirty, and may take to doing their business elsewhere!
- Carpets and hoovering - investing in a high-quality hoover that is suited to removing rounds and rounds of pet hair is a simple choice that has big results, and will make keeping on top of general cleaning much more manageable.
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Bowls - washing your pet's food and water bowls regularly will reduce the chance of lingering odours, pests and flies, and will keep your pet's space overall looking clean and tidy.
- Entry mats for dirty paws - a small mat goes a long way! Putting a mat in the entryways of your house can help to prevent your dog from dragging in excess mud after their walkies! It might not stop all dirt from entering the home, but it provides a helpful buffer area where dirt can be removed from paws! Also consider placing your cat's litter tray on top of a suitable mat to catch residue litter that sticks to their paws and follows them out of the tray.
Image: Catit Dual-Layer Litter Mats
- Anxiety reducers - accidents tend to happen when your pet is considerably stressed. Urination in inappropriate areas, particularly for cats, is a sign that they are anxious and feeling distressed within the home, either due to something within the environment or a health issue. Placing pet anxiety reducers around the home can help to calm your pet down and prevent accidents from happening. It is always recommended, however, to check things over with your vet if your pet develops unusual or worrying behaviours.
For small pets -
- Cage maintenance - keeping your small animal's cage clean can involve daily and weekly rituals. By staying in a routine of removing droppings, wet bedding and scattered sawdust/ hay daily, and deep-cleaning their enclosure weekly (removing and replacing bedding, disinfecting surfaces, cleaning bowls/ bottles/ toys), your pet's home will be one that is safe and hygienic.
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Appropriate bedding - finding the most appropriate bedding for your small animal can help to keep odours to a minimum. Bedding should be safe, breathable, and free of chemicals, and replaced regularly. A dustpan and brush or a handheld mini hoover will come in handy when keeping the surrounding areas clean too!
For all pets: make sure the cleaning materials (sprays, soaps, wipes etc) are all certified pet-friendly. It is best to avoid toxic household chemicals such as bleach and ammonia as they can cause respiratory and skin irritation. Enzyme-based urine/ stain removers are far more effective and safer for your pets.
Keeping your home clean, tidy and safe with pets around can be easy peasy once you build a routine you can keep up with. All of the above tips can help to maintain a pleasant environment for both you and your pet, however one of the biggest keys to success is simply to be observant. Notice your pet's behaviour if they start to seem a bit anxious; keep an eye on your pet's enclosure and know when a big clean is due; tackle accidents and odours with appropriate cleaning products as soon as you spot them. These are just some of the things you can do to keep your home feeling like home!
