This pet may contain affiliate or brand partner links. Read our full disclosure here.
Honestly, there aren’t many things in life as enjoyable as having a pet. It’s so amazing to come home every day and see your pet at home all excited to see you. There’s a bond you develop, particularly with pets like cats and dogs, it’s like they become part of the family.
In an ideal world, every family would have a pet that they love and cherish. But, before you go out and buy or adopt a pet, there are many things you need to consider. Check out this guide to see what you need to think about before bringing a pet into your home:
Pets create a lot of mess
It goes without saying that pets and mess pretty much go hand in hand. A dog or cat will undoubtedly cause a bit of mischief in your home, especially when they’re kittens or puppies. They end up going to the toilet on your brand new rug or lovely hardwood floor, they rip up the sofa by using it as a scratching post, and they can get their fur everywhere as well.
It’s very important that you’re aware of all this so you can take steps to prepare for it if you still want to have a pet. Firstly, every pet owner needs the number of a specialized cleaning service. Something like the Love Your Rug cleaning service is ideal as they can take care of stains caused by pets. If you have hardwood or tiled flooring, then any mess they make should be easily taken care of as it just sits on the surface.
Secondly, make sure you get things for your pet to go to the toilet in/on. There are mats you can buy that soak up their pee, cats need litter trays, and so on. Of course, you’ll train them to go outside, but this is a good thing to have before they learn.
Finally, get your hands on a pet hair remover to get all their fur off your furniture, carpets, and clothes. Another thing you could try is a special brush that helps remove loose hair from your pet, which should stop them from shedding so much.
Now, you’re prepared for the mess, so it shouldn’t be too much of an issue for you and your home!
People might be allergic
Did you know that pets are one of the most common allergies out there? They’re right up there with hayfever as an allergy that lots of people have. Of course, members of your family may be unaware that they’re allergic until they actually spend time around a pet. Some of the telltale signs are having itchy eyes, runny nose, puffy eyes, sneezing, coughing, stuffy nose, and possibly even an allergic rash.
The good news is that pet allergies are usually not very severe. As a consequence, there are steps you can take to make your home more suitable for someone with pet allergies when a pet is present. To begin, make sure you buy an air purifier to help rid the air of the allergens given off by pet hair. This will go a long way to calming anyone’s symptoms.
On a similar note, ensure your home is well ventilated and that the windows are open a lot, so the air is fresher and more comfortable for people to breathe in. This also helps prevent the air in your home from being clogged up with allergens.
Cleaning your home regularly is also essential if you have pets and someone is allergic to them. Doing this lets you get rid of pet hair and keep the home feeling fresher and free from harmful allergens.
Lastly, always have allergy medication nearby so it can be taken when required. Some people find they’re fine around pets when they’ve been taking antihistamines for a long time, so their allergic reactions aren’t anything to worry about.
You need to do all of this if you want a pet but someone in your home is allergic to it. However, if their allergy is serious, then you may have to just not get a pet altogether. Their health comes first, so visit a doctor to see how severe their allergy is.
There needs to be enough space
The third – and final – thing you need to consider is how much space you have in your home. Pets require a pretty decent amount of space, particularly dogs and cats. There must be enough room for them to run around and be comfortable, without taking up all the space in your house. Think about it, they need a place to sleep, they may need a litter tray or toilet area, they need somewhere to eat their food, and then you need enough storage space to store all their food, etc.
There are a few things you can do here to ensure there’s enough space in your home for a pet. The first idea is to just have a massive clearout of your home and get rid of as much clutter as you can. Who knows, this may unveil plenty more space than you first thought, and there’ll be room for your pet.
Secondly, think about using other areas of your property – like the garden or garage. The garage can be an excellent place for your pet to sleep, as well as being perfect for putting a litter tray and their food. If you have a garden, then that’s brilliant as they have loads of room to play and go to the toilet!
If you’re still stuck for space, then the other option is to rethink the pet you want to bring into your home. Instead of getting a big dog, get a much smaller one that’s better suited to confined spaces. Or, go for something like a hamster or rabbit instead – pets that don’t require too much space.
The bottom line is that you need to think about all three of these things before bringing a pet into your home. This will give you time to prepare for the arrival of a pet, which means they will be more comfortable, you will be more comfortable, and your home won’t suffer as much as it might’ve if you didn’t prepare in advance.
Jim Fox says
Hello ,
I saw your tweet about animals and thought I will check out your website. I like it!
I love pets. I have two beautiful that cats called Tammy(female) and Yommo(male). Yommo is 1 year older than Tommy. He acts like a bigger brother to her. 🙂
I have subscribed to your newsletter. 🙂
Keep up the good work on your blog.
Regards
Jim Fox