Top Tips for Making Your Home Renovation Pet-Friendly

A home renovation can be pretty exciting, especially if you’re finally in a position to make long-awaited changes.

If you have pets, a home renovation is an excellent opportunity to make life easier for both you and them, with a few extra additions. Taking your pets’ habits, age and patterns into account as you plan for renovations could make all the difference in creating a safer, healthier and happier environment for your four-legged family members!

Don’t go anywhere – in this article we’ll be listing some of our top tips for making your home renovation more pet-friendly.

Making Your Home Renovation Pet-Friendly

Opt for an Optimized Mudroom

When Fido is frolicking through a wet or muddy backyard, he’s inevitably going to track it all through the house if there’s no efficient way to clean him off before coming back in.

Many homes have a mudroom, which could be a good option in and of itself if you don’t already have one; however, consider an optimized mudroom for those times when your pet is…well, a bit of a mess! A few beneficial add-ons to any mudroom are a dog shower, tub or wide sink to rinse off smaller dogs.

A dog shower is typically built as a step-in shower with a half-wall surrounding it, allowing humans to spray their pets from overhead. This option will be especially convenient in the colder months, when rinsing your dog outside would be uncomfortable and unpleasant for you both!

Doggie Flaps are Your Friend

This tip is all about convenience for both you and your pet: consider installing a doggie flap leading into your mudroom, laundry room or garage. This will allow your trained pet to come and go as they please and could work equally well for an indoor-outdoor cat.

It’s a good idea to install a flap on a door that doesn’t lead to your foyer or other prominent areas of your home. If your pet happens to track mud or dirt into the house, it’s best if the flap leads to a room where your pet won’t have as much potential to ruin or soil surroundings.

It’s also recommended that your flap have locking capabilities for the times that you don’t want your pet venturing outside. Similarly, a lockable flap will keep your home more secure and protected from burglaries, especially if you are away on vacation.

Consider a Cat Patio or “Catio”

A cat patio, or “catio,” is an excellent way to ensure that your fluffy friend gets more sunlight, stimulation, and exposure to the outdoors. Essentially, we’re referring to an enclosed space that is gated or fenced in that still allows cats to climb, sleep, and interact with the outdoors. It might look very similar to an enclosed deck or porch, with beds or toys for your cat to enjoy.

This renovation to your home may be installed looking toward your backyard or around the side of your house. There should also be a way for you to access the inside of your catio in the event of an emergency.

One cautionary note about catios: avoid leaving cat food inside them, which will attract pests and other animals. If you do choose to feed your cat in this enclosure, provide only small amounts of food that your cat will eat in one sitting.

Heated Floors for Aging Pets

Though this feature may sound pricey, heated floors are relatively inexpensive and provide perks for pets of all ages (as well as for your heating bill).

Heated floors make for a soothing and comforting environment for senior pets, as the warmth will keep their limbs relaxed – especially for those with joint issues or arthritis. Cats may particularly love heated floors since felines tend to be heat-seekers. Fun fact: cats’ earliest ancestors originated from the desert, which explains why they love sleeping in the sun!

Since heat rises, your heated floors will also provide a bit of extra warmth to any room in your house. This could make turning the thermostat down a few notches more comfortable during the colder months, potentially lowering home heating costs.

Install Pet Ramps

The addition of pet ramps to your home may make things easier for your pets as they age. Pet ramps can be installed anywhere your dog or cat would typically jump or climb if they were spry, such as alongside stairs or even alongside the couch.

Ramps may not be feasible or make sense in all areas of your home. However, installing them as alternatives to significant hurdles (such as the stairs) can make for a safer, more comfortable environment for your pet.

Final Word

These are just a few tips worth consideration if you’d like to incorporate pet-friendly options into your home renovation plans. Enlisting a professional for help as you implement these changes is recommended. A professional can ensure that you don’t run into costly or unnecessary obstacles, such as improper installation or installation, that might interfere with other aspects of your home.