 Home
buyers have a multitude of things to think about when shopping
for a new home: square footage, number of bedrooms, number of
bathrooms, floor plans, soil composition, area schools…the
list goes on. One thing you should be sure to keep in mind when
searching for a new home is your pet’s needs.
Shopping
When looking for a new home, consider your pet’s needs
and temperament. Is your cat aging and having trouble moving around?
A three-story house with a lot of stairs may not be the best choice.
Is your dog large or extremely active? Buying a house with a large
yard or nearby access to parks or trails would be ideal. If this
is not possible, look for a house with at least one large room
where you can play together.
Preparing to Move
Congratulations! You’ve purchased your
new home. Before you move, there are plenty of things to think
about to prepare your new home for you and your pet. First, and
perhaps most importantly, did the previous owners have pets? If
so, your nose can tell you whether there are strong odors lingering
behind. It is certainly wise to rid the house of pet odors, otherwise
your pet, cat or dog, may try to make the house their own by marking
their territory. For spot cleaning, there are various products
on the market that get rid of stains and odors, and many come
with guarantees. However, it is always wise to get the carpets
cleaned professionally whether you can smell anything or not.
Now that you have thoroughly cleaned your
new home prior to moving in, you can start thinking about how
to set up your home to make it as pet-friendly as possible. Unless
you are getting a new kitten or puppy, you probably already know
to store harmful chemicals or cleaning supplies in a cupboard,
arrange electrical cords so your cat or dog cannot chew on them
or become tangled in them and keep dangerous or poisonous plants
out of reach. Just keep in mind that it may be a while before
you find a place for everything and are completely settled; in
the meantime, watch what harmful items are within your pet’s
reach.
Before you and your pet move in, you also need to designate where
your pet will feed and eliminate. Food and water dishes will need
to be easily accessible, but not under your feet. A laundry room
or an out-of-the-way corner of the kitchen are both good places,
and both typically have easy-to-clean floors. If you have a cat,
think about where the litter box should go. It should not be too
close to their food and it should be in a place where you’ll
remember to clean it. If you decide to put it in the basement
or garage, just be sure that you establish a cleaning routine
so your cat doesn’t have to put up with a filthy litter
box. Of course, you don’t want your home to smell like a
pet store; if the litter box has to be in a more frequently used
area, consider buying a screen or box to disguise it and a mat
to help reduce the litter that your cat tracks through the house.
When you decide where you would like your dog to eliminate, take
him or her there when you first arrive at the house. If the dog
eliminates, praise him or her and be sure to take the dog there
each time, until the idea sinks in. If the dog doesn’t go
that first time, give him or her some water and try again in half
an hour.
Settling In
The movers have left, you’ve started unpacking, everything
seems to be going well. Even if your cat has found the sunniest
spot in the house and your dog is frolicking happily in the backyard,
there are still some things to consider to make your new home
happy for everyone. First, consider the likelihood of a flea or
tick infestation. If you’ve moved from a different area
of the United States, this may be a problem. A local vet’s
office can give good advice on this subject, but it will be up
to you to keep a close eye on your pet. Also, make sure you familiarize
yourself with the local pet laws. You may have to license your
pet, and it is also a good idea to make sure their rabies vaccinations
are up-to-date. Finally, be sure to get a new ID tag for pets
that go outdoors; even if your pet is microchipped (also make
sure that this information is up-to-date), a new place can mean
that your pet can get easily lost.
Especially with dogs, you want to be sure that you are not the
new, troublesome neighbor. Always keep your dog on a leash when
not in a fenced-in yard. Also, be sure to pick up any waste: when
you’re walking your dog, take plastic bags with you, and
be sure to pick up waste in your backyard regularly. Barking may
also be a problem, especially in an unfamiliar area. Make sure
your dog doesn’t make your neighbors buy earplugs.
Finally, it is always a good idea to keep
your pets inside as much as possible. This cuts down enormously
on the potential problems a pet can cause for the neighbors, and
is also safer for your pet. |
